Going to Normandy

Above: On the train to Normandy.

Luxembourg to Normandy by trains

Today, I’m travelling to Normandy in France, which requires a suburban bus to the station, then a train-replacement bus to Metz Ville to connect with the high speed train to Paris Gare l’Est, getting to St Lazare station for the final normal rail service to Valonges.

I set off at 0800 after breakfast to ensure I didn’t miss the 0830 bus from the nearby stop.  At Luxembourg’s main railway station, two double-decker buses had been put on by SNCF French railways to depart at 0925 to Metz Ville across in France.

About an hour later slightly, we arrived ahead of schedule, with more than sufficient time to connect on to the 1058 real TGV to Gare l’Est.

Arriving at Gare l’Est at 1222, my next departure was from Gare St Lazare at 1459.  It would be about 20 mins by two metro rides so I opted to make the 35 min walk, since it was a cool but sunny day.  With some mis-steps, it turned out to be a 45 min walk and I had to keep to the shade to stay cool dressed in black merino.

I killed over an hour before looking for the boarding location for the normal (not high speed) train to Normandy.  The ride was non-stop for a couple hours before making stops at different towns before terminating in Cherbourg.

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In Normandy, I’m visiting a friend E, who was an awesome travel companion in Saudi Arabia six months ago.  I had bought the ticket to Valognes (the penultimate stop) cheaply rather early, knowing that he owns a home there.  But I didn’t quite understand that the home was under extensive restoration and uninhabitable, meaning that he was in military accommodation in Cherbourg in the meantime.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a big deal for him to pick me up in Valognes as he had been doing DIY on the house today.  Well, except that he had got my arrival time of 1751 mixed up and thought it was an hour later.

With no open arms welcoming me at Valognes upon arrival, I gave E a call.  Fortunately, he was able to receive (but miss) my call as his DIY site has next to no signal.

Renovations

E showed me his 350 year-old home (since 1670), which to me was a renovation nightmare.  I look up to him for taking on the challenge while based in Cherbourg (30 min away) and in between overseas postings with his work.

He showed Denis (the previous owner) his progress and we bounced around some ideas for the mid-floor bathroom.  Denis and I shared the same idea of the shower cubicle in the far end while E wanted it in the middle of the longish bathroom.

While E had considered our idea before, it had been pushed aside due to technical considerations.  However, towards the later parts of the trip, he must have thought the aesthetics was worth overcoming the technical considerations and if I’ve achieved anything during my stay with him, this would be it!

Valognes Briefly

We walked to Valognes’ main car park area and some cheerleaders were practicing or performing as it was Bastille Day tomorrow.

For dinner, E treated me to long sausages with chips (fries).  The sausages were awesome but the chips were brown and soggy, something which I seem to get from time-to-time here.

We sat next to some locals and my French host English to me and then French to the waitress.  Some old locals congratulated him by saying “You speak French very well”.  Very funny!

A cycle race kicked off while we were eating our delicious greasy dinner.  The men on their racing bicycles were so lean.

After dinner, E gave me a brief walking tour of Valognes’ old centre with an insight into some notable old homes.

From there, we hopped into his cabriolet for the drive to Cherbourg where his military base room would be my home for the next six nights.

I was really appreciative of being hosted on this visit, as it was a stressful and uncertain time for him.  He’s due to be deployed overseas in the next few days and was still waiting to hear from a firm date.

A pretty spot in the residential area of Valognes.