Not too far away from England, lovely scenery, interesting culture, great weather (July 2005)
Disadvantages:
Not loads and loads to do, it's full of ignorant French people, language confusion
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Eagerly awaiting the return of the computer and the glories of a fast speed internet connection, I couldn't wait to get back into my normal routine today! Just this morning, we were on the night ferry, heading back to the Promised Land. But it was a super trip, one that I can honestly recommend.
For a fortnight holiday, me, my brother, my Mom and Dad basked in the beautiful sun's rays on the west coast of Brittany, near Nevez. We were camping at 'Les Deux Fontaines', or 'The Two Fountains' and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Here's my verdict.
SO NEAR YET SO FAR AWAY (Warning - BIG MOAN)
It's amazing really how close England and France are (geographically), compared with how close they are culturally. I was utterly amazed at the traditions of the French on Sundays. While I always feel a sense of calm and relaxation on Sundays, the French literally hibernate on the day. Sundays aren't just for taking it a little bit easier - it's about taking the whole day off, except for the odd supermarket. Church bells rang rhythmically, filling me with an appreciation for the culture. I can't help but feel the French have stuck by the cultural traditions of their nation, keeping the Sundays peaceful, and letting bells ring loudly without the threat of other cultural beliefs imposing their views, thus restricting the full appreciation the indigenous French people should have of their own traditions. Could you say the same about England? I wouldn't think so, no.
Another thing that shocked, and disappointed me, was the ignorance of the French. If you've got money, sure, they'll serve you. But everyday conversation - they don't want to know. I became really irate with some of the people's sheer ignorance when using a level crossing. Not only do they barely glance to see if there's oncoming traffic, when you finally slam the brakes on, not a single nod or hand up in appreciation for stopping - just a straight forward glance to where THEY'RE going... There were a couple of French who appreciated it, but not the majority. I know it's only a small thing, but it's a principle I can't seem to forgive - common courtesies and respect should be natural to anyone. BIG MOAN OVER.
ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT
Though the camp site provided many clubs and equipment for youngsters, the local area outside of the site didn't really offer much in the way of activities, especially for the easily-bored teenager, i.e. my brother, 17!
After finding our feet, though, we soon got into the habit of exploring the towns and markets (which were on relatively frequently actually - everyday bar Sunday I believe!), which was fun and interesting to explore. The daily consumption of French baguettes has to be high - I mean everywhere you look, Madame Henrietta has one or two in her cute French handbag or bicycle basket! I think the French take quite a passion in their food too, especially the bread. My Dad said they treat their food as an art - everything has to be perfect.
There are quite a few beaches to take a look at too - I found it to be really hot in the sun though, and was always looking for a bit of shade. Frequently, we stopped by and had a drink outside at a pub in town. A typical round came around the ten euro mark, about £7.00 for four people - not too bad.
After a daily outing, we usually came back and basked again in the sun, did a bit of reading, some top-bombing in the swimming pool and taking lightly the constant whoopings I took at any sport I dared to play my brother at - jeesh, it really is a good job I don't take it seriously!
FOOD
Though a posh menu branded the dish, nope - I didn't dare try the 'specialities' of French cuisine, such as snails! Uuuuuuuurgh! Anyone unfortunate to have done so? I mean, it really does sound revolting - but who am I to say that when I've never tried it? Still, I can never see that view changing.
The usual dish for me was pizza - not very French I know, but the local area boasted many homemade pizzas for you to get stuck into, and they went down really well. Fussy eaters like me should normally be OK, but we did have the one night where I struggled. Hopping from restaurant to sea side bar, we just couldn't find a bar that had something I liked - snails here, fish only there - no no no! Yes, it was a Sunday - so I suppose my earlier appreciation for the tradition does bring with it certain downsides. Nevertheless, we managed to find somewhere nice and soon tucked in to English-style meals again - well, there's no place like home, ay?
The odd night we had a barbecue, but one has to wait quite a while for the blasted coal to get going! This French stuff just didn't want to ignite, so we ended up starting it an hour earlier the next time.
As I mentioned earlier, the French treat their food with so much care and passion, which is why you're likely to see the prices go up a little. Many fancies could be seen in the Boulangerie/Patisserie, but they came at a price! Quite scarily, the French show prices per kilo on many things. So if you were taking a look at some fancy chocs, you may find yourself jumping back in shock when you see 40,00 euro/kg written by the side!
LANGUAGE BARRIERS
Much as I love studying German language, I've never had the urge to follow French. Most places had at least one staff able enough to handle transactions, but a bit was lost here and there. What makes it harder, though, is the region's apparent desire to speak fluently its own language - Brittany appears to be a region that is related with the Celtic regions i.e. Ireland, Scotland Wales etc. and thus has its own language and traditions, separate from France. This, I feel made it harder - one woman understood my English for something like a coffee with milk, but then went on to explain its translations in both French and Brittany's language too! Quite confusing!
WEATHER
Except for the first 2 or 3 days, which I think it rained and it was really cold on the night (this was worrying at first!), the rest of the holiday was hot hot hot! I've came back with a bit of a tan, nothing major, but enough to be proud of. I've also come back with my usual pink nose - it always goes pink in the sun, no matter how much sun cream is piled on!
The weather was a boon for swimming, and we constantly found ourselves heading to the pool to cool off and have some fun on the fast slides - it was always a great game trying to completely drench the odd photographer now and then upon entry from the slide! Hehehe!
OVERALL
Well it's been a great trip - I've really enjoyed the experience, and I'd certainly recommend it. Though there's not an awful lot to do out of the campus, you can make your own arrangements and easily find things to do on site. There are bike cycle hires to look into as well as other fun activities in the area - the staff on site are full of knowledge and there are plenty of tourism offices in the area. As a result, I'd say 4-star is an apt rating. Thanks for reading :)
----------------------------------------------------------------- Benjamin Riches - wbafcben 2005 -----------------------------------------------------------------
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