"La Manche".

[Sir Limpsalot]

"France again?" wondered a friend. "You went there last year".
Indeed we did. For the last handfull of years we have chosen to holiday somewhere we can ride/drive to rather than fly. In fact, for us, flying has become rather like putting sugar in your coffee. Once you stop doing it, you quickly loose your taste for it.

Although France is geographically our nearest neighbour it is different to England in as many ways as it's possible to imagine. The language, of course. The money, the driving on the right (wrong) side, the empty roads all contribute to making a holiday here a different experience. The French attitude to life is totally different too. It's like going back to the 1950's England we grew up in. Shops close for long lunch breaks and altogether on Sundays. Sunday is still a family day here and shop workers have families too.
It is more important to enjoy life than it is to chase every last sale. If your customers want what you're selling, then they'll come back when you're open.
Petrol stations too close on Sunday. Most have a couple of automatic pumps that take bank cards. These pumps don't take credit cards, only debit cards drawn on French banks.
Foriegners are well advised to fill up on Saturdays!

It's just half an hour to the port of Newhaven from here and there's no doubt that relaxing on board a ferry is a great way to unwind. The holiday mood being given a kickstart as the ferry sets off.

Leaving Newhaven behind the "driver" turns for France, and gasses it!

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The four hour crossing gives plenty of time to have breakfast then stroll around on deck.

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We were staying in a small town on the banks of the river Selune. Our hotel, a converted water mill. We over looked this "cascade".

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The Selune is one of the best Salmon fishing rivers in France. In the afternoon the fish would laze about in the shallows just below the weir as the late sun warmed the water. I could have caught one from my bedroom window, if I knew how.

The bridge dates from 1613.

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Early morning mist.

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The town of Ducey takes it's crest from the Montgommery family. The Chateau Montgommery is undergoing restoration.

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This is about as busy as the high street ever got.

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The town church has an unusual tower. It looks as though they were joined at one time, but no longer.

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In nearby Avranches there is a lovely old castle, donated to the people by a gratefull William Duke of Normandy for their assistance in his conquest of England. We climbed to the top of the tower and enjoyed far reaching views out accross the town.

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Dinan is claimed to be the best preserved medieval town in France. It stands on a hilltop and much of the original walls that surround it are intact and offer a good vantage point. In the valley below there is a river with pleasant looking restaurants and bars along the banks.

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There are many superb old churches in the area. Every town has several that are worth a look. Some of the stained glass windows in this one have been mdernised with scenes of soldiers.

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This nice old classic had UK plates, later in the week we saw it again near St Malo.

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63 years ago this area was the scene of heavy fighting as the Allied invasion of Normandy pushed further south. The Germans had time to organise their defences better and both sides suffered heavy losses.
With you chaps in mind we made a small detour to the village of St James. The site of an American Cemetary. Here are the graves of 4,410 American military Dead who gave their lives nearby. A further 498 whose bodies were never found are also remembered here. The weather added to the sombre mood.

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Look carefully and you'll see some of the memorials are the Star of David rather than the Christian cross.

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There is a small Chapel on the site.

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I shall have to finish this later, tomorrow perhaps. There are a couple of fairytale castles I'm sure you'll enjoy..

Si.

[Tassie Devil]

Si,
You just get better and better.
I can't believe the age and style of that old town. Those buildings are incredible.
Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

Cheers,

JQ.

[BobFV1]

Simon - just gorgeous shots. THe narrow streets, terrain, and morning pissy-weather all point to a slow, relaxed touring pace through some beautiful country - I imagine 200-300kms would be about the most you'd want to travel in a day in country like this.

Looking forward to the rest of the pics.

[DarthRider]

Si -
Tassie is right...better & better.
The guys who do the travelogues & picture post cards should take lessons.
Thanks very much for including the scenes from the American graveyard & memorial. Many of us in the States right now are watching a most excellent new series on our Public Broadcasting System called simply, "The War". Last night's episode covered D-Day and the hell that followed in Normandy. There was a very moving scene in an American cemetery there, quite possibly the one you visited...but there are so many.
Thanks again Si, I'm very glad we have you here !

[DJ Down Under]

Thanks Simon...Fantastic pictures...I love the old red Bugatti..or whatever it is.

DJ

[Deans BMW]

Simply breathtaking, I have no words to do your travelogue justice.

Thanks Si.

[Markus]

Very nice, thanks for sharing!

[Boxerboy]

Monsieur Simon, c'est magnifique. Merci beaucoup.

Sorry for being a tosser, but I'm practicing (and badly) for a wee trip myself!:icon_redface:

What's the cheapest way for a family of 4 to get to the continent from the UK?

[Sir Limpsalot]

Vitre is a small medieval town much favoured by guide book writers. It is (in the unbiased opinion of the French tourist board!!) one of the finest of it's type in all Europe.

