Étretat, France, June 2019

Étretat, France, June 2019

Étretat: Detective hotel, Emma Peel room

While planning this trip, I left the middle section open to decide in the moment where to go.  So glad I did because we found the Detective Hotel in Étretat.  Each room is dedicated to a different detective:  Ms. Marple, NCIS, Columbo, Magnum PI, Poirot, etc.   

Not a hotel for everyone as there is no AC, no elevator, less fancy breakfast and not a ton of space in the room.  Exactly what we were looking for, something so unique you will never find a duplicate.

So good!!!  Full immersion into the theme, we had a record player, magazines and prints from the 60's.  Definitely a labor of love by the owners.


One room for Arsene Lupin, gentleman thief who foils bad guys worse than him.  (Side note, this is the 'grandfather' of Lupin III from Japanese manga fame, one of the most recognizable/classic characters in the genre.  Super old school!).  I hadn't heard of him, but now I will keep an eye out.

The town is a small seaside fishing village where Parisiennes vacation in August.  The tourist office has these super cute game-themed decorations outside.

There is a 'train' (bus disguised as a train which turns out to be super popular in tourist towns) to the important monument which we manage to miss a couple different ways.  Instead, we drive out into the countryside!

"In Flanders field the poppies grow"  This is that land.  We see reminders of the wars all over the place, but I didn't imagine we would see actual poppy fields...

Roadside shires are still popular here and great for finding your way back when you get to wandering.

I was the navigator.  As per my usual I got us a little lost.  I knew we wanted to see the channel up close, and on the map I saw a pier we could visit.

That's the pier...but we can't go onto it.

Turned out to be a bit more industrial than I imagined

But on the other side is a beach!

Too early in the season to be busy.

But super cute playground!

New equipment, a lovely set up, everything you could want in a beach.

Except sand.  This is also a rock beach.

Yup, all rocks all the time.  Does everyone just bring chairs?  Do they go into the water with water shoes?

Mysterious washed up mollusk?

But the cafe/bar is open!!

Never pass up an opportunity to try the local cider.

We definitely wandered around some small backroads and saw the locals up close and personal :)

Drive to the Coast, France, June 2019

France, June 2019, from Valenciennes to the coast

Amiens cathedral

Wednesday

We have a couple days before the next soccer match in Le Havre.  Seems like a good idea to spend some time on the coast.  Many great options along the way, we choose Amiens for lunch.

The waterways are surprising, feels like the clean version of Venice ;)  Lots of little bridges everywhere to get around the town.

Water features.

The cathedral is one that took hundreds of years to build. 

Pretty much exactly what I think a French cathedral looks like.

Extra creepy gargoyle.  I think that is a bonus face in the chest.

Screaming monkey?!?

This area has seen a lot of war.

Funky ornate clock

Lunch was our introduction to cider and buckwheat crepes at Crepiere Le Mangeoire. We didn't have the time to go in, but drove past the Jules Verne house.  Always a reason to go back!

Wind power everywhere on this drive.

We  want to get an idea of different parts of the coast so we stop briefly at Dieppe. The guide book says this large grassy area was Napoleon's children's playground/beach.

For sure a tourist stop, a couple of buses stop, people walk out on the beach and return.

But not many stick around. 

Maybe because it is not sunny?  It is the middle of the work week?  The beach is all rocks?

We don't stick around either.  Back in the car to get closer to our hotel.  We try to stop for dinner in Fecamp, but dinner does not start until 7 in any of the cool looking spots.  Dinner from a snack bar place with a bit of cider makes it all good.

Arriving in Lille, France, June 2019

France, June 2019

Trip to France!!  Woo Hoo!!!

Our main purpose is the World Cup soccer but we have built in plenty of time for sight seeing.

Saturday

We haven't been on an international flight in a bit so we splurged and got nicer than economy seating.  It comes with access to the airport lounge, so we arrive early, hang out in the sweet lounge, and toast our trip with champagne.  The nicer than economy seats are great and I totally sleep on our overnight flight into Paris.

Love

We don't bother to see  anything in Paris and just hop a fast train to Lille.  Like 200 mph fast.  Seriously fast and easy!  Lille is having a cultural fest called Eldorado and has put up these amazing statues all over the city.

Music, readings, and dance are also set up for the whole month.  Super impressed they went all in.

We booked our first stay at the Best Western.  Turns out to be a great choice as it feels more like a boutique hotel.  There is a loofah in the bathroom, which turns out to be awesome because no washcloths in any of the other hotels.  It was a long day so we hunker down in the room to watch soccer and get room service.  Lovely fresh salad with local cheese, tasty salmon and of course wine :)

 Monday we walk around Lille

We stop in the book store, game store, grocery store.  Many places open late or not at all, Monday morning seems to be considered recover from the weekend time.

Lille's cathedral is large and important.  Harsh looking exterior, but worth going inside (more details on the upcoming churches in France post).

Love

Much of the decor feels (and likely is) from the 60s.  Elegantly spare.

In one way they are thoroughly modern

You can put your candles on your credit or debit card!  They do still take cash, but I can see how this is easier all around even if the signs look out of place.

Fantastic desserts at Meert-details in the food post.  For dinner we repeat the room service since the food is so good!

Tuesday

Train to the small town of Valenciennes where we pick up our rental car.  Normally not something to write about, this was memorable because we felt like it might not happen!  The store front was closed even though it should have been open.  The guy on the phone told us the one employee was out getting our car, then it needed to be cleaned.  We did get it in the end.  It came with a Star Wars sticker and we have to wonder if the cars were oversold and someone had to lend their personal car...not likely, but a good story!

We moved from the Best Western luxury to an Ibis budget.  It was almost as delightful because it was so clean and spare.  Clever no key system.  You get a door code, take a picture of it, and nothing to do when checking out.  It has a bunk bed!  Down side was no AC.

Upside was peace and quiet and a flower filled backyard.

Seriously huge lawn space.

The backyard courtyard was kind of strange, maybe from the 70s?