Marco
03-11-2011, 20:13
We recently had a holiday in lower Normandy in France, so here are some piccies:
The little Auberge where we stayed called L'Auberge d'Andaine (http://reservation-hotel.logishotels.com/reservit/fiche_htl.bandeautop.php?lang=EN&hotelid=454&id=12&cookieName=Partid_12_2_454&cookieValue=24&url=http://www.aubergeandaines.com), in between the villages of La Ferté-Macé and Bagnoles de L'Orne - very quiet and peaceful (highly recommended - 45E per ROOM per night for two people, spotlessly clean, comfortable, and with very friendly staff. Breakfast is 8E per person, per day):
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5210/img0965e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/525/img0965e.jpg/)
Church in La Ferté-Macé:
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/604/img0962wp.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/210/img0962wp.jpg/)
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/7838/img0963k.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/img0963k.jpg/)
Bagnoles de L'Orne:
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/8566/img0960r.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/851/img0960r.jpg/)
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9462/img0961lx.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/403/img0961lx.jpg/)
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/4154/img0967ix.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/684/img0967ix.jpg/)
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5260/img1023y.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/72/img1023y.jpg/)
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/3859/img0959z.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/511/img0959z.jpg/)
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4126/img0968bj.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/444/img0968bj.jpg/)
A quaint little house in Bagnoles de L'Orne:
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2161/img0956iu.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/195/img0956iu.jpg/)
'Cafe Gourmand' and Crème Brûlée, rounding off Sunday lunch at 'Le Lido':
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2334/img0955a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/266/img0955a.jpg/)
One of the many superb 'Les Routiers' lorry driver's cafes, where we enjoyed amazing 4 and 5-course lunches of top-notch home-cooked food, for as little a 9E 50, INCLUDING a litre of Normandy cider and a bottle of very good red wine (!!):
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/2379/img0977m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/img0977m.jpg/)
And the inside - here you can see the bottles of cider and wine!
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3697/img0979e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/img0979e.jpg/)
Trust me, the food in these places is superb, and far better than in the poncy, so-called 'gourmet' restaurants... We were so hungry, we got in there before everyone else, but within 15 mins it was packed!!
The beautiful and ancient village of Rochefort-en-Terre, where we visited for the day, on the way to see the standing stones in Carnac (a 400-mile round trip from the hotel!!):
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/2659/img0994qw.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28/img0994qw.jpg/)
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/5788/img0988r.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/41/img0988r.jpg/)
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/780/img0990s.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/img0990s.jpg/)
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/6872/img0980q.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/854/img0980q.jpg/)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4917/img0992kr.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/17/img0992kr.jpg/)
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/86/img0999zz.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/197/img0999zz.jpg/)
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4506/img0996tb.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/232/img0996tb.jpg/)
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/782/img0991hr.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/845/img0991hr.jpg/)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/3793/img0997zl.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/18/img0997zl.jpg/)
A lovely old pub in Rochefort-en-Terre, where we sampled some local ales:
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9647/img1000qe.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/412/img1000qe.jpg/)
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7631/img1001e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/407/img1001e.jpg/)
Ancient standing stones in Carnac (lots of Celtic history in this area):
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6841/img1004q.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/257/img1004q.jpg/)
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/5327/img1005r.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/851/img1005r.jpg/)
Another of our favourite lorry driver cafes, in the tiny little village of Joue de Bois, but here the food was near-gourmet standard at cafe prices:
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/8519/img1010b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/511/img1010b.jpg/)
The quality of food lorry drivers eat in France is quite amazing. Check out this 'Creme Coco' we had for dessert (creme caramel topped with a fresh coconut cream in a caramel sauce):
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/8784/img1009i.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/img1009i.jpg/)
:eek: :drool: :drool:
In total we ate there three times (well it would be rude not to at the price and with 'free' cider and wine!!)
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5145/img1041zj.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/403/img1041zj.jpg/)
On the last day we were able to have lunch, I had the chocolate fondant cake with creme anglaise, to keep Del company with her 'Creme Coco', which was equally as stunning:
http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/6447/img1043s.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/img1043s.jpg/)
YUM YUM!! :)
And to think that after that (bearing in mind that before it we'd already had a starter of a selection of hors d'oeuvres, from a huge self-service buffet, and a main course with vegetables (that day I had roast loin of pork in a mushroom and Calvados sauce), there's a huge self-service cheeseboard, where you can eat as much as you like, followed by espresso coffee, in this instance all for 11E 50.....!! :eyebrows:
Another little place, this time in Carrouges, where we had a superb and inexpensive lunch, and it catered for locals:
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6518/img1047ai.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/696/img1047ai.jpg/)
The ancient and picturesque town of Domfront, at night:
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9461/img1014u.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/img1014u.jpg/)
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3170/img1018ak.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/img1018ak.jpg/)
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/251/img1021t.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/img1021t.jpg/)
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2622/img1019kz.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/502/img1019kz.jpg/)
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/734/img1013jr.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/img1013jr.jpg/)
Where we had a snack that night (we could only manage one big meal a day, for obvious reasons!):
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/5648/img1022ac.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/828/img1022ac.jpg/)
And Domfront, in the early evening, while it was still light:
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/7535/img1011h.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/840/img1011h.jpg/)
Auberge de la Mine, in the little hamlet of le Gué Plat, where we had our 'farewell dinner' before returning to Wales, so we decided to splash out and go to a renowned Michelin-starred restaurant in the French countryside (for those interested, website here: http://www.aubergedelamine.com/page3.html):
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1870/img1050ln.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/img1050ln.jpg/)
The food was truly epic, although expensive, but we forgot to take pictures :doh: It was certainly a different experience, though, from eating in the lorry driver's cafes.... It might look poncy, but the atmosphere inside was relaxed and cosy, and the head chef, a true master of the cullinary art.
