- Location
- Wellington, NZ
Oh my word that is super cute! What a beautiful conversion they've done. If it looks as good as the photos (pleeeeease be as good as the photos) it'll be wonderful. And that garden looks great for hoolies!
The Labraventures of Carbón, Spanish (ex-) foster dog extraordinaire
- Thread starter Emily_Babbelhund
- Start date
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Brittany really feels like rural England to me. It’s super pretty and has a similar (wet) climate. That accommodation looks lovely, and a bargain. I hope you have a nice couple of days to recharge.
I love Brittany and Normandy. I spent so happy times there growing up.
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
A bed for Carbón too!
(He’ll soon have those chess pieces swooshed off with his tail
)
(He’ll soon have those chess pieces swooshed off with his tail
)
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
That barn looks very pleasant. You are AMAZING doing all this travelling, I am full of admiration.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
We survived the drive! I'm currently making Carbon's dinner of carrots, broccoli, carrots, chicken and sauerkraut - he scored, huh? - so this may be a bit disjointed, but here goes.
We left at 8:30am with sadly no day visit to Arles. That's a shame but I should have predicted my former manager would want to the whole chat and lunch thing all over again. It's fine though - at this point I value the friend visits more than I do any tourist stuff. She and I have had some very rough patches but it's rather inspirational all the changes she's made in the past year. It's like she's a different - and much happier - person.
It was a pretty easy motorway drive, just bogging down around Bordeaux. I have never been near Bordeaux at ANY time of the day when the traffic wasn't horrible. It must be a terrible place to live if you have to get around in a car! But that was really the only rough bit, otherwise it was just a LOT of driving- 11 hours door to door and a LOT of tolls - EUR90. Ouch.
Carbon and I are currently in Nantes. I thought about stopping at the beach or somewhere more exotic, but the lesson I learned last night is that if you arrive after 7pm all you want is food and a bed. I found a really nice place in an industrial part of town just off the motorway. Best part: kitchenette!!! So I stopped by a hyper-hyper-hyper marché - seriously the biggest supermarket I've ever been in - and loaded up on dinner for Carbon and me. Last night he had dinner but I didn't, then today was just Coke. So while at my current weight I SHOULD be able to live off my own fat for a couple months, I'm VERY happy to have a microwave and a salad bowl at my disposal tonight.
Plus the guy on reception was from Brittany so gave me the full run down on what to see. I've been thinking about taking the ferry week after next instead of this coming week to give me more time if I like Brittany and the house, so if I do that, he sure gave me lots of ideas. Like a little mini tourist office, he was!
Tomorrow is an easy drive of four hours with the added challenge of trying to find a vet to stamp Carbon's passport for the trip over the water. Either UK or Ireland require the same thing for worms. Carbon is due his second dose from his Italian worm episode and the vet there told me that it is the same thing he needs for the crossing. This means I already have the medication, I just need to get the ingestion of said medication witnessed. THAT should make for an interesting explanation. More unique cultural experiences courtesy of Señor Carboncito.
Thank you so much for the cheerleading and encouragement about Brittany...
I've said it before and I'll say it again, it really helps me that I have some excellent virtual companions along for the ride.
We left at 8:30am with sadly no day visit to Arles. That's a shame but I should have predicted my former manager would want to the whole chat and lunch thing all over again. It's fine though - at this point I value the friend visits more than I do any tourist stuff. She and I have had some very rough patches but it's rather inspirational all the changes she's made in the past year. It's like she's a different - and much happier - person.
It was a pretty easy motorway drive, just bogging down around Bordeaux. I have never been near Bordeaux at ANY time of the day when the traffic wasn't horrible. It must be a terrible place to live if you have to get around in a car! But that was really the only rough bit, otherwise it was just a LOT of driving- 11 hours door to door and a LOT of tolls - EUR90. Ouch.
Carbon and I are currently in Nantes. I thought about stopping at the beach or somewhere more exotic, but the lesson I learned last night is that if you arrive after 7pm all you want is food and a bed. I found a really nice place in an industrial part of town just off the motorway. Best part: kitchenette!!! So I stopped by a hyper-hyper-hyper marché - seriously the biggest supermarket I've ever been in - and loaded up on dinner for Carbon and me. Last night he had dinner but I didn't, then today was just Coke. So while at my current weight I SHOULD be able to live off my own fat for a couple months, I'm VERY happy to have a microwave and a salad bowl at my disposal tonight.
