Our Town, Cesson-Sévigné

Now, onto the past week in Cesson-Sévigné and the surrounding area.  As you know, we moved here last Saturday from Le Magenta hotel in the city.  We started off by going to the farmers' market (or marché) and buying apples, bread, vegetables, and cheese.  We even saw a wedding party coming out of the church on our way there!  We went to the marché again this morning, and we had a much better idea of what we would need for a week.

We found some more of the Elstar apples mentioned earlier (2.5 kilos this time!), and the vendor threw in a royal Anjou apple to try for free.  It was fabulous--tart and a bit tender.  We also got some cured sausage (saucisson) for Aaron made in the "old style" which means that before forming it into links, you cook the pork meat and fat in wine from the Loire valley.  Aaron thought it was excellent; I'm taking his word for it.  We're looking forward to making more of the mini artichokes and some tomato sauce for eggplant and mushrooms.  The local cheese vendor had us try some "Cherista" which is a blend of goat's milk and sheep's milk cheese.  Rather mild, and of a similar texture to mozzarella.  It is quite tasty.  For a picture of how these ingredients go together for a typical lunch, click here.

On Sunday we explored our little town a bit more and saw the kayak and canoe rental place across from where we live.  They even have white water kayaking here!  I think Aaron might even be willing to take a kayak ride in the calm waters.  We’ve been told that Cesson-Sévigné won the award for the city that offers its residents the most activities in all of France.  There was a circus this weekend, and we may go tomorrow.  In addition to the Saturday market, there is an organic market on Wednesdays and a fish and crêpe market on Fridays.  I am hoping to explore the area some more while running once we stop taking 5-mile daily walks around Rennes to find things we need to have a comfortable apartment and yummy dinners.  There are some Roman ruins that we read about and want to know where they are.  

A view into Cesson-Sévigné.  You can see the Catholic church steeple, which
is how I find my way back from wherever I am.  The water is an offshoot
of the Vilaine river, which comes complete with graceful white swans!

We visited the local bakery (boulangerie-pâtisserie) when we ran out of bread from the farmers' market.  It was even more delicious!  They also have GIANT meringues, which I resisted.  I don't need to develop that addiction just yet.  Of course, I did NOT resist the salty caramel lollipop.  Mmmm.  We attempted to go to the meat shop (charcuterie) to find something for Aaron's lunch, but it turns out they are only open on Saturdays.  And while I'm writing of not being open, everything is closed on the lunch hour, and most places choose one other day of the week to be closed (besides Sunday of course, because even French Walmart is closed then.  For nonreligious people, they take their sabbath VERY seriously).

A view from our apartment into town.  Viveco on the left,
and La Boucherie on the right.

Here's one last picture for you.  We live right by a food and wine convenience store, Viveco—the only place open 7 days a week!  La Boucherie is a chain where I ate once with a group on an excursion when I was living in Poitiers, and it wasn’t bad.  I think the highlight here is really the phenomenal sky, a common occurrence at least once daily (which means that gray skies and rain are also common occurrences).  Next time we'll let you see what our furnished place looks like and perhaps even some pictures at our attempt to make chocolate chip cookies on French soil!