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I know places. #etreat #clif #taylorswift (at Sotteville-sur-Mer)

Trip to Normandy.

Good day everyone! Last Friday, some of my friends and I decided to spend the weekend on a trip through Normandy, north of France. Though most have heard from it only because of Omaha Beach (unarguably a sight by itself), it is definitely not the only important thing to visit - even less the most beautiful point in Normandy. Amazing coastlines, cliffs, towns, churches (oh, so many churches!), and nature are some of the things you can expect from these wonderful regions (as Normandy is administratively divided in Haute and Basse). Before telling you about the cities and picturesque sights, there are three pieces of advice you need:

Travel with friends: Everyone says coexistence is a challenge when travelling in groups, and though it might be true, if you are lucky you will find an amazing team that will multiply the adventure and turn a nice trip into an incredible experience. Also, car rentals, accommodations and meal expenses come to a very low cost when you share them with other people

Plan ahead but don't go too far: when it comes to travelling (specially in groups), it is very important to have some essentials: what to visit, where to stay, how to get there... It is not the hardest thing, but it is essential to keep the trip marching in a good pace and not missing out on anything. However, keep your timetable flexible so that the unexpected can happen. At the end, those things might be the memories you will cherish the most.

Get ready to fight the conditions: rain, wind, cold water, lack of services... You never know what will come across so have a pair of comfortable shoes, a jacket and sunglasses around you at all times. In a place like Normandy, with windy and cold beaches, all 3 will most definitely come in hand.

That being said, it is time to explore Normandy...

Omaha Beach:

First stop of the trip. After about 2 hours of drive from Rennes, we arrived to the famous place where the Normandy Landings took place. The beach, with its monuments and mystic, will inevitably force your mind to imagine the moment and, whether you picture it in black and white, or as in Saving Private Ryan's first scene, your body will feel the energy and the power of one of the most important places in recent history. Personally, it was inevitable to ask myself one question: what would the world be had this coast not been taken?

Near the coast itself you will find some houses, some churches, a considerable number of cemeteries to honor the fallen and countless stars and stripes, which is particularly interesting once you get in touch with the French society and feel their characteristic nationalism.

Caen:

Second stop of the trip and first night spent. If there was a word to describe the place would be beautiful, but history and peacefulness would be close in the race. Caen, a city impregnated by the Middle Ages, is rich in churches, walking streets and the colour beige, which adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the visit. All of this topped by the Château de Caen and the church of Saint Étienne, where the remains of William the Conqueror rest.

Although we spent only a number of hours in the city, Caen is definitely a place I would recommend, as I'm sure we could have spent a couple of days and still find interesting spots around the city. Also, inside the Castle, there is the Museum of History, where you can find very interesting articles from different moments (from 5000 a.C to the industrialization of France). If you like history and relaxing, Caen is a must. If you don't... it still is.

Trouville-sur-Mer:

Definitely a happy accident during the trip. Started off as just a coastal place to go during Saturday and ended being an extremely pleasant surprise. The town, while not offering great historic sites or majestic building (not that we came across, anyways), does offer a costanera with several restaurants and cafés, a lovely fisherman's market with extremely friendly people, and a shore which will definitely give you a sense of peace. Extremely windy: if you like surfing, kite-surfing, windsurfing or any other kind of surfing, I assume this would be a good place to practice the sport.

If you survived seeing my ghost-pale legs, allow us to carry on...

Rouen:

A lovely, lovely place, our second-to-last stop during the trip. If you haven't heard of this city, go pick up your history book and re-read the Hundred Year's War section. Just kidding, I know you all recognize the name of the town where Joan of Arc was BBQ-ed. The city, as Caen, has its Catholic history deeply rooted, and so you will find countless churches -one more beautiful than the other, however the Église Saint-Maclou stands out, both during day and nighttime, as it presents several layers in its structure, which you can notice more with the illumination during the night.

Rouen, crossed by the Seine just as Paris, surprised us with a market on Sunday, where we were able to feel some more friendly atmosphere, aromas and have a good snack. However, after a fun night walk, a good hotel party, recovery breakfast and daytime sightseeing, it was time to pack our bags and set course to the last destination before heading back to Rennes...

Étretat:

The absolute cherry on the cake. Had we planned a way to end our trip, it would have not ended as awesome as it did. (Assuming you haven't peeked before reading this) The sight could be described as a round coast caused by erosion, leaving a rocky beach and two cliffs. Yet, such description would need a lot more poetry to be able to describe the magnificence that was in front of us. We were lucky enough to have great weather throughout all the trip, and it came particularly important at this stop, where we had to walk our way to the top of the cliff, with the mere challenge of surviving brutal wind, and once there, the most beautiful landscape laid right before our eyes. By far one of the most wonderful things I have seen in my life (maybe tied with Iguazu Falls). Words and pictures are not enough to describe the place, but since I already tried words...

With Étretat enjoyed, it was about time to return to Rennes, and after a 4-hour ride made by the "Driving Dream Team" Larcho Macho and Aron (two awesome members of the group), we made it back safe and sound to Rennes.

Other than the sights, the trip was full with energy, fun memories and a great coexistence within the group. Oh, by the way, renting cars and hotel is the easiest thing you could possibly do in bureaucratic France. Most definitely a recommended way to travel through the country.

That was our weekend, and if you think this was a long post, just wait until we return from our trip to...

Nope, not telling.

À bientôt!

#france #normandy #caen #rouen #etreat #omaha