Today was my last full day in the specific part of Normandy, and therefore it was the right day to head east — to La Cote Fleurie — from the Orne River to the Seine. There are several lovely villages along the coastal route, but my first stop was the Pegasus Bridge Memorial — a tribute to the British 6th Airborne troops who were the first to land in Normandy and seize this critical bridge, renamed after the paratroopers’ insignia. Sent in on gliders, these men were much closer to landing on target than the Americans in the west, and the securing of the bridges over this key transport route allowed the Allies to begin their march inland. On display is the original bridge, now at the museum, as well as a section of a Bailey Bridge, which were made of pieces that could be easily assembled to allow passage over waterways — an engineering marvel at the time.
I stopped in a little village along the coast called Villers-sur-mer for a walk along the wide and long beach, and for a cup of tea as the air was damp and a bit chilly by the sea. There was interesting architecture in the homes, and a long row of little beach cabanas along the beach wall. Despite the weather, there were children playing and people sitting on the beach. I guess it’s how the French do summer.
Then on to Deauville, known for its long wooden boardwalk, casino, horse races and beach umbrellas, which have a special way to be folded, and cost about 25 Euros to rent. I was struck how the symmetrical placement in the sand reminded me of the stark white crosses in the grass at the American cemetery. The cabanas here were very interesting — little gates between each one had the name of a movie star or film director or musician — both old and new. And some of the doors feature prints by various artists, living and dead, of scenes from Paris. It made for quite a beautiful art exhibit. I stopped into the very opulent Casino for a look — it was very Vegas. And then I happened upon a Cows on Parade display on the village green with a theme of Cows go to the movies. Some were pretty creative. Lastly, the architecture here — very tall peaked roof lines, many half-timbered houses, and some huge apartment-like complexes facing the seas.
Finally, Honfleur. It is a working port with a long maritime history and in the distance you can see the evidence of that. But it’s La Vieux Bassin, a picturesque harbor in the old medieval center of town that has drawn artists here, trying to capture the special light. The cloudy sky worked against me as I attempted to capture the charm of the sailing boats and the colorful awnings and umbrellas of the cafes alongside. Around La Lieutenance, the only part left of a 16th C castle which formed part of the fortification of the town, were some large sculptures by Britto — a S. American artist who’s a staple at the Miami Art Basel. The Maritime Museum was closed, but the building itself was worth a photo, and I did pass by St. Catherine’s church, the largest wooden church in France, but didn’t get a photo with the iPhone.
After dinner along the harbor, i made my way back to my B&B and had to stop along the way because the sky had the most amazing light to it. Such a beautiful part of the world. Except for the weather of course.
And that was Friday.
Love the cows!