lil de re:

after the hustle and bustle of paris, the quaint lil de re is heavensent.  after a grueling 7 hour drive - we arrived at 230am - we are so happy to wake up here.  last night was tough - made better by the gas station wine? and leftover baguette and cheese.  once on the island, the road was lined with tons of adorable light brown bunnies.  it’s official.  the city is far far away.

there is a daily market in the town square filled with fresh vegetables, fruits, seafood, meats, cheeses, baskets, clothing, soaps, etc.  midday the market packs up, leaving a charming gravel? dirt? filled sqaure lined with benches and beautiful potted plants.  the carousel and “canard” game stays.  the creperie + pizzeria place their classic looking french tables, chairs and umbrellas on part of the sqaure.  we dined in the sqaure last night (july 25th).  it was delicious salad and pizza...and rose of course.

the streets are small and lined with old white washed homes with tile roofs and wooden shutters of blue or green.  lavender, oleander, grasses and snap dragons (?) shoulder the homes and fences.  i can’t stop taking pictures of the old doors and shutters.  i love the juxtaposition of the stark white plaster and bright painted wood.  i keep imagining what influences i will bring to the US when we return in a couple of years.  

  

we are staying at le peu breton hotel.  it is lovely.  small rooms but well designed.  great pool and gardens.  we are tucked in chambre 23 above a small shaded courtyard.  all of the guests are european.  sometimes i get self concious when speaking aloud...but i’m pretty sure they know we aren’t “local” by just looking at us.

thursday, july 25th, we spent the bulk of the day on the beach.  at low tide it is filled with tide pools containing tiny hermit crabs, sea snails, miniature prawns, “skinny fish”, translucent crabs and tons of sea lettuces.  it is a baker child wonderland.  they made “castles” for their pet hermit crabs.  sadly i think all the “pets” perished after too much play.

the beach reminds me of a rothko painting.  its layers / belts of sand, white rounded and sometimes hole filled stones, green seaweed, brown rocks/tide pools all bleeding into one another until the ocean gobbles them up.  

i have a slight addiction to the beach rocks.  most are the size of potatoes.  all round and smooth.  many have holes where the tides have worked their way through the stone.  i have started a small collection and plan to take them “home” / paris with us.  maybe to hold pens?  maybe to place on top of magazines?  maybe just to look at.  

we made a rock toss game on the beach.  3 holes lined with rocks offering 100, 200 or 300 points.  harry helped build it and emily and i played.  today, july 26th, when i went for a morning walk to the beach, the tide had washed them away.  i can’t wait to see what else will be different today.