On The Road To Honfleur

Today finds us in Caudebec about a half hour bus ride from our next point of interest, Honfleur. According to what I have read, Honfleur is noteworthy for its strategic location as a seaport. Champlain sailed from here on his way to America. Unless my history is faulty, I believe Champlain sailed down the Missississippi and claimed the land for France and called it Louisiana. In 1803 Thomas Jefferson bought Louisiana from the French and thus doubled the size of the United States. Honfleur is described as having medieval charm with cobblestoned streets and timber construction homes. I'm sure cobblestoned pavement was a marvelous advance in its time, but it does present challenges for walking, especially if a cobblestone is missing and you are not looking where you are walking.

We have either adopted or been adopted by two delightful older women named Claire and Althea. Althea is British and lives now in Australia and Claire is British and lives in England. Claire is 80, but you would not know it and Althea may be older, I believe. They are both full of life and wit and make wonderful table companions as we have shared many meals with them. I hope to have their spirit when I grow up. They are both widows. Claire shared with us that her second husband (she's outlived two) was part of the flotilla that tried to save Canadian soldiers at Dunkirk but the effort was thwarted due to the fact that there were cliffs between the flotilla and the Canadian soldiers so they had to be abandoned. I love meeting people who have a connection to the living pagenat of history we are experiencing. Her husband died just last year at the age of 96 and gave her 18 of the happiest years of her life.

Just about time for breakfast so more later.
Art