22 June 2010

More from France

This will be the last but one post of French pictures and yes I must show you what I came home with – and my scrapbook too.


Castelnaud houses the Mediaeval War Museum – perfect for little boys.  We drove up a very steep and very narrow road, parked, walked down a steep hill and then back up.  In 32 degree heat.  It was a bit much…. (Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun……)


Castelnaud 04-06-2010 14-16-30 2848x4288


Castelnaud 04-06-2010 14-16-23 4288x2848


Well worth it for the views.


Castelnaud 04-06-2010 13-48-17 2848x4288 Castelnaud 04-06-2010 13-31-28 4288x2848


Then another day we headed into the Museum Of Prehistory.  Wow.  A subject close to my heart and complementing my university course on Ritual and Religion in Prehistory.


Museum of Prehistory 06-06-2010 14-58-25 4288x2848 Museum of Prehistory 06-06-2010 15-09-38 4288x2848


One night we had dinner in the campsite restaurant – I had flash cards (kindly supplied by Margaret – thanks!) to say no wheat, diary and meat.  The waitress understood, shame the cook didn’t.  I was very ill that night.


Dinner 06-06-2010 20-35-34 1536x2048


The boys enjoyed piggy-out puddings.


Dinner 06-06-2010 20-50-47 800x600


I ordered, and surprising myself, enjoyed, a black coffee.


Dinner 06-06-2010 21-14-00 800x600


One of the final days was a visit to the Bayeux Tapestry – which of course is not a tapestry but an EMBROIDERY!


Wonderful to see it “live” after seeing so many pictures and recreating a (very) small section for C&G work.


Bayeux 09-06-2010 10-32-09 4288x2848


Any C&G Part II (Diploma) Embroidery Student will recognise the symbol on the town trail.


Bayeux 09-06-2010 10-36-26 2848x4288


A visit to Normandy would not be complete without a visit to the D Day Landing beaches.  In contrast to the Somme area it was quite hard to imagine this touristy, seaside area as a centre of a major battle area.  Though once on the beach you could feel and hear the history.


Normandy beaches 08-06-2010 16-15-41 4288x2848


image


Though we didn't expect the area to be such a beach resort it seemed to have been this way before the war and as DH said, they fought so that it could be a tourist beach again with freedom and liberty.


We should all be thankful.

4 comments:

  1. Good to know the Bayeux Tapestry Museum is going strong - I was very impressed with it when I visited twenty years ago. Must go back...!

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  2. Janice Perkin11:43 am

    I love the Tapestry - when I was working we always took Yr 6 to France and Wed was visit the tapestry day ( in fact they are there today and i will text them later -) no matter how many times I went I always had gooose bumps when I took the children and told them the background - once before you got the earphones I was told I was tooo loud!!!!!! - I also got left in the loo in the carpark and they all went off without me even my group!!!!! - I hope you pointed out all the rude bits to the 'boys'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  3. andrea Waistell12:31 pm

    Hi Helen,
    Absolutely loved all the photos. You really seem to have a good eye to catch all the interesting stuff. Look forward to the sketchbook which topic did you choose in the end.

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  4. Britt2:05 pm

    Thoroughly enjoying all your stunning photo's Helen - just gorgeous :-)

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