By Lisa T. Bergren

After a week in London, we spent a week in Paris, just us girls (me and my daughters, ages 13 and 10). We took a train from London to Dover in order to cross the Channel via ferry. I was researching an 1880s novel series, so I wanted to experience what it was like to see the famous white cliffs fading in the distance and the rolling, grass-covered dunes of Calais greeting us, even if we were on a modern day, high speed ferry. It took more time then the Chunnel, for certain, but we met a lovely couple above decks who always chose to enter France via ferry, citing the relaxed, romantic nature of it. We agreed. (And after watching refugees flee the Chunnel this last year after being stuck inside for many hours, with a shudder, we agreed again. Give us a brisk wind off of silver-green waters any day!)

Arriving via Ferry Into Calais, France

We watched, with enthusiasm, as the Continent came more fully into view. I’d been warned there wasn’t much to see in Calais, but it was nice to spend a night in this sleepy village. We hailed a taxi (note: there isn’t a long line of taxis waiting to pick up tourists; this seems to be a local’s stop, or best for those who frequently travel through and have their own mode of transportation. Go with a taxi # on your cell. We didn’t even get a passport stamp coming through—the agent could barely get motivated enough to wave us through!)

A Charming B&B in Calais

The driver took the address of our B&B from my hands and found Le Cercle de Malines after a bit. Neither he, nor the B&B’s maid, spoke much English. (We were lame and knew very little French…I always berate myself for not learning more of a language once I’m in a country and realize how little I know! Someday, I’ll learn…But you CAN get a long way with knowing the basics and smiling a lot.)

We were shown up steep stairs to a family suite, decorated in a French-Oriental style, complete with a stuffed alligator (which freaked out the girls a bit)! The rooms were adjoining and had twelve foot ceilings, and a lush bath in between. Our B&B hostess arrived, Anne Sophie, and in halting English, we learned she was the mom of two and that she and her husband had refurbished the house, originally built in 1883, themselves. She helped me purchase train tickets to Paris, then sent us off in the direction of a lovely little bistro for dinner.

We walked to a magnificent public building for a closer look, through a park, then down the busy main street to the bistro for our dinner. After a bit of shopping, we returned to the B&B, and settled into our comfy beds, wanting a good rest before our first day in Paris!

We awakened and Anne Sophie treated us with a lovely breakfast and hot coffee (tea for the girls). It was pouring rain, but we could see her garden would be a wonderful retreat in summer. She was gracious enough to take us personally to the train station, truly going above and beyond for her guests. We highly recommend staying with her if you end up in Calais!

Click HERE to read about our adventures in London.

Click HERE to read about our adventures in Paris.

Have you been to Calais? Did you enjoy it? Comment below!