Acclimatising to holiday mode and day 1 in France

Marilyn and Alastair left, driven by Jim, on Friday 30th and holiday packing should have begun in earnest. However, I was so exhausted that I could do no more than put on the washing machine (several times) and contemplate the suitcases making notes for our needs overall and those for Dublin, Wexford, three days en route from Cherbourg to Rovigo and 4 days in Venice. That was going to make great demands on quantities of underwear even without the possibility of an accident!

As we had discovered a new Thai takeaway in Letterkenny (The Lime Leaf I think) and indulged ourselves both Friday and Saturday Brian's original plan to dine in Stoneybatter in a thai restaurant had to be revised to Mulligan's. We had a great meal (and good beer for Brian and Jim) and a great catch up for Brian's birthday. Monday took us to Mary's in Wexford where we had the usual welcome. We enjoyed Maria's company for dinner and again for coffee at her place and lunch in Kilmore Quay (unfortunately the Crazy Crab was closed at lunch). The weather was great both days and prepared us for hoped for good weather.

We headed for the boat around 7.30 (Celtic Ferries) and after a quick drink had a good night's sleep to awaken to the ship's foghorn signalling dense fog and causing almost an hour's delay. As a result we were under pressure to get from Cherbourg, around Paris and to Malesherbes where we had booked. Our main concern was that we would not arrive in time to have a meal and a drink. We needn't have worried. We arrived near 9.30 pm, and booking in were asked "Vous voulez diner?" and indeed we did. For Jim andouillette, and for me Salade de l'Ecu (L'Ecu was the name of the hotel) which was salad with gizzards - exactly what I wanted! To accompany beer, wine and to finish cognac (Jim - Calvados). A lovely finish to our first day in France! The hotel was rustic but very friendly and had all we needed.

Leaving Hotel de L'Ecu and heading for Sallanches.