MY 2ND PHOTO COLLAGE (BRITTANY, FRANCE)

In 2008, I won a one-week stay in a Chateau in BRITTANY, FRANCE (the Northwest region)!!  Who ever wins something this fantastic?! I was able to invite 7 others to come along - my 2 sisters and 5 friends. 

So, when I was recently inspired to create a collage (and since I tend to over-do things), I made a second collage of photos just from this trip. It's not framed, but instead is adhered to foamboard and now hanging on my wall.  Scroll below the collage for enlarged images.

And once again, I'll share each photo (and a few extras) in full size, along with a little storyline........

We flew into Paris and did a whirlwind tour of the city.  The LOUVRE - what a spectacular building. Did you know that it was originally the King's Palace in the city of Paris (while Versailles was the "country Palace") and at the time it was a 4-sided building built around the open interior space.  But during the French Revolution, people stormed it in anger, set it on fire and destroyed one whole side.  Today, only 3 sides of the Palace remain, now in it's famous "U" shape.

We took an excursion to one of my treasured spots - AUVERS-SUR-OISE. My favorite artist, VINCENT VAN GOGH is buried next to his brother Theo there.  The town has made a small museum out of the building where Vincent spent his last nights in 1890, after his failed suicide attempt, called MAISON DE VAN GOGH.  It was shocking to see that this well-respected Master could only afford to live in a tiny room over a restaurant. During his short few month living there, VAN GOGH painted so many of the buildings in this town that they have a poster of his painting under glass in front of each spot.  I loved that.

While in Brittany we explored CARNAC STONES, megaliths dating back to around 3300 BC.  Amazing to think that they have been standing like this all these years, isn't it?  

We then stopped in QUIBERON along the coastline, walked along the beach and picked up a few stones and then drove back to the Chateau for dinner prepared by our chef, Anne Divitry and her assistant, Florence.  

• Appetizer of zucchini soup with a drizzle of olive oil and lavender on top  
• Delicious fish prepared whole, encrusted in salt and served with mushrooms in a cream sauce
• A side of roasted potatoes and green beans 
• Salad and local cheeses  
• Dessert - a really delicious apple tart (a Brittany specialty)
• LOTS of dancing and singing and drinking wine by the fire till bedtime (with hot water bottles for the foot of each bed, loving prepared by Anna each night)

Although these next 4 photos are not in the collage, I wanted to share what this evening's spectacular meal looked like.

The next day we drove to the fascinating island of Mont St Michel.  In the year 966 a group of Benedictines settled here and constructed a church.  For several hundred years it served as a Romanesque Monastery and then as a prison during the French Revolution.  In 1979 UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site and since 2001, Friars and Sisters have been maintaining it as a spiritual site.

On the way back to the Chateau we stopped for some picture-taking opportunities in SAINT-SULIAC, included in the list of "The Most Beautiful Villages in France".  It really is!

We left the Chateau for a visit to Normandy. I drove the lead car with 4 of us and my sister Jane drove the 2nd car with my other sister, Ellen, Betty and Pat.  But, there's no way their car had as much fun as our car did......  Anna was my "Navigator", "Precious" (Donna) cut up pears and bread and fed us, while Marian kept us entertained with her quick wit. 

On our way we stopped in VILLEDIEU-LES-POELLES for a private tour of a bell foundry at CORNILLE HAVARD.  In NORMANDY we had a very moving, historical, private, morning tour with Alain from OVERLORD TOURS.  

We stayed in a charming B&B called LA FERME DE RANCONNIERE in the tiny village of CREPON, near BAYEUX (I particularly LOVED the main church in Bayeux). I hesitate to sound boastful, but I truly think my photos of his Inn do it more justice than those on their website!  How about the view from my window?  Each room was unique.  We enjoyed a memorable dinner there and tried the local drink - "CALVADOS" - an "apple brandy"/"hard cider".  I liked it (......a little too much!).

On our way to the waterfront town of HONFLEUR (I LOVED this town and want to return someday), we made a quick stop in BEUVRON-EN-AUGE, included on the list of "Most Beautiful Villages in France", and I fell in love with its charm!!  My camera was busy at this stop.  Here are two photos that might give you a little flavor of it.

We shopped for lunch in the waterfront town of HONFLEUR......  yes, I WILL return someday!

Our final stop on this trip was in the town of GIVERNY, where we visited the home of Impressionist Painter, CLAUDE MONET.  His gardens were spectacular and to be inside his home was quite a thrill. The Impressionists are known to have traded paintings with each other when they gathered in Paris and his home showed his collection (although they are now reproductions).  Can't you see how the reflections and swirls in the water here (and the lily pads) inspired MONET to paint this?  He was the garden AND water designer, by the way.

Betty HAD to have an original painting from France.  This street artist in GIVERNY, by MONET'S home was just the right guy to fill the bill.

After visiting MONET'S gravesite, we had dinner at a very cute (and famous) restaurant down the street called L'ANCIEN HOTEL BAUDY. At this same restaurant, many Impressionists once dined, such as Cezanne, Renoir, Sisley, Rodin and Mary Cassatt. I loved the paintings hung on the walls inside - this one in particular (but not for sale......).  

I highly recommend the B&B where we stayed in GIVERNY, called LA RESERVE.  The rooms had the tallest ceilings, the breakfast was fresh/delicious and the decor was "oh so French"!!  I stayed in the SEPIA ROOM - decadent.

Oh what a trip that was!! Yes, I planned the itinerary and lodging myself, to give us a flavor of the region west and northwest of Paris. We had the perfect combination of 8 travelers, who all enjoyed the food, the wine, the sights, the late night chats (all in one room) in our jammies........ FUN!

Joan