Bayonne and Biarritz, France
17-18 October 2019
It is a pleasant, slightly misty, train ride through southwestern France. We arrive in Bayonne, a smallish city situated where the rivers Nive from the south and the wider Adour from the Atlantic meet. Just above the train station are the remains of the historic citadel, our hotel is just across the street. We have entered Basque country and look forward to local cuisine.
Read more…Exploring Right and Left – Bordeaux Wine Trails
14-15 October 2019
About twenty miles north on the “Left Bank” of the Dordogne and Gironde Rivers, I learn my first lesson in French wines. It is pretty much “crickets” around here in mid-October. My first destination should not be a chateau but a tourism office.
Read more…Bordeaux, A City With a Well-Earned Reputation
12-16 October 2019
One mentions Bordeaux and one immediately thinks “wine.” There is so much more!
There were several statistics which prove we are in the right city. There are almost 300,000 acres of grape vines planted in the 65 appellations of Bordeaux. Over 8500 winegrowers and 300 trading houses produce and sell almost one billion bottles of wine each year. Ninety percent of this wine is red while just 10% is white. Bordeaux is definitely my kind of place!
Read more…Le Mont-Saint-Michel
11 October 2019
I visited this historic site in the spring of 1980. At that time, the climb to the top and visit of the cathedral was pleasant and uncrowded. Times have changed but, because I am in the neighborhood, I have returned to climb again, wander its streets, and spend some quiet time enjoying the views from its magnificent abbey.
Read more…Saint-Malo, France
11 October 2019
I may have left my tears in Normandy, but I definitely left my heart in Saint-Malo.
I drove past it’s huge port with fishing boats, yachts and catamarans, but once over their hydronic lift bridge, Saint-Malo begins to shine. Saint-Malo is an historic French port in Brittany on the Channel coast. On a clear day, I can see the south coast of the Normandy peninsula. And there are plenty of opportunities to gaze out over their turquoise and blue waters doing just that. The Malouins are lucky people. Read more…
Bayeux, France
8 October 2019
What Caen lacked in charm is more than made up for by the city of Bayeux. Unlucky Caen suffered heavy bombardment, destroying over 70% of its buildings; Bayeux was one of the few Normandy towns completely spared from destruction. It remains a beautiful historic city with cobblestone streets to wander and charming architecture to appreciate.
Normandy
5-10 October 2019
In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons. – Herodotus
Listening to Beethoven’s Fifth Sympathy as background music for opening scenes of The Longest Day is an appropriate introduction to what will be a week of museums and sites which tell the story of the longest day in the memories of thousands of men who survived the invasion of Normandy. June 6th, 1944 – the day when Evil witnessed the biggest Armada the world has ever known.
Every human being should recognize the significance of June 6, 1944. D-Day = “The Day.” June 5 was D-1, June 7 was D+1. June 6, 1944 was D-Day, a day that changed the course of history.
Read more…Cambria Weather
CambriaOctober 20, 2019, 10:53 am
60°Freal feel: 59°Fhumidity: 81%wind speed: 9 mph Nsunrise: 7:15 amsunset: 6:24 pmPat’s Place
