Bayeux

 I was forced to go to 2 museums in one day ... 

We started off the day buying supplies at the local markets, and drinking coffee .. then it turned bad.

We went so see some old tapestry.

It really needs a wash .. they have identified over 24000 stains on it .. but it is 950 years old.

The Bayeux tapestry is pretty amazing I thought it was long, and then realised it folded back so it was twice as long.

Then a break from the hard pace of drinking coffee & looking at old sewing & we were off to the War Museum.

Off tomorrow to the D-Day Beaches.  

Etretat

 Day 1 of the car hire.  We drove from Rouen to Etretat in our Citroen 208. We always seem to rent a car larger than what we need.  The cars always seem so large in small French towns. The seaside town was a favourite of Impressionist painters and Parisians who built large villas there in the late 19th century.  We did some promenading before heading to Bayeaux. It seemed like a good idea at the time to switch off the toll road function on the map app. We ended up in an industrial port area with the only way across the river on a barge. We took the barge and anyway that was free but we decided after that to just pay the tolls! 

Rouen

 Yesterday we went to the Fine Arts museum.  A nice collection including Monet's painting of the Rouen cathedral. The afternoon was spent doing a walking tour of the Rouen old town including where Joan of Ark was burnt at the stake. We pick up the hire car this morning to drive to Bayeau via the coast. 

 G'day from Rouen, Normandy. One of the largest and most prosperous medieval towns in Europe (thanks Wikipedia).

We arrived from Reims today, clear headed after a a few days of Champagne drinking (stick to the good stuff).

Our hotel would have great views if not for the huge cathedral in front of us .. 

I'm trying to get a picture, but from our balcony (where we are having a restoring Gin & Tonic) but we are too close.

Rouen has some great Tudor houses, which we will be exploring tomorrow.

I'll be adding a few more pictures to the right as soon as I get some free time .. Busy busy busy....

Rouen Cathedral, from our balcony

Epernay

 Yesterday was a day trip to Epernay for some champagne tasting. A walk down Avenue de Champagne and some tastings from independent producers. 

Reims

Busy day yesterday. I trip to the local food market to source strawberries and raspberries and then a tour of Reims Cathedral including a tour of the towers and roof. After a climb of about 250 steps we were afforded beautiful views and the work done on the 12 century church especially after the damage from 2 world wars.

The afternoon was spent at Veuve Cliquot doing a cellar tour and blind tasting. We did manage to pick which was the vintage over the nonvintage. They also have a lovely bar area where you can continue to imbibe after the tour.

Reims Cathedral

Walking around the cathedral roof

We are getting one of these for home !

Musee Rodin

Yesterday we went to Musee Rodin.  I must say he was very prolific.  Beautiful gardens and museum.  Off to Reims today.