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





28.04.2018

Our dentist is about 1 block from our apartment. We just wandered in, the dentist spoke excellent English (her assistance not so much) and we walked out with an appointment for Monday. So easy and convenient. Within a few blocks we have many flowered trees, a vet, a pharmacy, a medium sized Carrefour (and other small markets), a hairdresser, a butcher, 5 bakeries, Parc Oberthür , many bus stops with direct routes all over the city, a few reasonably priced hotels and more. Talk about a walk-able neighborhood!





25.04.2018

Today France's President Macron went to DC to visit Trump about the Obama nuclear accord and Iran's nuclear deal. "The 2015 nuclear deal struck between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany - was the signature foreign policy achievement of Barack Obama's presidency. The initial framework lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for limitations to the country's controversial nuclear energy program, which international powers feared Iran would use to create a nuclear weapon." Macron offered to push for a renegotiated deal but it looks like Trump, "because of domestic pressures", will drop out of the deal.

Rather than addressing the politics and seriousness of that situation I posted a couple of goofy images on Facebook (see below). They were appreciated by others wanting to decompress.

I also posted a video of Macron meeting civil rights icon John Lewis at the MLK memorial. I think they like each other. The Macron-Lewis video is on Macron's Facebook page and many other videos are on Macron's Twitter page.

Be aware of the distinctions ... He's a charmer





22.04.2018

Earth Day. Here they don't have a big festival like they do in San Diego and other big cities but there are many educational activities this weekend in honor of Jour de la Terre. Zero Waste is the theme this year in France. The International Earth Day Theme is Help End Plastic Pollution.

The Urban Trail went through our immediate neighborhood today. During this event runners enter key monuments: the City Hall, Opera, Roazhon Park (where the stadium is), the West-France area located rue du Pré-Botte, the Social Security tower, the swimming pool, the Saint-Georges barracks, Thabor Park, our own neighborhood Parc Oberthür and other sites. It was fun watching the runners in colorful uniforms dashing past our window as they headed for Parc Oberthür.

The Urban Trail run went through
the historical quarter of Rennes... 		... and along one of Rennes many canals.





18.04.2018

The temps are in the low 80s now for about a week. The flowers have bloomed prolifically and suddenly - pink, ivory, crimson, lilac and gold. Lots of rose trees and other trees with full bouquets which we haven't identified yet.





16.04.2018

Dark comes much later these days. Tonight some cars turned on their headlights at 9, apartment lights came on at 9:10. It wasn't dark enough for the street lights to come on until 9:20. And it's only mid-April! We are pretty far north (48.12 N) on the same latitude as the center of Quebec Canada and north of Seattle Washington.





15.04.2018

Today was another warm day. We visited the pond to feed the ducks and were treated to an amateur circus act. Two young women were acrobats over the pond and a young man played lovely music on his cello. Another young man later joined him with bongo drums as a large crowd gathered on the banks. We wondered if this happens every Sunday during warm weather and later learned that there is a festival every Sunday in spring, summer and fall in Rennes. We started researching where the year round Sundays in Rennes activities take place. "From one event to the next, every branch of the arts is covered: dance, circus, music, ephemeral architecture, light shows and more. It's a mad blend of ingenuity, poetry, diversion, experimentation and interaction (current details). One minute you could be invited to ride on a flying creature and the next you could be soaking up the vibes of electronic music, dancing to the beat of a fest deiz, exploring an audio-tactile map of the town, or following imaginary beasts... But there's one common thread: the two-way link between artist and audience. It's a powerful experience, to be lived full-on!" Here is a list of past Sundays in Rennes events this year which includes the urban run and other events we've stumbled upon. We have more research to do but it's clear to us that there will be no lack of activities and spectacles to enjoy near our home.

Each week before we go swimming we feed the deer and goats fruits and vegetables. The rams always bully the deer so one of us feeds the goats in one location and the other feeds the deer some distance away. Overall a delightful experience.

Two deer wait for Ruth to get more apple pieces at Parc des Gayeulles. This ram was a bully to the more timid deer
at Parc des Gayeulles. 		Visiting crane at Parc Oberthür
Springtime reflection at Parc Oberthür Ducks lined up for bird seed and rice. Springtime at Parc Oberthür
Practicing circus acrobatics on ziplines
over the pond at Parc Oberthür 		From the wooden bridge we watched the carp.





012.04.2018

Today the high was 68 - springtime for sure but almost everyone was still wearing jackets and scarves. John and I were in T-shirts.

We frequently visit nearby Parc Oberthür. A crane came to visit the pond a few times, standing very still so as to surprise and capture a fish. The only fish we saw near the crane were very big - maybe a quarter the size of the crane. A couple were very large dark fish which were difficult to see in the murky waters. The crane left without catching any fish.

The smaller fish were gold, dark orange, dark gray and mixed colors. From the wooden bridge we watched the colorful fish.

Springtime at Parc Oberthür is truly enchanting. The reflections in the waters are pretty and serene.

We always see a variety of birds in and near the pond at Oberthür Parc. The ducks line up for oatmeal, bird seed and rice that we bring to feed them. Some duck couples swim together while they forage for food. One duck couple adopted us. He was all protective as she ate bread which some previous visitors left. And then she had some of our mixture too. She's pregnant. Baby ducks are in our future! So instead of Lovey and Dovey (the doves from Nice) we will have Lucky and Ducky (and their babies) as part of our family.





01.04.2018

Museums in Rennes are free the first Sunday of every month and this Sunday we took advantage of that gift. We visited the Brittany History museum downtown. (Please refer to the images below). We saw stone axes, tools and pottery from the Neolithic Age found in archaeological sites in Brittany (approximately 5,500 years old).

John loves this stuff and he took a lot of pictures including (but not limited to) Neolithic grinding stones for grain; axes, mauls and tools from the early bronze age in Brittany; bronze age weapons; warrior figure in bronze; Celtic ancestor statues from the 3rd century; Roman coins; Roman amphorae that contained oil and wine; Latin inscription on a Roman building support; an 11th Century book containing records of an abbey; stained-glass from the 15th Century and much, much more (please refer to the pictures below).

We only saw half of the museum so we will return next first Sunday.

Stone axes and tools from the Neolithic Age from sites in Brittany Pottery vase from the Neolithic Age Another Neolithic vase that is
approximately 5,500 years old.
Neolithic grinding stones for grain Axes, mauls and tools from
the early bronze age in Brittany. 		Display of bronze age weapons
Bronze age warrior figure in bronze Celtic ancestor statues from the 3rd century Roman coin found in Brittany excavation
Roman amphorae that contained oil and wine More Roman coins found in Brittany Latin inscription on Roman building support
Fragments of handheld ceramic lamps Stone sarcophagus from early Middle Ages This 11th Century book contained
the records of an abbey.
Capital of church columns
from the 12th Century 		Stain-glass from the 15th Century 15th Century funerary art for a buried cleric
12th Century church sculpture 13th Century funerary art for an aristocrat Various medieval combs craved from wood
Ceramic figures from the early 1700's. A press for canvas. Canvas production was an important industry for shipbuilding Nantes in the 18th Century. A collection of 18th Century silver.
Headboard from the 17th Century. 17th Century oak chest made in Brittany