Leaving, Flying, Arriving
There is no way to ease these early-morning departures; I didn’t even try to get a full night’s sleep. What do I need to be rested and alert for, anyway?
Browsing: Bonjour the France!
Don’t Lick Your Computer Screen
While we are flying from the old world to the new continent, enjoy some bread…
People of Nantes – Summer 2015 [4]
Half of Nantes’ small businesses are closed for the entire month of August (les vacances!) and the summer sales period is over, anyway.
Cultural Snapshot: 4 Things Found in Nantes [5]
Here is another installment of the “things found in Nantes” series, with the latest pictures! Today, an old grocery store, “paradise”, wine and a bad word play.
Postcards of Nantes
I always tell Feng he is lucky that I’m from a sizable city and not Trifouillis-les-Oies (a French euphemism for “out in the sticks”).
Written on Walls
The walls aren’t on holidays. Sometime graffiti and political stickers make sense… and sometime, they don’t!
Cultural Snapshot: 4 Things Found in Nantes [4]
Here is another installment of the “things found in Nantes” series, with the latest pictures! Today, broken glass, Bécassine, souvenirs and a funny street name.
Putting Food on the Table
Once you sort through the mess, you need to go to the one and only small supermarket—a Unico—is a two-kilometre walk from home. Uphill, of course.
At Least, the Ocean is Polite
It takes my eyes a second or two to get used to the darkness. Inside the bakery, the blinds are closed and I’ve just walked the two-kilometre-long road along the beach under the midday sun.
Low Tide, High Tide
All along the coast of Brittany, the difference between low tide and high tide is pretty amazing.
Cookies Heaven
“Fifty euro worth of cookies? Are you crazy?” I thought. A pack costs about €1.15 at the supermarket. Fancier cookies are slightly more expensive, but still, we are talking less than €3. And then we stepped inside, and I understood.
Loiterers
In addition to locals and tourists, there are roughly four kinds of people who hang out in the streets of Nantes: homeless people, street artists, beggars from Eastern Europe and “guys with dogs”.
People of Nantes – Summer 2015 [3]
It started to rain last Sunday and it lasted for three days. Three long days during which we got soaked from head to toes.
Honey, We Frenchized the Kid
Mark developed a love for baguette and choco biscuits, he loves checking out clothing stores, he plays at the Château and around fontaines…
Not (Really) Guilty
“You’ve never visited the Courthouse?” “I didn’t even know you could go inside!” “Feng and…
Conquer Your Fears
This year, the first time we walked by the carousel, Mark asked for a ride. “Are you sure?” I asked. “I’m not going with you, I’m standing on the side.” “Not scared.”
Connected
Train tracks just outside the city offer a gritty scenery—giant scars punctuated by wires and posts with huge metal monsters going full speed.
Cultural Snapshot: 4 Things Found in Nantes [3]
Here is another installment of the “things found in Nantes” series, with the latest pictures! Today, toilet paper, macarons, bowls and grocery receipts.
Industrial Wasteland on a Rainy Day
Some days are sunny, some days are cloudy and some days are—gasp!—rainy. I grew up…
Right Place, Right Time
At the end of the evening, I gave in and decided to “treat” Mark to a church visit. It was that or candies and yes, this kid is weird.
Walking While Female
Is he talking about my ass? Probably. The street is empty, it’s past 8 p.m. and it’s a quiet Monday night. There are no other asses around.
People of Nantes – Summer 2015 [2]
After Bastille Day, the atmosphere changed in Nantes. Many Nantais are now on holiday, they have been replaced by tourists from all over France and Europe, lost in small alleys with their maps.
Cultural Snapshot: 5 Things Found in Nantes [2]
Here is another installment of the “things found in Nantes” series, with the latest pictures! Today, Breizh Cola, shutters, spelling errors and street art.
4 Classic French Cookies
Here are 4 classic cookies you can probably find in any French food cupboard.