France and England on $98 a Day – Our Spacious Home in Normandy

Ben and Jay, the delightful owners of the Manoir de Founcroup and Les Herissons, the barn from which our gite is fashioned, says these buildings have been around since King Henry the 8^th was speed dating, but we have enjoyed every amenity while still appreciating the place's heritage; the wooden beams, the two-foot thick walls, and the massive fireplace, where a woodstove now rests, constantly remind us of the house's roots.

A painter would be happy here as each of the windowsills holds a still life, but the practical aspects of a vacation have been remembered. No detail has been overlooked. Baskets of jam jars rest on the kitchen sideboard, juice, milk and butter are stocked in the fridge, and there are several cookbooks, one of which is opened to the seasonal recipes celebrating the month of May. Upstairs, candles are clustered on the edge of the huge bathtub ready to cast a romantic glow for that leisurely soak.

The downstairs consists of an entry area, a large living/dining room with French doors, two couches, and a table seating eight. The kitchen has a table for six, a five-burner stove, a farmer's sink and dishwasher. There's also a small room housing a half bath and washing machine.

Upstairs are four bedrooms (Have you ever seen a simpler or more romantic bedroom? Each room is just as delightful as this one.) and a bathroom with a shower we'd like to use every day for the rest of our lives! It's roomy enough for two, has a rain showerhead as well as an optional hand-held shower wand, and produces enough hot water to warm anyone who's been walking in the 9 C rain.

Once again, leaving this lovely spot in the French countryside won't be easy. David and I are hoping the lure of Honfleur, the picturesque harbor town everyone told us we must see, will motivate us tomorrow morning. Still, closing the door on this lovely gite will be difficult.

Practicalities -

We rented Les Herissons for four nights for 300€. It is located a few miles from one of the towns that figured in the D-Day story, St. Mere Eglise, and millions of miles away from the hustle and bustle of any big city!    Here's the link.