We passed our TESTS!!

Bonjour!

 

We passed our TESTS!!  YEAH!  I’m sure everyone in the U.S. knows that to re-enter the States, one must produce a negative COVID test within 72 hours … Fortunately for us, Aurelie, the lovely lady that greeted us on our (LATE) night arrival in Carnac, had all the information we needed.  Apparently up to several weeks ago, there were many pharmacies doing Covid tests.  However, since that time, the pharmacies have apparently given back that business to official medical labs and centers.  So … Aurelie found a place where 1) we didn’t need an appointment; 2) anyone qualified; and 3) they were open Monday thru Saturday, 8 am – 12 noon.  So, this morning we were up at 6 and out the door about 6:30 am.  It only took about half an hour to get there, but it was a difficult half-hour.  First of all, it was dark and it was raining heavily, and the regular headlights on our lovely Peugeot were not too terrific – which meant that I had to do much of the trip with the brights on, just to be able to see the sides of the road.  We were the second and third in line for Covid.  There was a second line, but that apparently was for people getting testing done OTHER than Covid.  (Is there such a thing these days??)  The door swung open just a minute or so after 8, and in we went!  

Me & Great Soup

R's swordfish & potatoes

Great ham and cheese omelet!

R's teeny tiny cup of coffee!

 

The Covid clinic was very interesting.  It was not in a permanent structure – it was more like a large temporary metal room divided into two halves.  The first side was check-in, where they had two ladies working.  We needed to pay for our tests, (44.60€ each).   

We (of course) took longer for processing, but soon we were called for the actual testing, which took place in two spots next to the receptionists.  Then, once tested, out the farther door and fini!!  As I had never been tested before, I’m afraid I was a bit nervous, and the technician was very, very kind.  She asked me if I had ever had the test, and when I told her no, and that I was nervous, she smiled and told me to take a deep breath!  (Wow, does she know my number or what?) At any rate, the test was absolutely no problem at all!!  It wasn’t painful or anything; I was SO pleasantly surprised!  [Even so, I don’t particularly enjoy having people stick giant Q-tips up my nose. – R]  Then, back to the apartment in Carnac for breakfast – yummy pain-au-chocolat et croissants!  Can there ever be a better breakfast anywhere??

 

Second Gate

Lovely exterior corner -
not correct timewise, though!

Looking from the port

Exterior of Vieux Concarneau

While we got rained on this morning, by the time we got back to Carnac, the weather was looking decidedly better.  So, we decided to head to Concarneau, a bit further to the west toward Brest, to have lunch and see the town!  We had been there years ago, and I remembered it as quite lovely.  Oh!  I forgot to mention that the weather reports we had been looking at had a high-wind advisory … and boy, “they” weren’t messing around!  We have had occasion over the years to drive some very windy freeways – watching those “slab-sided vehicles” (usually trucks) would always prove interesting … it’s just that now our Peugeot was dancing around on the freeway as well!  Incredible wind!  

 

Made it into Concarneau and parked the car at the port.  Found a lovely small bistrot, l’Admiral, and went in for lunch.  I had a bowl of their wonderful home-made vegetable soup (definitely better than the out-of-the-box soup I had for dinner last night, but for some reason pre-prepared soups aren’t really big here in the supermarkets at any rate.  Does everyone make their own?!). That was followed by the first omelet I have had since our Late Dear Friend, Art Rotstein, made us breakfast one morning more than a Covid-lifetime ago!  Wow!  Robert ordered the local special of the day, which was Swordfish with a beurre blanc sauce, boiled fingerling potatoes and salad.  [Honestly, how does France do it?  I mean, they have the very best chickens on the planet – how do they also have the most tastetiful (my word; sorry!) potatoes?  Definitely NOT fair!]

Another stone gateway

Getting ready for Christmas!

Talk about deserted streets!

 

After lunch, we walked across the bridge to the Vieux Concarneau section of town.  This is a HUGE and lovely castle (dating from the 1600s) and surrounding walls entirely to itself on a small point of land.  It appears to us that basically Concarneau is getting ready to close up for the winter!  The stores were having sales and from what we read from the signage, it looks like things will be closing up effective December 1 – but for how long? At any rate, most everything tourist-related was closed up tight for Hiver (Winter).  I’m sure it will be lovely in the spring!  One added thing:  It looks to us like they plan to have a HUGE Christmas tree on the main square of the old section – except for the fact that the wind was SO strong, and obviously the tree hadn’t really been secured properly yet or decorated, it was tipped over on the ground!  That’s going to be one tall tree, if they can get it to stand up again! 

 

From Concarneau we decided to head back to the apartment.  The weather was really unsettled, with clouds scudding past with spits of rain alternating with spells of sunshine.  We stopped along the way to fill up the car with gas – one never knows on a Sunday in France, what may or may not be open!  And, by the time we got home – 3-ish or so, our test results were on our email!  Yeah!!  So, working my way back to how I started – We’re going to be able to get home on Tuesday!

Beautiful (but empty!) central square

Not warm enough for a fountain

Looking out into the bay

Lovely harbor

Me beside Christmas tree!

 

We have one more “sightseeing” day tomorrow, and then it’s packing up and heading to the airport on Monday.  We will turn the car in on Monday afternoon as well, at Charles de Gaulle, and then overnight at a Hilton near the airport.   Heading home Tuesday afternoon.  

 

So, Family and friends, that’s about it for today!  More tomorrow!

Love to all!

m

xxx