Waking up in the Cruise port of LeHavre. Requires a shuttle into town. Searching for an open tourist Information shop we walk to the sea. Yay. We found beach. After talking to the gal at tourism office we decide to go to Etretat cliffs for the day. We joined up with friends and took an Uber.
Beautiful drive through serene countryside on route to Etretat. 30 minutes one way by car.
Doors. Rooftops. Unique stone and brick buildings. Apple trees. Farmland. Black and white cows. Sculptures at roundabout of Vikings, stone farmer, fisherman with crab. Corn fields. Little villages. More roundabouts.
Upon arrival we take in the view of the majestic sea and round stone beach. Blue sky and wind today. The sound of the mighty surf pulling relentlessly in waves over the round stones is very loud yet soothing. I walk to the famous cliffs. Up. Up. Up. Some 358? Steps someone said. Lots of micro stops for taking photos and catching my breath, allowing heart race to calm. Beautiful at top. A stone church, a garden. Taking in the spectacular view of the sea, surf, cliffs. Ancient and eroded. What a sight!
Specialties of this area mouilles frites and buckwheat crepes!
Took city bus for 1 euro 80 each to LeHavre from Etretat. It took half hour by uber to get there and more than hour to get back with cool little stops off the highway. Beautiful regional experience. Bus dropped us at the train station and a quick brisk walk to our pick up point for Oceania shuttle into centre of town.
I asked for specialty restaurant again tonight so we will go back to Red Ginger. Yay. We did not attend the show tonight after dinner, we sat and talked to our dinner share people. Following we went out dancing up on deck 10, Horizons lounge Time now to sleep and gain an extra hour tonight with sea day tomorrow.
Last night settled in to our hotel, we went for a wee walk after dark to see the night sky and stars from our hotel. It was late and we did not venture far. It felt good to be outside in the clear night air. Aye, lassie, it was grande! Quiet peaceful with only night sounds and blackness above holding space for the twinkle of nightstars.
We had a decent sleep and were up and on our way before 930 am for today’s great adventure, aye. We have been practicing our Scottish accent, so try to read this using your best brogue. Use expression and a lyrical kind of sound … aye.
As we drive to the highlands I keep my eyes out for sheep and cows and am happy to say out loud … “ sheep” when there are those to see. Black sheep, white sheep, many with baby sheep and we even saw one white baby sheep jumping all four feet straight up in the air. We will remember her! Cows less often, so today we picked up a stuffed emotional support cow … or is that coo?
You have heard of FOMO – well, we are FOMC. Fear of missing coos!
Rachel has a few ideas for our big day of travel … some waterfalls for some dips in the cold mountain rivers in highlands, Glencoe so I can see my plot of land that made me a “Lady”. (My mom bought it for me a few years ago and I brought the coordinates with me so we could find it). And then to Cavers to a small town where Rachel’s family has some roots. We plan to end our day returning the rental car and staying at IBIS Styles hotel in downtown Glasgow. Aye, those were the plans. We still have fruit and crisps and veggies in the car from yesterday so we snack on the road. Another sunny warm day in the bonnie Scotland highlands.
Rachel finds a turn to Glen Etive Mor waterfall area she wants to try. We pull off the main road to a single lane roadway, no wider than the car except for the passing areas every so often … sometimes oncoming cars have to go in reverse so two vehicles can pass. Lots of folks camping over the weekend along here … we comment on how beautiful it all is. The river, the hills, the greenery. The road is narrow and driving a bit stressful. No shoulders on the road when large trucks and buses are heading our way. I comment on the one lane road. “Rachel, this is not a road!” We press on enjoying the view. Wow. Wow. We are in the highland hills close up. We probably travel a km or two and stop.
We traverse down the hill and get to the waters edge. We quickly change clothes and get into the river down a bit from the waterfall. We can see it and others are jumping and diving off the rocks. Such a freedom experience to be way out here and in the cool clear water.
We get our feet dried off and shoes back on, up up the path to the car. We get settled back in and turned around in one of the pullouts … a notification indicates we have a tire malfunction…. Rachel checks and can hear the air fast leaving the front left tire. We searched for a spare…. None.
