Mr Bean Goes to Normandy

I have never driven in Europe – I can’t drive a standard. I was going to take the train to St. Sauveur de Vicomte. My sister rented a car. I would learn to drive in Europe.

We picked up a Mercedes B200 - with an automatic transmission and a GPS - YE HAH! Getting out of Paris was, of course, hair-raising. Once that was done, the rest of the drive was a breeze...great roads (no pot holes), trucks that stay in the right lane, roadside service centres that have all kinds of neat French stuff.
It turns out that Normandy is quite a long way from Paris and the closer we get to St. Sauveur, the more it looks like Quebec – rolling hills, apple trees, stone gables and steep roof pitches. And Normandy has the curious distinction of being the only region in France that doesn’t produce wine. They make lot’s of cider, Calvados and camembert, but no wine.

We arrive in St. Sauveur mid afternoon – the auberge where we are staying is half a block from the house we are measuring. Brilliant! The Auberge and the house are both across the street from the old chateau. Brilliant, again! Dinner at the Auberge is also … brilliant … really … you have to go!

Next … we get a close look at the house.