
This is cider country. There are gnarled apple trees everywhere - some in orchards, others just in lines in the middle of fields.
Try the 'cidre artisanal'. If you want something stronger, there's 'eau de vie de cidre' - which can only be called Calvados if it comes from that departement.
We spent 2 days with Nicole Sarda, a private, licensed guide seeing the D-Day beaches and Caen. At 300 Euros + tip per day, our group of 4 was able to see a week's worth of sites in 2 days. She knows where to go, the unmarked roads, the places to eat and gives the history of each place. She even recommended a hotel where we stayed which is a 15th Century Manoir and not in any tour book. Great personality. Completely fluent in English and French. Lived 15 years in the States. We will hire her again.
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
Search Been there
Your tips about Caen