A few more questions about Brittany

Old Aug 23rd, 2017, 02:12 PM
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A few more questions about Brittany

Hi,

We are all set for our trip to southern Brittany, which starts in two weeks. We have been invited to use a house in Rennes by a couple whose children we got to know many years ago when they summered here during two different summers. After our short stay there, we will be staying 6 days each in Pont-Aven and La Trinité-sur-mer and a final night at the Sheraton at CDG. We have our train reservations and our car rental arranged. I have made extensive files on restaurants, activities, and markets in the area. I think we are mostly set. However:

1) We used a Mi-Fi (Wi-Fi hotspot) in Apulia last year and found it helpful when we were out of range of Wi-Fi, particularly driving on unfamiliar roads. Have any of you used Mi-Fi in Brittany, and if so, what company did you use?

2) We found most recently that the Google Maps app has been the most accurate program for real-time directions, but, since we will be in France, have folks found Mappy or Via Michelin more reliable? Do they have apps as well?

3) We recently attended a wedding for a niece we're very close to, and I'd like to get a gift in Brittany. I know about Quimper dishes, but do any of you have any other suggestions for gifts in the perhaps $250 range?

Of courses, any other suggestions are more than appreciated.

Thanks,

-Margie
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Old Aug 23rd, 2017, 05:39 PM
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I found viamichelin extremely reliable. I used the on-line version, not an app.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2017, 06:48 PM
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Can't. Think of much different from bowls with your name on it. We have sets free m all over Brittany with the names of all the kids.
Cider too ?
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Old Aug 23rd, 2017, 09:24 PM
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If you download the map for Brittany before you leave you don't need a mifi for navigation, Google Maps, or Here We Go, both work well. We used Here last year and never got lost unless we wanted to. It didn't use data either as it was still in the dark days of roaming charges.

Have a great trip.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2017, 10:05 PM
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as hetis says, you don't need wifi or Mifi for GPS, you don't need a phone contract or anything, all courtesy of the American Military (thanks guys)

All you need is an app like Here (name changed last year a bit) works a treat. No bills.

Basically now that Google Maps has caught up with everyone else on the data they are all much of a muchness on timing.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2017, 11:28 PM
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A 6-bottle case of very good champagne...

If you are certain that they collect Quimper dishes, that's another matter.
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 01:41 AM
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You could try the artists in Pont Avan. A lot of what is on offer is tacky tourist-oriented stuff, but not all of it.

It's subject to the same caution that fuzzbucket sounded about Quimper ware - that you would need to have some confidence that you know their tastes.
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 04:03 AM
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Thank you, all.

I spoke with my niece at the wedding about the Quimper dishes. Although she requested very different dishes on her registry, she did say that some sort of special platter or serving bowl might be charming. During her junior year in high school, which is almost 20 years ago, she lived in Rennes, learning French, but doesn't remember the dishes (she was 16!).

I was thinking of possibly combining a serving platter or something with a tablecloth and napkins. I know that, in Provence, the markets have them, and I was hoping that they do as well in Brittany. Any suggestions?

As to the app "Here," I will take a look at it. I gather that we can download on Maps or maybe Here an off-line map of the area we are exploring and then use it without data. My understanding ( and I'm not technical at all) is that neither would offer us real time information. Is that correct? When we use Google maps locally or during US travel, we can get notification of traffic, accidents, etc., and the program might make an alternative suggestion on the route. In addition, if we leave a road to find a place to eat lunch, for example, Maps takes us back to our original route afterwards. It's quite convenient.

Am I overthinking things here because I am not very technological? I used to just navigate from various paper maps, and have bought some for the trip.

Again, thanks, from your aging, but trying to be current, fellow Fodorite.

-M
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 04:42 AM
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There is a shop right across from the cathedral in Quimper that probably sells everything that you could possibly imagine in the dish or linen department.

http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...vere%20025.jpg

If you want to see more photos of the city, that would be here: http://tinyurl.com/quimper2015
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 05:44 AM
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Brittany is very different, I'd stick with Here
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 06:37 AM
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Thanks, kerouac. That's just what I was hoping for. Would the outdoor markets be cheaper or are they more aimed at produce and other local consumer goods?

