Today it was to be Cider, Cheese and the old town of Honfleur, considered the birthplace of the Impressionist and Romantic art movements.
First we were bussed to the Calvados distillery where all the ins and out of turning apple juice into either a pleasant juice or a screetching burning cognac-like brandy was explained to us. It was interesting but it would have been more so in the apple season.
We were given a chance to sample a mild, somewhat easy to take brandy and then a more potent throat searing version of an older brew.
Next we went and sampled a variety of cheeses and then could appreciate a mild apple cider that was quite refreshing. The cheeses were excellent and this was our first encounter with French Bread, other than on the ship. [By the way, the breads on the ship are absolutrly marvelous.]
Next we took the 20 minute ride to the most interesting of cities or town that I can recall, Honfleur. We have been here before on a river cruise and picked this tour so we could stroll it at a more leisurely pace today. Combined, we took 114 photos. I can see why this is such a mecca for painters, in days gone by and still today. Every time you look, there is a picture waiting to be painted or a photo to be taken.
We did get into the wooden catherdral this time, last visit there was a wedding taking place. The bell tower was too heavy to put atop the wooden structure so the made it a separate building for it.
Back to the ship for tea, but no lunch and a short quiet time. Tonight we are dining in style in a ship's specialty restaurant. Tonight I think it will be fish, we have had a bit too much meat the last two weeks methinks.
At the Calvados Distillery. The two towers were at one time standing alone and separate and a few hundred years ago, they joined them. This was a German occupied building during WWII.
It was quite a pleasant refreshing drink.
We miss tea in our own garden.
The maintenance costs must be astronomical.
Belly up to the bar, boys. Now 10:00 am!
Topped off the brandy with cheese, bread and a mild pleasant 
cider.
In Honfleur. This town escaped bombing whereas larger
Le Havre was flattened and is all new buildings now.
Flowers where you can get them I suppose. No gardens as such in the town.
Once again, if the walls could talk.
It looks like a Hollywood set, or a painting you would by on the riverbank in Paris.
The Old Harbour in Honfleur.
What do you call five hundred yards of sidewalk cafes?
This was fascinating, a shop that only sells sardines or derivatives of them.
This is the Bell Tower that was too heavy to put on top of a wooden catherdral, constructed of wood because the architects were too busy working on other structures. They we replacing the buildings the 'English' burned during the 100 Years War. Some few hundred years ago. It is amazing, the English and the French have been annoying each other almost since recorded history.
I thought that this domestic scene of a man painting his store-front was worthy of a shot. What a beautiful shade of green he had chosen. So French! The photo did not really pick up the colour though.
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