The plan was simple: drive 1,200 km from Barth, have a coffee by the sea in Étretat, and head back home. That was it.
Then we saw the cliffs.
That cold February light hitting the white chalk arches, the sound of the pebbles under our feet, the way the sea looked like brushed steel. Living in Barth at the Ostsee, we know the Baltic. But the Channel in winter is a different kind of wild. We cancelled our return.
We found a room at Hôtel Dormy House, with that old-world charm and vintage photos from the 1930s in the lobby. We watched the sunset from the window, and let Normandy slow us down.
We walked the Jardins d’Étretat suspended between sky and sea. We ate like kings: scallop carpaccio, foie gras, and a dessert set on fire right at the table. February wind is no joke, but the hot chocolate after made up for it.
Sometimes the best trips are the ones you don’t plan. Two northern seas, 1,200 km apart, and both can steal your heart. We came for a coffee. We left with a memory we’ll keep for years.
Tip: February is quiet, moody, and magic. Bring a warm jacket and let the cliffs do the talking.
#Normandy #Étretat #HotelDormyHouse #RoadTrip #France #TravelCouple #OffSeasonTravel #Ostsee #
EnglishChannel