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01.08.2019

"Today the Greenland ice sheet experienced its largest single-day volume loss on record, sending an estimated 12.5 billion tons of ice pouring into the ocean. The momentous single-day melt followed another record-breaking episode recorded the day before. According to the Polar Portal, a monitoring website run by Danish polar research institutions in conjunction with the NSIDC, the ice sheet shed more than 10 billion tons of ice from 60 percent of its surface yesterday. Per a Twitter post by climate scientist Martin Stendel, the amount of ice collectively lost on Thursday and Wednesday - the ice sheet's biggest surface melt day since 2012, was around 60 percent of the frozen expanse undergoing at least 1 millimeter of melting."

"This model, which uses weather data and observations to build a record of ice and snowfall, and net change in mass of the ice sheet, is remarkably accurate," Read more.

Results of the climate crisis are being closely monitored and scientists are finding that ice sheets are melting much faster than projected.





03.08.2019

In cleaning the debris of the Notre-Dame fire, some workers experienced high levels of lead in their blood, so work stopped to evaluate and document steps to protect workers from lead poisoning. Le Monde wrote a detailed article. about it. "The glassmakers of Notre-Dame are the workers most exposed to lead. The experts responsible for removing the stained glass after the cathedral fire were experiencing "a particularly high level of lead in the blood". The construction site of Notre-Dame, suspended for risks of lead pollution, will resume work from the week of August 12."

NOTE: To translate the Le Monde article go to Google Translate and paste the Le Monde url in box at top left and then click on link to the right which will present the translated page. If you use the Chrome browser you can just right click on the article web page and select 'translate to English' (or another language).





07.08.2019

Dave and Kathleen, our friends from Nice, came to Rennes today. We met them at Thabor Park. The reunion with them was fun. We talked for an hour or so while watching the varied birds in the aviary at Tabor Park. The images and their captions below convey a lot of info that John put together about Tabor Park including photos of the fountains, waterfalls, sculptures, birds and more.

We passed by Notre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaine on the way to the restaurant where we had lunch and John took photos of the buildings. The interior of Notre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaine was a mixture of the old and the new and sunlight was streaming through the stained glass. It was lovely. Kathleen showed me photos she had taken of a similar situation with sunlight streaming through the stained glass and seemingly painting an abstract image on the wall. I was delighted to see that same effect , although it was not as brilliant as those she witnessed. Like the other churches in Rennes, Saint Melaine had a beautiful 19th Century organ. John took photos.

After we got home I read about reports of a brief radiation spike in Sweden, comments from Russian workers and reports of dead Russian scientists. Experts concluded that there had been a nuclear explosion in Russia on the White Sea. A part of Finland is close to that radiation site in Russia.

Not until late last Sunday night did Russian officials confirm that the explosion involved a small nuclear reactor. On Monday, the New York Times reported that United States intelligence officials suspect that the explosion was the result of a failed test of Russia's SSC-X-9 Skyfall, a nuclear-powered cruise missile still in development.

The news said, "Seven are dead in Russia after an explosion at a missile site in the Russian Arctic" that officials say involved a nuclear reactor.

The explosion happened offshore of the Nenoksa Missile Test Site, which sits on the White Sea (about 200 miles/320 km east of the Finnish border), and local officials reported a spike in radiation after the event."

The US-Russia nuclear proliferation is making these kind of accidents more likely to happen.

These fountains were added in the 1890's. The fountains are turned off during
the winter months. 		It's nice having such a large park
in the center of the city.
We love the little waterfalls that go up
several levels. 		We fed the doves and pigeons while we waited for Dave and Kathleen. Parakeets in the aviary.
Dave and Kathleen arrive back in Rennes! Lots of interesting sculptures in Thabor Park. Fragments of a fresco in the
Notre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaine.
The interior of Notre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaine was a mixture of the old and the new. The sunbeams shining through the stained glass
was a nice effect. 		Like the other churches in Rennes, Saint Melaine had a beautiful 19th Century organ.
The bell tower of Notre-Dame-en-Saint-Melaine.





11.08.2019

Today we went to Parc des Gayeulles (the largest park in Rennes) with John and Christine (our new friends who found us through this blog) and then to lunch at one of the creperies in St Anne's Square.

The Adrenaline forest at Gayeulles is only 26€ for everything, 22€ for everything except the nets and trampolines and only 8€ for just the nets and trampolines. And you can stay for hours using the facilities from the time they opens until closing. I want to go play there. We saw a mom and her daughter chasing each other around the nets which reminded us of the dad and his son who did the same thing the last time we were there. In addition to the nets and trampolines there are many varied climbing structures and ziplines across the lake.

