Maplefanta's travel blogs:
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Dieppe YH workers
Entry 9 of 51 | show all | print this entry |
I'm now at Dieppe YH and I dont have to pay. I have been hired to do the cleaning, prepare the stuff for the breakfast and replace at the welcome in exchange of the bed.
I left Rouen by the afternoon and arrived in Dieppe in the evening directly at the YH.
Before that I went to the Post in Rouen to send my package and part of my money back home and called home to say so.
At the YH, I met with an Austrian Alex who doesnt know how long he will be around yet but we could talk about home since he have already been to Quebec. He actually tour the whole France following the coast. I went with him to the supermarket and later on we chat the whole evening. For the rest, I'm looking for a plan to get rid of my overweight in my bag. And I will also plan the following weeks on the road, actually its a bit smoochy weather as it is grey and chill.
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August 17
Dieppe Cemetery
Roger Dubuc - Fusillier Mont-Royal
died at 23, August 19 1942
from Quebec
Operation Jubilé
begin at 5h20 ended at 14h with 944 soldiers buried in the cemetery
Canada 707
UK 232
NZ 4
Australia 2
India 1
Other 6
Land and Sea: Involving a total of 6000 soldiers (5000 canadians, 50 americans, 20 french) and 250 ships including 8 destroyers (7 Brit - 1 Polish) who lost 550 sailors (1 destroyer sank and 33 landing boat exploded)
Air: Royal Air Force; Royal Canadian Air Force with American, NZ, Polish, French, Belgian, Norvegian, Czech crew. Lost 106 airplanes causing 167 death
More than 900 canadian soldier died on the landing attempt and 1900 been made prisonneer.
Yes I visited the cemetery and read much about the landing assault. It has been an ideal day on the cultural side but with dull weather: rain sun cold warm!
Alex left in the morning and I went on my task afterwards, cleaned the toilets and the dorm and afterwards went to the cemetery which I visited all.
After that I went to the castle of Arques-la-Bataille: Ruin of an old castle from the XIe century who was property of a nephew of Whilhem the conqueror. I walked a lot to reach it but it was worth. I went back by bus and then back to the YH where I met with someone from my county (Julien - Grondines) that is at the end of his trip. We both went to buy food and talked. We made some plan to go visit some places together tomorrow!!
I'm planning my trip to Normandy and then my way back to Paris after it. The YH manager is really cool, and I chatted with him as well and its wonderful that he proposed to hire me like that. We talk as well about his planned trip he want to do to Quebec by winter.
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August 18
We woke up and we both worked on the cleaning so it was done faster. Afterwards we hitch-hiked on the way to Fecamp and got picked really fast and finally we reached St-Valery-en-Caux. The next car, a german teacher, brought us all the way to Etretat. So finally we have visited the cliffs of Etretat which are really particular by the erosion form.
The wind was blowing horribly strong so on top of the cliff it was harsh. We even helped someone to pick back his postard tray that was flying away but not even a thank you! It was nice but we had to start coming back and we fastly stop in Fecamp for a short visit under the rain and reached Dieppe later since the HH back has been really long!
At least after some long walk someone picked us at sunset to bring us direct to the YH!
We ate some ravioli and met up with new comers: Alain a Franco-Albertans, some dutch women and Maxim from Quebec. We talked again with the german family. And there is also lots of more guest.
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August 19
57th anniversary of the landing
Again we did the cleaning in the morning and went to join Alain and Maxim at the Canada square and walked the beach and finally looked the price of the ferry. Which is much!
We bought some bread for lunch, went to the tourism office, visited the church and a special exhibition about the landing and the war which we visited for free because we where canadians!! :D
We even met a veteran from Rouyn-Noranda who was there and had been made prisonneer in 1942. Alain and Maxim went to get some grocery while with Julien we went to visit the bunkers on top of the cliff.
We went back to the YH and made a huge fiesta meal with spaghetti and lots of thing and there was even too much for the 4 of us. We had some great time eating and chating on the veranda of the YH and later we went back to the cemetery and back to sleep!
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August 20
Everyone left this morning, I left some thing to Julien to bring back home and we should take contact again later on. I did the cleaning again and talked with my parents afterwards.
My camera has been at last fixed and probably buy another lense.
Finally with Jean-Yves the YH manager, I will leave some of my over stuff there at the hostel and can get it back later. That is pretty cool of him. I simply need to be back before the 15 of October to get them.
The day was sunny and warm, my motivation to travel has been back and Im free of some weight. I will head to the D-day beach later on, thats plan!
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August 21
Lazy morning and day, I did my laundry, grocery and the cleaning of the hostel. My bags look at least way more light now. I did buy the lense and also get an europass train ticket that Phil will bring. That is quite some big expense.
The day was sunny and warm, I called home and talked to Martin just before they were leaving to west Canada. In the evening, I chatted with a South Korean who is here to learn English in London. Some more planning and sleep!
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August 22
Slow day, I woke up early and talked with Jean-Paul (coming from Montreal) and the Corean on the breakfast. After that I did the cleaning and got my lense but since it was sunday everything was closed. I came back and did some more cleaning and welcoming at the YH and packed my thing.
I'm suppose to leave on thuesday direction Caen.
My evening has been talking with Italians and some other guest... it turn into a political discussion though!
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August 23
We went to bed late so the waking has been rough. The YH worker has been back so I didnt have to do any cleaning. I ate and left to buy things and went to nap on a bench on Canada Square. I came back to the YH and did some grocery and prepare the things that I'm leaving here (with making a list of them).
Jean-Paul was back since he missed his train and finally we talked some more also with other canadians.
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August 24
A relatively well filled day, which made me quite tired. At first I left Dieppe by afternoon after saying the farewell to everyone and I got picked all the way to Honfleur while crossing the Normandy bridge. Quite Impressive!
I visited Honfleur the whole day and napped on the city park and ate my lunch. Honfleur is a really great town, clean and typical with a great view on the bridge. I called Dominic and talk to Frank Gignac. Another nice thing is that its from Honfleur that Champlain left to found Quebec city as well as my ancestor!
The day was hot and sunny and it was rough since I was carrying my bag and needed to pee often! After that by the evening I left again direction of Caen and I reached an Halt on the highway with someone on his BMW and from there reached Caen with Highway workers! I walked a little and reached the YH with the bus. At first I was alone in the 4 beds room but later an Italian came in and we talked and went to visit the town by night which is a lovely gotic town.
A nice sleep!
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