Days 34-36: Normandy & Brittany & Loire Valley

Bayeux, Omaha Beach, St-Lo

31 mai 2010
We went to Bayeux, Omaha Beach and St-Lo Monday. The tapestry at Bayeux was rather amazing. I couldn’t believe that it had been made so quickly and that it was so detailed. I have had periods in my life where I have been really into cross-stitching and embroidering so it was a treat to see the technique and to see how it has been preserved throughout the centuries.

As for Omaha Beach, the German Bunker and St-Lo, it was a wonderful day to go those places because of the fact that it was Memorial Day. Being at Omaha Beach was a really special experience for me. I kept trying to envision the beach and trees being filled with soldiers, tanks, bombs dropping and boats out on the sea with paratroopers falling from the sky on to the beach. Even with an active imagination, it was hard for me to imagine that kind of a scenery because of the peace and calm that I felt on that beach. It was incredibly peaceful. I had the thought that maybe some of those soldiers thought “Hey I get to go to France” even under horrible circumstances such as war, they may have been excited to go there (because France is so famous), and yet so many—thousands—of those men lost their lives and are now buried in France.

Walking through the cemetery and reading the names of the soldiers was also a special experience. I think that there is something, I’m not sure what but something, that happens when you say someone’s name and recognize their existence as a human being, which is one of the reasons why I love going to cemeteries and reading the names on the tombstones and honoring their lives—whatever kind of lives were lived, they were human and they are my brothers and sisters. I’m really grateful I was able to go there to see the beach and cemetery and honor those who gave their lives to protect the entire free world.

Mont St-Michel, St-Malo
1 juin 2010
The rain definitely made today a different trip than it may have been with sunshine. From a distance I was impressed with the majesty of Mont St. Michel. It reminded me of a mix between the castle from Beauty and the Beast and the Hogwart’s castle from Harry Potter. We were able to have a look closer-up as we walked through the cramped “streets” leading up to the part of the abbey where our tour was going to start. I liked the juxtaposition between the Romanesque and Gothic architecture that was so visible in the different parts of the abbey. I absolutely loved the view from the abbey down onto Brittany. Even in the fog it was a beautiful sight.

St-Malo would have to be my favorite visit so far on this whole trip to France. It was so peaceful and beautiful. I’m sure it would have been a different kind of beautiful with the sun out, but it had a special kind of a feel when it was overcast. It was neat to walk on the wall around the perimeter of the city and look out over the beach.

In addition to these set destinations that we went to yesterday, I love looking out the window at the scenery. It is so green and lush here. The houses are picturesque and set off from the road with a wide variety of colors for the doors and shutters and gates—details which I absolutely love about being here in France.

The dinner was a treat. I loved the feel of the restaurant and the colors—deep red and white and silver. So beautiful! And the food was fantastic!

Angers, Langeais, Tours
2 juin 2010
The Angers Château was really a fortress, which you can tell on the outside but once inside you may doubt that a little bit because of the gardens and the peaceful environment that reigns there. We walked around the wall and were able to look out onto the city of Angers. While the view was stunning and the fortress itself was pretty neat, it was the flowers and plants that caught my attention. I definitely want to learn how to garden and not kill plants when I get back to Provo and/or have a yard.

I absolutely loved the tapestries at Angers ! Now I really want to read the Book of Revelations because the tapestries are called the Apocalyptic Tapestries and were commissioned to be made in 1375 by Louis I, Duke of Anjou and brother of King Charles V and was probably completed in 1382. While the tapestries can be considered in one sense a depiction of the events in Revelation, they are also a version of a certain kind of interpretation of the Book of Revelation which I thought was really interesting. That’s a lot of the reason why I want to reread the Book of Revelation…

After Angers we drove to Langeais. The castle was cool—the first castle that we’ve seen in the Loire Valley. I loved the beds! I thought they were so neat! I kind of want a bed like that…Also the chests were really neat. Very intricate and detailed. Some of them reminded me of Mom’s cedar chest where all the old blankets are.

Then for dinner here in Tours we ate at this fantastic restaurant. Very classy and very delicious.