New Friends!

Having loved The Point at St. Matthieu, we decided to take part in a Sunday Luncheon taking place there in a few days. It was after the 11:00 Mass and naturally pouring rain. Being good Bretons, as good Mainers would do, they were completely prepared with tent and cash wine bar. We had been in French language immersion for about 6 days at this point. Not real immersion because we still spoke English to each other and squeezed in a little CNN. At any rate, we felt safe to take our act public.

There was a very friendly looking woman, Nicole, who had been heading up the wine concession, and her beautiful daughter, Isabelle, who were beginning to take places at a table. When I asked if we could join them, in my best French, of course, they pleasantly invited us. We had some friendly chit chat and along came Nicole's husband, Joel. A very courteous and polite gentleman who was retired from the French police. Then came his sister, Danielle and eventually her husband, Jean Paul.
They were all so warm and friendly and spoke more slowly and a few words of English if we requested help or seemed to glaze over. We had a wonderful time and learned it is always a wise idea to sit with the keepers of the wine. As word got out there were two Americans there several people came over to speak to us. A very cordial group.

Jean Paul and Danielle(aka Dany) invited us all to come to their beautiful home the next evening(Mon.) in Plougonvelin for drinks! Jean Paul is a physician, retired from the French Navy and partially retired from private practice. Dany is a Professor of Political Geography. They were all so charming and so much fun we had a great evening. You will see them all at Jean Paul and Dany's beautiful home in the photos below.

They also invited us to meet them at a wonderful outdoor concert on Fri night at the Celebration of the 500th year of a large sea battle at Fort Berthaume in Plougonvelin. The concert by the sea was great and Jean Paul sang in one of the excellent local choral groups that performed. The fireworks afterwards were some of the best and longest we have ever seen. We had a great evening with our new friends and hope to see the in Maine sometime.