One Quimper Day
20.10.2024
21 °C
It’s an autumn Saturday in the Brittany city of Quimper and the local Bretons are up early to get the freshest fruit and vegetables at the weekly market…
In a tribute to the resilience of ancient traditions, and despite the abundance of incredibly well-stocked supermarkets, vast hyper-markets, and the growing preponderance of online shopping, the street markets of France are flourishing. There are still plenty of old-fashioned stalls selling local produce including the renowned Brittany apples, and freshly baked bread…
However, the age-old markets are keeping up with the times, (and the health regulations), with truck-sized refrigerated units displaying meats, fish and dairy produce. And this guy had enough industrial-sized grills and hotplates to feed an army with chickens, sausages, barbecued pork and roast potatoes…
Some enterprising traders have found ways to grab attention in a crowded marketplace. This cutler has equipped an old London taxi with all his knife grinding tools…
…while this young woman turned her Vespa into a mini-biscuiterie…
With a fish pie and some salad we had lunch in the bag. All we needed was a desert. What about a fancy giant macaroon?...
Now we can enjoy the warm autumn sunshine just strolling around the beautiful medieval city at the heart of Quimper and, as we take a close look at the many half-timbered buildings, we realise that we have no need to visit a museum…The whole place is a museum…
The carvings and decorations on the façades of the centuries old buildings are simply amazing…
The double spires of cathedral can be seen from all points, which is handy for us as our apartment is just next door in the Town Square…
With lunch over and the thermometer hitting twenty we are off to a Saturday afternoon at the beach. à bientôt.
What a good way to start the day. Good bounty through hunting and gathering, and a beach to enjoy your bounty.
by Susan Fitzwilson