Christmas in Dinan

It’s our final few days in Dinan.😢 The two months we’ve been here have flown by. While we are excited to head back to the US, see friends and family and replenish a few supplies, we will be sad to say goodbye to France. A bientôt. I have to say, though, seeing this place at Christmas time has been very special! For weeks, we have watched the lights being put up all over town – we were like little kids waiting for them to be turned on. For even more awesomeness, there is a small marche de Noel (Christmas market) that started this weekend! Plus, last week the temperature dropped down to -2°C (28°F). Fortunately, it has warmed back up as our winter gear is all in Connecticut!

Last night, we were in the main part of town (up the hill) doing a little Christmas shopping and enjoying the atmosphere. Most of Brittany seemed to have the same idea. It looked like the height of tourist season with so many people in the streets! It was festive and rather fun.

The Christmas market is small, like I said above, but it gives us a feel for what they are like. I think there are many similarities with Christmas markets I’ve experienced in the US, though with one major difference — you can buy a cup of mulled wine and carry it around with you!🍷 Europe, in general, doesn’t have a problem with open containers/bottles/glasses of alcoholic substances in public. The intoxicated driving consequences are far more strict and, to my understanding, you don’t get to get off on a technicality, which is good. Back to the Christmas market…there I was, carrying a cup of spiced red wine (vin chaud de Noël), enjoying the sights and the sounds and watching children’s eyes light up as they looked around at the festive atmosphere! One of these years we will have to spend Christmas in Germany, though – I hear it’s pretty spectacular.

One part of the Christmas market. The little fenced area in the center is a synthetic ice rink! I don’t know what it’s made out of, but it looks like real ice. They rent special skates (with a plastic blade, rather than metal) for use on it.

A little bit better look at the skating rink

The stand with red wine. You can get spiced white wine at a different stand. Chichis are churros – which is a word the French really are unable to say.

These were shaped adorable! Pretzel (or bretzel to be correct) shaped doughnuts.

Wouldn’t be France without a cheese shop!

Now we will move on to photos from all around town😁

I almost didn’t get a photo of this! I did not get my camera out fast enough (I was carrying a cup of spiced wine after all. Don’t want to spill it!) to catch the VW Bus in the front with lights all over it, but I was able to get a shot of this Bug with its Christmas decor.

The little street along the clock tower. Even the smallest of streets has lights strung.

The freaky carousel looks almost festive. Still creepy, though.

The front of the basilica. There was another small market/festival with live music out front of the church for St. Nicholas Day.

Several streets are draped in these lights

I thought this florist shop was absolutely lovely

The ovalabout (not a round about. It’s oval) is so pretty. It was a real challenge to get this photo without cars!

This snowflake is suspended over one of the intersections

Great little spice shop in Les Halles had the largest panettone I have ever seen!

Several shops had these cute, little pink trees out front

How to have decorations on a building way too big to put lights on!

Walking downhill towards our house with the wall included

And finally…someone whose humor I totally get!

Hopefully, these photos give you a feel for what this town is like. It is so cute and the lights just add another layer of beauty. I know many other towns in the region go all out too. Maybe this is common all through France! Wouldn’t that be fabulous?

Now, to cross our fingers, light candles, say prayers, dance naked in the moonlight (okay, no) for the transport strike to end before Friday…or that could end up being an interesting post.