the latest: D day, paris , and more
This is the arc of the last leg: Bruges to Paris, to Rouen, Caen, Hon Fleurs, Bayeux, Omaha beach, Point Du Hoc, Mont St. Michel, and Back to Paris.
Paris is a gigantic site. It includes the arc de triomph, lourve, Notre Dame [a bunch of these] many impressionist museums, and much much more. It in itself is a huge project. I don't know if it would be ever possible to see it all, the lourve alone has 30,000 items in it. What a place. Its a zoo, esepecially when the French team reaches the semi finals and finals respectively in the world cup. Then its a huge celebration, with honking, rioting, yelling, and general celebration. Thats before they get really sauced, at which point it becomes a scene of complete maddness. I have videos of them rocking the cars and chanting something that I can't seem to figure out completely.
Rouen is the city famousfor the cathedral impressions made by monet. At night, they light up the whole thing using a giant projector and due Lichenstein and monet interpretations right on the surface of the cathedral to eerie music. I liked this a lot. It has timbered houses, 4 cathedrals, and a medeival feel.
A couple of notes: I haven't had a good opportunity to make phone calls, check the internet, or wash my clothes. Its been the sink and a little detergent I brought for that. Crude, but it works.
Honfleurs: a port city, reminds me of friday harbor. Not much to say about it, but pretty.
Caen: didn't see much except for the ww2 museum again, awesome, but details are best left if you actually visit it.
Bayeux: Home of the tapestry. I loved the tapestry, telling the story of william the conquerer [formerly william the bastard] as he took england after prince harold broke his promise. Made in 1077, its pretty awesome. I also met some people from norway and south dakota. The noreweigan dude was the first guy i have me that supports bush and his policies. I don't really care about that stuff too much but I thought that was fascinating. The town was unhurt by the war and really has a special feel. But not compared to....
Mont st michel. Wow, the COOLEST place I have been to so far. Reminds me of a place disney would build or something. Its an abbey suspended completely on an island. We stayed in the small town of Pontorson, about 5 miles from there [rented a car for this leg a fiat no less]. I loved this church, there was a harpsichord player inside, strange music, and an awesome view at the top, for which my camera went dead right then. I can't say enough about it, although there isn't much history, it is a must see in my opinion. Then we had dinner with some chick who was recently divorced. I couldn't tell if she was hitting on me or my dad, but she definately was interested in somebody!
We also ran into one of dad's tour guides from 2001 on the island. That was a coincidence.
Normandy beaches: visit these. A modern day pilgramage, I think its something that we should see. You see the crosses all lined up there in a row, and they go on forever. I looked for some that perished on june 6, and found some from washington and oregon. I'd comment more, but I think its a check it out yourself kind of deal.
About the french:
-More formal than germans, and in my opinion, not as friendly in general, although that my just be the parisians.
-Smoke a lot, but maybe less than germans, its hard to say
-Has a million churches, all of the same basic form.
-Dirty air
-All french cars. nothing special, they are just french cars!
-Eat a wide variety of foods
-Have extremely cramped stairways, and no ice or a/c. You get used to it though. Mcdonalds is everywhere
-Seemingly don't use the interne as much. The phones and terminals are less common than in germany. Less modern if you will. Subway is great but less clean than munich.
Commentary to come on: D day beaches, Lourve, notre dame, and other musems. I am in full out musem mode. Suffice to say, seeing a da vinci that close is amazing. Same with the michelangelo slaves. I was pumped about the lourve, hope that the impressionists will be as good, but I doubt it. We also saw some firethrowers and skaters jumping off huge ramps. NEXT- to carcassone, the medival city, in southern france. Go eurail pass!
Au revoir, to the next step
Paris is a gigantic site. It includes the arc de triomph, lourve, Notre Dame [a bunch of these] many impressionist museums, and much much more. It in itself is a huge project. I don't know if it would be ever possible to see it all, the lourve alone has 30,000 items in it. What a place. Its a zoo, esepecially when the French team reaches the semi finals and finals respectively in the world cup. Then its a huge celebration, with honking, rioting, yelling, and general celebration. Thats before they get really sauced, at which point it becomes a scene of complete maddness. I have videos of them rocking the cars and chanting something that I can't seem to figure out completely.
Rouen is the city famousfor the cathedral impressions made by monet. At night, they light up the whole thing using a giant projector and due Lichenstein and monet interpretations right on the surface of the cathedral to eerie music. I liked this a lot. It has timbered houses, 4 cathedrals, and a medeival feel.
A couple of notes: I haven't had a good opportunity to make phone calls, check the internet, or wash my clothes. Its been the sink and a little detergent I brought for that. Crude, but it works.
Honfleurs: a port city, reminds me of friday harbor. Not much to say about it, but pretty.
Caen: didn't see much except for the ww2 museum again, awesome, but details are best left if you actually visit it.
Bayeux: Home of the tapestry. I loved the tapestry, telling the story of william the conquerer [formerly william the bastard] as he took england after prince harold broke his promise. Made in 1077, its pretty awesome. I also met some people from norway and south dakota. The noreweigan dude was the first guy i have me that supports bush and his policies. I don't really care about that stuff too much but I thought that was fascinating. The town was unhurt by the war and really has a special feel. But not compared to....
Mont st michel. Wow, the COOLEST place I have been to so far. Reminds me of a place disney would build or something. Its an abbey suspended completely on an island. We stayed in the small town of Pontorson, about 5 miles from there [rented a car for this leg a fiat no less]. I loved this church, there was a harpsichord player inside, strange music, and an awesome view at the top, for which my camera went dead right then. I can't say enough about it, although there isn't much history, it is a must see in my opinion. Then we had dinner with some chick who was recently divorced. I couldn't tell if she was hitting on me or my dad, but she definately was interested in somebody!
We also ran into one of dad's tour guides from 2001 on the island. That was a coincidence.
Normandy beaches: visit these. A modern day pilgramage, I think its something that we should see. You see the crosses all lined up there in a row, and they go on forever. I looked for some that perished on june 6, and found some from washington and oregon. I'd comment more, but I think its a check it out yourself kind of deal.
About the french:
-More formal than germans, and in my opinion, not as friendly in general, although that my just be the parisians.
-Smoke a lot, but maybe less than germans, its hard to say
-Has a million churches, all of the same basic form.
-Dirty air
-All french cars. nothing special, they are just french cars!
-Eat a wide variety of foods
-Have extremely cramped stairways, and no ice or a/c. You get used to it though. Mcdonalds is everywhere
-Seemingly don't use the interne as much. The phones and terminals are less common than in germany. Less modern if you will. Subway is great but less clean than munich.
Commentary to come on: D day beaches, Lourve, notre dame, and other musems. I am in full out musem mode. Suffice to say, seeing a da vinci that close is amazing. Same with the michelangelo slaves. I was pumped about the lourve, hope that the impressionists will be as good, but I doubt it. We also saw some firethrowers and skaters jumping off huge ramps. NEXT- to carcassone, the medival city, in southern france. Go eurail pass!
Au revoir, to the next step
posted by Gary Fox @ 4:34 AM
2 Comments:
At Thu Jul 06, 10:45:00 AM PDT,
Anonymous said…
You made me laugh about the 'chick' hitting on one or both of you. Hilarious!
Keep it comin'. We're enjoying the commentary here. We assume you're back to full health?
At Thu Jul 06, 10:46:00 AM PDT,
Anonymous said…
Oops, I forgot to say that the above message was written by Aunt Angie.
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