Breakfast in Honfleur
We awoke to a cold and frosty day and the car was like an igloo! We were determined to be up and out by 9am this morning so we could make the hour's journey to Honfleur for breakfast. Sophie, bless her, took everything out to the car and packed it expertly.
We didn't know where to leave the key to the house but decided to pop it into the post box of our hosts next door. Just as we were leaving the man appeared and said this was fine. He waved us off with a cheery smile!
Trish took us out through the countryside, we skirted Bayeux again and then joined the autoroute around an extremely busy Caen. We had hit rush hour traffic, and roadworks, so that held us up for about ten minutes.
Trish ignored the road signs to Honfleur and took us onto small country lanes again, passing the place where we'd had to stop for Sophie to have a wee! We drove down into the town passing the same beautiful houses as before and looked out for the car park. It was here that I annoyed a French woman driver behind me by attempting to turn left into the car park. She was making wild gesticulations behind me, trying to convey that I should have gone around the roundabout. As I held her up for all of thirty seconds, I thought her attitude was a bit extreme, and she could see we were British! Sophie made some rude gestures back!
We parked the car and made our way to the harbour, choosing L'Abatros for breakfast. It was a quirky little place with flags hanging from the ceiling and a cosy atmosphere.
We chose bagels served with cream cheese, bacon and egg as well as cafés au lait. A couple of locals were already enjoying a coffee and it was great to relax and have a good breakfast. After we'd eaten Sophie wanted a noisette, an espresso served with milk. We'd seen a couple have one in the restaurant in Deauville yesterday so we ordered one here. Sophie was a bit disappointed the milk was cold and not as hot and frothy as it was yesterday, but it certainly gave us a shot of caffeine!
French kissing
After Sophie paid the bill for breakfast, Keith went back to the car while Sophie and I went in search of a nearby Carrefour. We walked into the town and saw most of the shops were open. On the way to the supermarket, we saw a shop selling local produce so we went in. The woman running the shop immediately pounced on us and explained about all the different Calvados for sale and the Normandy ciders. I picked out a cider for Vikesh and one for me, and the man working there asked if we were on holiday. I explained it had been my birthday yesterday and he exclaimed "Happy Birthday!" loudly and grabbed me for a hug and two kisses! I was quite pleased! He smelled nice as well!
We left and found the Carrefour further up the street. I wanted another bottle of Calvados and some more Cracksters to take home, but although we searched the shop we couldn't find them. I did buy a bottle of Calvados and a bottle of wine, and we quickly walked back to the car, as we'd intended to leave by midday.
Wimereux is closed
When we got back to the car, Keith told us he'd been watching several boats offloading oysters. He said it was fascinating to see so many boxes being brought in and then taken away in refrigerated vans.
We drove back onto the autoroute and headed for Wimereux, where we wanted to have a late lunch. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we saw lots of birds again sitting on the fences. The fields looked so different in the sunshine!
The journey was uneventful and before the turn for Wimereux, we stopped at an aire to use the loos. Keith was fine as the urinals were open to the elements, but the toilets were closed so Sophie and I couldn't go! We did offload our glass bottle recycling though, which was a bonus, as I thought we'd be taking it home with us!
As we drove into Wimereux, I said I wanted to go to the Carrefour on the outskirts and look for the Cracksters again, as well as use the loos (if they had them), so Sophie and I ran in but there were no toilets... I did find the Cracksters, though, and bought five boxes! This raised a few eyebrows at the checkout!
We parked on the street in Wimereux and walked to the front, hoping that a few restaurants would be open. This time it was me who desperately needed the conveniences, but nothing was open. We'd already discovered that Les Oyats was closed until February, but the restaurant next to it was also firmly shut up. Sophie walked up to a block of public toilets but these were locked.
We were a bit disappointed that nothing was open, as it was a gorgeous day to be in the town and we could see the coast of England in the distance, something we'd never seen before. Quite a few people were walking along the front and enjoying the views, so the place wasn't completely deserted!
Au Revoir, France
We reluctantly made the decision to go to Cité Europe for something to eat and, as it's next to Le Shuttle terminal, it was very convenient. We drove back down the main street of Wimereux and even that looked all shuttered up!
We made one last stop at an aire just before Calais and used the loos. Thank goodness! At Cité Europe we headed straight for the food court and chose a restaurant for a late lunch (it was well past 3pm now) only to be told that the kitchen was closed! We couldn't believe it! I thought that all the restaurants in the shopping centre served food all day!
Thankfully, The Black Bull pub was open and more than happy to serve us food. It definitely wasn't what we had wanted but needs must! We all had a beer each and Sophie and I ordered "cornflake" chicken while Keith opted for fish and chips. The food was OK but we were all a little disappointed that our last meal in France was in a French "pub"!
Sophie and I indulged in dessert - a disappointing tarte tatin for me served with cold English custard and a cookie for my daughter. We paid the bill and made our way back to the car, driving the short distance to the terminal next door.
For perhaps the first time ever, we actually took the train we'd booked! We had half an hour before boarding and popped into the Duty-Free terminal where we bought an enormous jar of Dijon mustard for Keith's friend, John, and a couple more bottles of wine to use up our euros. We were then called to board, and once on the train, I put the seat back and snoozed for the whole crossing!
Back in the UK, we navigated the busy and dark M20, the even busier M25 and the M1. We made it home by 8.30pm which I was pleased about as I had foreseen a much longer journey back. The house was freezing, and the cats were a bit bemused to see us at first but they soon appreciated the cuddles we gave them!
It had been a wonderful short break away and we're determined to go back to Normandy and explore more of this beautiful region. We never got to Mont St Michel, or Étretat (where Monet painted) but perhaps later in the year, we'll get to Giverny and Rouen.
It had been a long day and we have to be up fairly early tomorrow morning, as two of the cars are booked in for an MOT. Back to reality!
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