Wednesday morning: Caudebec en Caux is a pretty little town, but I think we are here simply because it is the furthest downstream that cruise ships go. Bussed over some spectacular bridges and through amazing countryside to Honfleur. Many of the houses along the way were thatched – it seems they plant flowers along the ridgepoles of the roofs to keep the top layer of thatch from getting damaged – hunh.
Honfleur really was lovely – tall, narrow houses against a cliff face, a harbour full of boats, art galleries by the dozens, winding cobbled streets. I’m not a big shopper, so instead I went in and out of the smaller art shops and galleries. Ever since a revelatory experience in San Francisco years ago, I’ve found going into an art shop and asking about one or two pieces leads to a bit of a tour/lecture by the shop owner, and you come away knowing far more about art than if you had visited a major gallery or museum.
Back to Caudebec for some time on our own – the church in Caudebec is absolutely stunning. Very old, almost all wood inside, and I easily spent an hour wandering around it. I tend to give most churches a cursory once over – they can be somewhat overwhelming, and the guides drone on and on, so this was the first time in a while that I’d really spent dans une église.
Still no luggage, but I did receive an email from the transport company telling me my ‘colis’ (parcel) would arrive between 1 & 3 tomorrow (I checked; they had exactly the right boat name, exactly the right address, and exactly the right contact info – clean clothes, here you come!!)