My impressions of Impressionism

Today, we left Rouen and made a half a days stop in Giverny which I'm sure most of you know as Monet's home and great inspiration for the last years of his life. As it turned out, many other impressionists have loved this town as well. It even has the Musée des impressionists which houses paintings and prints from a wide variety of artists including some traditional Japanese landscapes and some work is by Monet, himself. Before the museum though, we visited Monet's two gardens from which he drew much of his inspiration. They were pretty, but not particularly inspiring to me. Mom and Emma saw Monet's house which was not wheelchair accessible. Apparently though, it was quite interesting. All in all, our trip to Giverny was very informative and we saw some cool art. I will do my last post on this blog from home tomorrow. 

The Road to Rouen

We are in Rouen. We got here yesterday and we're staying at a budget hotel but it is right in the centre the city. Yesterday was spent in driving and exploration. We were going to stop in a little town but we all thought it would be too much of a hassle to get everything in and back out again so we just drove straight. When we got here, we basically just looked around the city and went to mass because nobody wanted to get up early today. Later, we had dinner out and it started to rain. Luckily we sat at a table with an umbrella and managed to get back without getting soaked. On to today, we started our adventure with the Musée des Beaux Arts, where our primary focus was an impressionist exhibit with several Monets displayed. We had audio guides for the museum which were very helpful. Next, we went to the tourist information office to get audio guides for a self directed  walking tour of old Rouen. We saw the cathedral and two other churches. There seems to be churches everywhere here. Ever since I got here, I have wondered where the other denominational churches are because all I've seen are Roman Catholic?  After the walking tour, we went back to the hotel and sat around for a bit. Now we just came back from a pizza dinner out. I can't believe we'll be home in 2 days! I'll see most of you as soon as I can. Peace everyone! 

History and culinary ventures

I know it's been a few days since I wrote but I've been too tired. But that means now I have more to talk about! Two days ago, we visited Pointe du Hoc, which was a strategic point for the Germans until an American company took it on D-Day. The ground was full of craters from artillery shells. We also saw pits where guns must have been kept, afterward we went to Omaha beach. At the museum we saw a film and tableaus from the war. Following this, we went to a chocolatier and museum. I didn't go in, but mom and Emma came out with a variety of assorted specialty chocolates for dessert. Yesterday morning, we toured a working caramel factory and came out with two gift boxes of assorted caramels, two bags of assorted soft caramels, original caramels, carmel cookies, caramel filled chocolates, and caramel spreads which we will use ourselves. Next we went to try and find the Chateau de Balleroy, which also had a museum of hot air ballooning, all owned by Malcolm Forbes.  

Today featured the little town of Arromanches which unassuming as it may be played a crucial role in the Allied victory.  The Allies knew they needed a harbor to get around the Germans but all the ports had been fortified.  With ingenuity and creativity, they built two temporary harbors which they code named Mulberry A and B.  While Mulberry A was destroyed early in its existence, Mulberry B also called Port Winston, managed to serve its purpose and the remnants of it remain as a memorial.

After this experience, we went for lunch.  You may think I am going to bore you with food, but just wait.  Yes the meal was very good, but the highlight of it was nothing you could taste or feel.  I had noticed for some time, that the elderly man at the next table, sitting alone, was watching me.  I wasn't sure what this was at first but he called to the waiter and said he would like to pay for two desserts for Emma and I. Of course we accepted, this was true, unimpeded altruism.  He only spoke French, but was open to talking.  He told us how he was 84 years old and how he had spent two years in a hospital and had had operations on his feet, legs, and knees! He told us how his wife had passed in that time and that he still felt her loss.  He told us how he had lived here for twenty years after commuting to Paris from St Germaine.  He also remarked on how I must always love life and some other heart felt sentiment besides. Finally he told me I was very nice and wished all of us good-luck.

After lunch we visited Juno Beach and the fairly new museum there.  It was the best museum we had seen.  It had various little films and tidbits about Canada through the war and through-out its history. 

Tomorrow will be the end of our stay in Port en Bessin.  On Saturday we will be traveling to Rouen and staying near the historic center.

Our own Norman conquest

We are at Pierre et Vacances again. It's much cooler (temperature) here than Avignon or Loches. We have been busy ever since we got here. Yesterday, we heard mass and then attended a big, colorful, joyous festival all through the town. All the hoopla was for the blessing of the sea, since this is a port. Because this is a fishing village, imagine for a minute, a little, tiny town going all out. Boats, banners, blocked roads. Tissue paper flowers absolutely everywhere! Unfortunately, by the time we left, all the paper was the worst for wear. In spite of that, you could tell this was the big event in the life of this tiny village, whose citizens' lives had depended on the ocean through countless generations. After the festival, it was time for something Emma wanted. Namely, a corn maze in Bayeux. A short drive from where we're staying. The maze took about 3 hours to get through but, it was fun. The theme was pirates. We were given a map which Emma took charge of and we had to go through 4 stations and answer questions as well as write additional quizzes. Everything was in French so the family depended on yours truly for translation purposes. Another interactive part of the maze was that at unmarked points, there were stamps that you scratched to get the letters of a pirate captain. If you unscrambled the letters and completed all the activities, you could unlock a treasure chest to enjoy a prize of caramels and marshmallow treats. Now for today, (I'm sorry if this is long. I haven't posted since we got here) we walked through Bayeux's public garden, the cathedral, and the Bayeux tapestry museum. The famous tapestry which depicts the Norman conquest of England. We are tired from these excursions and are just winding down. I wonder what adventures lay ahead tomorrow. I'll keep you all up to date... I promise. ~Kate 

Simple Solution

Wednesday night, we had a huge storm. Torrential rain, which left us with no electricity in the morning. We tried to turn it on as the owner had instructed, but it still didn't work. Dad tried to get the neighbor to help but he couldn't see the problem either (the neighbor only spoke French, so dad had to really work hard to communicate-there was lots of sign language happening). He called electricians but they were having lunch and wouldn't get here for awhile. Mom called the owner in New York, and he called an electrician and his local representative. Finally at about three thirty, his rep came and by flicking a switch that the owner had told us not to touch, she turned the power back on. I can't believe that it was such a simple solution and yet it took that long. we didn't do much after that except for a walk.  Today we are heading out, change of plans, to lesson the stress of a ten hour drive.  We are staying in a hotel on route to Normandy and will only have a six hour drive tomorrow.

Low Key Day!

Today was not exactly according to plan.  We did not go to the market in Arles, instead, in the morning we re-walked a trail we had taken before.  We did not go to the market partly because it was raining and partly because most of us did not get enough sleep.  Unfortunately I have had a stiff neck all day, maybe I slept wrong - I hope it goes away soon. In the afternoon we undertook further exploration of Avignon so mom and Emma could shop for souvenirs, apparently mom didn't find anything that caught her interest.  Dad and I sat in a park for a bit and then went for some food.  I got a croques monsier and later when we met up with the others mom said she wanted something.  She went and purchased a goat cheese version.  Before we went home we indulged in some ice cream.  I had two flavours- Tiramasu and another that tasted like Nutella.  Right now I am sitting at home and it is thundering and raining.  Dad just went to the upstairs apartment to get matches and candles in case of a power out.  At least all this rain has lifted the perpetual heat wave.  Today was pretty low key but still a good day.

Exploration

Yesterday we explored the city of Avignon.  Yes we did go on the bridge and sing the song, but it was so hot that I wasn't into doing much!  Mom and Emma went into some shops for a bit and Dad and I sat.  After that we went to have a drink on a patio and then on an accessible tourist train tour through the city.  Just for anyone who wants to know, the Palace of the Popes is not accessible.