To Hon Fleur (eventually) and then Houlgate

12.4.09 Sunday – Hon Fleur and then Houlgate

Today we head off to Hon Fleur, a beautiful little seaside port/village with tiny cobble stoned streets, very, very old buildings – and lots of tourists. We have a lovely day wondering around the streets, buying locally produced fig and strawberry jam and eating fresh french baguette.

At Hon Fleur we discover the biggest Aires (ie free campsite with basic services) yet. There must have been about a couple of hundred motorhomes and vans parked there. Bob seeks out an Pommy couple (we discover numberplates show GB for Great Britain and F for France) and gets some general tips on motorhoming.

That afternoon we head of to our next campsite at Houlgate (another little town on the french coast). The guide book says that Houlgate has very pretty and interesting architecture which we dont see on our way into the campsite. However once we have checked in (and were told we had to pay the next day by cash – they wouldnt accept card for under €50) and instead of continuing to wrestle with internet problems, we venture by foot into Houlgate which is about 1km. We think there are some nice houses on our walking but when we get to the town centre, which is also on the beach we realise that the houses are even better – and grander. The town is very neat and pretty with colourful flower beds along the way. There is a promenade along the beach and sand that goes for miles until you see water – a bit like Sandgate but much nicer. We strolled the promenade with assorted locals and tourists including a young child who was supposed to be walking a puppy but kept getting himself caught up with the lead. There are lots of litte restaurant but we chose the lovely little pizzeria (of course!). We shared a delicious pizza and salad and carafe of local red (which may or may not have been merlot?) Dining around us are a couple with small child and big dog and then another woman with a poodle in her arms. I guess the dogs here aren't dirty? We amuse ourselves by trying to work out whether Kerrie went to the mens or ladies toilets – they are marked with ♂ and ♀ - Kerrie thinks ♀ is ladies but Bob thinks it is mens. We watch both ladies and men going in and out of the same toilet and realise that no one else can work it out either!

Suitably fed and watered we wandered back through the town to the campground.

On returning to the campsite we battle again with the internet (at €5 ($10) for 2 hours) so we were up late and slept in the next day.