Chapelle St. Nicodeme: Secret Agent Man

En route to Vannes, a very tall spire out in the boonies in the vicinity of Guern attracted our attention. It turned out to be the Chapel of St. Nicodemus, a remarkably well preserved 15th-16th century chapel. The flamboyant architecture was complemented by many interesting wood and stone carvings, especially in the calvaire. St.Nicodemus is not among your better known saints, so I looked him up. The Catholic News Agency tells us that "St. Nicodemus was a secret disciple of Jesus. As a member of the Sanhedrin, he would meet Jesus by night so that the others would not see him with Jesus. Eventually, it was Nicodemus who reminded the Sanhedrin that Jesus had the right to a trial. Together with St. Joseph of Arimathea, he prepared Jesus' body and placed him in the tomb. Tradition holds that St. Nicodemus was martyred, though no record remains." Just FYI. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=secret%20agent%20man%20lyrics

Rebecca, Penelope, and Jeremy outside the Chapel of St. Nicodemus

Les Verts Paturages

Rebecca and Jeremy had rented a cottage at Les Verts Paturages, near Guern, in Brittany, that was to be our home for the next week. The plan was to alternate relaxation days with tourism days.

Their unit, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, the third of a 3 unit 17th century farmhouse,
thoroughly updated

Backside

The place was very family-friendly; here, the trampoline, sandbox, chicken
coop;  two British families were there, with younger children, so P was able to
have kid-fun

The heated pool

Plenty of kid toys

Even a see-through menhir

Also our aire de camping-cars for a week

Across Normandy

Before the ferry, we stopped at the Morrison's in Dover for last helpings of British necessities: clotted cream, scones, ginger beer, bitter shandy, etc. In Calais, we headed immediately for the Two Capes Auchon, our favorite, to renew our long acquaintance with French food, but, sadly, exercising restraint: Vicki's 50th reunion was scarcely a month away. Our overall travel plan called for driving across Normandy and into Brittany, keeping an active 5-year-old happy and busy. This we accomplished through long stops at beaches along the way and ample conversation about France and the French. Also occasional screen-time with the iPad. And occasional bribes. In Brittany, near Guern, we would meet up with P's parents, who had been spending a week in Edinburgh.

Looking toward the beach near Le Touquet/Paris Plage; Vicki and P are out there
on the low-tide sandbar

Making friends; en Francaise

The aire de camping-cars at Le Touquet; 15E a night, very expensive for this
sort of thing; but, hey, it's Paris Plage

Miles past Rouen, we spent the night in Pont L'Eveque; here in a creperie; we told
P she could have the chocolate crepe dessert if a) she ate all or most of her ham/
cheese galette (Grandpa helped) and b) she ordered it in French; this she did, much
to the amusement of fellow diners

Church at Pont L'Eveque; a pretty town, with a free aire

We drove on to favorite Trouville and miraculously found a spot at the tiny aire 
there; the weekly market was underway

In the seafood market at Trouville, P was particularly intrigued by the crustaceans

At the seafood market; make your own fruits de mare: order from the stands on
the right, consume at the tables on the left

At one of the stripey shops, where Grandma bought P a stripey fleece jacket

Low tide in the little channel that separates Trouville from Deauville

Vicki and Penelope walking out to the low-tide beach at Trouville

Cuisine in Trouville (pie crust soup)

Playing ball and chasing seagulls at Trouville

A summer camp group experiences the incoming tide; it's impressive

Beach pony ride

It happens

Flowers everywhere, as usual in France

At that evening's seafood repast, P boldly tried the St. Vaast
oysters; not to her taste; but she she did like the samphire
(sallicorne) and the salmon and shrimp

We drove on to the aire at Villedieu des Poules; then drove on to Guern the
next day; P was happy to be reunited with Mama and Daddy at the cottage
they had rented

British Out-Takes #3

Barista on a bike, Walton on Thames

It was indeed quite warm during our visits to London

Contemporary art take on Newton...and we all thought he had been sitting under
an apple tree

What we will call our place once we are done roaming

Dog control orders, Wales

Another specimen for my collection of trash bins of the world

Well-designed picnic table

At Waddesdon House, of course

In case you were wondering

Unusual dorsal view of a swan

Most interesting putti yet

A painting of the infamous wine fountain at Hampton Court

Experiential tourism, I call it

I love Queen Anne furniture