Friday was an early departure for the Eurostar Station at St. Pancras. We had an 8:31 a.m. train to Paris to make.
The train ride was uneventful and we arrived at Gare du Nord without incident. Next task -- drive out of Paris! After several delays, included the unanticipated need for a booster seat of some kind, we made it into the nine passenger Volkswagen van and made our way out. It took longer than I expected to get out of the metro Paris, but we eventually did and got on our way on the A13 towards Caen.
The A13 roughly follows the Seine River valley out to the sea, before turning westward along parallel to the coast. The scenery was beautiful all the way along. I think someone might have thrown up at some point.
Eventually, we passed through Caen and turned off towards Bayeux and our eventual destination, the 18th century castle Château de Vaulaville in Tour-en-Bessin.
The first view of the castle was marvelous. I’m not entirely certain what technically qualifies it as a castle, but it does. It has a mote, an old chapel that once had an Altare Privilegiatum, a stone enclosure and a tree lined entrance.
More to come of Château de Vaulaville.
That night the owner of the Château, Marie, actually took us into town to help us find a place to eat.
After a couple of places that couldn't accommodate nine, we ended up eating at the delightful Le Bistrot d'à Côté. There was a entire play room upstairs for the kids, almost a furnished apartment. Jen finally got to practice her French a bit on someone who didn't know English well. And I believe this was hands down the best meal I had in Europe. A fish terrine appetizer, assiette de bulots (sea snails with a special mayonnaise), and tripe soup. All magical and wonderful. Wow.
Day 16 Reflection
In France, an appetizer really is an appetizer. It increases your appetite. The entrée is the entry into the meal, not the main dish. There is something to calling things by their proper name.
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