Dinard, France.
Large, fairytale-like mansions line the northern coast between Dinard and Saint Malo. A century old trail snugs tightly the coastline, which you can walk along for miles.
The English channel, the magnificent homes, the chic people strolling along, and at each bend fantastic photo opts. Dinard and Saint Malo are made in heaven.
The beaches in between invited play and reflection. When I closed my eyes I could imagine I was in Northern California in Westport. The sound of the waves and sea breeze felt the same. Like a home away from home.
I could see French husband's childhood, feel his path, see his dreams. When we go back to the home of those we love we see something invisible to the naked eye.
Photos: Dinard France.
Path: Le Sentier des Douaniers or also known as, La Promenade de Clair de Lune.
My husbands childhood was spent a 14 hours drive south of mine. We visit as often we can, will go down on a "before Christmas-trip" in December to visit my 84 year old svigerfar (father in law). The best thing I do when we are there is to hike the moors and mountains behind his house, knowing that I am walking the childhood paths of my husband.
Thanks for another lovely post Corey. And greetings to a charming belle mère
Posted by: Britt-Arnhild | 04 November 2007 at 08:00 AM
WOW! Very fairy-tale like, to say the least.
I would love to see the insides of those homes!
Posted by: Hasmin | 04 November 2007 at 09:29 AM
This is such a lovely area of France. I want to explore it really well some day.
Posted by: Linda | 04 November 2007 at 09:40 AM
How wonderful this journey you have shared.........
I love you
Jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne | 04 November 2007 at 10:20 AM
Oh thank you for sharing this place...I must go there now, it's just too beautiful to miss.
Posted by: Caffienated Cowgirl | 04 November 2007 at 10:23 AM
Very nice post about Dinard. I've just seen a movie taking place in Dinard , so lovely .That is my parents' favorite place
By the way the movie is : heure zero
Posted by: le petit cabinet de curiosites | 04 November 2007 at 11:27 AM
Although hailing from Brittany, I once did that trip across France, from the South (Bayonne) to the Côte d'Emeraude. On a bicycle! (and after cycling all the way down to the Basque country in the first place). I have very fond memories of Dinard and St Malo. And yes, I agree with you, "When we go back to the home of those we love we see something invisible to the naked eye".
Posted by: Chantal | 04 November 2007 at 11:29 AM
You see with your heart - a good way to travel the world.
Posted by: Pauline | 04 November 2007 at 11:54 AM
Corey,
magnificent in every detail!
rel
Posted by: rel | 04 November 2007 at 12:19 PM
wow. very interesting architecture. lovely post...really.
delphine
Posted by: delphine | 04 November 2007 at 01:26 PM
Gorgeous gorgeous!!
I love that trail along the cliff. Yann was very fortunate to have the opportunity to live there. I can imagine the childhood memories he must have.
Posted by: Shannon | 04 November 2007 at 01:39 PM
Stunning views. What an amazing walkway. It must feel like the edge of the world in some way.
Darla
Posted by: Darla | 04 November 2007 at 01:43 PM
That is a tight path to hug . . .
Posted by: tut-tut | 04 November 2007 at 02:24 PM
aaah... st. malo, dinard, mont st.michel...
c'était dans ce temps lá. lovely images corey!
Posted by: marita | 04 November 2007 at 02:33 PM
Oh my Corey! I love the trail! It's mesmerizing! Wish I was there!
Posted by: Beverly | 04 November 2007 at 02:36 PM
Merci, Corey. Dinard is a special place, one of my favorites. La Promenade de Clair de lune, the beaches. Hope you get a chance to go the the covered market! Have some moules for me when you're there.
Posted by: Polly | 04 November 2007 at 03:20 PM
Corey - oh the houses are magnificent! It would be fun to be able to tour them! I love the trail! That would be an awesome place to walk and collect your thoughts, or dream up some great artwork or perhaps a novel...... Marva
Posted by: Marva | 04 November 2007 at 03:28 PM
Wow - another item on my "must-do" list ! Thank youx
Posted by: Julie Ann | 04 November 2007 at 03:45 PM
Beautiful,Corey! I have been to Mont St. Michel...is that close by? I've been to a lot of beaches in different parts of the world and my Northern California beaches (especially Ft. Bragg and Bodega Bay) are my favorite! Thanks for the beautiful pictures. Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl | 04 November 2007 at 03:56 PM
Your Husband childhood was very far away from where you live now, but Brittany is such a lovely place in France, I have lived for 3 years not very far from Dinard, ad Perros Guirec, I still have great friends there, and the place is really beautiful, le sentier des douaniers was as great as the one on your pictures.
Posted by: Kitem | 04 November 2007 at 03:56 PM
What a charming spot ... I will remember the name of this village and hope to visit sometime.
Posted by: Becca | 04 November 2007 at 04:04 PM
Thank you for letting me sail with you to Heaven. Such a nice place to visit!
Posted by: rochambeau | 04 November 2007 at 04:06 PM
It seems so right for a Frenchwoman to wear a skirt and heels on a walk along that narrow ancient path! What a beautiful spot it is, between the sea and those lovely homes.
Posted by: Jill | 04 November 2007 at 04:13 PM
thank you for this glimpse! my family left the northern shore of france, bound for england in the 1500's but i do not know the specific point of origin...yet!!
Posted by: qualcosa di bello | 04 November 2007 at 04:39 PM
Hello Corey,
What a beautiful place. Those houses they must
be..............how old? They are amazing, like only in a dream. I bet your brother Matt
would be in heaven seeing them! Wow, the ocean
the houses, the sea air it would be so very
dream like thanks for beginning my day by taking me on such a wonderful journey. Love you and miss you all, Have a beautiful Sunday
XOXOXOXOXO Pinkie Denise
Posted by: Pinkie Denise | 04 November 2007 at 05:25 PM
It IS like the coast of Northern California! Except the homes and structures are much older. Now I have an intense urge to go revisit N. California as it is closer than France. Your last sentence is so very, very true.
