In late August we went to Picardie in Northern France for our regular summer holiday.
Belle Dune
We stayed at a Pierre et Vacances holiday village just over the channel near the mouth of the Somme river. The houses
were a bit kitsch but we had two and they were great inside.
This year we went mob handed. As well as Anne, John, James and Rachel, we went with John's parents, and some or Rachel and
James' friends.
Rachel brought her cousin Katey and her friend Kayleigh. That had some classic girls times, straightening each other's
hair, singing, eyeing up the boys, ...
James' had his friend Brian over from Germany. They met when Brian lived in Orpington and both are skateboarders.
The girls straightened their hair one night and turned them into the
Ramones.
We went out and about around the nearby Picardy towns and countryside. One really nice place was the Gardens and Abbey
at Valloires.
The gardens were interesting with different areas, including this great wild flower meadow.
And the abbey was pretty spectacular too.
Le Crotoy was a small town at the mouth of the Somme. Our main memory was going there in the evening and popping in to
about a thousand (well more than 6) restaurants before we found somewhere to eat.
Anne and John also went to Saint Valery another small town opposite Le Crotoy. Saint Valery had a marina and was a
bit more up market. I reckon we'll go back there for a short stay one day.
We had a book of local walks and the walk around Saint Valery was great. It took us from by the marina, and along
the promenade past a painting class.
On the way back into Saint Valery we came past this historic gate. Joan of Arc was held at Le Crotoy, then ferried
across the Somme to the prison behind this tower, before being taken to Rouen.
The sunsets over the Somme looked great too.
We spent a day out in Amiens. It was a bit drizzly but well worth going. The great gothic cathedral sits on top
of a hill an dominates the views at that end of town.
The cathedral was huge with an incredible chancel and altar.
We had lunch at a small restaurant in Quartier St Leu, overlooking the Somme. The highlight was the rabbit stew and
the excellent fish. The weather was warm so it was good to be outside but out of the rain.
We also took the train from Abbeville to Paris for a day out. We picked up day passes for the bus and metro and
started out in Montmartre. The main square is a bit of a tourist trap, but you don't to go far to find some
quieter streets.
The Sacre Coeur is a great sight on top of the hill.
A couple of buses later (including a change at Pigalle!) we were at the Trocadero and looking at the Eiffel tower.
Anne and John's mum stayed for a coffee and James and Brian stayed to skate, will Rachel, John and Katey headed over
the river to go on up.
The top of the Eiffel tower was too crowded so we stopped at the middle, but the views were still spectacular.
And we ended up on the Ile de la Cité to see Notre Dame. John has always wanted to see Saint Chapelle but we got there
just too late. So we'll just have to go back again.
We stopped in Le Touquet on the way to Belle Dune. John had stayed in Le Touquet on a school trip when he was
eight but couldn't remember exactly where. So we just had a wander around the sea front, including
a quick game of mini-golf.
Kayleigh and John's dad went home on the middle Saturday and we all went up to Boulogne to see them off. While we were
there we went into the Nausicaa aquarium. It is a fantastic place and you should definitely visit if you are
in the area.
On the way home we stopped a Wimereux for something to eat. We went into the Hotel L'Atlantic and ate at
Le Liégeoise restaurant. It was recommended in our guide but we had no idea what a fantastic meal we were
about to have. It was in the top 5 meals we have ever had! If you are ever in the area pop in and try the
standard lunch menu. Your taste buds will love you.
It was our last day and a pretty sunny one so the young people were keen to get some sun.
The holiday village had a lake where you could hire kayaks and pedallos. Rachel and the others went out on the
kayaks a couple of times to worry the ducks -- especially the infamous evil laughing duck!.
The area had huge flat beaches so it was great for a range of sports. The kids went sand sailing one day. It wasn't
the windiest morning, but they still had a good time.
The village was surrounded by a good golf course. Anne and John got several rounds in -- including Anne's first
full eighteen holes. It was an attractive links style course with lots of dunes, pine trees and heather. So
if you ever go, take a big bag of balls.
There was a good theme park nearby called Parc Bagatelle. Not huge but very good for a local park.
The park had a circus that was surprisingly good. We were juggling and generally messing about outside waiting to go in
which attracted the park's resident clown. Rachel found the clown very creepy so she took great pleasure in
creeping up on us from time to time.
We went on all the main rides -- including three goes on the log flume at the end of the day. The first time round
we were dry as a bone, but the second time we got pretty wet and the third time we were soaked.
So we ended up damp but happy.