No cell phone service so we need to drive a bit to get back out to the road to call for assistance, driving slowly, hazard lights flashing.
Rachel makes some calls, it is a Sunday and not much open for garages in nearby towns and none has the tire type we need for this upscale Mercedes. Ok … they will send someone in one and a half hours. Determined to enjoy our time in the Highlands while we wait … we walk and find a lovely river. Dropping clothes again we enjoy the double dip! The second one in two days … beautiful. The stress drops away.
Around 230 pm a large flat bed tow truck rescues us and loads us into his truck and off we head to the town where we stayed last night. There to be met and car to be transferred to another tow truck to take us into Glasgow where we can drop the car at the airport for repairs. The tow truck drivers were all very nice and Peter, the last one helpfully took us to our hotel reservation in downtown Glasgow.
We went out for a walk in search of warm food. And found gluten free fish n chips. Here we are … two days in Glasgow. I will be on my own as Rachel is at a conference.
Aye, not sure what the days ahead will present … stay tuned.
Now Friday 16th May and I am arriving in Paris France from the sky. Not a cloud or grey in sight. Walk walk through aeroport to find train station. I have no checked baggage to claim. Through long squiggly lines and through passport security.
Finally familiarity as I Text to Rachel from Starbucks where I met her last year.
Get Navigo train ticket it advertises – with 15 plus minute wait to use a dispenser machine. Found shorter line with a person attendant. Asked her which train. She waves her hand in a dismissive sort of way. 11 or 12. There on the platform a train is waiting for me. Relax. Breathe. Follow along. Sun streaming in the train windows and a pleasant breeze in the open air where a window is letting in sounds of the city.
Beautiful stops along the way. Terra cotta roof tops. Greenery.
People dressed in style. Some with heels. Some with scooters. Ohhhh I love Paris!
Found Rachel – well she found me. I was circulating round and round in the train station. Gare du Nord. I found a Starbucks but alas, the wrong one.
Then with backpack and purse we walked through streets of Paris. Montmarte area. Up up on cobblestone and crossing the corners, sometimes waiting for traffic and green walk lights, sometimes just crossing. Beautiful window boxes and balconies. People on bikes and scooters. People sitting at the cafe. We purchased a frozen Schar pizza for me from a grocery knowing no cross contamination is possible. We came upon a tiny gluten free patisserie.
She lives not far from Sacre-Coeur and Moulin Rouge. Charming walk through cobblestone streets. I want to take pictures and am tired, dragging my backpack and exhausted body along the way. Past doorways with a single doorknob in centre of the door. Quaint. Many colourful doorways and metal knockers.
We went to her little single apartment for Rachel to do some work. Charming little courtyard down below out her windows. Exhausted I fell asleep for a few hours. Did on line check in for tonight’s flight. Then we cooked the pizza and ate it and repacked for our flight to Scotland tonight.
Off in search of SIM card for my phone but no luck on that one. We found a Five Guys who have gluten free fries :). We took metro to the train station heading back to Charles de Gaulle airport in preparation for EasyJet flight to Glasgow Scotland.
Line ups through passport security we are routed through the family line. Many many dozens of families donning Mickey Mouse ears and carrying stuffed Disney critters. What a great idea! Maybe next weekend we can put a EuroDisney stop on our agenda. Neither of us have been before. How fun to think of that!
In this moment from plane window, seat 5F I watch the colourful sun set on the dark horizon. All the colours of this day shining a prism of bright purple red orange gold green blue … the thickest is orange strip along the sight line above some clouds that can be seen down below in the dark sky. Then the sky is clear again and I see city lights in clusters and shapes. The lines of roads. Sparkly colours of sky reflecting off waterways.
Somewhere down below is the United Kingdom. For Canadians an evisa is now required and I have mine for this trip. My first night ever in Scotland tonight. Exciting. What will I see or do, how will I feel, what about the food? The swimming in the lochs? A rail trip or purchase something MacDonald. Writing, doodling, walking, … I wonder.
First night in clean Sandyford Lodge. 21 Royal Crescent, Glasgow. Wifi hooked up. Ya!!
Pamela's travel Blog 