Zen Again 48

 

To the west, an intentionally narrow stone bridge, with a blind ninety degree bend, at its outer end, to further disadvantage would be attackers, leads, from the shore, to Concarneau's Ville-Close (Walled City).

The mediaeval walls fortify a granite crag. Which forms an island. Around which the harbour has grown.

The inland (northern) pool is longest established, as a port. With the Ville-Close between it and the sea. It is now home to the fishing fleet, the navy, Mer Concept and a few fortunate leisure users, with grandfather rights to their moorings.

Atop the walls, wildflowers sprout, symbolically, where weaponry once bristled. Through arrow slits, musket crenulations, and reinforced concrete machine gun embrassures. 

A deep water, rock bounded, channel separates the Ville-Close, from the shore, to the east.

 The parapet circles on. Back to the towers, which guard the gates, that secure the bridge. This (southern) side of the harbour, is the shallower. Before the building of the sea wall, it would have been defended, from the force of the sea, only by the circle of outer islands and reefs. Insufficient, on their own, to keep the swell at bay.

Stargazer lies snug, beneath the southern wall. Well fendered up astern, for there is little swinging room, in the aisles. Our berth neighbour is a Dufour Arpege. A reminder of Stargazer's warm welcome, by an Arpege fleet, in Concarneau, three years ago. (En France 14)