Friday August 1, 2014

Bonjour, we are in France.

We arrived in France at 1:45pm local time (one hour ahead of British Summer Time) and proceeded to the Information Tourisme.  They were very helpful with directing us to the campsite.  I also found about a cycle route called Cycling in La Manche and asked if they had the guide book for this 434 km route.  She gave me the guide book that includes maps, with sites to see and campsites and it was free – Sustrans eat your heart out.  We have decided to take this route to Mont Saint Michel.  We go via the Normandy beaches and then down through Carental, Saint Lo, Vire and to Mont Saint Michel.  Hope to get internet and a phone by Monday.  The lady in the Tourist Office directed us to the closest campsite in Tourlaville, cycle path all the way she said.  We passed this \”thing\” it was near the port area, but we had no idea what it is, it looked very interesting – sculpture? something for a big boat?

This is the first country that we have visited in 8 months of travelling that we do not understand the language.  I am already putting my appalling French to the test.  Le chat est sur le mur or la chien est sou la table.  Why I remember these two phrases from school I have no idea, perhaps they will stand me in good stead if someone needs to know their cat is on the wall or their dog is under the table, but somehow I do not think these two phrases will find me a camp site.

I purchased a French phrase book on the ferry crossing, hopefully that will help.  I know most people would have some kind of app on the phone where they speak into and it translates for them, but I prefer bumbling along and having a laugh with whoever I am trying to speak to.  We asked two young girls if they could direct us to the camping site, “konpeeng” she said “oui” said I.  Then they discussed in French how to say it is behind the swimming pool.  I picked up the words derrier and piscine, we were off to the races and we eventually found the swimming pool, but couldn’t find the campsite.  I then went into the swimming pool with my phrasebook and again, the older women assisted me – we were literally within 10 metres of the site.

The campsite is a small basic campsite, with clean toilets and showers, there is a power outlet for each site and a water tap.  We do not need much more than that although it would be nice to have a picnic table. The cost is EU18.10 , why the 10cents I do not know.   Each site is separated by a hedge so that you can have some privacy, everyone was very friendly and greeted us with a bonjour.

Our \”neighbour\” was a very hairy, very tall man.  Things to remember to ask the guy at the camping store, how long is the tent!

Ralf has gone shopping, that should be fun.  I have written a list for him in English and French so hopefully he will be able to buy something for dinner.  We have to remember that most shops close between 12:00 and 2:00 daily and are not open on Sundays.

One of the things I was concerned about while travelling through Europe was the 90 day limit for the Schengen countries.  This means that we are only allowed to be in the countries that have signed the Schengen Agreement for a total of 90 days, not 90 days per country but 90 days for all the countries in the Agreement.  There are a number of ways around this problem:

• Overstay the 90 days and possibly get fined when leaving
• Try and get an extension on the allowable time
• Arrive in a country that doesn’t check passports
• Travel from a country that does check passports to a country that doesn’t
• Travel with a person that has a European passport.

We arrived in England on Canadian passports and were given a 6 month tourist visa (England did not sign the Schengen Agreement).  We left England and arrived in France, I had my renewed British passport, we cycled to passport control.  The Border police asked if we were British I said yes Ralf said Canadian, he waved us both through, couldn’t be bothered.  This means Ralf does not have an entry stamp in his passport for the first of the Schengen countries.  The next country we arrive in (Spain) (if they ask) will ask when we arrived in France, we will lie to them and tell them a few days earlier.  Which means the amount of days we are allowed in the Schengen countries will start in Spain one month from now. Hopefully we can get through more of the Schengen countries before anyone notices we are here.

Ralf is back with pasta in a can!  We had enough money left on today\’s budget for a couple of beers.  Mmmm pasta in a can and a biere.