Vannes, sardines, megaliths and many old buildings!

So... orientation.
We drove almost all the way too Vannes, when we stopped (we thought the bus was lost as it stopped at a "do not enter sign") and Mme Rochet (the administrative director who organized and ran orientation) told us that we were stopping to use the bathroom because public bathrooms in France are scary. So all of us walked towards this gate and giant estate when we stopped so that M. de Berranger could explain that we were stopping at his family's house. Well, the understatement of the century would be to call it large. We played ice breakers on the lawn and all thought that we were in Pride and Prejudice!
In Vannes, we ate dinner at the hotel (the french were confused by gluten free) and then went out to the bars as a large group with our "social director" Samuel.
The next morning, bright and early, I ran in a downpour with cold wind (very fun though). And due to that torrential downpour, the plan to bike on an island was cancelled, instead we toured La Belle Iloise, a sardine cannery. (What a wonderful smell). Then we ate a picnic on a very windy beautifully rocky beach. Unfortunately, the person had not packed the gluten free food (but being the good celiac I am, I had). We then went to a beautiful château and stopped in Vannes and then walked back in the pouring rain.
The next day (Saturday), we went to Fortesse de Largoët, an old fortresse that you can walk around. And touch old rocks that people in the olden days touched (just for you mom). And then ate lunch at a delicious creperie that had galettes (savory crepes made of buckwheat only... a celiac's heaven) and then stopped at Carnac (a very cool site with many megaliths, and I am proud to say, that I did not lose a tooth at these ones, unlike stonehenge). And then we stopped at a small port town (St Gustav?) and I think every IES student ate chocolate. Mmmm. And then returned.
Sunday brought a morning of language testing, lunch (they finally figured out GF on Sat night and starting just bringing me hunks of meat. YUM!) and then a small cute town called Rochefort-en-Terre. And finally, a return to chez Marie-Annick and a evening of rest.
Overall, a great weekend, in which we are already settling into groups of friends (many hours of bus rides gives ample opportunity for bonding!) And now I must manger my breakfast.
A tout à l'heure
Laura