I Found the Last of Europe
After clearing customs, lunch on the boat, and a nap from the 30 hours of sailing we headed to town in iles des Saints which was a 2 minute dingy ride from stern to dock. Our hope was to have a authentic French dinner and sight see some of the local shops. But like a true French dinner it does not begin till 7pm anywhere in town and you must reserve a table in order for the chef to cook for you. It was only 5:30 so we took our time and tried our best to interpret all the French Menus at all the restaurants and settled on “Restaurant Au bon vivre”. It was very well recommend and was located in a small field stone shop that was open to the narrow street with little café tables set for dinner. Large timber beams held the ceiling in place with bare wood tongue and grove floors gave the ambiance that one would expect of a French restaurant. We walked the town till 7pm and worked up a even bigger appetites and enjoyed the very French town. I notice that all the local people where outside their houses chatting and telling stories. The kids where everywhere playing on bicycles and skating around. The town was alive with the sound of happy people living together. No TV’s, no video games for the kids, and no noise of car traffic as the town was small enough to walk or use one of the many little scooters. I think it is unfortunate that we don’t live in a culture like this as I miss talking to my neighbors and the sound of a lively neighborhood. Anyway we sat down for dinner and I had lasagna with lamb, my dad had a rack of lamb with chunks of sweet goat cheese cooked into the meat, and my mom had a salad with duck and some kind of French sauce. The meal took about 2 and half hours but it was nice to be seated on the narrow street with only people walking by, cats and dogs walking by looking up for scraps. I also enjoyed the sound of piano music floating through the air as we finished up our meal. I will definitely be back to this wonderful little spot where there are few world culture influences other then French.
Thanks,
Jacques
dragonsbanevoyage 