Market Day in Carnac
We walked up toward the center of Carnac to the central parking lot where the market is held. Since it was after the season, the market was very small. We had hoped to pick up a roasted chicken for lunch at home, but the only roasted anything was a ham. We walked back home to get the car and head out. On our way to Quiberon, we stopped by the center of Carnac to visit the church – Notre Dame more commonly known as Eglise St-Cornely. The church was very detailed, with frescos dating to 1695. The central part was built between 1630 and 1640, the congregation grew and additions were added on each side in 1690. We put in an euro and the halogen lights came on to illuminate the painted ceiling detailing the life of St Cornely, the patron saint of horned animals. He was also a pope in the 3rd century. The museum was closed and only one restaurant was open, so we headed out to Quiberon, a port on the peninsula jutting out south into the Atlantic creating one side of the Baie de Quiberon.
It was another bright, beautiful sunny day and the scenery was beautiful as we drove to the southernmost part about 9 miles out. The port was well protected and is a jumping off point for a ferry to Belle-Ile,, the island where the folks we met yesterday live. We strolled the beach and found a restaurant in the sun and out of the breeze. Lunch was rosé, a chef salad for me, a salad with fruits de mer for Kimberly, and the menu of the day (oysters and calamari) for Mike and Glenn. We walked the beach after lunch, saw folks lying in the sun and a couple of people in the water. Brrrrr!
Back at the car, we took the Cote Sauvage road along the western shore to check out the gorgeous scenery of cliffs indented with caves and chasms and pounding surf. Mike crawled at a snail’s pace, Glenn rode with the door open to have an unimpaired view. We stopped several times for photo opportunities. At our last stop, we watched the surf pound against the rocky shore and watched surfers catch a wave!  We passed the Fort Penthievre, built in 19th century and now property of the French Army.
We stopped by the store picked up oysters for appetizers and seafood for fish soup for dinner. Then, home and while Mike and Glenn prepared dinner, Kimberly and I walked to the end of the beach in Carnac. Families were playing along the beach, runners running, folks walking, and even some few swimming. The light was beautiful, a soft warm glow and as the sun set it changed into a soft pink with a tinge of purple. Back at home, we settled in for wine and oysters, cheese, bread. Glenn was able to shuck the oysters in a matter of minutes – faster than he ever been able to shuck them in the past. Glenn, Mike and Kimberly shared 24! Mike reported that as he prepared the seafood, it was so fresh that all you could smell was the ocean.   Our fish soup was fabulous, as was our salad with fresh figs from France!
