Cherbourg, Normandy: Gare Maritime

The deep water port of Cherbourg was for many decades one of the principal passenger ports, hosting ships of Cunard and other lines on their way from Southampton to new York.

In the 1960s it was possible to buy cheap tickets between Cherbourg and Cherbourg, essentially to fill the berths which would otherwise remain empty when crossing the Channel. I think the cost was 5 guineas a head
for a return ticket. Sailing out on one Queen and returning a few days later with the other - here I mean the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary - was an unforgettable experience. It also brought my first visits to the D-Day landing sights.


This is a back-blip.