Normandy, France, December 2021
We set off from Brussels on Gisella, the legendary rental car that accompanied every decision we made - planned or last minute - to explore the length and breadth of Normandy in those cool days of early December.
This region in northern France surprised all three of us with its breathtaking landscapes, exquisite food and the heavy historical baggage it carries on its shoulders.
We were constantly moving from one place to another and we were all very excited to go to the last Airbnb, Tina and Martin's house. A colonial house from 1871 that they renovated to their liking. Martin was the only person who answered us in English during the whole trip.
We were in Lonlay-l'Abbaye, a small village of 1,000 inhabitants in the heart of Normandy, for us the perfect place for the last leg of the trip: Mont Saint Michel. We knew we weren't close to the city, but we didn't think we were so... in the middle of nowhere. Having parked Gisella, we are greeted by a big dog wagging his tail with Martin, who - surprise - reveals to us that he is an English accountant who follows his clients from a distance so that he can devote himself to gardening and the various activities on the estate. A likeable character with a very interesting story. He shows us the annex, our home for those two days, and it is honestly one of the accommodations we remember most fondly. The reason?
We were constantly moving from one place to another and were all very excited to go to the last Airbnb where Martin, the first and last person to answer us in English on the whole trip, was waiting for us. We knew that Lonlay-l’Abbaye wasn’t close to the city, but we didn't think we were so... in the middle of nowhere. Having parked Gisella, we are greeted by a big dog wagging his tail with Martin, who - surprise surprise - reveals that he is an English accountant who follows his clients at a distance so that he can devote himself to gardening and the various activities on the estate. A likeable character with a very interesting story. He shows us the dependance, our home for those two days, and it was honestly one of the accommodations we remember most fondly. The reason?
That evening we had prepared a salami and cheese charcuterie board and a plate of pasta with meat sauce, accompanied by a good red wine, a few games of Scrabble and many, many laughs. At one point we had the bright idea of going out into the garden because "maybe you can see the stars, can you imagine?".
That night we saw one of the most spectacular starry skies ever: we were so isolated that there was no light pollution around us, just total darkness... and the Milky Way didn't think twice about showing itself in all its glory. It was freezing, but we spent a good hour looking for the chariot, Cassiopeia, the polar star, the bear, planes, aliens, life.
Three friends, a starry sky, and that was more than enough: we couldn't have wished for anything else.
Have a look at Tina and Martin’s Airbnb if you happen to be nearby: https://www.airbnb.it/rooms/974471115524605820?source_impression_id=p3_1697968329_0PgHS8TDXkgcv5a9
Gisella and la crew
On the road
The dépendance
Normandy climate
Game night
It doesn't make it, but it was incredible
Mont Saint Michel, in December
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