St. Vaast La Hogue

We continued driving north on the east side of the Cotentin Peninsula, stopping at St. Vaaste La Hogue. For a lunch-time view, we drove out to one of the two Vauban towers that guard the harbor. Vauban was Louis XIV's military advisor and architect. The French had suffered a bruising naval defeat in the vicinity and wanted the harbor better defended. After lunch, we drove into the town center to buy oysters. St. Vaast oysters are among the most highly prized in France.

One of the two towers; note German gun emplacement nearby

The other Vauban tower a few miles away

For the French, every meal, even on the road, seems to be a repast; we're a little
less ambitious...

Where to buy your St. Vaast oysters

I bought a dozen #2s; it's hard not to over-indulge when you're buying huge, high-
quality  oysters for $7 a dozen; plus, I'm getting pretty good with the oyster knife;
this was night #2, a prelude to the poached salmon