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NORMANDY - STAY FOR LESS "EURO"

NORMANDY a Province of N/W France is most recently known for the WW11 “D-Day” Landings of the 6 th June 1944 , the Greatest Sea Invasion the World has ever known, to Liberate Europe from the Evils of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. The History of this area, however, goes back to another Great Invasion in 1066 when William the Conqueror, Norseman stock from Scandinavia , sailed from Honfleur to Pevensey to defeat Harold & become King of England. Now, as well as commemorating the beginning of the end of WW11, the area promotes miles of golden Beaches, vast Norman Churches & Castles & an Icon Abbey rising from the Sea.

ACCOMMODATION

BAYEUX NO 1 – FAMILY HOME YHA, at 39 Rue General De Dais (modest walk into centre of Town, near to Cathedral) tele 0033 231 921 522 – www.fuaj.org – E19 incl good breakfast & sheets ? sep. showers & wc. Small but adequate kitchen, microwave, hobs & utensil selection, with in or outside dining in interesting rear courtyard. Although a good location there is a question over sheet changes?

CAEN NO 1 – “ROBERT REME” YHA, at 68 Rue Eustache Rest Out (a good walk S of the Rail Station or take the B Tram) www.fuag.org – E 11 dorm room en-suite, break E2 & paper sheets E2.50 (to keep). Good s/c kitchen, microwave, oven (for pizzas) & utensils in large dining room with “free” Internet. This is a smart new Young Persons Complex, only open June to Sept, well managed & friendly & even though well out of Town this is no problem with the end of the B Tram stop near by.

MONT ST MICHAEL NO1 – AU BON ACCUEIL, 5 High Street, Colombel, Nr. St Marcan (ring for free pick up) tele 299 802 713 – www.brittanybnb.co.uk – E18 for bed en-suite & 1 st class breakfast. Use of microwave & utensils downstairs & bike hire available for E5, the ideal way to visit the Mont. along quiet byways. A new Hostel well managed & a special deal for GB's only passing by - Hosts will meet you at Pontorson Rail Station & take you straight to the Mont, bringing your backpacks back to the Hostel with an arrangement to pick you up later for an overnight stay - only E5 (wc's at Mont 40c)

FOOD for self-catering & snacks is readily available in local Supermarkets – Marche Plus (Bx) & Ed's (Ca). Special tasters of the area are the Apple Cider & the more potent 40% Calvados Brandy, Smelly Cheeses notably the Camembert with fresh Fish & Shells also available

TRAVELLING AROUND – get here by Train from Paris or fly direct from UK by Ryanair to Dinard & then Train from St. Malo. Locally things get a little inconvenient outside the holiday season of July & August with Rural Busses only running once a day to/from the Beaches & WW11 sites. You will, therefore, need all the “BusVerts” route timetables to plan visits out of the Towns (06/07)

FREE SIGHTS TO SEE

1. BAYEUX - Cathedral Notre Dame, cons. 1077 run by Will the Conks step Brother Bishop Odon
2. “ - Tapestry Souvenir Shop, with guidebooks & post strips of complete tapestry to study
3. “ - Arromanches Beach, see bits of Mulberry B Harbour to supply the WW11 Troops
4. “ - Omaha Beach, see the US Cemetery & few shingle banks where Soldiers took cover
5. “ - Pont Du Hoc, sheer cliffs to German Batteries where US Rangers took many losses
6. CAEN - Chateau Ducal, W the C's own home, circa 1060, built on spur over River Orne
7. “ - Abbeys Hommes & Dames, 1060, where Will (1087) & wife Matilda (1080) buried
8. “ - Pegasus Bridge, first UK Airborne Landing 0016 hrs, now with Great Museum & Cafe
9. “ - Ouistreham, location of “Sword” Beach & site of German Grand Bunker defences
10. MONT ST MICHAEL – founded from a dream in 10C it grew to 15C, amazing tides around

CHARGE SIGHTS NOT TO MISS

1. BAYEUX – Tapestry 1087, 70 meters, showing W the C's campaign to take the English Crown
2. ARROMARCHES – D-Day Landing Museum, working model of Mulberry & 360 Film nearby

* Lars (Den) Bobby (Ire) Liz (Mon0 Fraser & Steve (Can) Liz & Steve (Fra) MaryPat & Randy ( USA )