I'm sitting in the hostel common area sipping a mug of steaming tea, trying to sort out my thoughts. Its been a whirlwind of a week. In a crazy twist, I am not heading towards the Alps anymore. I was initially very hesitant to change my course, but I couldn’t resist the clashing sword, eloquent speeches, and mystery that comes with the thought of King Arthur and other fables. This is the route I have been travelling for the past few days:


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But first, Rennes. Rennes is the capitol city of Brittany, France. The history of the city goes back to the years BC! It was influential in the Roman times--Julius Ceasar himself had to come to Condate (what Rennes was called then) to be a diplomat. The Roman influence is everywhere. It is as if I've stepped back in time with how preserved some of the ancient markers are. This is a picture of the Galo-Roman wall built in the 3rd century.



Being in a big city, I couldn't help but immerse myself in the more lively bits of Rennes. The Opera of Rennes (below) is one of the smallest French opera houses, but it by far the most popular. The season for the opera house is November, so I couldn't see a live performance, but I did get to tour the house and sit up in the top, top seats and pretend I was in a swirling ball gown watching the actors gliding around the stage...



Picture of Rennes
thanks to :fr:Breizh Joan and Ookaboo!

It made me laugh, but in asking around, I found that Rennes is famous for being the most intoxicated region of France! And the Rue de la soif (below), is the infamous street lined with bars that creates much of the ruckus in Rennes on a nightly basis. On the weekends it looks a lot like Times Square on New Years Eve! In English, rue de la soif means "street of thirst"!



Picture of Rennes
thanks to Selby from Wikimedia Commons and Ookaboo!

There was so much more to see, but I didn't have much time. The allure of the medieval was calling and so I headed down the road to Paimpont, France. Here I found the Paimpont Forest, believed to be the Brocéliande forest in a book (Roman d Rou) written in 1160 by Wace. This forest is a place of untold mystery; mysterious happenings, unpredictable weather, and mystical ties to the legend of Arthur (it is believed the Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable originated here). This is supposedly the home of the Fountain of Youth and Merlin's tomb.



Picture of Paimpont forest
thanks to Goofijve60180 from Wikimedia Commons and Ookaboo!
Merlin's tomb

I just couldn't get my fill of the medieval times so I headed to Dinan, a small town known for its upkeep of its medieval roots. It is set on the River Rance, with easy access to the port (Fresh Seafooooood!!!). I did take a day motor boat ride out to the port and back. It is definitely a different view from the water. The town is surrounded by a thick stone wall.



Picture of Dinan
thanks to GrahamBould from Wikimedia Commons and Ookaboo!

The streets are cobbled and steep, the buildings repaired and well-kept, the houses with more wood accenting than I've noticed so far:



Picture of Dinan
thanks to MGA73bot2 from Wikimedia Commons and Ookaboo!

Every other summer, Dinan hosts the Fête des Remparts (a medieval reinactment festival). Unfortunately, I came in the off year. But I was able to get lively renditions from the locals. Street entertainers are on every corner, harps and other old musical instruments make an appearance--there's even a jousting event at the end of the festival. Knights ride around in horses and damsels theatrically find themselves in some amount of dire distress that they need rescuing from!

The Thursday market was just as if it was out of a movie. Bustling, busy, with people milling every which way with stray chickens darting between the stands. It seemed that as much of the food for sale was alive as was dead and prepared :)

Though Dinan is a historic, medieval town it still manages to be big enough to have its own 13-15th century castle and a basilica (below)!



Picture of Dinan
thanks to Tango7174 from Wikimedia Commons and Ookaboo!

Now, here I am, awaiting tomorrow and a whole new world of things to do and see...