Saturday, January 8, 2022

The Cliffs of Etretat

The next day we are off on an optional tour to the Cliffs of Etretat.  As we leave Honfleur, we get to drive over the Normandy Bridge, which links Honfleur to LeHavre.

After about an hour's drive, we arrive at the fishing village of Étretat, which has become a popular tourist destination.

 Then it's time to ride the Petit Train, which takes us up to the top of the cliffs.

The cliffs of Étretat are part of a stunning coastline along the English Channel.  And we have a jaw-dropping moment as we take in the views.

The cliffs are France's answer to the White Cliffs of Dover.


The arches and stone spire, called the Needle, are seen in many Impressionist paintings.  This was another favorite area for the artists.

The cliffs are primarily colored white to a light grey color, mostly contain chalk and limestone.  The rain we experienced earlier has dulled the white color.

We hike up to a higher point for more views.





On the top of the cliff is the White Bird Monument to mark the last place the "White Bird" airplane was seen.

In 1927, a pair of French WWI heroes attempted to make the first non-stop flight from Paris to New York City, but the plane mysteriously disappeared somewhere over the Atlantic, never to be seen again.

Back down we walked on the beach.  The beach was covered in small stones, which made walking a bit difficult.


A closer view of the arch and spire.

 

By evening we were back to Honfleur, where we chatted with our new friends and shared memories at the Captain's Farewell Dinner.




It was time to say goodbye to the crew that made our cruise so wonderful.  Tomorrow we leave the ship and head back to Paris to fly home, with a stop along the way...

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