envie de voyager

My next vacation is in 2 weeks, and I am heading off to explore Bretagne, the region of which Nantes used to be the capital (known as Naoned in the Breton language). This place seems like a country apart from France, where cidre brut (cider), kouign amman (already talked about this in an earlier post I think-- kind of a French version of baklava), lait ribot (sour milk -- it's an acquired taste, but I really like it), moules frites (mussels) are the common items being consumed here. The local language, Breton, can be compared to the Irish language in Ireland; that is to say, no one speaks it anymore and it's a dying language. But there are still some old people who speak it, and the kids are starting to learn it again in schools. There is a huge marine culture in this area, since it is on the Atlantic coast. Every Breton I have met (and there are many in Nantes), knows how to swim, likes to eat seafood, and knows all the parts of a boat. The stereotypical Breton likes beer, puts ungodly quantities of butter on everything (à la Paula Deen), has a really quick temper, and considers 60°F water really warm (by the way, it's REALLY NOT!) Anyway, I will find out in two weeks' time if any of these stereotypes are true (so far, I only know for sure that the butter stereotype is true) when I go to Douarnenez, in the department called Finistère.