The second Iberian expedition began exceptionally well. From an early start in Lille, we were at the seaside in Normandy, in gorgeous Étretat, by lunchtime.
First there was a stroll along the beachfront to see the massive rock formations and white cliffs ...
... not unlike Dover, just across the channel, but called the Falaises here, and famously painted by Monet.
Then lunch at L'Huitrier - for oysters, obviously. Étretat is said to be the place from where Marie Antoinette got her oysters - delivered overnight to Versailles to keep them fresh.
Ours had less far to go, from the beach to our table by the sea, but it was fair to say that M-A clearly had good judgement in the matter of oysters, if not much besides.
Driving deeper into the interior of Normandy via the nicely named Route du Chat Endormi, all was green and ordered farmlands with the prettiest cows and tidy villages ...
... so close to Britain, and the historical connections still visible here and there in the houses, yet distinctive in style.
After a coffee stop in Villedieu les Poêles, we crossed into Brittany -
arriving in Saint Gregoire, on the outskirts of Rennes, for an overnight stay at Le Saison, rooms attached to a two-star Michelin restaurant, where we had a fabulous dinner in the garden, courtesy of the Basque chef.
After a night in a large, light room with glass doors to a patio and the garden, this was also my spot for yoga in the morning, while we listened to a surprising post-Brexit election outcome in the UK.
Étretat and Saint Gregoire, France.
Iberian road trip, Day 1, June 2017
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