Our trip over yesterday was very smooth. I was able to get about 5 hours sleep on the plane. Having a flat bed sure helped. We had a 2 hour wait at the airport to meet the rest of the group and then a 3 hour bus trip to Honfleur.

We met the group last night and all had dinner together. One thing is for sure – we won’t starve here! There are over 95 restaurants and a population of about 9000. It is an artist’s town with many galleries displaying paintings and sculptures.

Honfleur is a small coastal town. When “fleur” is part of the name it means “port” so this is Hon Port in English. There is a lot of shared history with the English and Canada. This is where Champlain started his trips to the New World. (We are told it is not the “English Channel”, but just “The Channel” as it is shared and not owned by the English!) Normandy was owned by the English at one time and many wars were fought over it. William the Conquerer is from Normandy as well.

We had a tour of the town today. The old part of town was built during the 14th and 15th century. The “new” part during the 18th and 19th centuries. The town is located at the mouth of the Seine and we can see the skyline of Le Havre and the bridge connecting the 2 towns.

We are told this is the home of Impressionism painting. Eugene Boudin painted here, influenced Monet to become a painter and influenced him and others to start plain aire painting. We visited the Boudin gallery today.

There are no pictures that I can upload! With my new technology and Gary’s camera I find I do not have the correct equipment to hardwire the camera and my iPad and Gary’s iPad is too old to use current apps. So, I guess Rick will not be looking at my blog as he just wants to see the pictures! I will add some pictures after we are home.

Anyway, back to Honfleur. A beautiful harbour lined with colourful outdoor restaurants. Reminded me of Copenhagen.

Our tour took us to an old wooden church built in 1468. Because of the way the wood is cured it is considered to be as strong as steel and impervious to fire. It is soaked in salted water for 7 years, then dried for 7 years. It was built by fishermen so the interior ceiling looks like upturned ships’ hulls. The bell tower is not attached to the church but across the square. This is in case the bell tower is struck by lightening and starts to burn. (?? Thought it was impervious to fire??)

It is a very picturesque town with many half timbered buildings – former homes, which is typical of 16th century Normandy. As timber grew scarce slate was used as siding for the houses, then brick for the wealthier.

Some house along the port are really 2 houses one on top of the other. The bottom ones are 3 stories, built with their back being the wall of a cliff so only one side shows and has windows and an entrance. The second house built on top of the lower one is 4 stories and is accessed from the other side on top of the cliff and has windows on both sides of the house. The lower house for the poorer people the upper house for the richer people. There is no connection between the 2 houses. Apparently one woman owned the property and found a way to sell it twice!

Tonight we have a lecture about D-day and the Battle of Normandy and tomorrow we will visit Juno Beach, the Canadian War Cemetery and Ardenne Abbey.