Plus the guy on reception was from Brittany so gave me the full run down on what to see. I've been thinking about taking the ferry week after next instead of this coming week to give me more time if I like Brittany and the house, so if I do that, he sure gave me lots of ideas. Like a little mini tourist office, he was!
Tomorrow is an easy drive of four hours with the added challenge of trying to find a vet to stamp Carbon's passport for the trip over the water. Either UK or Ireland require the same thing for worms. Carbon is due his second dose from his Italian worm episode and the vet there told me that it is the same thing he needs for the crossing. This means I already have the medication, I just need to get the ingestion of said medication witnessed. THAT should make for an interesting explanation. More unique cultural experiences courtesy of Señor Carboncito.
Thank you so much for the cheerleading and encouragement about Brittany...
I've said it before and I'll say it again, it really helps me that I have some excellent virtual companions along for the ride.
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
We spent our last six months of our French Connection in Brittany , renting a cottage near Morlaix . I found the area to be very like Cornwall , not surprising really as they used to be joined !
Dally awhile and enjoy it x
Dally awhile and enjoy it x
Sleep well tonight! I don't know how on earth you coped with an 11 hour drive, even though the French motorways are better than the UK ones. The tolls may all add up, but I spent many journeys between Kent and Scotland wishing that all the motorways were like the M6 toll bit (particularly the M25!).
Now a strange request... the staircase in your next stop looks really interesting and just what I need... could you possibly measure the dimensions of the ground floor base bit (the 'footprint') and the upper floor aperture for me?! Thank you!
Now a strange request... the staircase in your next stop looks really interesting and just what I need... could you possibly measure the dimensions of the ground floor base bit (the 'footprint') and the upper floor aperture for me?! Thank you!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Since who knows when I'll b back, just may do that!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
You are right, the tolls are a necessary evil in France. I drove Arles to Cannes once on the non-toll route just to see what it was like. Never again. I thought it would be picturesque like in Germany, but it was just what seemed like hundreds of roundabouts going past dozens of strip malls. Of course different areas would be...well, different. But for a long drive like today, the tollway was really the only option.
No problem on the measuring. I think I've even got a tape measure hanging out somewhere in my car.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Just got a message from the owner of the barn. He says he wants to fly 'my flag' at the entrance of the farm...I guess it's kind of a landmark that way. He asked me if I was French or German. That's me - confusing people all across Europe. I told him the French flag would do just fine...or Spanish for Carbon. Carbon would surely be impressed by his own flag.
- Location
- Wellington, NZ
The tolls are expensive, but at least you're saving a chunk on petrol by having a nice, direct, speedy route.
The flag thing is a neat little twist. He'll get a surprise when he realises you are neither French not German nor Spanish lol.
The flag thing is a neat little twist. He'll get a surprise when he realises you are neither French not German nor Spanish lol.
That wouldn’t surprise me at all!No problem on the measuring. I think I've even got a tape measure hanging out somewhere in my car.
Thank you!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Well, I think he must have looked at my online profile because the flag that was flying when I arrived was American, but he also had a California flag, a Spanish flag and a German flag! This man takes the flag thing VERY seriously. It was pretty funny, though, as I really did use it for my landmark and didn't realise he took all the flags home with him. When I came back from taking Carbon for a walk and doing a grocery run, I passed the house three times before finding it.
Oops.
OK, first thing: I've said "I hate France" for a long time with the caveat that I know there must a nice bit but that I'd just not been to it yet. Well, Brittany is the nice bit. I've not even seen the coast, but I base my assessment on the nice people, polite drivers, lack of toll roads and a very increased ratio of cows to humans.
This morning we stopped in Vannes to visit a vet and also see the town that last night's hotel receptionist had recommended. No toll road, no traffic. No appointment at the vet but he took us right away, gave Carbon his tablets for the journey to Ireland, stamped his passport and didn't even charge us. He even gave his passport the once over to make sure we were all in order for the crossing. Such a nice guy and a lovely little practice.
