May 3

As we wind down, Honfleur looks like the perfect stop. Google says, “Ports don’t come any prettier than Honfleur on the Seine estuary.” It has a population of around 8000 people– fewer than 100 years ago. Guidebooks say that a tourist needs a half day there; usually, they say at least 2-3 days for a location. It’s about a 2 1/2 hour drive to Paris. What’s better than a small, walkable, historic town when most of your shipmates are spending the day in Paris? Cobbled streets, medieval architecture, and more.

Honfleur, a small town on the Normandy coast, was established as a port in the 12th century, shipping goods to England. It was occupied and unoccupied as the French and English pursued their variety of wars. In the early 17th century, it peaked as a port for trade with Canada, the West Indies, and Africa. Slaves were an important commodity. More recently, it has become a relaxed home for artists. I think that we’ll find a relaxed, out-of-the-way cafe for lunch. I wonder if they have wine there?

What a nice little city. Old buildings, lots of little shops,and it happened to be market day, albeit a very rainy market day. All kinds of produce, clothes, etc. We had a good time walking around, eating, shopping….and, Karla got a haircut! We would come back here.