Just arrived back from a short visit to Normandy France and what a pleasant surprise as i had other ideas of the area. Our first stop was in Nancy where we stayed over for two nights as i wanted to visit both the Daum and Galle museums. Really great stuff and so much of it...shapes designs sizes and colors displayed in the Daum museum and well worth the visit...here we were not allowed to take pics and of course all the books for sale in French. Next came the <Galle museum which was jaw dropping not only featuring glass but textiles furniture and porcelain all being Galle designs.
The museum was built early 20thC as a showcase for all the works celebrating the master craftmanship of Galle himself. The dinning room setting includes a wooden ceiling with all the original light fittings textiles and furniture...really fab and must have been a glorious time...providing u had the money!! A small outside building used as a meditation area containing several fish tanks and a staircase to the top to view the surrounding area all set in woodlands. Nil fish and little forest left but then one gets the idea of what it had truly been like. Here i purchased a book...in French...as it was the lastest and good to have.
Off to a local shop crammed with Daum and Galle and other designer French glass ...no prices displayed but then if one is not shy all u have to do is ask forty or so prices...if u had the guts and it all had to be in French.
Here we met a young man in his early twenties who seemed to be a cool fanatic as he spoke to us in English about the various techniques of Galle...reminded me of a friend in SA who looks like a grown cherub...and so keen and polite.
Our first French Dinner was at a local restaurant in a small alley filled with customers buzzing in French and this is where i said...here we eat...they all cant be wrong. Well the meal was delicious and some of the best pate that i had on the entire trip. The dessert was outstanding...arrived on a large dinner plate...with 9 different desserts...very small portions but oh my goodness did each have its own great flavor. One being a white mousse was devastatingly sweet and made your taste buds kick back...but we ate it all washed down with champagne....and then strangely enough a good coffee and why i say that as the French do not make a strong coffee.
The next day we strolled the streets and found one Broccante and what a disappointment as the goods were quite ordinaire and at Euro prices!! just daft. Then came the Markethalle which was a real treat...crammed with stalls selling all sorts of goodies....cakes cakes...yummmy...fish of course in may varieties and fresh vegetables. I was astonished how cheap these were and now know that the <French must eat very well indeed...the sweet goodies were tantalising and could not resist parting with some Euros. The Square of Nancy is absolutely stunning with all the gilded figures and huge gates ....four of them serving as entrances to the square and lots of restaurants to choose from.

Here is a recnt find..it stands 40cm high and a super piece.....
Here are two links to both museums...


Daum......Museum
Galle.....museum


We then set off to visit Dieppe a large port which also has a great museum of carved Ivories and surprisingly a small collection of glass by Maurice Marniot.
Museum Dieppe.......
City pic......

Stayed overnight and had a terrible meal at a local restaurant which was recommended by a local. We really felt not so good the following day but then set off to our next town not knowing what it may be like but hey this was an adventure of sorts. The next town was a delight and i will suggest that if u are going this way and time there is a secret bed and breakfast that i can truly recommend. See my next blog entry for this delightful town and its peoples as well as a visit to Mon St Michel.