Saturday came and the weather was clear and warm. I had a lot to do having been to IKEA the day before but I was determined to do something fun. After all, I am in France, and I now have a car! It is my goal to seize each day. I walked the puppy and left in the early afternoon to visit Fougères. My neighbors had told me it was an amazing place and they were spot on in their recommendation.

After about a twenty minute drive, I came to the medieval city of Fougères. It really felt like I was going back in time the closer I drove to the Chateau. I navigated winding cobblestone streets with very old buildings and ruins before deciding I should park and get out on foot. The streets reminded me of the animated depiction of a French village in Beauty and the Beast. I expected to see Belle come out and break into song while sweeping in front of her house at any minute. I wandered towards the Chateau and was amazed to find a huge castle with surrounded by a moat. I have never seen a castle with a genuine moat. It was a fairly tale place. There were turrets and bridges and imposing walls.

I hadn’t had lunch so I found a cafe in front of the Chateau and ordered a cappucino and a delicious chocolate muffin. I decided that I would not buy tickets to go inside the castle and would instead wait and do that with family when they came to visit. I wandered up the winding hill and found myself at the main square which was dotted with cafes and shops. There were antique shops, beautiful clothing boutiques, and several shops displaying the works of local artisans. I wandered around and contemplated a glass of wine but deferred that to explore the church of St. Leonard and adjacent gardens.

The cathedral was open and completely empty. It had beautiful stained-glass windows and again I was moved by the silence and scale. I took some time to light candles for my children, and for relatives who are struggling. The serenity prayer was written out in French and English for patrons to consider. I prayed and felt such peace standing in front of those twinkling candles.

Reluctantly, I decided to move on and went to the public gardens that are behind the church. They stretch out down a steep hillside via winding paths that criss-cross the hill. Most of the flowers had passed but there were still cyclamen, roses, fuschia, and asters in bloom. There were a group of people who appeared to be deaf having a large group activity at one end of the garden. It was so cool to see a hundred people signing to one another in small groups.

I walked down to the bottom of the gardens and back up again before stopping in a small Carrefour market to buy some ingredients for pizza night. On the spur of the moment right before I left for Fougères, I invited my realtor ( first French friend) and her husband for homemade pizza. Once I had all the ingredients I found my way back down to my car and drove home to my cozy house. I lit candles, cooked and enjoyed the company of new friends.

Not a bad day in France at all.