24 September 2009

Our first day was not actually in Brittany. It was actually in Normandy near the town of Livarot. We stayed in a lovely Chambre d'Hotes in the countryside. Our hosts, Didier and Roselyne, were most gracious welcoming us with a bottle of cidre and discussions of our trip and our presence in this place.

You need to appreciate the fact that the setting was rural. The bull in the picture just above was positioned next to the small drive leading us to our chambre. The countryside was dotted with farms, the lanes and roads hemmed in with beautiful hedgerows, flowers blooming everywhere and fruit trees laden with autumn abundance.

When we were'nt visiting the surrounding area, Arthur (pronounced AR TOUR) was a faithful companion. I think he actually operated the chambre d'hotes while we were away. The chambre d'hotes was located in the large region region known as D'Auge. The most beautiful part of Normandy is located in the area, filled with rolling hills and a profusion of fruit trees. It's also home to the Route du Cidre, a trip we took that led us through this beautiful area.