We didn't care for it much. It did have some charm, with narrow cobbled streets and a very well preserved castle but it somehow made us feel like "tourists" rather than "travellers", if you get my drift.

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This is "Diagon Alley" (complete with pub called the "Leaky Cauldron").

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As always there was a superb gothic church.

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Much more to our taste was the town of Fougeres. The guide books dismiss it as "nothing much there but an old castle". Well, that may be true in a way but what an old castle it is!

T.E. Lawrence said of it "This castle really is way above and beyond anyrhing that words can say - I'm sure that Fougeres must be the most beautiful of them all."

Not often stuck for words wasn't Lawrence, but I was stuck with the task of trying to photograph it. Not as easy as might be hoped.

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When you explore a castle with Linda, then you really explore a castle. Ever wonder what 12th Century roof timbers looked like? No? Me neither. On the other hand Linda did. "What does that sign say?" She enquired of me "No access to the public". "Oh that's OK, we'll pretend we couldn't understand".

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For those of a historical bent, the first castle here was built around the year 1,000. As was common at the time it was made of wood. It served the people of the town well for many years before being burnt down. The castle shown dates from the late 12th and early 13th Century.

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I hope you've enjoyed the tour and that I've shown you something a little different to your normal surroundings.
Where to next? Not sure yet, but as it's our 30th Anniversery next year it'll probably have to be somewhere quite special. Wherever it is.. you'll be invited.

Cheers, Si.

[1MPH]

I hope you've enjoyed the tour and that I've shown you something a little different to your normal surroundings.
Where to next? Not sure yet, but as it's our 30th Anniversery next year it'll probably have to be somewhere quite special. Wherever it is.. you'll be invited.

Cheers, Si.



Can't tell you how much both my wife and I enjoyed your trip.
Don't know how you get such great pictures, but they fascinate. Thanks
Let us wish you both an early Happy Anniversary, and we look forwards
to the trip.

[Deans BMW]

Si, are you positive that you did not accidently stumble onto one of Walt Disneys magic kingdoms........It is almost impossible to belive that all you saw is real.

[Wild Will]

Simon, I cannot tell you just how much I enjoy your stories and photos. I look forward to your visit to california with gusto, whenever it may happen. Thanks for the most picturesque little jaunt in unspeakably beautiful France.

[Promethean]

Si,
These are magnificent pics. Outstanding. Thanks for the Euro-trip. :)

[Sir Limpsalot]

For the kind comments.

Boxerboy, a lot will depend on exactly what you have in mind. I'll drop you a PM and we can go through it at length. Be assured that the staff here at "Simon's Travel" (Tailor made European holidays for discerning clients worldwide) are at your service.

Si.

[Boxerboy]

Great pictures there...fantastic.

We're planning a short holiday, up to 4-5 weeks in Europe. My kids are 11 & 9 so we'll be showing them the iconic sights that they get to see occasionally on the tv, and then some others they wouldn't normally.
My 9 yo is a Beatles fan and wants to do a Beatles tour...whilst my 11 yo daughter is keen to go to London to visit the Queen. You can see how we'll be fashioning the trip! The 9 yo also says he wants to visit Jim Morrison in Paris. He likes The Doors.
We're hoping London, Paris, Rome and Venice. Prague would be great but unlikely for us. I was there in "93 and it was undoubtedly my favourite of all.

I've replied to your PM.
Cheers
Steve

[Capt. Blackadder]

I hope you've enjoyed the tour and that I've shown you something a little different to your normal surroundings.
I'll say... different indeed. Thanks a ton Si, you sure have brightened up an otherwise ordinary Friday morning.

:encore:

[geechie]

Simply incomparable, my friend.

And thanks for showing us that in certain contexts, Americans are still thought well of in Europe.

And for those of us of an historical bent... Today is the 941st anniversary of the day William the Bastard landed at Pevensey... somewhere in your neighborhood, wasn't it?

George

[Sir Limpsalot]

George, indeed it was just a couple of miles from here that "Guillame le Batard" landed.
Right on this very beach..

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On arrival he took over a Saxon castle and made his first base there. I drive past it every day.

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In 1068 they built their first church here too.

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Simply stuffed full of history round here m'boy!

Steve, your proposed trip sounds wonderful. A "Beatles tour" would be a fun thing to do alright.
There's nowhere quite like London, your daughter will love it, I'm sure. Some pic's for her..

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Perhaps I could find an opening at the English Tourist Board? Or even the French one?
Cheers!
Si.

[mnnden]

Wonderful!!!!! Den
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/travel/30footsteps.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Arby]

Great stuff, Si. Thank you.

RB

[1MPH]

Perhaps I could find an opening at the English Tourist Board? Or even the French one?
Cheers!
Si.



To me you already have one.
Can't get enough of your photos. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!