Archive for category Travel
Food in Normandy
Normandy is well known for its food and drink and with many well known cheeses; in particular, coming from the region it is not surprising. The cooking is normally uncomplicated and the emphasis is on local produce. So, if you want a typical Normandy meal when you visit the local restaurant what do you order? Shell fish is most common for a starter and this can be found in abundance along the coastline in many of the small fishing ports. Particularly look for fresh oysters and mussels which are harvested from the Manche and Calvados coasts.
For main courses a variation of chicken in a cream sauce can be found on most menus as well as cream which plays an important part in many of the sauces whether it on poultry, veal or steak. Pork in cider or calvados is another dish which originated in Calvados and Caux areas. If you are staying in the South look out for ‘Pre Sale’ Lamb, this lamb reared on the salt plains around the Bay of Mont St Michel gives the meat a delicate extra taste. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous and don’t mind eating offal, why not try Tripes a la Mode de Caen. Alternatively, Vire is famous for its chitterling (Andouille) and in Mortagne au Perche the Black Pudding is a speciality. Finally, around the Seine Valley they have a particular cross breed of duck which produces a more meaty bird called Canard Rouennais.
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Why Normandy?
When I asked my husband where he wanted to go for our vacation in Europe, he said he wanted to see Normandy Beach on the northern coast of France. The only words that came scrambling out of my mouth were, WHY NORMANDY?
Working in travel most my life, Europe became a frequent destination, and I never had the desire to visit the battlefields of Normandy. When traveling I gravitate towards the exciting, fascinating and fun places, not somber. So when he said Normandy, my hopes of a terrific vacation withered away. Noticing how much this meant to him, I conceded with one request; if we could stay in the Abbey at Mont Saint Michel I would agree to the battlefields of Normandy.
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Normandy Tours
Ever since the allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy this area of France has had special meaning for a large multitude of men and their families. For a great many it was to become the place in which they died whereas others, who survived WWII look back and remember the loss of friends (and often family) on the beaches of Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Sadly for many of those who survived the initial push from the beaches they were faced with stronger German opposition than had been expected and many more lost their lives. The Battle of Normandy was one of the world’s greatest military clashes and D-Day remains one of the most important dates in the history of the Second World War.
Even today there is a great deal of interest in the Battle of Normandy and many veterans, their children and grandchildren visit the area for a touring vacation. Many people visit the military cemeteries to see if they can find the graves of a fallen friend or family member. With the increasing interest in genealogy there is a growing number of younger people visiting Normandy to see if they can discover the grave of the grandfather or even great grandfather.