Rouen and beyond

We retrieved the car and tackled the route out of Rouen.  Although the road signs don’t always make sense to us, we were able to get to our next destination, the pretty towns of Deauville, Trouville, and Honfleur.  Honfleur is a port town and the stepping off point for many a French explorer of the past.  Both Champlain and LaSalle left from here to found France’s claims in the New World. 

The pretty harbor at Honfleur

Our next stop was to Caen.  This large city was the first to be bombed in the D-day invasion.  That is evident as one drives through the city.  Few “old” buildings are left.  However, the positive part of that is that much of the city is designed so that people can walk without difficulty, traffic is more controlled, and it is altogether a pleasant place. 

Our first real dinner was at a small restaurant along the harbor.  Antoine, at the hotel de la Dauphin, made our reservation, and it was a wonderful meal.  The location was delightful.  So too, was the food.  How the French make simple fish and vegetables into such a delight is always fun to experience.  We drank local wine, but were not as enthused with that.  I know that the region is more famous for it cider and cheese.  Perhaps we will find wine to our liking as we continue.  Next stop Bayeux and the Normandy beaches.