How we made France come to us when we couldn’t go to France

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Due to the corons virus many of us had to cancel trips and work gigs. Myself included. My plans were wiped, just like yours. So here’s the new and unique challenge: How do you enjoy a vacation you cannot take?

This week I was supposed to be RV camping in Normandy with my Dad. It was one of those trips we spent a lot of time preparing for. Tons of books, maps, guides, pictures and hours and hours went into it. But we couldn’t go because we are in corona lockdown and can’t leave the country.

In an effort to stay positive and make the best of it, we decided to have our RV vacation anyway, in our own yard if need be. So we brought France home to us.

Camping in the yard

Turns out there is more to RV camping than just waking up on a beach far away from home. Granted, that is the biggest pull. But still, camping in the yard we get the slight chill at night from early Spring air. The chirping birds woke us up and from the pop top roof the view over the field was nice, with fog lifting and deer grazing next to us.

French Food & wine

I made a French inspired meal plan for the week. There is lots of baguette and cheese involved, ratatouille and cauliflower gratín. And for desert I bought eclairs and macarons. This morning I made croissant in the oven for breakfast, with home made jams. We ate in the RV to get the camping feeling.

French movies and Radio

Of course we had French wine in the evening. Just instead of having it on a bench near Mont Saint Michel we had it while watching a movie. Should have been Saving Private Ryan, but turns out that is not available on Netflix here. Luckily there are other French movies 🙂 Thanks to internet radio I can listen to French radio stations whereever I am. Turns out traffic is very light this Easter holiday, not many people on the road.

Sights & nature

The climate in Northern France is not that different from here, so we get a lot of similar vegetation and wild life. This week we focused on song birds. Sure, we not bird watchers but we enjoy them nonetheless. Even built a nesting box, but that is a story for another day. The binoculars and nature reference books are close by at all times, so if we see a bird we like, we can try to identify it. Perfect time to start a new outdoorsy hobby I find.

What are you doing these days instead of traveling? Comment below!