roadtrip

Our little journey finished two days ago and I am still recovering. It is funny how holidays can be such hard work :)

Early start on Friday morning got postponed due to the late arrival of two of our group members. The hour of waiting was productively spent on discussing the need for insurance with the car rental company. Our driver, who still had not managed to buy a map, was convinced that this precaution would be unnecessary. I rested my case.

We took the scenic route to Giverny (read: as we had no map, we got lost) where we aimed to create our own interpretations of the Japanese bridge. This attempt soon changed into a race around the water garden. I started to think our plan was somewhat ambiguous. The first stop made us also reform the managing structure of our common money pot. The services of the investment banker were no longer needed but the job was given to the economist. The development economist and the social scientist were not consulted in this matter.

Our next stop was Rouen – lunch. We had no time to waste. We were racing against the clock. So, buying a CD, 2min45s, cathedral 3min – forgot lunch – buy a sandwich. 1min after our deadline (because our driver drove the wrong way in the parking hall) we were on the road again, singing along to the soundtrack of Pulp Fiction and eating little chocolate boys.
Our main attraction for the day was Etretat, cliffs that have inspired poets, painters and other artists. Seagulls, we saw seagulls. Being deprived of the sea in our daily lives the sound of seagulls was a song from heaven. (We tried to catch one to take with us but failed miserably in this mission) 30min later we were back in the car.

The day ended with a diner on a French farm and the night started with a game of pool –and another and another…after the #th game we decided to go cow tipping. This clever exercise involves the pushing of a sleeping cow on to its side. Ideally we could create a domino effect, yet in practice this obviously would not happen. Luckily, at least from the point of view of the poor animals, we did not manage to come to an agreement on whose cows to attack.

City kids on the countryside – after a late breakfast we borrowed bikes and headed to the main farm. It is amazing how much fun haystacks and car tires can be – and the combination is even better. Our climbing, descending, jumping, running, throwing, betting … was followed by a three legged black cat. But farm work is hard work and eventually our stomachs reminded us about the approaching lunchtime – lets race back to the car!

Our short stop for lunch extended itself over several hours. Cider being the popular drink in Normandy we decided to get some for the night. The owner of the shop had a different view about our visit – he offered us a drink. During the second one we found out that he was the most likely next mayor of the town. With the third I learned that you should never let your partner (girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, what have we) drink from your glass as after that he/she will always see your thoughts. After a careful sampling of pommeau, calvados, apple liqueur and a variety of other apple involving drinks we continued our quest to the Mont St Michel.

Despite several attempts and being the last visitors we did not manage to get locked into the old abbey. Fine. Low tide and loudly calling quick sand. Surely it is necessary to get stuck in the sand at least ones in your life. Didn’t work. Fine. Back into the car. Supermarket. Back into the car. Towards the sunset with a beer in hand. Holiday.

Finding our hotel in St Malo proved slightly difficult as our road map (we eventually managed to buy one) did not include the small town surrounded by high walls. Thinking while drinking thinking drinks we sat in our rooms planning the next course of action. Food. After a lazy dinner we left to look for some action. Evidently a group of Russians, serving in the German marines had the same mission.

Mission completed – by the time we reached our beds the sun was already rising. After few double espressos in the early afternoon we were ready to go again. We climbed on the high city walls (build in 1905 against the Mongolian invaders…?) and admired the beautiful view. Unfortunately the weatherman was not on our side and soon the -40c weather and recurrent hurricanes drove us back down again. Mussels for lunch.

2hours before my work shift started we finally saw the first road sign indicating our final destination: Paris 250km. I squeaked, but apparently there was no need to worry – I would make it. Without further questions I buried my head into my notes and continued studying.

When drying glasses behind the bar a bit later I was still humming “the son of a preacher man…”