Dear G-or-gina and Poophie! xoxo
So in between blogs we have hired a car. A Black peugeot! Bought a tent and mattress/sleeping bag. Re learnt how to drive and have been driving through France. It’s very green. Kind of like an episode of postman pat, but pat can only speak French.
(Magical map to be inserted here - later)
World War 1 and The Somme.
We drove through the Somme, camping at Amiens. We were only there for a night and all we had time for was dinner. Flunch, a chain restaurant around France. It seemed like a good idea… NEVER AGAIN! Considering how busy it was I expected it to be at least OK. It was so foul and that is not me being fussy. Lachie agrees.
The Australian War Memorial - Villas Bretenneux
The memorial is held on a hill known as ‘Hill 104’. This hill is where the Australian Imperial Force made a name for themselves. It was secured during the recapture of Villas Bretenneux on the 24th and 25th April 1918.
“On this monument is an inscription telling us and the others who will visit this hill in the years to come, that it perpetuates the memory of the Australian Imperial Force in France and Flanders, and of 11,000 of them who fell in France and have no known grave.” (King George VI – opening speech)
To the left and the right of the memorial you can find lists with names of the 11,000 Australians who died on Australian battlefields across France, who were never found.
Normandy and WW2.
Lachie wanted to lap up Normandy and all its museums and memorials but we settled for 1 museum, 2 beaches and the caramel factory. (That was my idea)
Musee de la battle de Normandie.
I actually didn’t know a lot about D- day and the battle of Normandy. After a short half hour movie in the museum I was well informed and now understood why Lachie wanted to go and visit all these beaches.
Basically, in a mouthful,
The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, believed the only way to beat the Germans was to place the war on the French territory. The allies planned to capture five beaches that were in German hands. On the 6thth June, 1944 (D-day) five lots of troops were dropped at five separate beaches. By nightfall 100,000 men had made it ashore and secured the beaches. By the 30th June the Allies had a firm grip on Normandy.
Lachie and I visited two of the beaches.
Juno – This is the beach where the Americans landed.
Omaha - The Canadians landed here.
We also visited Port en Bessin, a small sea side town in lower Normandy. The hill was assaulted by the British to capture it from the Germans. Pill boxes (bunkers) still remain and a memorial now stands to remember the British soldiers.
View of Port en Bessin
A different view from the top of Port en Bessin.
A castle famous for its Benedictine Abbey, that you can only access at low tide.
We dragged our asses up the thousands of stairs. Sweating and cursing, (mainly me) we made it to the top only to be told they wanted 9 Euros each to see the monastic buildings. They had taken the last of our cash in exchange for parking. With no ATM around we couldn't afford it. The view was nice from the top.
A different view from the top. (haha)
It is a major tourist attraction and they milk it. The lower entrance is lined with souvenir shops. There are even fancy restaurants and hotels to dine and slumber in and they will cost you an arm and a leg.
Our stay wasn't as pleasant as planned but that’s not entirely Bordeaux’s fault. I would blame that fact that it was Sunday and our campsite. If it were any other day of the week I would have had a fantastic day walking the streets shopping. (All my favourite were there) Perhaps grabbed some lunch and ate it under one of the many monuments. Then snoozed in the afternoon sun before dinner. But it was Sunday. Nothing was open and I was bored.
Cute Rabbits making out.
Cute Geese.
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