With our full 1 day of experience under our belt, we didn’t rush to get up and out this morning. A light breakfast of fruit and yogurt with toast got us started and the grey skies told us to layer up. The we were off!
The plan today – yes, there was one! – was to visit Honfleur, a dribble fishing village in the mouth of the Seine. About an hour’s drive from Rouen, we took the back roads through the countryside which took a little longer. The skies were overcast but the weather apps promised sun for later.
The town is lovely- we get an old Annapolis vibe for those who get that reference. We stopped at one of the dozens of cafes along the harbor and enjoyed Normandy vide and moule frites – Roquefort for Frank and Camembert for me. Yum!
Then it was off to explore. we meandered through cobbled streets and popped into the shops along the way. There seems to be mostly art galleries, souvenir shops and purveyors of Calvados- the apple brandy that this part of Normandy is famous for. We stumbled into St Catherine’s church – a wooden edifice constructed by shipbuilders which may be my favorite one so far. Another candle lit – St Anne this time, tres apropo! – and we emerged to glorious sunshine.
A walk along the waterfront was in order followed by a climb up Mont Joli, 430 feet up some steep streets for a fantastic view across the Seine to Le Havre as well as over the town itself. Magnifique!
By the time we got back down to town, it was obvious that the tour buses from either Paris or nearby cruise ships had descended on the water front. There were hoards of people everywhere! Even the simple act of getting some ice cream turned into a marathon event. The travel gods were telling us it was time to move on.
Back to the car, top down, and we are off along the coast for our first quick stop at a beach. Trouville su Mer and Danville were recommended to me by a colleague at work who grew up in the area. It is a glorious old seaside resort- think Victorian Brighton – with wide sandy beaches, cafes, and a grand casino. It was a beautiful place to wander along the beach looking out at the channel.
We opted for a quick stop at a hyper market (French for Walmart 😂) to pick up a few things for a picnic style dinner: cheese, bread, olives, meat, cider and wine. A perfect end to the day.
Stats for today:
- Steps: 16,717 or 7.4 miles
- Uphill measure: 18 flights
- Types of cheese consumed: 4
- Layers of sunscreen applied: 3 (and we still have burnt bits😳)
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