25th Nov - Driving Through Western France
On Tuesday we started driving out of Amsterdam towards the Normandy coast of France which has a major link to the UK through many ocean crossing points as well as the site of much fighting in WW2 and particularly for the D Day landings which signalled the start of the end for Hitler.
We were planning to spend the night in Dunkerque but decided, instead to continue to Rouen. Rouen, about 500kms south of Amsterdam is a lovely city with lots of medieval churchs, old properties and cul de sacs. We spent the night walking in fairly brisk weather (4 degrees) and found a lovely restaurant to eat at, just behind the College des Beaux Arts (Fine Art School). It was an authentic Couscous restaurant, in the style I recall going to 10 yrs ago with my great uncle in Paris. We had a tajine with prunes, almonds and tender lamb pieces as well as a Couscous Royale with chicken, lamb and merguez sausage. Both were divine.
Tam and her entree!
The next morning we toured Rouen for an hour and then headed to Mont. St. Michel, which Mark was particularly keen to visit. We got very lucky, arriving around 3pm to a glorious blue sky and cool day (about 6 degrees) as the photos show. The tide was way out, but spectacular anyway. Other than the 4 Euro carpark entry, the only other thing that costs is the Abbey of St Michel itself (8E). We saved that and simply toured this wonderous island village which is purely for tourists now, French and foreign, as well as the Benedictine monks who lived, worshipped and studied there for 4 centuries in virtual isolation, before being kicked out at the French revolution. There is a small community of monks now; although we did not see any.
Mark took about 100 photos from every angle (lucky we have a digital camera).
Mont St Michel at low tide
The following morning we returned to tour Le Merveille (the Miracle), the abbey itself. We realised just how lucky we were with Wednesdays weather as it was completely overcast today. The tour guide (free with our entry at 11am or 3pm each day), was very informative, although I think her mind was elsewhere. The abbey is on 3 levels, although construction commenced in 790AD, most of it was built between the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, as different benefactors came along. There are vastly different architectural styles (specifically Romanesque 11th or 12thC and Gothic 13thC) within the abbey, church and monks buildings, which seems confusing as you go through.
When its cold its crepe time!
We were planning to spend the night in Dunkerque but decided, instead to continue to Rouen. Rouen, about 500kms south of Amsterdam is a lovely city with lots of medieval churchs, old properties and cul de sacs. We spent the night walking in fairly brisk weather (4 degrees) and found a lovely restaurant to eat at, just behind the College des Beaux Arts (Fine Art School). It was an authentic Couscous restaurant, in the style I recall going to 10 yrs ago with my great uncle in Paris. We had a tajine with prunes, almonds and tender lamb pieces as well as a Couscous Royale with chicken, lamb and merguez sausage. Both were divine.
Tam and her entree!
The next morning we toured Rouen for an hour and then headed to Mont. St. Michel, which Mark was particularly keen to visit. We got very lucky, arriving around 3pm to a glorious blue sky and cool day (about 6 degrees) as the photos show. The tide was way out, but spectacular anyway. Other than the 4 Euro carpark entry, the only other thing that costs is the Abbey of St Michel itself (8E). We saved that and simply toured this wonderous island village which is purely for tourists now, French and foreign, as well as the Benedictine monks who lived, worshipped and studied there for 4 centuries in virtual isolation, before being kicked out at the French revolution. There is a small community of monks now; although we did not see any.
Mark took about 100 photos from every angle (lucky we have a digital camera).
Mont St Michel at low tide
The following morning we returned to tour Le Merveille (the Miracle), the abbey itself. We realised just how lucky we were with Wednesdays weather as it was completely overcast today. The tour guide (free with our entry at 11am or 3pm each day), was very informative, although I think her mind was elsewhere. The abbey is on 3 levels, although construction commenced in 790AD, most of it was built between the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, as different benefactors came along. There are vastly different architectural styles (specifically Romanesque 11th or 12thC and Gothic 13thC) within the abbey, church and monks buildings, which seems confusing as you go through.
When its cold its crepe time!
posted by Most Liveable at 3:45 AM
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