Picking up Plättä
& UEBB show, Solgne, France
May 1998

In May, 1998 I had an exciting trip: I was to travel to Spain to pick up the newest member of our family, a little briard puppy, Plättä (Gallaecia Fvlget Bruxiña Boa) - and on our way back home visit the first UEBB show which took place in Solgne, France on May 23rd-24th. I had naturally done some research already earlier, but this was my first completely briard related trip abroad and especially to France and although I have made several since then, this one has it's special place (how it all began...).

It was a long day to fly to Plättä's breeders. First flight from Helsinki to London, from London to Madrid and yet from Madrid to Santiago de Compostola, which is located in Galicia in the North-West of Iberian peninsula. From there Plättä's breeders came to pick me up at the airport and we drove to A Coruña (located close by) where they live. Finally I had a chance to meet Plättä - and her littermates & mum Lora.

Here is Lora with the puppies (a pic I got already before the trip).
They had a nice house with a big garden for the dogs.

One of the first pics I took of Plättä -
Plättä with her breeder Carmen

Sleeping in the yard

Plättä with a couple of her littermates

Here we are already on our way to Solgne.
After staying over for one night in A Coruña, we again flew from Santiago de Compostola to Madrid (where this picture is taken) and from Madrid to Paris. In Paris we took the train and travelled to Metz. Solgne is situated very close to Metz, so there we only needed to take a taxi to get to our hotel in Solgne.

Little traveller

Already in the hotel in Solgne I had a chance to meet many people I until then only knew throught the internet. They were all very helpful and as I was not travelling by own car, they even transported me & Plättä all weekend to the showground and back, to the dinner etc (yet special thanks go to Gerda!). It was wonderful to meet so many briard people from all around the world - and especially so many briards!

Some of the puppies taking part in the show

Plättä on the showground

This is a special pic for me as on the left is Ilene (du Clos du Haut Noizay), the mother of Rona (Ophelia Blonde de la Tour St Genin) - the mating was done just about a mont after this pic.

Choosing best female

And here finally BOB & BOS
(Hermine des Monts d'en Crouzille & Jiko des Monts d'en Crouzille)

Yet some more taking taxies, train trip to Paris and the final flight from Paris to Helsinki and Plättä finally arrived in Finland.

This trip was the final contributor to my love, not only to this breed of French dogs (it had started already much earlier), but also to France. Since then I have returned several times related to briards, also to the other European countries (a few N.E.'s in France, German Selections, other events, picking up a couple of pups & visiting breeders etc. etc.) - not to mention the other trips - although I must say I don't do too many non-dog-related trips anymore ;). And am also doing my best in learning the language.

So I'm thankful to Plättä's breeders and all the friends in Solgne who made this first trip possible! Hopefully the story is to be continued... again and again. There is so much to learn and experience.