Briec 2005

As usual we had a great welcome from old friends and new - and were looked after in some interesting homes.

We enjoyed a great day out to the woods, old silver mines, spectacular rock formations and cafes of Huelgoat.

This year it was Ruthin's turn to visit Briec and on Thursday, 28 April a party of 37 people from Rhuthun, including the Mayor and 10 who were visiting Briec for the first time met outside the Town Hall at 6.30am to board a coach for Birmingham Airport. This was the first time for us to travel to Briec by air as the new service from Birmingham to Brest only commenced in March of this year. After a 2 hour coach journey and a 1 hour flight we duly arrived at Brest at 1.00pm French time and were met by 6 members of the Briec Twinning Committee.

They had arranged a picnic lunch for us on arrival but as it was pouring with rain they had to very quickly change the location. After some animated discussion and driving around for a while, the coach eventually pulled into the covered car park of the Leclerc Hypermarché, where we ate our picnic!! At least we were dry and the picnic was typically Breton – ham and pate baguettes, tomatoes and a choice of white wine, red wine or beer! This was followed with freshly peeled apples and coffee. Having made use of the facilities at Leclerc (!) we reboarded the coach for a trip around Brest.

We then proceeded to Briec Town Hall where we received a warm welcome from the Mayor, Jean Paul Le Pann, and met our hosts for the next five nights. Later that evening we were entertained to dinner at Edern. On Friday we went on a coach tour to the Cap Sizun area, visiting the mediaeval village of Pont Croix (where we were joined by 4 other Rhuthun people, who had travelled by car and ferry) and the sailing resort of Audierne, where we had an excellent lunch. After lunch we visited a snail farm and some Breton snails have now found a home in the Vale of Clwyd! During a pleasant walk along the coastal path at la Pointe de Brézellec we were fortunate enough to see two dolphins in the bay. On returning to Briec the two committees held a joint meeting as is our custom each year before returning to Edern for a crêpes and games evening. Great fun!.

Saturday and Sunday were free days with our hosts and different people did different things although quite a few managed to get as far as Quimper. Saturday evening was the night of Bagad Brieg’s annual Fest Noz to which we were all invited. This was held at Arthémuse, the new concert and convention centre opened in 2000. Over 1000 people came to the Fest Noz and it was great to see so many young people taking part in traditional Breton dances. Before going to the Fest Noz, some of us planted potatoes by torchlight, but that is another story!! At 9.00am on Monday we left Place de Ruthin in Briec to visit the Huelgoat area where we toured the site of an old silver mine and, after another excellent lunch, went walking around some remarkable rock formations. Monday evening we returned to Arthémuse for dinner with our hosts and members of the Briec Twinning Committee.

On Tuesday morning we all gathered at the Intermarché supermarket in Briec for a farewell drink and cake before leaving for Brest Airport at 11.30am to catch the 1.25pm flight to Birmingham, arriving home in Rhuthun at 4.30pm our time. This was by far the least tiring way of travelling to Briec. Long may the flights continue!

As ever, we enjoyed a variety of excellent cuisine - crêpes, meals both formal and...er... informal, in homes, restaurants, and al fresco. Of course, food had to be accompanied by good wine, not to mention the local brews.

We indulged in music and dancing in various ways

Some played traditional Breton games

There were some formal moments......and some quirky ones: one of us entered the snail-rearing business, while some planted potatoes at the dead of night!

We also had some pleasant visits to great places, as well as some of us joining in a sponsored walk

More pictures from Bill......: