There was a magnificent Roman viaduct, but they certainly were not the first to settle here, as Brittany was previously a Celtic nation and their traditions linger on even though the French government has discouraged using their language. The extent of the town’s history was there to see at a glance. Next morning, I started exploring again after a good night’s sleep - in spite of the bedding! I would like to have been able to travel through other parts of regional France as I’m beginning to suspect that the behaviour of the Parisians is more of a city thing, and can be found to exist in most big cities. I had a wonderful conversation when I went to buy my eggs and milk at the farm nearby - in fact I thought I would never get away. They actually seem to enjoy giving directions and information, even though they are inundated with tourists in the busy season. The local people so far have proved ever so much more agreeable than the Parisians and have done quite a bit to restore my faith in the French. I was feeling less enthusiastic about things when I tried to get to sleep - the mattress was indescribable I had heard that the hostels in France were barely up to standard and this one certainly doesn’t quite make it, but it really has quite a charm about it all the same. Making toast over the coals always takes me back to the big fireplace in the lounge room in our home in Henty when I was a little girl. I have just eaten a nice big meal made on a gas ring, and I cooked some toast on the coals of the wood fire and felt very content. However there is a lovely big fire blazing in the main room, and I am now writing this by the light of the candle!įor company I have a young Czech girl and another girl from Holland- and three cats, which, of course are curled up in a basket by the fire. It is actually a very old farmhouse with no mod. I decided to leave most of the sightseeing till the morning and set out for the hostel. The town has grown over many centuries within the Valle de la Rance, and its main centre sits high on the hillside overlooking the Rance river. The river Rance flowing on towards the Channel

Heart of Glass by Brittany Holland