Caen: constantly being bothered by the English

Caen the capital of Lower Normandy is the home of William the Conqueror, so for that reason alone it’s worth a visit just to pay your respects to the people who enslaved your ancestors surely?

But don’t be too harsh on the merry folk of the River Orne, for it was not they who stole ye land and ruined ye livestock; they too had to put up with the insufferable megalomaniac all those years ago ye know.

And did you know that in 1346 the English, under King Edward III, stormed the town of Caen on their way to the Battle of Crecy, killing 3,000 innocent citizens, which in the 14^th century was a lot of citizens considering that the entire population of England was less than 3 million.

So when you go to Caen do not glare with bitter sorrow at the townsfolk, instead marvel at the fine Norman architecture, gaze in wonder at the treasures in the Normandy Fine Arts Museum, sup delicately the fine cheeses and ciders for which these gentle folk are so famed, and languish salubriously on the fine sandy beaches at Cabourg and Merville Franceville, whilst raising a toast of finest local Calvados to the Spanish Ship Salvador, sunk just off the coast on its way to invade England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, thus giving its name to this wonderful region.

Yes they have ransacked merry England all those years ago, but let bygones be bygones. Anyway the way those Norman Knights put it about there’s a very good chance that you’re related, so relax, mon ami, relax.

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