WE DROP IN FOR DINNER AT OUR BRETON NEIGHBOURS AND WE ENJOY THEIR HOSPITALITY. QUIBERON BRITTANY FRANCE

It was our turn to drop in on the neighbours. A short ride to a nearby village of Kerniscob (village of the Bishop in Breton), it was a happy moment to see the welcoming blue of Ti Chulad, the neighbours home.

The table had been set, tulips setting the calm tone.

It had been a warm april day for this northern location but the presence of a wooden fire reminded us that we are not that far from the Wild Coast so named because of its unpredictable sea and conditions

I often tell my friends that I have become fond of this french custom of apertif, where a bottle of champagne is opened and the conversations begin.

this is the one we drank. and went down well with the hors-d'oeuvres ..

The conversation was smooth flowing and I was glad that there was no discussion on the upcoming presidential elections in France but we talked of things in general and of mutual interest, nothing controversial. a polite and animated conversation.

Quiberon is a peninsula and thus seafood is the star here, and we began with Petoncle which is a type of Clam, related to Coquille St Jacques.

L'histoire de ce mot est en réalité complexe. Jusqu'à la fin du xviii^e siècle, il a servi pour nommer une grande diversité de coquillages avant que Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck n'en fasse un genre précis (Pectunculus). Les pétoncles de Lamarck et des naturalistes du xix^e siècle ne correspondent toutefois pas du tout aux coquillages que nous connaissons aujourd'hui sous ce nom.

It was delicious.

served alongside were Langoustines.

People often mistake Langoustines for prawns or shrimps, they are closely related to lobster and often mentioned as Norwegian lobster.

By this time, the champagne had disappeared into our gullets, so a lovely fragrant Pouilly Fume was opened. I could not get over the fragrance of this wine 

The French are strongly secular. Unless someone tells you that it is Easter, there is no way of knowing it: no decorations with Easter Bunny or Easter Eggs or church bells ringing. The Jewish holiday of Passover coincides this year with Easter, so the lamb as a main course would satisfy any gustatory longings.

The green paste is home made concoction to go with the Lamb and it may have island orgins, but tasty.

the host opened a bottle of chateauneuf  du pape 2015 for those who had a red to accompany their lamb dish. I had a sip but returned to the Pouilly Fume 2020 as I liked that very much.

a fruit salad, with fruiticas like we say in Cuba. 

The Bretons are fond of their cakes and biscuits and there are always some available.

We had arrived at 7 30 pm and it was now close to 11 pm but I couldnt say NO to a good Nespresso, What else?

Just so good.

what a lovely dinner. I thanked the hosts for the work they had put into the meal but foremost was the demonstration of friendship between all those present. The four Quiberon residents had known each other from their university days in Lille decades earlier and had maintained contact through varied careers and living in other parts of France and Morocco.

Four hours after we had arrived, after a delicious dinner and smooth wonderful conversations, we said good bye to our hosts, planning once again to meet on my next visit to France or Morocco.

On the way back to the house where I was staying, the streets of this little seaside town was calm and soothing in a way, abetted by the full moon shining down upon us.

We were home in about five minutes and I had a chance to capture the full moon from my room.

This visit to France has been exceptionally good. The hospitality of the Bretons has been overwhelming, the weather has been nothing short of magnificent, with the beach full of people and an atmosphere of gaiety.. Merci Beaucoup..

I have eaten very well, drunk well, slept very well and it was a week without undue worries and thoughts, a time for the mind to relax.

and prepare for the next part of this journey.