Who Flicked the Switch ?

I have always maintained that the seasons in Europe change in the blink of an eye. One minute the sun is warm and all the ladies are dressed in their best summer gear. The next day winter has arrived and suddenly all the women switch to their winter wardrobes.
For the past two months we have enjoyed an endless summer of still, sunny days and balmy evenings. Just two days ago people were swimming and sunbathing on the beach at Le Croisic. That all came to an abrupt halt yesterday. During the night I had heard the unfamiliar sound of rain falling outside my hotel room, and I awoke top an overcast sky. And what was that strange sound ? It was wind. Not just any wind, but a true howling gale, right off the ocean. The formerly placid waters on Sillon Beach were now changed into rolling whitecaps.
When I first ventured out of the hotel to walk to the Citadel, I had only made it about 100 metres when I realised I had made a serious mistake. Not only was the wind howling, but it was bitterly cold. I was silly enough to head off in shorts and thongs, and I was already frozen. I abruptly performed a U turn, returned to the room to don long trousers, socks, shoes and woolen beanie. That was more like it.
Even though I was no longer cold, the wind was a frightening adversary. At times it very nearly blew me off my feet. I could imagine the news headlines back home - "Elderly Australian injured when blown over by a puff of wind in St Malo". Believe me it was no "puff", it was quite scary. Other pedestrians were leaning over at extreme angles, just to remain standing. Because I have trouble thinking clearly, i decided to risk life and limb even more by climbing up to the wall on the famous ramparts, just to test if the wind was any stronger up there. It was. I had visions of another headline - "Foolish Australian tourist picked up by the wind and thrown into the Atlantic". Even with my beanie pulled right down to eye level, it felt like it was about to get ripped off.
After a lovely dinner of fish soup (ominously called "Soupe de Poisson" on the menu), I had to make the tortuous walk back to the hotel. On my left the breakers were crashing against the sea wall and spray was filling the air. It was quite a relief when I finally made it to the safety of the hotel.Read more