Oil on canvas – 5 x 7 inch – Unique work

Once upon a time, there were three girls going on a road trip along the Normandy coast, heading for Veules-les-Roses.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s a first. I don’t know quite what to expect yet. As always, I haven’t looked anything up online; I love surprises above all. I’m all the more willing to let myself be guided since I’m not the one driving.

When we arrive at our destination, we park in a clifftop lot overlooking the English Channel. The moment I catch sight of the sea, I feel like a child on Christmas morning. We walk along the coast and take the opportunity to discover the spot where Victor Hugo used to watch the sea and write his finest poems.

A little further on, I learn that this charming, flower-filled village is crossed by France’s shortest river, the Veules. I should also mention that the village holds the “Most Beautiful Villages of France” label. I can confirm: it is certainly well worth the detour.

We continue our walk, following the city’s recommended tour route in reverse—and we love doing things differently! Whether it’s the air of the sea, the physical activity, or a bit of both, we feel like having a snack. We pick up some treats at that wonderful bakery on the main street. That pistachio madeleine filled with chocolate praline… our taste buds still remember it!

Wait, what is this place? Les Mondes de Zulma? Let’s take a look. It’s a bookshop—a genuine treasure trove. Everything there is carefully selected and arranged.

Suddenly, we come upon a few half-timbered, thatched-roof cottages, bordered by a river and a small white fence. A little slice of paradise that I capture in several photos. Undoubtedly, these will make for future paintings—this one, for instance!

Let’s give Les P’tis Galets a try. It’s a seaside restaurant with a menu that promises a real treat. A promise kept—no doubt.

The afternoon’s agenda includes a few more streets to wander, some typical houses with stone and flint bases—and, as always, the flowers that adorn them and spill onto the sidewalks. There are also mills and a watercress farm.

No way, that cinema—it’s just adorable! This village makes me want to stay and live out the rest of my days here. We leave with stars in our eyes…