May 2019
One of the difficulties of putting online our Normandy weekends is that alongside with relatively big trips (Rouen or Etretat), there was plenty of small ones. One or two days in the closest from us neighborhood with a very few pictures, but still a precious memory I want to keep on the blog. I guess the only solution is to think less and get it done. The first days of May we decided that it was time to go back to the “outdoorsy weekends”, so we put our tent in the car and drove to a small green zone in Calvados (one of Normandy’s department) called… Suisse Normande. If you are our blog regular, you know how much I hate such geographical comparisons, but this one unfortunately stuck almost on an official level.
May 2019
One of the difficulties of putting online our Normandy weekends is that alongside with relatively big trips (Rouen or Etretat), there was plenty of small ones. One or two days in the closest from us neighborhood with a very few pictures, but still a precious memory I want to keep on the blog. I guess the only solution is think less and get it done. The first days of May we decided that it was time to go back to the “outdoors weekends”, so we put our tent in the car and drove to a small green zone in Calvados (one of Normandy’s department) called… Suisse Normande. If you are our blog regular, you know how much I hate such geographical comparisons, but this one unfortunately stuck almost on an official level.
Camping des Rochers des Parcs
Why is it called “Suisse Normande”? As Normandy is famous first of all for its seaside landscapes, it is rarely associated with green forests and hills. This splash of deep green mixed with stony hills is therefore quite untypical for the region. Hence, even if le Mont Pinçon – the highest pic of Calvados is only 365 meters, this contrast with the blue tides played its trick (and I’m glad you don’t see how cringed I am from all this Swiss stuff). Anyway, it’s the best possible destination for an active outdoors weekend – spacious, empty with a looot of nature and various sport activities for every taste. So, after a night in a very cute camping, we put the red vests on and pushed a kayak in the waters of Orne. Releasing our inner Pocahontas, so to say.
In fact, we had to admit that it’s fun only the first 15 minutes, then it gets a tiny bit boring. Besides, the weather was not on our side and instead of enjoying the beauty of the greenery around, we received a grey gloomy sky, which made no shadows.
Clécy
Clécy
We were quite happy to get back to the ground and then drive to la Roche d’Oëtre– a cliff formation with a spectacular view. No luck here either – the sky made it all look like a murky greenish-brown mess and the only highlight of this moment was an encounter with a beautiful lizard.
Château de Falaise
On our way back we made a stop in Falaise to see an important place for Normandy and, without any exceeding modesty, for the entire Europe (hence the world!). A castle where William the Conqueror was born. As it was Sunday, the whole town looked quite dead, but we both felt thrilled – such powerful historical places always produce this effect. Besides, after visiting Hastings and Bayeux it felt almost a full circle.
Writing this post made ma a bit sad for many reasons. First, because of unluck with light and weather – a crucial thing for photographers! Second, I realize how many things we could have seen, had we arrived outside the long weekends in the low season, where everything was closed and quiet. Too quiet. If you want to have a better idea of what we missed, check this blog article, Amélie did a much better job than us!
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