[Ready4Freddy]

Ah, Calvados, it's the 'county' within the 'state' of Normandie known worldwide for its apple cider. When we accompanied my Uncle to Normandie for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day, my sisters, nieces, girlfriend & I stayed at a 'bed & breakfast' along the coast near Deauville that was actually the upper floors of the manor house of a cidery, in the middle of ~800 acres of apple orchards. The town of Honfleur became our go-to dining area, and the drive to Honfleur was awesome! - a little 2 lane road that hugged the cliffs along the coast, passing more than a few German gun emplacements set to protect the harbor at Le Havre (Honfleur is just across the Seine estuary from Le Havre). Honfleur is the birthplace of the Impressionist movement. The restaurants along the harbor there left quite an impression on us *groan*.

Since we based our festivities in St Mere-Eglise (of 82nd Airborne, Red Buttons / church steeple fame :) near the American beaches we had quite a drive across the length of Normandie all week. Beautiful drive, we skirted Caen each day, even trying to visit/cross Pegasus Bridge one day but the bridge was closed due to traffic most if not all of the week.

As un-PC as it is to say on this board, I'd love to go back! Didn't get to see the museum at Caen, or spend enough time at the cemeteries above Utah & Omaha beaches. Hopefully will make it in the Fall next year....

OK, enough colour, now back to the Tour DAY France! LOL!! (w/ apologies to LK44-40 :)

[Eurotwit]

Thanks for the travellogue.

Now, I want to go as well :-)



But, back to the race. Todays stage is underway.

There are two riders who are riders in an escape group a couple of minutes ahead of the peloton.

Pity about Hushovd, but sprinting cleanly (and staying on the bike) is part of the game. Last year, Hushovd arguebly won the Green Jersey in part because Boonen hit the ground, and McEwen lost points due to a dirty sprint.

Hushovd, however, is very angry with the organisers for beeing DQ'd yesterday.

Hopefully he can channel his anger into something positive, such as winning the stage :-)

Cheers.

[Petronski]

Cyborg and I just got back from Normandie!

As the riders pass through Pont l'Eveque today, one can reflect on that town's famously flamboyant cheese, sometimes known in English as "the Stinky Bishop."

[Petronski]

Didn't get to see the museum at Caen...

The old wing (on your left as you enter) is magnificent, perhaps the best in Normandie.

But the new wing (on your right) is a lollapalooza of politically-correct Cold War moral equivocation. It's a "must miss," unless you have a strong stomach and a low boil point.

I hope to have a long vanity on this topic next week.

[leilani]

Re: your trip to NW France. Brought back great memories esp. of Honfleur for me. Did you see OLN's aerial shot of the cathedral at Caen at the end of today's stage? - a far cry from the bombed out wreck it was in July 1944:

[LK44-40]

As the frogs say, I have the envie to visit Normandy, including the D-Day beaches! Sounds like you had a great trip.

If you are not "of a certain age," as they say, you may not be aware of one of the romantic movies of all time. Un Homme et une femme, (A Man and a Woman), was largely filmed in Deauville. You might find it a very nostalgic way to extend the pleasure of your visit. At the first least, you get the exquisit pleasure of an hour and a half of the companionship of Anouk Amie, a woman of both style and beauty who killed all us 60s guys who were not on acid.

OK, enough colour, now back to the Tour DAY France! LOL!! (w/ apologies to LK44-40 :) : Tu es fou!