Friday, May 20, 2011

Tuesday 17th May A day out along the coast

The  sun was shiningwhen we left the caravan site and headed to the Normandy Coast and the first town we arrived at was Trouville-Sur-Mer which looked pretty much closed and then further along the Deauville which was a little busier but there seemed to be and exhibition on. The last time we visited this town which was perhaps twenty or thirty years and we thought it rather nice but it is now much larger and less attractive to us and of course it’s still famous for its horse racing and Casino’s and not our cup of tea at all. Nevertheless we stopped just on the edge of twon for a coffee and cognac, what a way to get the day started.

We drove along the coast to Cabourg which is a very nice town and walked through the recently refurbished Accor Grand Hotel which was really very nice but no doubt very expensive as also next door to a Casino and with bar prices of 12 Euros for a glass of wine in the bar. In the town we found a nice little bar and had a coffees etc and then found a little park where we had the picnic we had brought with us. Still going West along the seafront we arrived in Caen where we searching for slip on shoes for Jennifer and Tim and swimming goggles etc which we found after visiting two stores and ending up in Decathlon.

We then took a drive back through the countryside to the site and attempted to find out if we would be able or not to eat in the Chateau. This should be a simple process but the Dutch lad on reception was new to this and said do you want fish or meat which sounded a little strange and so Jennifer came back to find out what we wanted. I though this could not be right and went back to reception but by this time he had gone and so I walked to the Chateau and found the ‘Lady in charge’ who said its not fish or meat but there is a choice and so we arranged to go back there at 7.45

There was a Dutch couple already eating when we arrived and we had an excellent five course meal which wasn’t that cheap but on a par of a three course meal in Weybridge. A nice bottle of Bordeaux and then we tried their home made Calvados which was a little firey but the glasses were rather small.
It was very nice that Joanne and Tim treated is to this dinner as they would not be with us on out 40th Wedding anniversary which falls at the end of the May.

And so back to camp for a good night’s sleep