Above: A pretty spot in the residential area of Valognes. As sightseeing in the region had been gotten out of the way, yesterday was spent mostly on DIY at Valognes apart from a fancy lunch at Brasserie Marcel along the way, including foie gras including foie gras served in three ways: The first was perhaps […]

Above:  Eight missile hatches on each side visible. Chores and DIY It was a morning of chores, starting with the laundry before calling into a great hardware superstore called Leroy Merlin on the way to Valognes for more DIY. Today I started masking the attic windows for painting.  It was all good until I realised […]

Chateau Balleroy   E had some errands to do in the morning and we did them en route to my first stop, which was Chateau Balleroy.  I got dropped off in the wet weather on the road while E went to work briefly, and walked to the ticket office located in one of the two […]

Above:  Part of Cherbourg’s breakwater barely visible from the shore. Latin Mass Staying with E on the military base, we had a hearty breakfast on site.  When I talked about “café au lait” from the machine, he commented that I spoke French with no accent.  But I don’t speak French! We headed to the naval […]

Above: On the train to Normandy. Luxembourg to Normandy by trains Today, I’m travelling to Normandy in France, which requires a suburban bus to the station, then a train-replacement bus to Metz Ville to connect with the high speed train to Paris Gare l’Est, getting to St Lazare station for the final normal rail service […]

Today I continue to revisit the various sights that make this city so spectacular.  I started with a metro ride to the Notre Dame and a walk in the surrounding area where I once stayed with a friend.  The cathedral has been inaccessible and boarded up for over two years while undergoing fire reinstatement. Next […]

Train to Paris Lou and Riccardo took me to Joigny this morning, driving me around its old town before dropping me off at the railway station.  It had been a somewhat sudden meet-up but very enjoyable. I took the 1109 train to Paris Bercy station where I’d have a two night (one full day) stay.  […]

Above:  Unfortunately, I hadn’t seen any of the local wildlife such as foxes or wild boars. It was relaxing day again, giving Lou a massage and checking the travel requirements for my next country Istanbul.  Fortunately, Turkey’s relatively easy entry conditions hadn’t changed and I did my arrival declaration to obtained “HES” health code. I […]