Verneuil, Chartres, Verneuil – 9 May 2011

One week away – life is slowing down deliciously. Did some washing at Laverette then returned for Continental petit dejeuner at the Hotel.  Had a look at the map and decided to go to Chartres for a look at the Cathedral.  Chartres itself looks pristine if a little modern in the centre.  Parked underground in massive car park.  The Cathedral is impressive but is being renovated so had some scaffolding inside and out.  The renovated bits are wonderful, light and translucent.  Drove back and had siesta.

Not easy to find a place to eat in France on a Monday – everything shuts down.  However the Pizza Plus restaurant on the square was open and we had a surprisingly nice meal.  Chicken wings and pizza for Jane and goats cheese salad and potato,mushroom and bacon omelette for Tony. Waitresses nice charming – helping us with our French and us helping them with their English.

Monsieur Barnaby using a sundial.

Chartres cathedral.

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Bernay, Conches-en-Ouche, Breteuil, Verneuil-sur-Avre – 8 May 2011

Depart Bernay at 9.45am.  Drove through large forest to Conches where we stopped for a coffee.  70^th anniversary of D-Day Landings and a small ceremony was taking place at the memorial – quite touching. Drove on (still in forest) to Breteuil, nice little village but without a Hotel.  So on to Verneuil-sur-Avre which is a bit bigger and have a room for 2 nights at the Hotel Saumon overlooking the square and the church with a loud bell!  Ate lunch at the Brasserie de la Place – Two enormous “sandwiches”.- French versions of a BLT and a Ploughman’s. Far too large to finish.

Then, Sacre Bleu, Il pluit! But only for 10 minutes. Still very warm, though. Had siesta and updated blog then strode off in search of nourishment. Found an Italian restaurant “Le Italien Gourmand” and a pleasant, slightly tiddly evening ensued – food good for €40 with wine and a pression. Back at the hotel at 9.30 – we know this because of the huge bells in the church which reverberate around the Place de la Madelaine when announcing the time.

ps. They stop ringing at 10pm.

If you go down to the woods today.....

Hotel Saumon

France in the fast lane

Small church big bells

Dieppe, St. Valery-de-Caux, Pont de Brotonne, Yvetot, Bourgtheroulde-Infreville, Brionne, Bernay - 7 May 2011

Left Dieppe at 9.00am and took the coast road to St. Valery de Caux, a picturesque little porwith a pair of huge sea gates powered by two huge hydraulic rams (Tony in his element here!).  Had petit dejeuner – tres bon. Crossed the Pont de Brotonne over the Seine.  Bridge designed a bit like the Millai Bridge only smaller.    Headed south towards Yvetot but decided to keep going. Next two villages had little to delay us but Bernay was a delightful town with lots of very old timbered houses so we stopped the night at the Hotel du Lion d’Or €58 plus 3 for parking. Had very nice meal at the Clos du Normande – pate for Jane,  goats cheese for Tony followed by porc en cidre for both, then fruit salad.

Weather has been sunny all the way so far but a few dark clouds are rolling about tonight.

St Valery de Caux

Pont de Brotonne

Le Lion D'or, Bernay

Rue du Bernay

Montreuil, Le Treport, Dieppe - 6 May 2011

Left Montreuil at 9.30 -  filled up with petrol/ethanol mixture !! at local petrol stati9on and tootled off down the coast.  Along this part of the Normandy the old seaside resorts are now quite a few miles inland due to the silting up of the coast.  For example we were thrown off course temporarily heading for Quend.  Took a left to Quend la Plage which is now 15km from village!  Stopped at Le Treport for coffee – the port has been better days but has a faded grandeur.  Has funicular railway up the cliffs (reminded Jane of Scarborough without the beach!)

Arrived in Dieppe at 1.00pm.  Very busy place.  Staying at Hotel de la Plage on the sea front.  Had a lovely lunch at the Cafe des Tribonaux (carpaccio and croquet monsieur).  Oscar Wilde, Renoir, Sickert and Monet drank here but the only paintings on the wall are now by Vettriano!  Had siesta for an hour then promenaded down to the Quai Henri IV for a formule €13.70 at L’Ocean.  Sardines for both of us.  Home at 11.00.

Coastline near Dieppe

Montreuil – 5 May 2011

Hotel des remparts.

Today we had tea and croissants for breakfast at the Diplomat Cafe, put the clothes on to wash at the Launderette (after some confusion with the instructions) then walked up to the Tourist Information for location of WiFi and petrol station.  Then spent an hour walking around the ramparts of the town which are still virtually complete.  Returned to washed clothing and helped elderly French couple use the machines!  Had baguette and sandwich from Carrefour for lunch sitting in the square.

The chap from the 123 PC Information shop was due back from lunch at 2.00 but there was a note on the door saying he would not be back until 3.00.  C’est la vie!.  Had a look round and antique shop and wandered the ancient streets to kill time till we could update the blog which took about an hour.

Had dinner at La Paloma restaurant – quite nice.  Tony had rabbit stew and Jane had gammon followed by cheese, coffee and some strange tea.  And so to bed.

Calais - Desvres - Montreuil 4 May 2011

Barnaby with Marshall Haig

Montreuil Ramparts

Montreuil square

Either the moules or the chicken disagreed with Jane and 3 visits to the toilet were made before a breakfast of half a glass of water.  I had usual continental brecky.  Did a circuit of Calais before finding the road to Desvres and enjoying a wonderful drive through peaceful and almost deserted French countryside.  Coffee at Desvres (a very pleasant little town) then on to Montreuil sur Mer (which is no longer by the sea – the sea retreated 13 km many years ago!)  Delightful walled town with ramparts surrounding the high town.  Had lunch and decided to find hotel and stay here for 2 days

Deal - Dover -Calais 3 May 2011

Nervous breakfast – muesli, toast and toilet – at Malvern B & B in Deal. Set off for Dover at 9.00 and arrived at 9.20.  Just too late to catch the 9.40 crossing so caught the 10.25 ferry.  £82.50 !!  Choppy sea with a strong north easterly wind made the crossing slightly rocky but we were OK.

Drove into Calais and parked on the Rue de la Paix then walked up, down and around Calais to find a suitable Hotel – none seemed to have Receptions open – only the very expensive ones!  Visited the Tourist Information for map and directions.  Had lunch at Le Grillon, moules for Jane and omelette for Tony.  Stayed at the Bel Azur Hotel for 81€ including brecky.  Reception area very smart but the bedroom was a bit shabby with a broken bathroom window. 

As we seem to be unable to get WiFi access easily we found and Internet cafe and after much fun with a French keyboard managed to send one message!

Ate at the Cafe de la Tour and received two enormous meals (one complete half chicken for Jane).

Bye Bye Blighty

Hotel Bel Azur Calais