Les Vacances de M. Stewart

We're on holiday in France again. This time it started by being mainly raining, cool, windy and very changeable. We crossed by Shuttle to Calais, staying at Bleriot Plage free aire, then travelled to Robert & Kate's house in Cartigny near Péronne - that's Somme. It was a fortuitous move as Robert was willing to help fix the leaking down pipe of the sink. It involved taking out a draw and the oven from the kitchenette unit, though not the sink itself. Next, we fixed the locker door of the compartment for the batteries. Just half a day's work. All then well, we set-off for the Normandy coast and better weather.

It is the third time we have visited Honfleur, mainly because we love the wonderful skies, the exceptional fine art museum - and of course the general ambiance. However staying at the 10 euro a night aire was not very nice on the first night so we moved to a town centre campsite. It was very wet, but we did not become stuck in the mud as did a few outfits.
Sunday happened to have a brocante market. Some nice stuff like the frog above, but you know rather pricey and heavy.

There are French bicycles all over the place used as props for arty shops. However this one is for real and in trendy blue. Thanks to the Tour de France Yorkshire has gone yellow bike mad, just when French bicyclettistes are in ubiquitous blue.

On our last evening the sunset was obviously going to be spectacular so with the injunctions of Scott Kelby (ace US photographer) ringing in my ears we set off for views of the Seine and Le Harve (below).  On the way I photographed the old light house of Honfleur that used to be right by the sea rather than on a roundabout inland. The campsite is very near to this spot.

I ought to have used a tripod, but I did use my polarising filter for prolly the first time. What a difference it makes.

Then Christine, ace English grammarian and speller, noted the warning sign English language translation. Note that south London smugness.

And so as usual the sun did eventually disappear for a few hours.

The following day Monday 4 May we went to Bernières-sur-Mer which is an embarkation beach - Juno (sector 'Nan White'). It was liberated by the Canadians.

Having discovered the power of the polarising filter I wasn't about to give it up lightly.

Below is arguably the first house in France to be liberated on the morning of 6 June 1944 along with a gare SNCF just behind.

We spent much time walking round this small, otherwise insignificant sea-side town that was thrown, along with the surrounding 70 k of littoral, into the central fight for the liberation of Europe from the west - and military history forever.

Along the streets at key points are B&W photos of the actions on that day, and as you can see streets and squares re-named in honour of their liberators.