Heart of Normandy

In need of a much deserved break, we took the car across the channel and headed into the heart of Normandy, staying in a lovely peaceful hotel on the banks of the River Seine.  This was Thomas' first trip abroad, and he seemed to take it all in his lengthening stride, though was a little fussy at times.  He developed a fascination with the feral cats that lived in the grounds, chasing after them and watching them intently.  Strangely, by the end of the week they seemed to be just as fascinated by him, and came running when he appeared.

Most of our days were spent visiting some lovely towns and villages in the region - Les Andelys overlooking the Seine; the city of Rouen where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake; and the very pretty channel port of Honfleur.

The highlight was an epic 320-mile round trip to Mont St. Michel.  The journey itself was not fun, speeding across France, making up the speed-limit as we went, with Thomas screaming in the back.  But the destination made it worthwhile.  We climbed through the steep medieval streets to the abbey perched at the top of the rock, enjoying the wide views of the bay, before exploring the labyrinth-like interior.

On the final day we visited Monet's garden at Giverny, famous for the water lilies in his beautiful Japanese water garden.

We've included a selection of our photos in the album below:

Normandy - June 2011