France again

We have now arrived in Wales after a very busy couple of days, so it is incumbent upon me to do a bit of a catchup. Our time in Pont Audemer was spent visiting many of the nearby  villages and towns. This area of France is very different to others which we have visited in the past and is filled with half timbered houses which have become as bent and wiggly as can be, rather than the usual stone buildings of other areas. A couple of hundred years ago this construction method was outlawed as being unsafe. I guess the test of time has cast doubt on that little bit of wisdom.

This Building in Rouen probably should 

have fallen of it's perch some years ago.

There are whole streets and, indeed, areas full of these unsafe buildings just waiting to fall down but refusing to cooperate. It does make it a great place for a camera happy tourist to visit. In Rouen we took a small train, which have appeared in many towns in Normandy, and like Noddy and Big-ears went off on a tour of the town, to see where Joan d'Arc was cremated in a most untimely fashion, the cathedral and many other must see sights. It was most enjoyable and we repeated  the experience a few days later in Caen. Normally we have have toured such places by Hop on Hop off buses but these little Noddy Trains do the job just as well.

The Cathedral in Rouen

Returning home from Rouen took us through Geverny, once home to Claude Monet - one of my favourite artists, so it was pleasing to be able to wander through his famous gardens and water lily pond.

Monet's Lily Pond

Part of Monet's Garden

Another town we found quite enchanting was Honfleur which is at the southern end of the Pont de Normandy which crosses the Seine from Le Havre and is another of the great examples of French bridge building, combining good engineering with elegance.

The old Harbour in Honfluer

There are many other towns of great  beauty and interest but I shall bore you enough without having to resort to these at this stage.

The week ended and we moved from Pont Audemer to Montchaton and a new cottage. What a beauty this one was, spotless and absolutely charming...even a bottle of our hosts home made cider chilling in the fridge. M. and Mdm. Host  were everything one would hope for and made sure we had a great stay.

Mdm. Currin sampling our hosts offering

From here we explored the peninsular out to Cherbourg and the Normandy beaches. We had hoped to also do a day trip out to the Channel Islands which can be seen from the coast but just ran out of time. Whilst driving to Montchaton we passed through Caen and stumbled across the best market that we had ever seen, couldn't resist the spit roasted pork hot filled roll but then wished I had waited when we came across a seafood paella to die for. There was vegetables of every description and some which I am sure have not even been named yet. Mrs Currin (and I must admit Mr as well) was in heaven. We  thought Murray would have enjoyed this one.

This is starting to tire me so must be doing the same for you so I shall put you out of your misery and sign off once more, except I must first share my thoughts on driving in France. Now I can handle driving on the right hand side of the road, in fact I seem to adjust to that more easily than adjusting back to the left, but there are some odd little laws here. You must give way to your right and even if you are on State Highway 1 and there is a farm track without give way or stop signs then give way you must. Fortunately these are infrequent as most such intersections are controlled. 

Roads need not be large to be controlled.

Then there are speed limits. 

Generally open roads are 90kph, divided roads 110kph and motorways 130kph. In towns mostly it's 50 but this can drop to 30 when necessary or even when it's not. Trouble is there is no signs telling the unwary motorist when the 50 limit starts, it is automatic once the town limit (and sign) is passed and continues until the town name sign with a cross through it is passed. In between there can be 50 signs with Rappel (reminder) under but they are only that, a reminder, the speed zone started some time back.   

Generally though I quite enjoy driving in France....EXCEPT in Paris. This  place is crazy and the craziest place in this crazy city is the Arc de Triomphe. There are no rules here and the eight or so lanes which encircle this edifice are unmarked. Even the insurance companies have given up and blame is officially halved in the event of an accident irrespective of fault. It was then most distressing last Friday to find myself heading for the centre of Paris and lo and behold the Arc de Triomphe looms in my path. 

Well that's all for this posting, you shall have to wait to see what happened next.

All the best.

David