Part 10: The 9€ to Normandy

(11.08.2022-17.08.2022)

The next few days I have a big trip ahead of me - I have to be in Cherbourg in Normandy by August 17th. To make things a little more exciting (and economical) the idea is not to spend money on transport. That means, with the 9€ ticket by train to the German-French border and from there by hitch and hike across France. The regional trains in Germany are actually proving to be a little more reliable than their ICE counterparts. They are considerably slower though, which is why I still spend the first night within German borders . The search for the cheapest accommodation brings me to beautiful Boppard. I really have to double-check here to make sure I didn't end up in the Wachau by accident, but it looks like this is the German copy of it.

Anyway, I can't stay for long. the next day I go straight on to Saarbrücken. I take the bus back to the border and get an empty piece of cardbord at the petrol station. The first stop is supposed to be Metz. I start on the side of the road, stick out my thumb and see if a fish bitThe first free taxi is found after about 15 minutes. A young French couple takes me to the motorway. A short trip of only ~ 5 minutes - but progress! I continue in the same manner - once 20 kilometres further on the motorway here, once 5 there, once 30 kilometres away from the motorway into the middle of nowhere on a road that supposedly leads to Metz - I get out here and try to hear vehicle noises in the distance. Nothing. A few deer, a few rabbits, but nothing that could take me further from here. Dusk is falling. I'm getting ready to look for the village inn here in Bouzonville - if there is one - but after a good 10 minutes of silence I do hear something in the distance that sounds like the sound of engines. And indeed - three cars in all. It's worth a try to get a lift! Et voilá - the last one actually stops - Elisabeth can give me a lift. Not only that - as it is getting late, she invites me to spend the night at her and her husband's house in one of the guest rooms. Somewhat overwhelmed by the generosity, I gratefully accept. After dinner, night and breakfast with various conversations about everything and anything, Lizzy and Francis take me on to the next motorway exit. An insanely great encounter, thank you again for everything, Lizzy and Francis!

So on we go, next stop - Paris. The few public transports I have to take to get into (and out of) the city centre are more than compensated for by the 50€ travel budget Francis gave me out of the blue. I walk around the city a bit, but as I have already mentioned several times, cities bore me more and more - yes even Paris!

So after a night's sleep, I go straight on to Caen. Here it gets more interesting again - it is the Normandy, I am approaching the site of the "Debarqument" in World War II. Here you can experience contemporary history! Although very interesting, I prefer to keep a safe distance from most of the museums due to monetary concerns. Special thanks for the ride and the coffee here to Mohammed, and love to the family!

The next day, I finally travel to Cherbourg via St. Mere Eglise - one day ahead of schedule. This time I use to visit the Musée de la Libération in the pouring rain.

Take aways from this week:

- Yes, hitchhiking in France works VERY well!

- People who take stoppers range from young as well as old to female as well as male to single as well as couples across the board.

- Locals don't always know the best and shortest way - let alone the best place to stop.

- The less busy the road, the more people are willing to take you for a ride.

I spend the last night on French soil in Cherbourg - and the following night on international waters - on the ferry to the land of Guinness and leprechauns.