Sunday, January 16, 2011

Weekend Potpouri

I'm in the doldrums between my two favorite activities, golf and motorcycle riding, and big winter.  Not a lot to do except read and take a little trip every now and then in the area.

Last weekend I took a little ride west toward the Atlantic.  I like the ride through Machecoul (Sick and Tired, February 2010), home of Gilles de Rais, aka Bluebeard.  It's a pretty area.  I did get a different angle on his ancestral home so I took the below picture and added it to the blog entry noted.
 
Gilles de Rais Ancestral Home

This weekend was the big "Soldes" (Sales) event in downtown Nantes.  Evidently it's like clearance week in the U.S. malls after Christmas, only it's everywhere, and everyone goes...including yours truly.  I didn't find anything but it was kind of an event.  The interior of the stores were madhouses, much like those depicted in exaggerated depictions of sales events in the U.S.  The streets were absolutely packed.  But, it was all in the spirit of fun as demonstrated by this little band that was marching around playing for everyone.  (Pardon the picture quality...these were taken with my phone cam.)




Like I said, lots of fun were had by all.

Greg, a colleague from the Houston office was in town for the past two weeks, and he and I decided to ride over to one of my favorite little coastal towns, Le Croisic (A Day at the Shore, May 24th) so he could see a little of rural France.

Unfortunately, you could cut the fog with a knife.  But it was a nice drive, though a little cool walking around.




We saw these barges parked for Sunday.  I assume they are repair barges, used to go to boats needing work.  If anyone can confirm or tell their purpose let me know.

















Greg at Le Croisic








 Later, on Wednesday evening, the 18th, a few of the Houston crew returned to my favorite restaurant, Monsigneur, for dinner.   This is Morroccan restaurant with gorgeous food and a magnificent decor.
Part of the gang: Didier, Kim, Anil, Phillipe, and Greg


And this is what the excitement is about.  Chicken, Beef Brochettes, Lamb, and Merguez.  I've got to find the source of their merguez.  It is a sausage generally made with lessor (than usual) cuts of meat and to find some this tasty is a dream.  The vegetable stew shown in the back is served over semouli (couscous when mixed 2:1 with durum flour).

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