After reading Normandy thru Rick Steves’ eyes, We decided to visit the place where the Seine empties into the English Channel. Honfleur is often thought to be the birthplaceof modern plein air painting–Monet and other creative types joined Eugene Boudin here from Paris and found the colors amazing. Perhaps it is because of the light that results from the confluence of the river and the sea–no one really knows but it is beautiful.
We wandered the small town and found an art store that we loved–the artist carves his picture (backwards) into leather, like an etching with no acid, and presses once for each color onto watercolor paper. Can’t wait to get the painting home! We found a small creperia that was a perfect place for lunch…I had a Normandy galette and Allan had a salmon salad. 
Honfleur is a beautiful town where the clouds are especially pretty. I love the clouds in France!
We went back to Bayeux to see the tapestry–70 meters long, it is an embroidered account of the rise of William the Bastard to William the Conquerer which was finished in about 1077. There is still much discussion about who embroidered the wool on linen masterpiece. The world is quite fortunate that this piece is still in good shape for the world to see.
The cathedral was beautifully lit tonight and the inside is immense. Hard to imagine that something so perfect was created so many years ago. Dinner was bread, cheese and wine again. Turns out to be our favorite dinner.
Sante!
It was an uneventful flight yesterday and today, just the usual…a bit of turbulence in the air, sleeping interrupted by announcements from the crew, many families traveling, babies crying, and a few good movies. Arriving at Charles DeGualle was as I remembered–lots of walking, waiting and walking some more. Through passport check, finally getting all of our bags from carousel 42, we picked up our rented Mercedes from Eurocar and drove to Bayeau, arriving at about 1:30 pm, exhausted. The boutique Hotel de Luxembourg is just off the small city’s Main Street. We checked in, brought in our belongings and took a nice long nap. At 4:30, when we woke, we bundled up and went for a walk. The Main Street was decorated with lighted snowflakes and icicles and the bustling crowd was shopping and looking for just a bit more daylight before the Christmas shopping was finished.
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