My trip to Normandy was not my first rodeo in France. Nonetheless there were a couple of things I picked up along the way. Eve though you feel you know the country and your way around, there’s always something new to learn. So here’s what I noticed while on the road in Normandy. Yours, Pollybert
1.) The RER ticket from CDG airport is also a metro ticket. So if you need to take the metro after arriving in Paris by train just use your RER ticket instead of buying another one.
2.) On the flight to Paris there was a female first officer on board, who made announcements in German, English, and French. Wonders never cease!
3.) A lot of restaurants on the coast have Monday to Wednesday off, even in peak season. Take that into account when traveling.
4.) The set menu in a restaurant is not always the best deal. Sometimes it just doesn’t taste good and even the best bargain is too high.
5.) My friend needs precise instructions on how to take a picture. This is what happened when I asked her to photograph the Normandy bridge. After explaining what I wanted, the second picture then looked a lot better. You can see it here.
Pont de Normandie @France
6.) Asking a friend to get concert tickets for you with your account, but then not reacting when you need to approve the payment, is not the smartest thing.
7.) Actually going ahead and renting a car, was super smart. It forced me to drive again after years of not doing so and it made us much more flexible! But it also made me read a lot less than on other trips.
8.) At some beaches in Normandy you have a small library hut to get a book for your day in the sun.
library hut @Étretat
9.) Flowers can be planted anywhere, sometimes even on a bicycle.
flowers on a bicycle @Bayeux
10.) The best breakfast in France is the one you have in your apartment. Fresh baguette, salted butter, coffee. You can spoil yourself with a croissant, but it’s not really necessary. Bread and butter is enough, it doesn’t get any better than here.
11.) Google is not really all knowing, when it comes to the opening times. We skipped breakfast in Caen to see the Abbaye aux Hommes in the morning, only to find it closed. Sometimes you just have to trust the information that you can read at the actual site.
12.) Churches in Normandy allow for electronic donations. This lowers the risk of theft and is also very progressive.
electronic donations possible @Abbaye aux Hommes
13.) It is forbidden to pick up pebbles at the beaches in Normandy.
leave the pebbles on the beach @Étretat
14.) I was told that my parking always looked as if I was in a hurry. Maybe I am just not good at parking.
