European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 19, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                No r m a n d or a ii a i Ltd so a y.,. A it a a a 1 ask a so or it a so. Al Psi a it Quot Quot a Quot i Taw.  a quota Quot or a a we get a. A a. _ a a a a a. Quot Quot. A $ to a \ few a. Sis-1.  Quot a Elt i a to go a r \ a v f it is amp Jyz a i a a s w s a a 1 j a1a a a a it of 1 v a it w a a Vav a a v a Vamp Braj pwn i a of a a a i a. S r 5 Quot ii it a a a i j. As a pm to is a v or in it its 1 a a a  Fri $ it a a cd so a sgt a a a i 1, it a a it a it am a a Quot a a a a of Ssiss a c a saw it it try a a a Quot it not ,%111 it i t. A my v. A a Spring is Cool and unpredictable. Keep an umbrella and jacket Bandy Volien net fhe Cosfa areas. _. Is i a Quot a Ltd she a a Quot i Quot a �1 fawns jf1 Quot a a a a a a of h a a -. A a a a a a a Quot a a a a 1 a a a a   a Quot / Quot a v a a a a a. 1 a 1 Quot. A quot1 a a a 1. A a a of a a a. A a a Slowik a r a amps Ken George by the stars and stripes if one word characterizes Normandy s weather it s  coastal Normandy on the warmest Days is Seldom hot. Inland it s warmer but Don t worry about encountering a  heat wave among the hedgerows. Weather is changeable but hardly Nasty except in the Sto Miest Days of Winter. The Best time to visit is summer specifically from july to september when temperatures Range into the 70s and 80s and slightly higher Inland. Unfortunately summer is when everyone else is also visiting particularly August when it seems half of France stages its annual invasion of the Norman coast. /. A summer the Norman coastal climate is Best for camping in july and August when the campgrounds Are lined with trailers and tests. For the adventurous the campgrounds offer the Best accommodation bargain in . Coastal Waters even in summer Are Cool. The Beach areas along the invasion coast Are often lined with visitors but Only a minority put a foot in the water. The coastline around Mont Saint Michel Bay offers warmer land temperatures for most of the summer.  a a a a fall a a. There Are two delightful times in autumn for visiting. The first is late september when the summer crowds a have left and the disagreeable wet weather of october has not yet begun. Temperatures remain in the 60s throughout the Day and there s plenty of Sunshine. But beware october in Normandy without an umbrella a the 10th month is also the wettest. With the full change of season in november there Are often stretches of Good weather lasting several Days at a time. Check the Long Range forecast and try to visit during one of those weeks. Temperatures remain mild because of the moderating warm Ocean winds. A Winter the cold season is not altogether disagreeable in Normandy. Many of the a Day museums Are dosed or on a limited schedule but the Landing areas May still be today a and tomorrows weather a a it a Al it Cool and changeable Quot a a a a.  a a a a a a. A a a visited. The weather is Seldom harsh and Only on blustery Days does the wind off the English Channel lower the temperatures noticeably. Winter in Normandy is occasionally Stormy and squalls build up on the Channel creating a menace to navigation and at the same time massive Clouds Over . Winter remains a Good time for dining. Restaurants of the larger coastal resorts Are open year round and turn up the heat a notch for visitors. The largest number of visitors in Winter tour on weekends particularly sundays a sunny sundays at that. A a. A a. Spring. A. A a a this is the secret season for visitors a special time when you can enjoy the most Beautiful of weather one Day and endure a storm the next. The great tides of Normandy a ranging up to 50 feet in Mont Saint Michel Bay a Are most powerful in Spring around the time of the Vernal Equinox. If you Don t like the weather Don t worry it will change soon. April and May Are often Balmy for a few Days then Stormy. But the fragrance of Apple blossoms by mid april is As certain As High tide along the coast. Spring is uncrowded in Normandy. Except for the few a Days around easter w Hen you May encounter traffic jams getting out of Paris heading for the coast and also around Caen you should be Able to enjoy an uncrowded and unhurried tour through . It. S _. -7 to / # a v j it 1 i a r j1 s a a. A amps Ken George it s Wise to keep a jacket Handy even on warm Days. 12 stripes Magazine May 19, 1994