Sunday, June 03, 2007

My Normandy


Normandy! Beautiful Normandy! Just a sixty mile journey across the Channel and I feel I'm a million miles away from home.
There's something special about the the towns and villages strung like pearls along the northern French coast.
The sea port of Dieppe is famed for it's fish. The crabs and lobsters, cod and plaice. Trawlers side by side with bobbing yachts. People sit outside bars and cafes enjoying piles of the fruits of the sea.
The majesty of Deauville with it's grand Casino dominating the centre of the town. Treuville, it's little sister a few miles to it's west. I can still see my daughter playing at the waters edge with the warm sea lapping around her feet.

The light that blesses Hornfleur brings a fairy tale quality to the ancient harbour, where Monet painted some of his best loved pictures. Shops and bars line the waters edge, and artists sit at easels inspired by the work of the great artists that came before. Narrow steep streets climb ever higher. Cobbles under foot, and timber buildings all around.
Le Touquet is a playground for the wealthy. Surrounded on three sides by lush forest, it's thatched houses like dots amongst the pines. The white cliffs rise from the end of edge of the town and mirror the Seven Sisters just across the water in England.
Inland, apple orchards dominate the countryside. Every barn conceals barrels of cloudy cider and potent calvados, and farms produce the wonderful cheeses which are famous the world over.
The Seine winds it's way south to the ancient timbered city of Rouen, past rural communities which the march of time seems to have forgotten.
Normandy, my Normandy! Forever I will return.

9 comments:

  1. Very beautiful thanks for sharing your tour with us. A pleasant tour guide you are.

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  2. Yet another extraordinary piece to enlighten the untraveled passerby.

    You are quite a fortunate young man. Not only do you dwell amid beauty, you are also encompassed by other charming little towns.

    ~I love your writing style~

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  3. I love the old world charm of your article, Keith.

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  4. Hi there! Beautiful blog and pics. Thank you so much for your kind comments on my blog. I just joined Helium the other day and I'm having fun with it.
    I will put you up as one of my fave's and will check out all of the links to your faves.
    Take care and visit me again.
    Tory

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  5. When I think of Normandy, I think of David Sedaris. Have you ever read *Me Talk Pretty One Day* by Sedaris. His stories about Normandy are hilarious.

    -J

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  6. Morgetron - I have and they certainly are very funny! Having lived in Normandy for several years, I find them all the more amusing.

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  7. Thanks Keith for your comment on my page!! If I could get my damn blogger to work properly I would add you on there..unfortunately it is giving me a lot of attitude!!

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  8. Ah! Attitude meets attitude! What was that about two immovable forces?

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  9. LOL!! Yes..I have a bit of an attitude and a temper to go with it..but really..its being ridiculous!!

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