Return of direct flights to Calvados

At the end of last week CityJet launched its new service to Deauville. With the demise of Skysouth early in 2009 Calvados had been left without an airport offering direct flights to the UK.

Now Calvados is closer than ever with the flight from London’s City airport taking just an hour. The service currently operates two flights a day each way on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays with prices for a one-way trip starting at £59.

Deauville and Trouville offer a huge variety of property choice for prospective purchasers, whether it be for a chic holiday apartment, for investment or for a permanent move. But don’t just take my word for it, book a flight and come to see for yourself. And of course, if you would like any help or advice that is exactly what I am here for.

The French Lunch Hour

…. or, 90 minutes or two hours. In many larger towns and cities shops closing for a period anywhere between midday and 14.30 may be less common these days, but here in Bayeux, as in most of Calvados, businesses close for lunch for at least 90 minutes, except of course for those most important to the French; that’s boulangeries and pharmacies but not banks!

This is one of the practicalities of day to day living in France that many newly arrived from the UK find somewhat exasperating and difficult to come to terms with. However, it does have its advantages: roads and motorways are quieter, parking over the lunch period is normally free, out of town supermarkets remain open but will be less busy – although the pay-off for this may be far fewer checkouts open.

But this week it has taken on a greater significance for me. With the start of building work on the former car park adjacent to my apartment uncannily coinciding with the start of our current bout of glorious weather, never have I been so appreciative of the long lunch hour. It is an all too brief opportunity to throw open the windows and balcony doors while we too have lunch before the unwelcome hour of 14.00 approaches and all must be closed again to protect ourselves from the thunder of pile driving and excavations that will continue through the summer afternoon.

A little bit of sunshine

Wandering through Bayeux this morning to take pictures for a journal article that I have just completed I encountered the fellow above who was also enjoying the sun. I'm just glad that the family dog isn't a labrador!