Honfleur, France

 Honfleur, France, rose to prominence as one of France's most important ports for trade in the New World exploration. The town's harbor is lined with narrow, slate-fronted buildings that overlook fishing boats. This charming and ever-changing seascape has long inspired artists, particularly the Impressionists, including Claude Monet. Grand Circle delivers lots of information through their tours. Even when traveling from one place to another, the program director shared interesting details.  

France is the same size as Texas but has twice the population. Can you name six neighboring countries that border France? 

Gas prices range from 8- to 10 euros, which is somewhat equivalent 1 euro to 1 dollar.

French cookie-biscuits Hailing from the Brittany region in France, Galettes Bretonnes are buttery, crispy cookies made with salted butter and a hint of vanilla. These flat and round cookies are slightly sweet and are a popular choice for tea time or as a snack throughout the day. This biscuit was heart shaped. 

Our first stop before Honfleur was the Peace Museum in Caen, France, in the Normandy region. It is a prelude to our visit later in the week to the beaches of Normandy. Since Charley is a history buff this part of the trip is a highlight for him. 

A visit to the Caen Memorial Museum brings World War II to life through a powerful, immersive experience with an exceptional collection of rare archival documents and artifacts.

In the evening, it was our first night on the ship, and they had a welcome dinner that truly "pulled out all the stops."  The food presentation was beyond amazing. First, we started out with champagne and met the staff. The following courses were served over the course of the next few hours. 

APPETIZERS

 SHRIMP

ROASTED DUCK SALAD

VEAL PORK LION                                      OR

PAN-FRIED COD
 

YOGURT PARFAIT TO CLEANSE THE PALATE

CHEESE PLATE

DESSERT

ICE CUP FRUIT SHERBET

OR

                                                                 CRÈME BRÛLÉE
And glasses of wine that they never seem to stop pouring. 

I don't have recipes to share, but take my word for it: this was beyond amazing!

One could not eat like that every night nor should 😋 

Oh my, what a feast!