FRANCE is big
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Being a keen camper and cyclist (no not a “lycra cycler” but a “pleasure poodler”) and having discovered the previous year the Trois Pays, I decided to try a little seaside town further down France that could offer me everything for a relaxing but interesting ... Read review
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Advantages: So close to the UK and easy to get to Disadvantages: The weather isn't much better than the UK
...public transport or bike.
PICARDY (La Picardie) is one of the old provinces of France, bordered on the North by Hainaut and Artois, on the East by Champagne, on the South by the Ile de France, and on the West by Normandy and the English Channel. It has three main geographical regions: The plateau north of Paris, which is an important wheat and beet area; The Somme River valley, with manufacturing cities like Amiens, Abbeville, and Saint-Quentin; ... ...Calais and beach resorts such as Le Touquet and Le Crotoy. The area now includes the department of the Somme and parts of the departments of Pas de Calais, Aisne and Oise.
Looking at the map of France we found Picardie and decided to find out more online. Our chosen destination for our holiday would be Saint Valery-Sur-Somme, on the coast, set on the East of Picardie. It sounded wonderful, so full of history and beauty.
Eastern Picardie (Somme ...
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Advantages: friendly, good food Disadvantages: none
This is a superb small, family run hotel with an excellent restaurant downstairs in the centre of Montreuil sur Mer, about ten miles from the coast. The rooms are cozy and well appointed and the prices are excellent. The food is superb with a wide range of options for dinner and a good breakfast buffet. If you don't like climbing, avoid the rooms on the top floors because the stairs are steep and dark. On the other hand, if you are fit and agile, ... ...and the market. The staff are friendly and helpful and don't mind English people at all which is a shame. The hotel is well positioned for other restaurants and bars in the town, close to the town walls and a good base. There is ample parking next to the hotel on the town square. If you are arriving outside of restaurant hours be sure to get the access code for the doorlock before you arrive. ...
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Montreuil sur Mer is an old walled town at the top of a steep hill and was once a important port, but is now some distance from the sea. There are excellent views over the surrounding countryside from the town walls. There are a couple of good hotels and a selection of restaurants.In both categories the Clos des Cappucins is a personal favourite (see the separate entry).
Montreuil is about forty minutes drive from Calais on the autoroute. This includes ...
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I brought this for my cycling mad husband and watched it with him, not really expecting to enjoy it. I was surprised it was interesting and a great look back at what life was like in the early days of cycling. I think is well worth buying for both the... more
The novel Deafening is in fact the first novel by author Frances Itani, although she has written short story and poetry collections. This book was only released in the UK in 2004, and I was recently drawn to it in an airport bookshop by both its cover,... more
De-loused in the Comatorium was an album written about the death of a friend several years before, so was justifiably dark and somewhat eerie. Frances the Mute is also written about the death of a friend, but in this case it is a far more recent thing,... more
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