travel_buzzing

hello i haven't noticed if you are there on a sunday, but the big sunday market around the marina in the centre of Caen is well worth going to. nice crepes, lots of fresh local produce, such as cheese, honey, cider from the nearby farming communities. Lots of nice trinkets and clothing etc.
I was in Lemans and really enjoyed it but it is fairly hilly walking to the churches and viewpoints for example.

bilboburgler

It has been explained to me that cider in the US is what europeans would call apple juice. In france "cidre" will be 6 to 8% alcohol. Since drunk driving is a criminal offense I suggest watch it.

Robespierre

GPS: buy new batteries (even if they're rechargeable) before you leave the US.

Seafood: the day that you're touring Omaha Beach and its ancillary sites, stop in Port-en-Bessin for lunch. The seafood comes off the fishing boat and into the kitchen.

For anyone who has never enjoyed <i>fresh</i> seafood, the flavor will amaze you.

travel_buzzing

&gt;&gt;cider in the US is what europeans would call apple juice. In france &quot;cidre&quot; will be 6 to 8% alcohol. Since drunk driving is a criminal offense I suggest watch it.

however, nobody has suggested the op down a bottle of cider before driving.

laverendrye

miacaraitalia: I don't know the Hotel Centre so I can't comment other than to say that as a 3-star Mercure hotel, I'm sure that it will be fine.

miacaraitalia

Thank you all, ... it is actually The Central Hotel and very family run and small. I will be sure to walk after cider I am not sure on my TomTom if it even has batteries. I am not that mechanical but thinking taking dear Tom may reduce my stress of driving. I use Garmin at work, and Tom seems similar. For 80.00 peace of mind may be worth it. Does anyone know anything about dining in Malesherbes or nearby?
Also, final q, I hope. I drop the car at Orley, does one just grab a cab like here?
I think it would be worth the fare for my dad to not have to endure a shuttle procedure since we are unsure when we will drop off the car.

Gretchen

The taxi queue is literally right across the street from the garage where you return cars. And the fare from orly is less than CDG==no doubt better than any other transport, in my opinion. I would go online and map your entry to Orly from Chartres (I guess), even having the Tom Tom. Just as a backup.

miacaraitalia

Thank you, we are actually leaving Dinan and then to Malesherbes, then to Fontainebleu, and Orley is where we leave the car. The Dinan drive is 4 hours non stop, so a day. I am interested in whether or not to make Mt. San Micheal (sp) a stop between Bayeaux and Dinan or look from afar. I am not crazy about overridden with tourist places. Also, is anyone familiar with Lemans?

Thanks again!

Scootoir

Sounds like a wonderful trip, Mia.

&quot;I do not eat organ meat..lol seafood or fish...nor many eggs&quot;.

I don't eat organ meat, undisguised eggs and cannot eat shellfish but have always enjoyed dining in France. The French serve a lot of wonderfully prepared chicken dishes so you should have no difficulty. And if you eat cheese and bread you will truly be in heaven. They also have good soups.

I have visited the chateaux at Fontainbleu and Vaux-le-Vicomte and both are beautiful and were uncrowded even on weekends. Vaux has a dome with winding stairs up to a great view. I could not do that many stairs (bad knee) but my family enjoyed it and I have all the photos. I bought a small book about the chateau to read while they took this detour.

We spent a full day in the town of Chartres strolling along the river and through the old streets. The cathedral is up a small hill. Nice little tearoom on the cathedral square to rest and soak up the view.

We also liked Arromanches and the 360 film presentation. Good lunch at Le Bistro d'Arromanches. We have stayed in Bayeux twice and found lots of good restaurants there. Don't miss the cathedral which in the center of town, it's lovely.

You can great views of Mt. St. Michel from the town and parking areas. Perhaps that will satisfy without having to contend with the steep walk and crowds.

Bon Voyage.

miacaraitalia

Thank you! We leave on Tuesday. It has been a week. Doc was not going to let dad go, anurism. Now he can. I have been active forever and now my back and knees are messed up. Thank God for hydrocortisone.

Paris...car rouge, or the regular bus, we only need transportation for one day as I hope to bike the other. My father cannot walk far.

Thanks to everyone.

J

Scootoir

One more idea to save walking in Paris if needed:

http://www.4roues-sous-1parapluie.co...langue=anglais

bilboburgler

Le Mans has a large piece of Roman wall left over and the very centre is attractive but the outskirts less so. I suggest alternatives as follows

Fougeres (a great castle but a bit of up hill walking)
La Fleche for one of the most beautiful views across a river in a town i've seen

Chartre sur loir has a lovely little square with a restaurant in it and was the watering hole of the Brits when Le Mans was their racing centre.

Then you are in the Loire

laverendrye

&lt;&lt;I have been active forever and now my back and knees are messed up.&gt;&gt;

When you get to France, go immediately to the nearest pharmacy and get a tube of Voltaren Emulgel, the &quot;magic cream&quot; which maitaitom introduced to many Fodorites in his classic trip report, &quot;An Injured American in Paris&quot;.

Here's an update on that trip report:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34979522


For those who may have missed the original report, here it is:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34934133

hopingtotravel

I have written down the Voltaren Emugel and will ask my local pharm what on earth diclophenac is.

My uncle used to once in awhile use something on his knee which the vets prescribed ONLY for horses. I can't remember the name--DMSO or something--but it really worked.

DH has had 4 knee cartilege surgeries over the last 35 years. Sometimes he'll be fine for weeks then 'fold' on me the day I want to hike in part of the Grand Canyon or something.

Since Absorbene Jr leaks all over in luggage, and tylenol with codeine doesn't mix with wine, hmmm, this gel may be an answer!

apersuader65

DMSO is a highly toxic, but effective analgesic ointment for horses. It can have serious effects on your liver and kidneys. I would avoid this product at all costs. My roommate in college - a wrestler - used it sparingly to soothe his aching knees. Until, of course his urine turned bright orange. It apparently overburdened both his liver and kidneys and the actual coloration of the product came out!

Stick with the magic cream!

hopingtotravel

Actually my uncle lived into his 90's so he must not have used the DMSO in excess.

I googled diclophenac. It appeared to have the usual NSAID warnings. I would think an occasional swipe across the knee with it might not be too deleterious.

apersuader65

Probably not, other than it is, technically, illegal to get the DMSO for other than use on animals.

apersuader65

At least it was in the late 70's and early 80's. The other apparent side effect is that it opens up the skin for absorbtion of other more toxic materials. I've heard its' being researched as a method to assist delivery of localized cancer drugs.

hopingtotravel

We're at miscommunication. I mean the Voltaren Emulgel might not hurt for an occasional swipe across the knee.

grandmere

We, too, enjoyed our dinner at Le Petit Bistro in Bayeux.
In Caen we happened upon a tiny bistro-type restaurant called Le Bouchon de Vaugueux at 12, rue Graindorge near the chateau and the old town. It was crowded with locals and well worth the wait on the sidewalk, since we did not have reservations. Highly recommend!