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The most recent entries are at the top of this page. Earlier entries follow in reverse chronological order.

28.11.2017

We started the process of renting an apartment today. Our apartment is near the main city park (Thabor) and adjacent to a smaller park (Parc Oberthür) that has a pond, giant willow trees and many park benches. The ducks stole John's heart. The park is lovely and just steps away from our apartment. After we are settled in we will begin another search for an apartment to purchase. I want to be between Thabor Park and Old Town, if possible. The Old Town here is a mix of quaint and high end shops restaurants, and other businesses.

Parc Oberthür (dubbed the most Zen park in Rennes) is right next to our apartment. It was created by the same landscaper as the one who designed the Thabor gardens - Denis Bühler - just a few years before in 1863. The park forms a beautiful natural setting around the mansion formerly owned by the famous printer from Rennes, François-Charles Oberthür. Oberthür was known to love entomology and botany, which is why Bühler kept the all big trees - and in particular the magnificent oak trees, wild cherry trees, beech trees and poplars. Large trees cast shade over this beautiful park that is wonderful to stroll through: cedars, fern leaf beeches, English oaks, silver lime trees, Gingko Biloba, etc.

Rare species were also planted there, namely the California torreya, striped maple, yellow buckeye, cork oak, willow oak, etc. Not forgetting a bald cypress with incredible aerial roots.

The other specificity of the Oberthür park is the presence of a huge collection of heather species (rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, magnolias, andromeda), for all you botany connoisseurs.

The lake is home to an extremely varied fauna. Ducks, swans and herons come for a dip in the fish-laden waters. An ideal park for some peace and quiet.

The architecture in Rennes is mixed and interesting. WWII bombings and a major fire in 1700 wiped out large swaths of the city which was replaced with architecture styles common in the 1800s-2000s. The architecture is an almost even mix of half-timbered buildings, domed buildings like those in Nice, Gothic buildings, mixed modern-art styles and Art Deco.

23.11.2017

We visited the François Mitterrand Christmas Market near our hotel (I bought a stocking hat) and Old Town which was just a few blocks farther. The Mitterrand Christmas market was small but it had a carousel, a Ferris wheel and 40 chalets. I hated staying in the hotel for so long but the neighborhood there is very cool.

There are many shops and restaurants in centre-ville Rennes. My favorite is a very good Mexican restaurant, El Popoca. I love Mexican food and I'm very happy they have a good Mexican restaurant here.

Walking around center city is interesting because of the variety of architecture from modern stylized buildings to quaint house boats including some businesses on moored boats (such as a hair salon near our hotel).

Graffiti here is everywhere, very much like Barcelona. Half of it is quality street art and half of it is junk tagging. John took some pics of the street art. Happily there is very little dog poop on the streets of Rennes and fewer smokers too.

When we were out and about the last few weeks of November, John and I saw many signs for Black Friday sales . In France Black Friday is the 4th Friday of November. Although there is no Thanksgiving holiday in France, Black Friday has gained a great deal of popularity this past year. Amazon started promoting Black Friday in Western France in 2016. The areas with Black Friday sales also participate in Cyber Monday sales events and Amazon.fr benefits greatly.

Some French leaders refer to the imported American practice as "an anachronistic compulsive consumption" which this year took place in the middle of the European week of waste reduction.

For Benoit Brulin, of Alternatiba Limousin, this day marks the worst excesses of our society. "You always have to buy the new TV, the new washing machine, the last phone ... it is an incentive to overconsumption! It's beyond belief when 15,000 scientists call us to act to save the planet. Men is in danger with the fall of biodiversity, climate change, hurricanes, droughts, fires ... "

Below are some links about the architecture and Gardens of Rennes.

The Genius of Jacques Gabriel
"Rennes partly owes its harmony to the great skill of the King's architect, Jacques Gabriel (1661-1742). Following the great fire, which raged for six days at the end of December 1720 and ravaged ten hectares in the heart of the city, he managed to design gentle reconstruction. His genius was such that, at first glance, the transition from the timbered houses to tufa is almost imperceptible. The neighbourhoods thus follow on from one another."

Architectural Tour in Rennes

The Gardens of Rennes

Houseboats on one of the many canals crisscrossing Rennes.	Colorful windowframes across the street from where we had our Mexican Thanksgiving dinner.	There are many shops and restaurants in centre-ville Rennes.
The Collège Et Lycée Emile Zola can be seen at the end of this street.	Many Christmas window displays in Rennes.	A great children's book store in centre-ville Rennes.
It was strange seeing Black Friday Sale ads in English in Rennes on Thanksgiving Day.	Each window display in downtown Rennes had a special Christmas / Winter scene.	Street Christmas decorations in Rennes.
Palais du Commerce of Rennes. The original stock exchange for Brittany.	Reindeer outside a florist shop.	The inner city of Rennes is a mix of medieval and 19th Century buildings.
Typical architecture of modern (late 19th Century) Rennes.	Peaceful duck pond of Parc Oberthur a 100 steps from our new apartment.	Wooden bridge in Parc Oberthur.

18.11.2017

Our last few days in Nice were very busy and bittersweet. We were excited for the adventure of our new home though knowing we would miss the beautiful Mediterranean and our intelligent, compassionate and creative friends in Nice. We had lunch with Doc and Marion twice (a few weeks apart) before we left. They are both delightful in so many ways. They always do that Frenchie "mwah", "mwah" thing, but I want to hug them both every time we meet. And Sparky too. (Sparky's their little dog).

There were a few things we didn't want to take with us which we donated. John left his baby cacti for Brigette, the woman who managed our building. She was very happy to have the new babies.

The move itself was interesting. The moving company got a permit and posted signs 72 hours in advance to leave some spaces empty for the moving truck. Because we had no elevator they ran a tall conveyor to our balcony and they packed all our boxes into one large wooden box. Everything was very secure. So now we're off to our new city, to find a new home and to have new adventures. And get some sleep!

Our little balcony cactus found a home during our move.	The street was cleared of parked cars to make room for the movers.	An elevator was used to lower our furniture like this one.
Boats spraying the beach pebbles on our last visit to the beach in Nice.	Nice started to decorate for Christmas.	On our last day we wandered through Place Massena.