Bilboburgler, I've already installed here (thanks to you and Heti), but, I'm curious: how is Brittany different?
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 06:46 AM
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not many big roads, low levels of integrated information

Also the gov (French) have had this tool for about the last 30 years

http://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/index,langen.html

just use it each morning at your gite/hotel
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 03:38 PM
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"As to the app "Here," I will take a look at it. I gather that we can download on Maps or maybe Here an off-line map of the area we are exploring and then use it without data. My understanding ( and I'm not technical at all) is that neither would offer us real time information. Is that correct? When we use Google maps locally or during US travel, we can get notification of traffic, accidents, etc., and the program might make an alternative suggestion on the route. In addition, if we leave a road to find a place to eat lunch, for example, Maps takes us back to our original route afterwards. It's quite convenient. "

Without paying for streaming data, yes, Here or downloaded Google maps won't give you real time traffic data. You would need a data connection. You can purchase a local sim (Orange, Free), or possibly one of several other euro sims that roams in France.
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 07:44 PM
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We were in the shop in Quimper that Kerouac mentions about a year ago and $250 will just about cover the cost of a large serving platter - prices have gone up a lot since we bought the two matching plates [his and hers] there a few years ago. But they are lovely and I would bless anyone who bought me that for a wedding present!

If you are in Quimper at lunchtime, do make time to have a meal in one of the brasseries around the market - we had a lovely meal in one of them [I can't remember the name but it's on the south-west corner of the market, on the outside, and it has wonderful art deco tiles and lighting upstairs, if that's a help!] - and if you're looking for wine, the Nicholas shop just round the corner is excellent.

While you are staying in the area, don't miss a trip to Vannes, which is a delightful place.
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 09:17 PM
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A soup tureen might be nice, if that's in your range.
Everyone I know in France likes soup.
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 09:18 PM
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The outdoor markets might sell "counterfeit" Quimper.
I'd shop where kerouac told you to go.
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 09:57 PM
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Some comments about a wedding gift: I visited Venice before a dear friend’s wedding, and I selected a Murano vase – an exquisite one, if I may say so! -- as my gift. The couple was very gracious in offering their thanks. Some time later, as I was talking to them about my plan to buy another wedding couple a gift while on a different trip, they looked at each other, and then asked whether the couple had a gift registry? It took a while to pry the details from them, but it turns out that these friends would have FAR preferred it if I had selected something from their registry, giving them at most a token gift from my travels. While they appreciated the artistry of the Murano vase, it was not consistent with their plans to decorate their home. They dutifully brought it out of storage and gave it a prominent place of honor whenever I visited, and then promptly returned it to storage. I’ve since discussed wedding gifts with several couples, and they all assure me that they create gift regristries specifically because those lists include the things they really want. Additional tokens are welcome, but what I hear is that couples are frustrated to receive expensive gifts that they did not request, when items that they would like are not given. My friends might be unusual. I just thought I should share these observations before you make a final decision. Forgive me if I’m overstepping….
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Old Aug 24th, 2017, 10:48 PM
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Good point Kja.
Actually I don't recall a wedding where there was no list.
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Old Aug 25th, 2017, 03:02 AM
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Ann, that's what we had in ind- maybe a couple of his and her plates or a serving bowl. we'll see what we can find.

Kja, I suspect that many couples would prefer something off the registry rather than something from trip. I did talk to the bride, however, and, since she is a Francophile, she seemed excited by the idea. I know her well enough, I hope, that she would have said,''Margie, that's so sweet, but we would really prefer something from our Registry." I think I know her taste, and will look carefully. If not, I'll get her something from their registry or gift a check. It's just fun to look. Or, get her a token.

Several years ago, we bought a lovely olive tree bowl in Bellagio on Lake Como. It was a very successful gift, but it was a huge wedding, and I suspect they got everything they wanted off the registry. And the bride works for QVC.

Thanks,

-M
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Old Aug 25th, 2017, 03:59 AM
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We found Google maps worked for us in all but the most rural areas. Certainly from the airports along the major highways and around towns it worked, showing current traffic and offering alternate routes around blockages. In some rural areas it dropped out, but there we were just bopping around and were happy to be lost for a while. We have T-mobile's simple choice plan with unlimited data.

Whenever we expected to be out of Google range the next day, I'd set up our route on Google and do a screen shot of the map the night before while we were still on wifi.
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