April 19 - Dinan Walk by River Rance

    

We had another hearty breakfast at our guest house and met up with Jecca mid-morning. We walked into the basilica Sainte Sauveur in our square. There are parts that go back to the 1100s. It is a bit of a hodge podge of architecture with different bits added in different centuries. It is beautiful.

   The weather is beautiful- sunny, but not hot - perfect for walking along a riverbank.

   

So, we drove down the hill to the Port and took a walking path to Lehon, about a 1.5 kilometer walk each way, along the River Rance. People went by in small electric boats which looked very peaceful. 

     It was a nice flat walk, in shade and sun. We heard birds, of course, including a common cuckoo. We didn't actually see the more unusual ones. 

    The town is known for its flowers and it did not disappoint - hibiscus, lilacs, wisteria, camellias, irises, flowering trees etc. 

    We had coffee and a snack at a cute coffee/tea shop in a lovely garden.

    We went into the the Magloire Abbey at Lehon. The area was first inhabited by Benedictine monks in the 9th Century. We walked into the beautiful abbey and into the cloisters where there were more flowers.

   Then, then walked back to Dinan.

   We had a picnic, brought by Jecca, on a bench in the old port. Dinan was once a major port, but the sea receded. The port is now lined by quaint old half-timber buildings and restaurants. After our lunch, Jecca and Barbara walked up Rue Jerzual (on which Jecca lives for two weeks) and Mark drove the car back to the parking garage.

      Later we met up at Moroccan restaurant where we had lovely meals. Barbara and Jecca had tagines; Mark had a couscous kabab combination.