A very old church we looked inside, in a little village, during a day out:
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/2278/img1048nj.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/830/img1048nj.jpg/)
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/402/img1049t.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/850/img1049t.jpg/)
The ancient forge, near Joue de Bois:
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/5476/img1033m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/831/img1033m.jpg/)
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/2098/img1032qy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/img1032qy.jpg/)
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3672/img1031m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/img1031m.jpg/)
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2092/img1030bk.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/197/img1030bk.jpg/)
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/2118/img1036m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/39/img1036m.jpg/)
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8757/img1038n.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/46/img1038n.jpg/)
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1153/img1026e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/444/img1026e.jpg/)
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6574/img1035lp.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/14/img1035lp.jpg/)
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3802/img0974so.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/231/img0974so.jpg/)
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/272/img0975ox.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/521/img0975ox.jpg/)
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/5761/img1028xm.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/638/img1028xm.jpg/)
Auberge de Wismes, in Wismes (http://www.aubergedewismes.fr/) - a sleepy little 'one horse' town in the countryside, is where we had our last French meal before catching the boat back to the UK. This place is only 40 miles south from Calais, and serves superb food (the local chicken in a cider cream sauce with raisins is to die for!) Lunch is 12E 50, which consists of a superb 3-course meal. Wine is available at 8 Euros a bottle, for a rather nice claret, and upwards from there for something more 'serious'.
I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone hopping off the boat at Calais, en-route south, and looking for somewhere decent to eat, away from all the tourist shit near the port:
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2434/img1054su.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/269/img1054su.jpg/)
Marco.
The little Auberge where we stayed called L'Auberge d'Andaine (http://reservation-hotel.logishotels.com/reservit/fiche_htl.bandeautop.php?lang=EN&hotelid=454&id=12&cookieName=Partid_12_2_454&cookieValue=24&url=http://www.aubergeandaines.com), in between the villages of La Ferté-Macé and Bagnoles de L'Orne - very quiet and peaceful (highly recommended - 45E per ROOM per night for two people, spotlessly clean, comfortable, and with very friendly staff. Breakfast is 8E per person, per day):
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5210/img0965e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/525/img0965e.jpg/)
Church in La Ferté-Macé:
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/604/img0962wp.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/210/img0962wp.jpg/)
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/7838/img0963k.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/img0963k.jpg/)
Bagnoles de L'Orne:
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/8566/img0960r.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/851/img0960r.jpg/)
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/9462/img0961lx.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/403/img0961lx.jpg/)
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/4154/img0967ix.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/684/img0967ix.jpg/)
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5260/img1023y.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/72/img1023y.jpg/)
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/3859/img0959z.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/511/img0959z.jpg/)
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4126/img0968bj.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/444/img0968bj.jpg/)
A quaint little house in Bagnoles de L'Orne:
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2161/img0956iu.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/195/img0956iu.jpg/)
'Cafe Gourmand' and Crème Brûlée, rounding off Sunday lunch at 'Le Lido':
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2334/img0955a.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/266/img0955a.jpg/)
One of the many superb 'Les Routiers' lorry driver's cafes, where we enjoyed amazing 4 and 5-course lunches of top-notch home-cooked food, for as little a 9E 50, INCLUDING a litre of Normandy cider and a bottle of very good red wine (!!):
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/2379/img0977m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/843/img0977m.jpg/)
And the inside - here you can see the bottles of cider and wine!
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3697/img0979e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/img0979e.jpg/)
Trust me, the food in these places is superb, and far better than in the poncy, so-called 'gourmet' restaurants... We were so hungry, we got in there before everyone else, but within 15 mins it was packed!!
