Briec 2009
At the crack of dawn on Monday, 25 May a crowd of 34 people from Rhuthun and its vicinity left for Birmingham airport to catch a flight to Brest in Brittany, a journey of an hour and a quarter, where a small party from the Briec Twinning Committee were waiting for us.
We were taken to Daoulas where we enjoyed a picnic by the river in warm sunshine. We then visited Landévennec Abbey before making our way to Briec where our hosts and other members of the Twinning Committee were waiting for us at the Town Hall. The Chairman of the Committee read greetings received from the Mayor of Rhuthun, Gavin Harris, on behalf of the residents of Rhuthun. Following a welcome by the Mayor we were greeted in Welsh, Breton and French with the words “whatever the weather here you will receive friendship”.
On Tuesday we went walking along part of the Nantes-Brest canal learning something of the history of its construction by prisoners. Following an excellent lunch at a restaurant in St Péran we visited the small Coreff brewery in Carhaix where the brewing process was explained and we were able to sample the products! The evening was spent with the host families where many came together. In our house there were 23 at a crepe party! Wednesday was a new venture for the local Twinning Committee who had arranged a treasure hunt around the streets of Briec with almost 40 questions to ask the owners of local shops, bank and bars. The questions were bilingual and we had a lot of fun with the Welsh trying out their French and at least some of the shopkeepers trying to answer in English! A joint meeting of the two committees was held at the Town Hall at the end of the afternoon and in the evening we went to a pig roast at Landrevarzec. Feasting and singing.
On Thursday we visited the new Marine Museum at Douarnenez – very interesting – with the guide from Norway explaining everything in English without the need for a translator. Then we went to Locronan, a pretty historical village. Some of the party had been there before but some were visiting for the first time. A farewell dinner that evening at the Gwrac’h Du (Black Witch) restaurant in Edern – an excellent meal followed by singing. A very special evening!
On Friday morning everyone met at the Intermarche supermarket in Briec for the last coffee and cake, and a little shopping, before leaving by coach for Brest airport to catch the flight to Birmingham and the coach to Rhuthun. And so the 2009 visit came to a close with everyone expressing his or her pleasure at the warm welcome that was received and the excellent programme that had been prepared for us.
