Thursday, August 15, 2013

Tuesday 23rd July- Tons of rain overnight but no water to shower with

We awoke after a rather noisy night of thunder and lighting and heavy rain to find there was not water in the taps. We all needed a shower and the gents a shave but no luck. The town’s water supply had broken as it had been hit by lightning or something putting out the electric pumps.
We did some shopping in the high street after visiting the local church where the floor rises away from you when you arrive at the front door but aids a quick departure and if you are in a coffin you can be guaranteed to exit this church quite quickly. We tried to find the flower shop but finally opened with not the best of selection, it was only Monday, and so we bought some rather nice chocolates form the local small chocolate shop as a thank you present for Ingrid. We also purchased a small flower arrangement for Marie, who normally works on the site reception but on the last night had acted as waitress.
Ingrid was not there but we left the presents at the Chateau leaving name cards to avoid any misunderstanding and then headed for Liseaux where we visited the famous Basilica of Saint Therese. Jen and I had been there many times and so we left our guests to wander around before joining up and having a cup of coffee in our usual cafe. On leaving the town we visited a small military cemetery from the Second World War where there are both UK graves (actually mostly Scottish) and then a short distance away is a German cemetery and there for some reason they are buried two to a plot. This might be due to the fact that the British burial also took care of the dead German soldiers as well.
From there we drove to Cabourg for lunch where we purchased some really great salmon and leak quiche Lorraine and sat on the a sea front bench and enjoyed the view for a while. We then drove along the coast in the direction of Caen through various towns and villages until the time indicated that an early check in at the Hotel in Beaumont-en-Auge so that we could get a shower after not having the chance earlier in the day.
Sitting in the bar for a pre-dinner drink we learnt that not only was the restaurant in the Hotel closed for the evening but also the two other restaurants as well, brilliant planning w thought.  John and Denise had been to the lovely view over the coast and had seen off a bottle of wine and so they were ready for dinner.

Our nearest town was Pont L’Eveque and so off we toddled but many places seemed closed, what is going on, and then we asked somebody who was closing his pizza place if there was any where to eat and he recommended a place down the road which turned out to be really good and family operated. So after a very good meal we went back to the Hotel with its very steep stairs and interesting architecture and very different bedrooms.