Richard the Lionheart

On our way to .. Les Andelys, but first .. my favorite meal .. breakfast !   Larry, if only we can share this as a feast !   Ala Carte, many selections :

and .. MY plate :

After breakfast we went to the top deck to watch our entry to .. Les Andelys :

This is .. Petit Andely, at the base of Chateau (castle) Gaillard.   We first toured this medieval town and church (Eglise Saint-Sauveur, 1200's) before heading up to this most important castle (ruins) at the 'gateway' to Normandy.

Onward to the castle ..

Built by Richard the Lionheart after he returned from the Crusades in 1194.  He was quite the castle architect!   The main castle to the right was designed after the castles he saw in the middle east, scalloped walls to allow archers many viewing angles.

He was King of England.  Very interesting history.  Son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.    Here's a view looking back at our boat :

This is a rendering of what it should've looked like :

We hiked back to town and the boat for lunch.   After lunch we started to cruise down the river towards .. Le Havre.   Here's a few pics from our veranda :

There are six navigation locks between Paris and Le Havre.

Here we are going thru the one at Amfreville :

It was dinner time ..

We had .. "Filet de Porc en Croute de Amandes",  almond crusted pork tenderloin, natural jus, cherry tomato,broccoli, mousseline potato ..

We're really enjoying the history lessons!  The Normandy region has had quite the history!  Normans - are derived from the 'intermingling' of Norse Viking invaders and the locals of West Francia in the 800's.

Tomorrow .. it's on to .. Honfleur and Le Havre !

Take care-   Joe & Jan