Dear St. Malo

Here’s to your pink skies and moonlit nights

You don’t usually know what you are going to expect on a trip with your loved one. Faraway from actual reality and so consumed in one another and the thought of exploring a new place together. You want everything to be perfect, and you can feel your partner’s effort and hopes for the same thing. You both become so driven to make every moment count, to ensure it becomes a memory to talk about, that you begin to view everything twice — once through your eyes and then through your partner’s eyes. That’s when you know you’re sharing common dynamics and the care you have for one another is mutual — it is now safe to let go.

The trip looks different; it feels more free and bright. You’re happier; you’ve become your complete true self, and so has your other half. Perfect!

Hello there, St. Malo — the land of romance and battle.

We want you to know how beautiful you are. You’re a rich city, a medieval destination with a story to tell around each corner. Your folks felt unique and special, and we were compelled to engage with them and ask questions.

You can smell the sea all around the city, taste it in their flawless dishes, and sense its kindness in its people. Therapeutic is the word. The old town’s small size made it easy to feel at home, especially when home was right by you.

You are like a stone ship, standing tall and resilient; no wonder you’ve withstood so much. Your walls are covered with stories—those of honor, victory, struggle, discovery, and most importantly, truth!

Walking along your walls felt so free. Gazing into an ocean that is somewhat familiar still felt so new. The cathedral resembles a compass to make sure we always find our way. The city was self-explanatory, without the need for a tour guide. Each part provided detailed explanations and texturing.

The room we rented had a tale of its own; it had been refurbished but kept hints of what type of house it might have once been, with the residue of a chimney still visible, allowing us to imagine how they sat around the fire with their cider.

Pirates were once here! Kings & queens! Privateers, heroes, discoverers — everyone contributed to this rich history. We’d look at the medieval homes and imagine how families lived and how the pirates roamed around. There were cannons everywhere along the coastal line! “So this is where wars started and ended; this is where they defended themselves from the Brits!” we asked. Plenty of questions emerged, most unanswered. We need an actual pirate to tell us the true stories.

This place spoke so loudly in such little time. Our hearts felt welcome there. Everything became familiar so fast, and we started to care about it so much that we wanted others to experience it too — to find the ocean, to enjoy their seafood, to fall in love with a whole town on a (former) island enclosed by historic walls.

You spoke magic, St. Malo. You’ve touched hearts. And even though we saw most of your old town, there was so much more that only seasons can reveal.

Thank you for your imposing yet gentle presence.