Erin Go Bragh

One only needs to spend a couple days with my dad to be completely educated as to how the Irish have played key roles in all great things...ever. From the submarine (not the one with screen windows) to color photography, the Irish have had their hands in everything. He didn't mention it specifically but I bet there is a story somewhere of Paddy O'Shea being the first to fashion thin slices from a large loaf of bread. In fact, the only thing greater than being of Irish decent is being of Irish decent AND a New Yorker. Interestingly enough my father is both - the luck of the Irish!

So it made perfect sense that we would end our French vacation in Dinan. Dinan is located in Northeast Brittany. Brittany, and specifically Dinan, is part of the Celtic Nations so the residents identify themselves more with Celtic culture then French. Unfortunately I waited until this last stop to do my present shopping. This will explain the celtic trinity knots that some of you receive as gifts. The funny thing is, the alternatives were scarves and jewelery that were from Thailand. Small world.

Dinan is referenced as a small town but in comparison to where we have been it is a booming metropolis disguised with cobble stone streets. My favorite part was the majority of the buildings had overhanging second floors. Almost like Nags Head beach houses with the barely there lower level mushrooming into a giant house above. Except for the stilts...ok, actually nothing like Nags Head houses...I don't know why I thought of that...whatever, you get it, small first floor, giant second floor. Here's my point - historically they were taxed on the square feet of the ground floor so they built conservatively there and then expanded above. Genius! Clearly the work of great Irish minds. And clearly, based on they lyrical poetry of this past paragraph, the strong Irish mind diminishes with each generation away from the homeland. I need to go back and kiss that Blarney.