Live virtual Transatlantic on the Regal

[scubacruiserx2]

18 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

How far of drive was Mt. St.- Michel from cruise port?

 

About 130 miles .

[Coral]

Just now, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

We have another cruise planned on HAL to Norway after we leave France .

I hope you are doing another live!!! I was in Norway 2 years ago and loved it.

[scubacruiserx2]

There were lots of places to stop for photos

 

 

Or for playing in the mud

 

 

We had hoped for high tide to try to shoot it with a reflection across the water . This was about the best we could get at low tide .

 

 

Before the cause way , it used to become an island during high tide .

 

 

This is one of my favorites because it looks natural .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

7 minutes ago, Coral said:

I hope you are doing another live!!! I was in Norway 2 years ago and loved it.

 

We will continue our journey as planned here even though it will be a different ship - The Zuiderdam . We also loved Norway and that's why we were returning .

[scubacruiserx2]

They were building when we were there , but we're not sure what .

 

 

 

This photo was actually taken very close , but the wide angle makes it look far away . It was taken to show the mud flats .

 

[AF-1]

18 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

About 130 miles .

That's about two hours each way;  how long was your port call?  Like 12 hours?

[scubacruiserx2]

33 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

That's about two hours each way;  how long was your port call?  Like 12 hours?

 

It was 14 hours for other passengers but we disembarked in La Havre .

[scubacruiserx2]

Beware of the tide !

 

 

When we asked Jamie for a lunch recommendation , he didn't hesitate to recommend La Mere Poulard . This concurred with our previous information , so let's eat !

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_M%C3%A8re_Poulard

 

As you enter the restaurant , you will see the kitchen and the open wood fire where omelettes are made in the original tradition from 1879 .

 

 

If you want to see the process , we found this video on internet :

 

 

After being greeted , seated and placing our order , there was time for photos .

 

 

 

While we were successful in arriving before the crowd , there are no early bird prices . . In other words - it ain't cheap !

 

So let's dig in , shall we ?

 

Edited May 16, 2020 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Pour Madame :

 

Chef's terrine , rillette and foie gras

 

Salmon a la Normandy

 

 

Vanilla Creme Brulee

 

 

Pour Monsieur :

 

Normandy lobster soup

 

 

Fluffy omelette with scallops and spinach

 

 

Tarte tatin with caramelized apples

 

 

And of course - there was sharing ! !

[scubacruiserx2]

After lunch it was time for some exploring the narrow streets

 

 

and stairways

 

 

a stop at the graveyard

 

 

and finally , into the monastery

 

 

a stone spiral staircase

 

 

and in the cloisters it began to rain .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We were at the highest point (excluding the steeple ) now , and the view was breathtaking . This is facing the causeway and distant car park .

 

 

While looking on the internet the other day , I found this description , by Rick Steves , that encapsulates the Mt. St. Micheal experience .

 

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/mont-st-michel

 

the view on the back side was even better

 

 

the specks on the mudflats are people

 

 

One group coming and one going

 

 

closer now

 

 

and a distant group and island .

 

[Coral]

Beautiful pictures!

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, Coral said:

Beautiful pictures!

 

Thank you . 😊

[scubacruiserx2]

In the shadow of the steeple we were making a decision

 

 

Should we go out on to the mudflats and follow the young people ?

 

 

It was quite windy and this gull was making no headway into the wind .

 

 

 

 

We were both beginning to get sick with congestion and sore throats . We didn't think that wading in mud and cold would be the best thing , so we headed back .

 

A more affordable option for lunch in Mt. St. Micheal .

 

 

 

 

 

This was our goodbye shot before boarding the shuttle bus to the car park . The mud to the right was drying , and it now looked like people could walk on it .

 

 

After meeting up with Jaime , we began the long ride to the airport but he wanted to show us a couple of bonus stops .

 

Seeing this farm road we asked him to stop . We really wanted to cross the fence and gate to shoot across the field with the sheep in the pasture . But we stopped at the gate and shot away .

 

[Coral]

1 hour ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

 

A more affordable option for lunch in Mt. St. Micheal .

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was thinking the restaurant you went to looked very pricey but honestly - it looked so cool and so good, I would pay those prices!!! 

[scubacruiserx2]

24 minutes ago, Coral said:

I was thinking the restaurant you went to looked very pricey but honestly - it looked so cool and so good, I would pay those prices!!! 

 

We were celebrating our anniversary this cruise so we figured that it was worth a splurge .

[scubacruiserx2]

Our next stop was in Deauville and after driving through the area Jamie showed us where to meet him and dropped us off here :

 

 

 

While Ian Flemming was inspired to develop the character of Bond in Lisbon , this is the casino on which Casino Royale is based . Behind us is a walkway which leads to the beach .

 

 

 

 

The American Film Festival has been held here every year since 1975 .

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deauville_American_Film_Festival

 

This promenade , the Promenade des Planches , is dedicated to the actors and movie makers who come here .

 

 

There is a broad expanse of sand and shells here

 

 

Did I see shells ?

 

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2020 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

More beach photos of this beautiful area

 

 

 

 

Walking back toward the casino

 

 

The hotel across from the casino is the Normandy Barriere .

 

 

Walking a little further , we found this high end shopping area .

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We loved walking through this area and photographing it !

 

 

 

 

 

We think that this is the town hall and it's flowers

 

 

[AF-1]

Those last few pics are crystal clear.  I loved the creme brule which was served in a tiny le creuset. That was awesome

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, AF-1 said:

Those last few pics are crystal clear.  I loved the creme brule which was served in a tiny le creuset. That was awesome

 

Thanks we had some good light and color . The Vanilla Crème Brûlée was excellent .

[scubacruiserx2]

After leaving Deauville the last stop was Honfleur which was a little overcast but quickly cleared .

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

For flights we had a choice of Lufthansa with a layover in Frankfurt or British Air with an overnight at a favorite T 3  hotel near LHR . We choose the latter . Dinner was a favorite Pub within walking distance of the hotel . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orders up !

 

 

 

Spicy lamb burger , not baaad

 

 

Steak and Ale pie

 

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2020 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

We like the hotel for is proximity to Heathrow and it's breakfast buffet , which I dreamed about while sleeping .

 

 

 

The Centrum area of the hotel made us feel like we were on the ship already ( except or the dart game on the tele of course ) .

 

 

We were on the first BA flight to Copenhagen

[Coral]

What a great cruise!