There are three Forêt Adrénalines in Brittany each of which has activities for all age groups.

There are three Forêt Adrénalines in Brittany. There were activities for all age groups. And ziplines across the lake.
The activities tested little bodies and minds. So determined!





12.08.2019

Marion, one of our friends in Nice, sent this link from "The Local" about Americans being at risk of losing their French Bank accounts. John and I haven't experienced any problems and I think none of our friends have (yet). As a group we use several different banks for our accounts so I don't know why some Americans have problems and others don't. I include tidbits like this in our blog to inform our French and American friends and to say thanks to Marion for sending that information.





15.08.2019

Kathleen and Dave are visiting us again tomorrow so my John went to get oatmeal and rice for the ducks but Carrefour was closed for Ascension (another Catholic holiday) in this land of "strict Laïcité." John informed me that Ascension is always on a Thursday.

Laïcité, literally "secularity", is a French concept of secularism. It discourages religious involvement in government affairs, especially religious influence in the determination of state policies; it also forbids government involvement in religious affairs, and especially prohibits government influence in the determination of religion. And yet, 7 of 12 state holidays in France are Christian. Hmmm. However, the situation is improving. When we first arrived in France there were 9 of 11 national holidays that were Christian. Even with all the Christian state holidays the government system here is better on state freedom from religious influence than is the US. What is happening there is horrible. It is so obviously unconstitutional, arrogant and cruel to many groups and individuals.

Today The New York Times published contributions by the paper's writers, including essays, poems, short fiction, and a photo essay.which was organized to be the 1619 project. The project was almost exclusively contributed to by Black academics, journalists and writers.

The project detailed the history of slavery that included information many of us don't know. For instance, did you know that the French people gave the American people the statue of Liberty in large part to celebrate the United States' abolition of slavery? This is a very good article about the French abolitionist who pushed to give America the monumental statue.

Kathleen has been talking about the importance and innovation of 1619 project a lot after that New York Times issue came out. She made sure all her friends know about it.





16.08.2019

We visited our little nearby park, Parc Oberthür, with Kathleen and Dave today. Kathleen fed the ducks at the pond. A little kid also helped us feed the ducks. We enjoy having our friends and the kids share our duck feedings. The ducks seem to find our wild rice, oatmeal and bird seed mix quite yummy.

When friends come to visit, John always likes to show off the mosaics by Isidore Odorico at Parc Oberthür. The Odorico mosaics show up in many places around town. A few days later Kathleen sent us images and info about the Odorico elsewhere in Brittany. Beautiful. This search result shows the expansiveness and diversity of the Odorico mosaics throughout Brittany with links to more images and information. There is a guided tour available of the Ordorico mosaics in Rennes.

After spending time in Parc Oberthür we headed to the city center for lunch. We tried a new creperie (La Saint-Georges) where all the menu items began with the name George, shared more stories and then went to Dave's favorite bakery, Le grenier á pain (The Bread Attic), for brownies. Kathleen wanted to shop so we bid them adieu for the day.

Kathleen feeding the ducks. Dave and Kathleen. This little one helped us feed the ducks.
The ducks always like our wild rice, oatmeal
and bird seed mix. 		Another photo of the mosaics by Isidore Odorico at Parc Oberthür.





18.08.2019

I have been including information in our blog from areas outside of France because many important happenings elsewhere in Europe and other nearby nations have huge impacts on France (climate crisis, nuclear proliferation and associated accidents, racist governments, social and science innovations, entertainment and more).

The climate crisis is impacting the world. Recently Greenland lost 11 billion tons of ice in one day and scientists bid farewell to the first Icelandic glacier lost to climate change. They installed a plaque where it had existed which reads, "A letter to the future Ok (Okjökull) is the first Icelandic glacier to lose its status as a glacier. In the next 200 years, all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and know what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it," the plaque reads in English and Icelandic.

This article states, "From the ice sheet in Greenland to the towering glaciers in West Antarctica, Earth's enormous masses of ice are melting fast. And though sea levels have risen and fallen throughout history, scientists say it's never happened at a rate this fast."





21.08.2019

Back at home - our kitties! Tommy and Danny always like it when we get packages delivered because it means new boxes for them to play in. They are indoor cats (to protect them from cars, other animals and diseases, of course) so we try to liven up their living space with a wide variety of toys. And, of course, they get the kitty crazies every night.

Tommy and Danny always like it when
we get packages delivered!





