Comments from the author:

“Little snippets (sometimes, slightly tounge in cheek), that may (or may not), be of use to you, should to visit (or live in) Brittany....”

On this page I hope to produce a list of Hints and Tips (in no particular order), which may (or may not) help you enjoy your visit to Brittany - Those of you, already living over here, probably know all these things (and more), already.

Try a warm baguette (yes, I know it's very fattening). and thickly spread it with Breton Sea Salted Butter.

It'll probably knock 5 minutes off your life expectancy but, it'll be worth it for the sheer pleasure.

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By the way, better not try this if you've only got 5 minutes left to live! Then again, at least you'll die happy!

In Brittany, there is a type of milk that comes in a bottle with a green top (sometimes a gold top).

This is called Lait Ribot which is a traditional fermented milk that has been made in Brittany for thousands of years (and tastes as if it has been hanging around for about as long!)

It is in fact fermented babeurre, or bas-beurre (literally "low-butter"), which is the white liquid that remains after you've beaten cream to make butter. It is drunk as a snack, or to accompany a meal of potatoes or buckwheat galettes.

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Under no circumstances should you buy this to put on your cornflakes - it will make them taste like something that the cat has peed in (not that I'm aware that I've tasted anything that a cat has peed in but, with my 2 beasties - one never knows!)

The manager of my local Epicerie (corner shop) used to take enormous delight in NOT warning English tourists who came to his counter with a bottle of Lait Ribot in their basket! I have the horrible feeling that I bear some of the responsibility for that!

There are plenty of places you can go to if you want to rush around: Paris (although Paris isn't really France), Marseilles, Lyons - most of the big cities, in fact.

In Brittany, to rush is a verb that doesn't seem to exist.

When I used to visit here on holidays, it always used to take me a couple of days to slow down to local time.

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Think of it as a sort of Jet Lag - shall we call it Time Lag?!

“A drink a day keeps the doctor.... Busy!”

Even if you don't drink, try to make the effort to pop into your local bar on a regular basis - since the smoking ban, many bars are having a hard time of things; they need your custom.

But, apart from that, becoming a regular will help you integrate into the community and that is just as important for visitors (who may only be over here for a couple of weeks a year) as it is for us who live here.

Be polite: Say bonjour (even to strangers), shake hands and do the kissing on the cheek bit (where appropriate.)

However, if you're looking for advice on how many kisses it should be (1, 2 or 4), you've come to the wrong place! After five and a half years over here, it still confuses the hell out of me.

If there is a local event going on - a Soiree Repas, a Fricassee, a Fete, Festival or Pardon - make a point of going along.

Try a Fest Noz - you'll enjoy it but you'll be very embarrassed that you have enjoyed it. You make your family swear an oath to never divulge the fact that you've been to a Fest Noz; you'll never mention it in polite conversation, if anyone is taking photographs, you'll hide your face (if it's a member of your family taking the photos, you'll accidently drop the camera before the pictures are downloaded - it'll be worth the cost!)

There are so many things that are part and parcel of rural life in Brittany; not only is it a shame to miss experiencing them but, if you do turn up, your neighbours (either temporary or permanent), will be very impressed!

If you would like to add your comments about this page, please feel free to mail me at Comments - I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Please don't forget to add the address of your website, should you want me to link back to you.