Our Bungalow to the left
Arnd returned October 18th to Brittany at the beginning of the first school holidays and we took the car to visit our oldest cruising friends, Miti, a french family with 2 children, close to Lyon. They already returned 2 years ago and it was good to see, that everything worked out well for them. For us, everything was still uncertain and strange.
One of our best sailing friends from the boat Miti
Sighseeing in Lyon
David und Bente und Morgan
Valerie and Kids
"Dangers" of being on Land - TV
Lyon by night
During the stay we visited for one day old friends of Bente . She did a stage as a teacher in Saint- Claude in the Jura, more than 20 years ago - and she hasn't met them since then.
The view from their house in Hautes Savoie
Not playing boules ...
... but Möllky
We took the chance to visit some places on the way back.
Puy de Dome
View from the castle in Amboise
Castle Comburg - closed in winter
Bente had applied for Jobs in North- Germany and France, but has still no answer from Germany. But in France, the unexpected happened: mid November, somebody called Friday late afternoon. He wanted to speak with Bente and called again in the evening, because Bente wasn't at home. It was the director of a private grammar school in St. Brieuc, 45 km away. She had a meeting with him on Monday and Tuesday she already started to work as German teacher.
Everything has changed since then. The school had problems with their German teachers in the last 2 years and the students were confused and unmotivated. Bente had to develop all the materials herself, struggled with the administration about her contract, social security number, bank account, health insurance, had to get accustomed to teach again and was totally occupied by this.
The first weeks - long days working at the table
This development leads to the question, if we would better stay in France and or how we could intensify Bentes job search in Germany. But even if she will get a job somewhere, would it be close enough, to be able to live in Axstedt?
As Arnd initially wanted to plan the construction of the 3 apartements, he is now not motivated to continue, as long as the situation stays still uncertain. He rather started to do work on the boat, helped Bente, took care of the rented apartments in Germany, did this and that and is planning the repairs on Narwal. We will now replace our old engine - it never failed in 8 years, but spare parts are getting expensive and rare.
So beginning of December we went to the salon nautique in Paris to have a look at new engines and of course, to see some of Paris attractions.
Eifeltower - blinking from time to time
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, seen from the river
Gold, colored windows, impressive buildings - the former power of the church is sensible
The Kids also liked watching the ducks
the Lycée Sacré-Coeur Saint-Brieuc, Bentes school.
Siri & Lars&Santa Claus - waiting for her presents
And also in the riding club
finished fun
Lars started to ride a bike and learned very fast. Just some exercises on a campground and now, 2 weeks later, he rides the bike like his sister.
Bicycle excursion to the coast, the Cap Frehel in the background
Beaches close by and the Cap Frehel
Smelling flowers in the wintertime, shortly before christmas
The fort la Latte is part of the Cap Frehel
Looking for souvenirs on the beach, like before, but dressed
Over Christmas Arnds sister visited us with her family. We haven't seen them for a long time, as they haven't visited us on the boat. They live in the North of Canada and don't like the heat too much. It was a nice family reunion and there was a lot to talk about.
On the market in Dinan - people in conversation with the cheese producer
the impossible family picture: Arnd's niece, mother, brother in law & sister
As Christmas approached, the focus changed: food, better food, the best food available .....
Arnd's mother making her own "Foie Gras"
Our Christmas tree - before the children came
Day after christmas in a nice cafe in St. Cast
Two days before the end of the year we visited an old friend from Bremen, who lives since 3 years in the south of Brittany. She is now married to an old schoolfriend and is working as a speech therapist. At the time, she was a friend of mine and a friend of Bente. If she wouldn't have been, we wouldn't be a couple with children today.
The first breakfast together after many years
Sightseeing
Tatianas husband running with Lars
Salt fields in Mesquer - production of salt like their ancestors
Notre Dame of the shipwrecked
The Pointe du Raz - 80km of Wind
The following day we explored the area around Brest: the highest hills in Brittany, old villages, interesting sites.
Calvary in Pleyben - 30 scenes from Christ's life
Enormous church of Pleyben
One of many beautiful colored church windows
We went on to climb onto the almost highest hill in Brittany, the Mont Saint-Michel de Brasparts
381m high
The chapel and the girls in the clouds less than 381m
The next stop was Huelgoat and the forest around,
Rock formations like "The Baths" in Virgin Gorda in the BVI's, just bigger
The valley of the river "Rivière d'Argent" with impressive round rocks
French history and German responsibility
The next day we spend hours and hours in the oceanopolis park. Our memory's went back to our voyage, when we saw the sea lions playing in their basin (poor ones), penguins speeding around behind glass or in front of a huge aquarium with a little ecosystem: a "whole" coral reef with all its inhabitants.
In front of the mouth of a right whale
Penguins in their artificial paradise
Krill - for Michael&Ursula from the boat Krill
Nicer than in reality - very often the real coral reefs were badly damaged and overfished
Some days later school started - our daily routine as well. Bente is working now 3 days and wants to pass "le concurs externe" to get into the french school system. She would then be much better paid.
As Arnd already holds a professional german sailing license, he thinks about doing the english yacht master offshore. He plans to do it with the http://www.sailingschoolbrittany.com in the south of France.
Arnd wanted to do a trip for his birthday and we went to Ile de Bréhat. It's a group of many Islands just opposite of the Cap Frehel on the NW side of the Bay of St. Brieuc. Very busy in the summer, but no tourists this time of the year. We passed these Islands when we arrived from the Bermudas in September.
Walking to the ferry, Ile the Bréhat in the background
Siri climbing in a tree - used to climb the mast on the boat
rain & sun - panorama of the surrounding islands during low tide
used to walk
walking to the northern Lighthouse
On the northern end: Arnds love
Germans or Bretons or Sailors?
coming home from a long walk - nothing stops the children
strange plants on the island
Our creperie for 2 days - can be recommended
Some days ago there was a big meeting with the marine experts from us and the insurance of the port St. Cast Port d'Armor, the manager of the ports in Cotes d'Armor, the operator of the travelift, the responsible from the boatyard Rouxel Marine and us. 4 months after the accident it is now agreed upon from all sides, that it was the fault of the travel lift operator. The report will go now to the insurance and if they will accept it is open. In the end we will probably have to sue the port. The damage is now already 12.000 EUR, probably 2.500 EUR more, if the gearbox is broken as well. It will be send Monday to http://www.marine-transmissions.fr/site/LA_SOCIETE.html to have it checked.
After Siri in September and Arnd on January 17th, Lars was the third to celebrate his birthday in France. It was on Tuesday, so we celebrated before school - very early in the morning. This saturday will be his big birthday party.
Big Kisses from the Narwal crew on land in France.