The beautiful and ancient village of Rochefort-en-Terre, where we visited for the day, on the way to see the standing stones in Carnac (a 400-mile round trip from the hotel!!):
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/2659/img0994qw.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/28/img0994qw.jpg/)
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/5788/img0988r.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/41/img0988r.jpg/)
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/780/img0990s.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/img0990s.jpg/)
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/6872/img0980q.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/854/img0980q.jpg/)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4917/img0992kr.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/17/img0992kr.jpg/)
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/86/img0999zz.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/197/img0999zz.jpg/)
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4506/img0996tb.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/232/img0996tb.jpg/)
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/782/img0991hr.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/845/img0991hr.jpg/)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/3793/img0997zl.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/18/img0997zl.jpg/)
A lovely old pub in Rochefort-en-Terre, where we sampled some local ales:
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9647/img1000qe.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/412/img1000qe.jpg/)
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/7631/img1001e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/407/img1001e.jpg/)
Ancient standing stones in Carnac (lots of Celtic history in this area):
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6841/img1004q.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/257/img1004q.jpg/)
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/5327/img1005r.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/851/img1005r.jpg/)
Another of our favourite lorry driver cafes, in the tiny little village of Joue de Bois, but here the food was near-gourmet standard at cafe prices:
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/8519/img1010b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/511/img1010b.jpg/)
The quality of food lorry drivers eat in France is quite amazing. Check out this 'Creme Coco' we had for dessert (creme caramel topped with a fresh coconut cream in a caramel sauce):
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/8784/img1009i.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/24/img1009i.jpg/)
:eek: :drool: :drool:
In total we ate there three times (well it would be rude not to at the price and with 'free' cider and wine!!)
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5145/img1041zj.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/403/img1041zj.jpg/)
On the last day we were able to have lunch, I had the chocolate fondant cake with creme anglaise, to keep Del company with her 'Creme Coco', which was equally as stunning:
http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/6447/img1043s.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/img1043s.jpg/)
YUM YUM!! :)
And to think that after that (bearing in mind that before it we'd already had a starter of a selection of hors d'oeuvres, from a huge self-service buffet, and a main course with vegetables (that day I had roast loin of pork in a mushroom and Calvados sauce), there's a huge self-service cheeseboard, where you can eat as much as you like, followed by espresso coffee, in this instance all for 11E 50.....!! :eyebrows:
Another little place, this time in Carrouges, where we had a superb and inexpensive lunch, and it catered for locals:
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/6518/img1047ai.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/696/img1047ai.jpg/)
The ancient and picturesque town of Domfront, at night:
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9461/img1014u.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/img1014u.jpg/)
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3170/img1018ak.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/img1018ak.jpg/)
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/251/img1021t.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/img1021t.jpg/)
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2622/img1019kz.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/502/img1019kz.jpg/)
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/734/img1013jr.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/img1013jr.jpg/)
Where we had a snack that night (we could only manage one big meal a day, for obvious reasons!):
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/5648/img1022ac.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/828/img1022ac.jpg/)
And Domfront, in the early evening, while it was still light:
http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/7535/img1011h.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/840/img1011h.jpg/)
Auberge de la Mine, in the little hamlet of le Gué Plat, where we had our 'farewell dinner' before returning to Wales, so we decided to splash out and go to a renowned Michelin-starred restaurant in the French countryside (for those interested, website here: http://www.aubergedelamine.com/page3.html):
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/1870/img1050ln.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/img1050ln.jpg/)
The food was truly epic, although expensive, but we forgot to take pictures :doh: It was certainly a different experience, though, from eating in the lorry driver's cafes.... It might look poncy, but the atmosphere inside was relaxed and cosy, and the head chef, a true master of the cullinary art.
A very old church we looked inside, in a little village, during a day out:
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/2278/img1048nj.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/830/img1048nj.jpg/)
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/402/img1049t.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/850/img1049t.jpg/)
The ancient forge, near Joue de Bois:
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/5476/img1033m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/831/img1033m.jpg/)
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/2098/img1032qy.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/img1032qy.jpg/)
http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3672/img1031m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/img1031m.jpg/)
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/2092/img1030bk.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/197/img1030bk.jpg/)
http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/2118/img1036m.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/39/img1036m.jpg/)
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8757/img1038n.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/46/img1038n.jpg/)
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/1153/img1026e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/444/img1026e.jpg/)
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6574/img1035lp.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/14/img1035lp.jpg/)
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3802/img0974so.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/231/img0974so.jpg/)
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/272/img0975ox.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/521/img0975ox.jpg/)
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/5761/img1028xm.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/638/img1028xm.jpg/)
Auberge de Wismes, in Wismes (http://www.aubergedewismes.fr/) - a sleepy little 'one horse' town in the countryside, is where we had our last French meal before catching the boat back to the UK. This place is only 40 miles south from Calais, and serves superb food (the local chicken in a cider cream sauce with raisins is to die for!) Lunch is 12E 50, which consists of a superb 3-course meal. Wine is available at 8 Euros a bottle, for a rather nice claret, and upwards from there for something more 'serious'.
I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone hopping off the boat at Calais, en-route south, and looking for somewhere decent to eat, away from all the tourist shit near the port:
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2434/img1054su.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/269/img1054su.jpg/)
Marco.