5 days in St Malo

The first stop on our French travels took us to St Malo - a place I haven't visited since I was a child but doesn't seem to have changed much though my memories are a little hazy! We are both enchanted by the place, despite enjoying a great deal of what an old family friend, Monsieur Godoc, used to call 'Breton Sunshine'. That special kind of sunshine which takes to take a reasonable solid and wet form! After Abu Dhabi we relished the ability to walk around without getting bathed in sweat and we have walked miles along the sea front and round the old walled city. The hotel which John found was also charming - le Villefromoy which is in the residential district about a mile and a half from the 'Intra Muros' and a few steps from the Plage de Rochebonne, in a very peaceful area. Our room overlooks a little garden and it very comfy. We've spent the past few days eating, drinking and generally walking around enjoying the views. You forget just how wonderful sea food is when it is so fresh and we've enjoyed mussels, oysters, crab, lobster etc which was absolutely delicious as well as other Breton specialities such as a meal consisting entirely of crepes and some amazing ice cream made with salted butter. As well as huge amounts of pink wine we've also discovered a taste for Breton cider. It's fortunate that the walk to town is a 3 mile round trip or we'd have been looking for new, larger trousers very quickly!
Having watched the hardy souls taking to the sea I did manage to swim yesterday afternoon which was very refreshing! John just took photos as it was certainly breathtaking, especially after the Arabian Gulf which was as hot as a bath last time I tried it! I took another trip down memory lane when we visited Dinard by taking a boat across the bay. I didn't recognize it at all but we had a good walk round, admired the Saturday morning market and enjoyed another delicious lunch.
Tomorrow we continue to rediscover the Brittany of my childhood by heading to the far North West, just for one night to the Pointe St Mathieu, which should be interesting. After that I think we'll be ready to head South and reacquaint ourselves with the sunshine having enjoyed enough of the novelty which is rain. This hotel is a member of a group called Chateau & Hotels and kindly gave us a brochure which is full of similar, small, family owned hotels so we've found one in Cholet (of womble fame for those who grew up in the seventies) where we'll head after Pointe St Mathieu.