FINISHING OUR STAY IN NORTHERN NORMANDY

Just a few more places to see - nothing really outstanding but we did enjoy the lovely weather and the scenery.

We decided we'd do the little circle of towns, Lyons La Foret again and drive up to Vasceuil, and Martainvillle-Epreville.  I don't want to keep you in suspense so I'll let you know right off we never did find Vasceuil or Martainville-Epreville.  I had gone to the office to get a better map than the one we received at the briefing and was told the roads are small but just follow the signs and stay close to the hills.  Well that did it for us - a sure thing we'd never find them and sure enough - we never found them.  We did however find other towns - other churches - and other cemeteries.  

These rock formations were right outside the resort and all along the road we took as we exited the resort.  

Such a pretty building. No idea why I took this picture.

Found a little church in a little town.  So many of the churches had cemeteries right out front of the building.

One side had the newer gravesites

The other side had the old tombsstones and markers.

                                   

On we drove and decided to stop for lunch at a little restaurant called La Potiniere in Fleury sur Andelle.

It was one of the recommended restaurants on our list from the resort management.  We managed to find it but unfortunately the restaurant was fully booked but she did recommend another restaurant in  town.

Too bad it was fully booked it looked so cute.

This one not so cute but very nice owner and helper and although the food was not French but Algerian it was very good and we really enjoyed our lunch there.  Sharon couldn't find a ham and cheese sandwich so she tried a chicken couscous  which she really enjoyed.  

See her big smile!

After lunch we just drove around some more.

We went home early to just relax at the resort and get some of our packing done.  We bought some spaghetti makings so we were all set for dinner.

Having a little wine and cheese on our patio before dinner.

 On Friday we drove over to Pont-de-l'Arche, a fortified, medieval town.  The town was once completely fortified with two castles, one on either side of the river.  The only remaining parts are the church tower, the Curtain, and the Crosne Tower, all listed on the National Inventory of Historical Monuments.  

Eglise Notre-Dame-des-ArtsThe church was founded in the 16th century and is decorated with stained glas windows on the south side.  The stalls from Bonport Abbey , the great organ which was a gift from Henry IV and a baroque 17th century altar all contribute to the richness of the building.

                                   

                                                        

The poor garden - I'm sure it was beautiful during the summer. 

                              

            

                                      

Tour de Crosne.The lower section of the tower dates back to the 13th century.  The upper section was added in the 19th century by a rich owner.

We meandered down and around cute little streets.

Found a lovely produce market in town.

And a place to eat which looked quite nice.

We all order crepes and while waiting Sharon shared some info about the town from a little brohure she had found.

The menu also had a cute story which I will share with you since there's not much else to the blog.  I mean my other ones are so enlightening!

                                            But then, Who is Louis?

                                                      would you ask...!

The name of our restaurant is a wink to a custom of Candlemas: you were supposed to hold a 'Louis d'or' ( a gold coin with the face of one of our King Louis) in the left hand ,while the right one blew thr first crepe.

Formerly, this crepe, was wrapped around the golden coin and filed until the next year on the top of a wardrobe.  The previous one was then recovered and the coin that it contained given to the first poor passing by.

He who turns his first crepe with address, which does not drop it to the ground or do not catch it in some pathetic form, he shall have happiness to the next Candlemas...

Thus, according to this myth and for centuries, farmers have thought that if they did not make crepes on Candlemas Day their wheat might be wasted.

Beside, Candlemas crepes were supposed to be made from flour from the previous harvest: they could be stacked without fear because soon fields would sprouts with force (the disk of the gold coin refers to the sun and crepes).

"If you don't want smoky wheat,Eat pancakes at Candlemas"

PS: Ladies, according to another custom, girls wishing to marry must blow a crepe six times without dropping.  According to the legend, they should meet the perfect boyfriend within a year..

The city street!

This is a picture of the Sept Ponts (seven bridges) built in the 9th century by Charles the Bald, King of France.  He built the bridge to prevent Norman long ships from sailing upstream.  Despite its 22 arches closed by port-cullis and the two castles protecting either sidr of the river the Normans beseiged Paris and in 911 the viking leader Rollon was declared first Duke of Normandy by the treaty of Saint Clair sur Epte.  As the only bridge on the lower Seine, it became an important crossing-point and occupied a key strategic position for the southern defense of Rouen.  The bridge was destroyed seven times in total with the present one opening in 1955.  I might mention it doesn't look at all like this.  

Our drive home.  As we drove around we were sometimes in tree lined hills and it reminded me of driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We'd drive a short way and we would see lovely green fields, or a field yellow with rape seed.  We even saw a field of Sunflowers.  There were hills and than absolutley flat land.  Such a variety of terrain.  Truly beauiful country.

                                        

Back to the resort, pack our bags, eat up all the leftovers and  call it a day!  Tomorrow we leave for Rouen.