TADORNA the SHELDUCK

All local tourist boards highlight the micro-climate of the Seine-mouth, but that's what these offices stand for most of the time. Nevertheless as to the Bay of the Seine there would seem to be some truth in it. On the one hand the high cliffs of the Upper Normandy protect the bay of the Seine against the cold winds from the North, on the other hand even the French met-office sometimes forecasts the weather to be more fair along its coasts than further off-shore, and we won't doubt their authority (or do we?). Reasons enough to give it a closer look and to linger on in the neighbourhood. After having spent two days at Deauville/Trouville we went to Honfleur and Le Havre. Although this three ports are all but within a short range, each of them holds a totally different character. Honfleur is a jewel of world heritage protected by UNESCO, its historical dockyard is now used as a marina for visiting pleasure craft and it's always a delight to stay in it (see blog of 15/12/2009). This time as well the streets were crowded by an invasion of American and Japanese tourists, carried along by coaches from Paris or from their luxury cruise ship docked in Le Havre. The latter being the second port of France it offers a modern well-equipped infrastructure to shipping and industry as well. Besides that it got some tourist assets too. The marvellous waterfront close to both the city centre and the marina, gives a splendid view on the bay and the ship movements in and out the harbour. From there on it takes only a couple of miles to walk the sandy beach and the sunny promenade as far as the wild nature of the land's end of Cap de la Hève.