22.08.2019

That Russian nuclear explosion is still being analyzed because the Russians have not been forth-coming about the accident. The German newspaper GW article "What is Russia hiding after 'Skyfall' radioactive blast?" said, "After an explosion at a Russian missile-testing site led to a surge in radiation, five monitoring stations went offline. This did not happen by chance, experts say." The "What is Russia hiding ..." article contains a map and animation of a math model of how the radioactive clouds could have dispersed, based on weather conditions in the days after the blast. According to the model, the radiation clouds would have traveled almost exclusively over Russian territory. However, the animated model shows radiation over the Black sea and southern European countries.





23.08.2019

Kathleen sent us this link to a NYT travel article "36 Hours in Rennes and St-Malo How to spend a weekend in two of northwest France's most enchanting cities, with a side-trip to Mont-St.-Michel." It's full of impressive info for anyone heading to Brittany. And it makes us proud.





24.08.2019

We went to the Saturday Market to get fresh and non-processed meats and fruits, vegetables and spices. Healthy and tasty fare.

John is big into old architecture. Near the market he took a bunch of photos of old churches and other old buildings including Basilique Notre-Dame de Bonne Nouvelle de Rennes, Cathedral Saint-Pierre de Rennes, Portes Mordelaises, the Cathedral Saint-Pierre de Rennes and very old apartment buildings. (see images below)

This month Kathleen's blog included beautiful images and descriptions of their last week in Brittany at Cape Fréhel and the Côte d'Armor. She could easily sell those images to Adobe, Shutterstock or many other image sites. They are gorgeous. Dave and Kathleen will move back to Nice in a few days. They are fun to be with. A couple of sweet, compassionate and brilliant character kids! We will miss them but we hope to see them at the next Carnival in Nice.

Basilique Notre-Dame de Bonne Nouvelle de Rennes shows the ivy that will die back during the winter months. This is our view of Cathedral Saint-Pierre de Rennes as we exit the Saturday Market. This little street is blocked off while the repairs continue on the Portes Mordelaises.
The Cathedral Saint-Pierre de Rennes. An example of the houses near
our apartment in Rennes. 		Another example of Brittany architecture.





26.08.2019

Today Trump is in France for the G7 summit. Send him back ! Send him back ! Send him back ! PLEASE ! That's all.

Our third series of hot days starts tomorrow but only 2 days will be near 90 - much cooler than previously and for a much shorter time.

We met John and Christine for lunch at Le Méditerranée - (menu), however we found they were closed so we went across the street. Before we crossed the street I saw that Le Méditerranée has Gambas. They are huge shrimp which are in season now locally. When not in season they are imported from Canada. You can find info and images about gambas on these pages. They are bigger than jumbo shrimp , most are longer than 2-3 times the length of your fingers and the recipes for their preparation pretty much matches those used for jumbo shrimp. I'm going back for the Gambas. In Kathleen's July blog she wrote about Langoustine which are also large shrimp-like critters. That's something else we will try. Kathleen wrote that they are $7/pound which translates to about 14€/kg. You probably know about the many wines, breads, pastries and 1000 kinds of cheese, but the variety of seafood in France is impressive too.

As usual, John took pics of the nearby architecture. The restaurant where we had lunch sported a wooden sculpture and sign stating that the half-timbered house is from the 15th Century. History and architecture treasures are to be found in so many places.

John and Christine have been traveling since 2005 and they've been sharing many of their travel experiences with us. It's fun spending time with them for many reasons. They'll move soon but not too far and to a must see area of Brittany (San Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel). We will trek up that way to visit them before long. We went to San Malo once but not to Mont-Saint-Michel. It's been on our wish list.

Not far from San Malo excessive algae has gathered on the shores for years. This year the algae became so massive that its fumes killed many animals and 3 people. Sea of sludge: toxic algae swamps Brittany's beaches - FRANCE 24: "In the meantime, at least three people and dozens of animals (including wild boars, dogs and a horse) have died after inhaling hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a potentially lethal gas released by decaying algae." The algae is growing so much and so fast due to the unusual heat and the increase in pig farming in the area. The algae site, Saint-Brieuc, (see the map below) is about 50 km west of San Malo. The autumn coolness will stop the algae from growing and the winter storms will wash it away but the cycle will repeat next summer. We just don't know to what extent.

Cool weather is beginning. Soon it will feel like autumn and it will be time to bundle and cuddle! And everyone will start wearing scarves again.

Wooden sculpture and sign stating that this half-timbered house is from the 15th Century. The house was converted to a restaurant where we had lunch with John and Christine. We always like spending time with
John and Christine.
Location of toxic algae on Brittany's beaches.