Blogs from Honfleur, Lower Normandy, France, Europe

Driving throughout north-west France was a most enthralling experience after which we turned south to the Dordogne region. In my series of special locations that I have visited, which I started with Vernazza on the Italian Riviera, this little town kept fighting in my subconscious to be the next in line. And a most well deserved place to be high up on my list - Honfleur! What a magically alluring medieval location on the Atlantic coast of France. Walking past the quaint shops after parking the car, we entered a narrow street and soon emerged into the harbour area. The row of ancient buildings, wedged up against each other like a stack of well read books, beckoned in their appeal. Below them, butted up to water's edge, inviting outdoor restaurants inescapably pulled at my gastronomic urges. ... read more

Gabby the motorhome is parked up on a massive aire overlooked by the massive Pont de Normandy and is being blown about like a bit of tumbleweed. The rain is pounding on her roof. We have never heard it bounce off so much . It is falling in Biblical proportions . We will need an ark at this rate. . The wind has picked up. Picked up is being polite . It is blowing a gale. Gabby is moving. We feel the wind pushing against her. There are noises everywhere . Banging . Is that the Heiki roof light? Will we wake up in the morning to see the awning missing? We lie in bed listening to the noises. We wonder if its next door or the boats in the harbour. Sometimes the wind drops and ... read more

Bob spent quite a lot of time planning this next jump because of the complexity involved: 1) we wanted if possible to make it in one jump from Cherbourg to Honfleur which was a total of 77 nautical miles 2) we wanted nice weather for the passage with wind in the “right” direction 3) we needed to plan it out to take advantage of the currents 4) we also read that we needed to be at buoy #2 near the entrance to the Seine at two hours before high tide in order to ride the tide into the Seine and finally 5) we wanted to get to the lock going into Honfleur between 1 ½ hours before and after high tide so we would not have to lock through as both doors would be open. We ... read more

It is Veteran's Day in the US. I was looking through my travel blogs and couldn't find a Normandy Blog. Normandy is where the largest military landing in history took place on June 6, 1944. Monuments, museums, bunkers and cemetaries are a living commemoration to the Battle of Normandy. Our trip, via a Uniworld River Cruise from Paris to Normandy and back, was years ago. But, since this phase of the trip never got written up here are some memories and photos. Visiting the landing sites and understanding the conditions of weather, tides, and enemy were overwhelming. Visiting the US National Cemetery where so many Crosses (and Stars of David) line "row on row" even more so! The pictures speak for themselves. We did learn that many families of fallen heros decided to have their loved ... read more

Time to set off for home which means heading north. Bob checked the map and found that there was a straight route, on good roads, all the way without having to use any motorways. We didn’t stop for any sightseeing on the way just a quick break for lunch. We have been along the same route before or certainly several sections of it as we recognized places and buildings as we passed them. A very pleasant drive with the countryside and buildings changing from the white stones of the Loire to the half-timbered buildings of the Normandy / Calvados region. The fruit trees are absolutely dripping with fruit, it really must be an excellent harvest this year. It turned into quite a nice day with blue sky nearly all the way as we passed through, or ... read more