Posted by: martina | 04 November 2007 at 05:33 PM
that part of france is beautiful, corey. i wanna go, like, NOW! but the trails seem to be too narrow. you have to be skinny to walk through that 2-way trail. uhm, french and skinny are redundant, i forgot!
Posted by: lay lady lay | 04 November 2007 at 06:13 PM
Hi Corey,
What a beautiful place. Those houses are amazing. That is a place I would like to visit.
Rosemary
Posted by: Rosemary | 04 November 2007 at 06:21 PM
Wow! What a fantastic place to visit.
Posted by: Just Jinny | 04 November 2007 at 06:33 PM
What an amazing place! It would be a fantasy to grow up there!
Posted by: AmandaMay | 04 November 2007 at 06:39 PM
What a unique absolutely gorgeous place!!!
I have never seen pictures of this special spot!
Wow!
Posted by: Miz Booshay | 04 November 2007 at 07:08 PM
So beautiful, wild and rough, indeed like the N. California coast... so glad you could capture this beauty, not tame it, but hold it still for just a moment for us to see...
Posted by: Lea | 04 November 2007 at 07:13 PM
the houses are beautiful! such a lovely walk along the shore.
Posted by: heather | 04 November 2007 at 08:17 PM
Very pretty shots! I do see the resemblance to Norther California.
Posted by: My Melange | 04 November 2007 at 08:45 PM
Yep, there is a resemblance to N. California. If you squint your eyes, those amazing mansions resemble the old Victorians in, perhaps, Mendocino or Forestville. I can almost smell the salt air!
Posted by: Dorian | 04 November 2007 at 10:09 PM
Wow! Just fantastic place! Stunning views!
Posted by: Sonia | 04 November 2007 at 10:38 PM
Awesome photos... I have seen Saint Malo and thought the place bewitched! It enveloped me as though I was finally home after a long time away... strange - n'est pas? xox Deb
p.s. congrats on surviving the long drive with your daughter - you desrve a medal!!
Posted by: Deb L | 04 November 2007 at 11:09 PM
I've never seen anything like this! Those houses, fairy tale castles for sure. Interesting that both you and FH share a childhood surrounded by beautiful, magical beach places....
Posted by: stephanie | 04 November 2007 at 11:39 PM
How beautiful! Thank you for the pictures Corey!
Posted by: Marge | 04 November 2007 at 11:44 PM
What a beautiful fairy tale land! I can almost hear the waves. I haven't lived near the beach for a very long time but it's a sound that remains in memory always. Thank you for sharing so much of your life with all of us. You're a gem.
Posted by: Elaine | 05 November 2007 at 12:35 AM
I love seeing this. Reminds me so much of some of the novels written by Joanne Harris!!
Posted by: Cherie | 05 November 2007 at 01:32 AM
Holy cow, those houses are AMAZING! I've never seen anything like that - the mansions on the cliffs above the trail and the English Channel. That's breathtaking! (I'm in love with all houses by the way, big and small, but those are just unique and lovely!)
Posted by: MaryC | 05 November 2007 at 02:44 AM
a path along the cliffs - amazingly beautiful! I am missing the ocean...
Posted by: Amy | 05 November 2007 at 02:58 AM
When I first visited the home of my spouse, I got to visit the first MacDonald's. It's almost like St. Malo...NOT! But that's a different story...
Meilleurs voeux!!
Posted by: blueVicar | 05 November 2007 at 04:23 AM
Wow. Those houses, the pathway, the sea - just spectacular. I've never seen anything like it.
Posted by: tlchang | 05 November 2007 at 05:25 AM
Simply breathtaking!
Posted by: Nora | 05 November 2007 at 06:04 AM
Oh my. Such deja vu. I remember visiting St. Malo several years ago and loving it. The old city, the narrow streets, the overlook to the beach and the ancient fort off shore. I felt I had stepped back in time.
Posted by: AnnieElf | 05 November 2007 at 07:18 AM
What a magical place, fairy tales are made of this!!! Vida x
Posted by: Vida | 05 November 2007 at 10:16 AM
Stunning photographs. I want to walk there.
Posted by: Candy | 05 November 2007 at 11:41 AM
Fun place!
Posted by: Brother Mathew | 05 November 2007 at 07:35 PM
I definitely need to get back to France and see Dinard, next time. It's breathtaking!
~elaine~
Posted by: Elaine L. | 06 November 2007 at 05:44 AM
Wowie, zows. The place is gorgeous, yes. But that husband of yours! Whoosh! Yann would make a garbage dump look romantic! Lucky Ducky for having such a Hunky Monkey! xoxo
Posted by: shelley noble | 06 November 2007 at 08:19 AM
Oh my, oh my! You have just shown me a place I must visit one day! What a magical place! Your photographs are terrific - I love the first photo in particular. It's straight out of a storybook, don't you think? And you are absolutely right, there are many photo opportunities just waiting to be had in that setting. I'm already feeling inspired and day dreaming...I've been feeling the photo bug these past few weeks...and this is certainly giving me more ideas. Thanks, Corey.
Posted by: susanna | 06 November 2007 at 06:11 PM
We visited Dinard and St Malo once....LOVE THEM! Loved your post on them!
Posted by: Cassoulet Cafe | 06 November 2007 at 08:51 PM
Thanks for reminding me this is one of my favourite places on the north coast. I loved that walk.
Posted by: Maggie | 07 November 2007 at 01:52 PM
So beautiful!
Posted by: melissa @ the inspired room | 10 November 2007 at 06:22 AM