Sprawling country residence of kings, hunting grounds. Once again, started in the Middle Ages, added to by each successive inhabitant, Napoleon being one of the last. Just a simple little chapel … Hallway… Ballroom…. The Emperor himself. Room in which Napoleon abdicated, just before being sent into exile. Quaint little traveling “necessity box”, everything a […]
Just driving around the French countryside, saw these signs, all these cars, had to investigate. Came across the Cadre de Noir, a center devoted to all things equestrian. They have Lippizaner (Spanish school) horses, dressage, jumping. Today is a voltige competition. Kids vaulting around on horses at a gallop. It’s a bit more than the
Chateau Saumur started as Roman towers in the Middle Ages, then a chateau, then a palace, then a castle, then a prison. Then the municipality of Saumur bought it to keep it going as a museum. All of the old buildings have gone through several re-incarnations throughout history. As civilizations, rulers, inhabitants come and go,
The Loire Valley – Castles, Chateaux, and Vineyards Read More »
It started as a church in the Middle Ages, a little town grew up around it. In the northwest part of France, one can walk across the sand from the mainland when the tide is low. Easter Sunday carrying the cross up the step hill to the abbey. Though the don’t drag a big cross
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The sea swirls all around it when the tide is in. Then the American cemetery …… Omaha Beach, where all the action happened in 1944 is nothing but beach. All the beaches are like that, nothing is built up at all. The cemetery is up on a hill by the beach, but you can’t tell
American Memorial Omaha Beach Read More »
Just driving through the countryside, saw a Canadian flag flying, out in the middle of nowhere. Found this beautiful, poignant cemetery. Letters written to soldiers by French schoolchildren.
Where the Canadians landed in the dunes on D-Day 6 June 1944. People love Canadians here. An old man bought my coffee in a cafe when he saw my flag on my bag. Not much on these beaches now. Just sand and dunes. And land-sailers.