Then on to the centre of Vannes where there was a modern and incredibly central underground car park right on the harbor. There were markets in full swing, it was a glorious sunny day and that little town just sparkled. Carbon wasn't quite feeling his best, so he looks a bit grumpy in the photos, but I understood...those pills were rolling around in his stomach and we know what they did to him last time, poor pup.
I had planned a stop at the beach, but as Carbon was looking green, I thought it was best to stick to the main road and get to the house. We arrived, were greeted and shown around by the owner, then we took off to a little village 10 minutes away that the owner recommended for a stroll. Then off to a lovely Carrefour and a nice bonus surprise: we are stocked for three days for half the price as in Antibes. Woo hoo!
The house really is an old barn. It's much the same set up as @Beanwood farm: one large house that is divided into the original house - that's one holiday cottage - and then the part I am is the other half of the same structure but is a converted barn. I have the nice big glass doors to the patio because that was the big barn door. Each section has it's own enclosed garden, then there is a massive lawn with a boules area, swings, etc. Beyond that, a paddock with very relaxing cows. Moo!
It's a pretty place, but like everywhere there are a couple funny little quirks. Here - so far - they are that the kitchen is rather spidery and the bathroom. I don't like spiders, but let me tell you, the bathroom is what has left me truly baffled. And creeped out. For some reason, he's done the bathroom like a bad youth hostel. The house sleeps FOUR maximum and there is a half bath upstairs. But downstairs - location of the only bathing facilities - are TWO sinks, TWO shower stalls and TWO toilet stalls. Yes, stalls like you find on motorway WC facilities. It is the weirdest thing.
Ever since reading "The Shining" as a kid, I've not been too keen on any shower/tub curtain or door you couldn't see through, now I've got SIX doors. Yes, six, because even the sinks have their own creepy little stall doors. What's more all the stall doors lock FROM THE OUTSIDE.
I may just have to not bathe for three days.
Haunted bathrooms aside, it's a lovely place and I can't wait to strike out for the coast tomorrow. That said, I'm going to post some pics and head to bed. Big sunny tourist day tomorrow!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
First, the bathroom. You know you wanted to see it..
Nope, no way I'll get warm enough in a shower in a room that big. Shades of freezing my backside off in youth hostels in the UK in winter.
Nope, no way I'll get warm enough in a shower in a room that big. Shades of freezing my backside off in youth hostels in the UK in winter.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Now on to nicer things. Here's Vannes:
Looking happy on the port - the tablets haven't hit yet, poor boy
Another dog doing some shopping...
The cathedral...
Some half-timbered houses...
Starting to lose his enthusiasm for modelling...
Looking happy on the port - the tablets haven't hit yet, poor boy
Another dog doing some shopping...
The cathedral...
Some half-timbered houses...
Starting to lose his enthusiasm for modelling...
What?! That’s really peculiar and not at all in keeping with everything else. I wouldn ‘t want to use it either!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Carbon was back in fine form by the time we visited this little village later in the day. It was nice stroll along the little river and we even met a 2.5 month old doxie pup named "Biscotte". No photos of him, though - I was too busy giving him pets.
"Don't wanna pose and you can't make me. Pfft!"
Old houses along the river showing the unique laundry facilities out the back. Very useful back in the day!
A closer view of the outdoor laundry room taking advantage of the river for washing
Balcony in the village
The local dog groomers. Sorry, that's a little creepy, but I mean that in the best possible way of course. It's nearly Halloween after all.
"Really? Posing? Again. Ugh!"
I try to get artsy fartsy. Insert Carbon eye roll here.
Carbon looking all kinds cool. His posing game is BACK!
"Don't wanna pose and you can't make me. Pfft!"
Old houses along the river showing the unique laundry facilities out the back. Very useful back in the day!
A closer view of the outdoor laundry room taking advantage of the river for washing
Balcony in the village
The local dog groomers. Sorry, that's a little creepy, but I mean that in the best possible way of course. It's nearly Halloween after all.
"Really? Posing? Again. Ugh!"
I try to get artsy fartsy. Insert Carbon eye roll here.
Carbon looking all kinds cool. His posing game is BACK!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I can only think that he must have gotten a deal on the materials, but even that doesn't seem quite right as the rest of the house is really nicely finished. He is ex-military, maybe he built what HE feels most comfortable in?