Above:  Eight missile hatches on each side visible. Chores and DIY It was a morning of chores, starting with the laundry before calling into a great hardware superstore called Leroy Merlin on the way to Valognes for more DIY. Today I started masking the attic windows for painting.  It was all good until I realised […]

Chateau Balleroy E had some errands to do in the morning and we did them en route to my first stop, which was Chateau Balleroy.  I got dropped off in the wet weather on the road while E went to work briefly, and walked to the ticket office located in one of the two stables. […]

Above:  Part of Cherbourg’s breakwater barely visible from the shore. Latin Mass Staying with E on the military base, we had a hearty breakfast on site.  When I talked about “café au lait” from the machine, he commented that I spoke French with no accent.  But I don’t speak French! We headed to the naval […]

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 […]

Today I continue to revisit the various sights that make this city so spectacular.  I started with a metro ride to the Notre Dame and a walk in the surrounding area where I once stayed with a friend.  The cathedral has been inaccessible and boarded up for over two years while undergoing fire reinstatement. Next […]

Train to Paris Lou and Riccardo took me to Joigny this morning, driving me around its old town before dropping me off at the railway station.  It had been a somewhat sudden meet-up but very enjoyable. I took the 1109 train to Paris Bercy station where I’d have a two night (one full day) stay.  […]

Above:  Unfortunately, I hadn’t seen any of the local wildlife such as foxes or wild boars. It was relaxing day again, giving Lou a massage and checking the travel requirements for my next country Istanbul.  Fortunately, Turkey’s relatively easy entry conditions hadn’t changed and I did my arrival declaration to obtained “HES” health code. I […]

Above:  Lovely home of my hosts. As we’re now further west in the time zone compared to Italy, the sun rises later around 0800.  It sets around the same time as where I had come from in Italy around 1700 with shorter daylight hours due to the more northerly location. After the constant walking and […]