Wednesday 28 October 2015

The channel hop

When my trip was in the planning stage my brother recommended Bayeaux as somewhere for me to visit in France.  He suggested we could "jump on a ferry" and do a quick trip before leaving for Turkey.  I didn't know anything about Bayeaux or its famous tapestry but I soon discovered it was near Mont St Michel which I was going to leave on my Bucket List because of the practicalities of getting there.  My brother can make dreams come true!


Another smaller ferry leaving port before us.  

How lucky are those Brits to have the rest of Europe practically at their doorstep!  We took an overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo in Brittany.   What a way to travel!  Standing out in the wind to watch the land fall away, a stroll around the ship checking out the bars and restaurants, a pleasant dinner and glass of wine, then off to our cabin.  The drone of the engines and the rocking was an invitation to sleep.  I was vaguely aware that sometime during the night we bumped around a bit but I didn't surface from my sleep.  We returned on the 'quick' evening ferry from Cherbourg, where I snoozed in a comfortable reclining seat and people watched. 


The 170 metre (560 ft) Spinnaker Tower as we leave Portsmouth.

St Malo must surely be best approached from the sea. The old town is encircled by medieval ramparts and towers, behind which rise stately granite mansions built in the 17th century and the cathedral’s graceful spire. It’s hard to believe what you see is not the original.  St Malo was severely bombed during its liberation in World War Two and rose again, painstakingly restored stone by stone.

9 comments:

  1. What beautiful vistas and your mode of travel sounds quite divine!

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  2. Pauline I have been to St Malo many times and though it's impressive it leaves me cold.
    I usually go across or round to the Citadel. I am amazed the poor German troops held out there for so long. It's terrifying to think what they must have endured.

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  3. It is a shame that it was destroyed but heartening to see that it has been restored. It looks like you are sailing into a mediaeval town.

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  4. It does look like a dream place to visit! You are right about ships being wonderful in lulling you to restful sleep.

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  5. I know about the Bayeaux tapestry (or at least it rings a bell!) but nothing about the place as such. I have often wished I that I actually enjoyed being on board boats because if I had, I might have travelled more... But I don't. I get seasick even in calm weather. So ferry trips have no appeal at all for me.

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  6. ... and every time I comment on that, I wonder about my own choice of blog avatar...

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  7. I enjoy your writing Pauline, it is just like I am there with you. Your photos are also very enjoyable. You saw some amazing places on your trip.

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  8. This is one the joy, a benefit of blogging...one learns so much from other places; from the travel of others. Through blogging we learn much of the lives of others and of their homelands...and of the places to which they travel. It's like going on holidays with them. I find it wonderful to be able to tag along!

    Thanks for popping into my blog, Pauline. You're more than welcome anytime you choose to do so. :)

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  9. 'Right on their doorstep' is relative Pauline. When I drive to Berlin I am only half way there when I get to London.

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