Brugge

April 22

An old city in Belgium, centre of the Bolognian dynesty in the French ruling houses. They are proud of their history and have maintained the old buildings designed in their own style of Flemish Gothic or Renaissance

It was once a major trade centre with transportation based on river travel and canals

 

 

They also re-enact events from their period of greatness


 

Ypres

April 19-21,23-24

There is no better way that the concept of the losses of men on these battle fields can be shown to those who were not here than to observe the size of the cemeteries that are left behind and to study the dates of death of the men. 

Row upon row of stones, many without a name such as shown in the picture below

One cemetery, Butts New British Cemetery, at Polygon Wood, contains 2200 graves of soldiers from Britain, New Zealand and Australia.

Only 500 have names engraved on them while the rest contain bodies of unknown soldiers whose names are engraved on Memorial walls at such places as the Menin Gate, Tynecote cemetery or the New Zealand Memorial shown in this picture.

April 18 Le Havre

The serious side of the trip begins, cemetery visits. Travelled to Boulogne via Le Havre.

There are reminders of past glory and triumphs all over the place

Stopped for the night in a Chateau at La Hast

Rouen

April 17, 18th

Rouen Its hard to drive around - narrow streets and wrong side of road. None of the blocks are rectangular or square. Signage all in French. Buildings are all multistorey, difficult to find a reference point

Visited the military cemetery when we found it. Big lots of headstones

 

Monet's garden

Monday 16th April

Went by taxi to Charles De Gaule airport to pick up car - simpler than trying to drive in Paris on the wrong side of the road for the first time.

Travelled to Giveny to have lunch, get use to the car and the strange driving, and visit Monet's garden

Drove to Rouen for two night stay - negotiating streets using GPS not fun. Many oneway streets and some closed for cars. Good meal at an open plaza 10 mins walk from hotel

Versailies

Sunday April 15th

Train trip to Versailies. Visited the chateau and visited all the public rooms available to look at - very crowded, much push involved to stay with the flow, difficult to get photos without other people in them.

 

Had a guided tour of the private apartments of Louis XIV, XV, XVI - every interesting and only 20 people on tour.

 

Walked in the gardens - very spacious

Visited Marie Antoinette's apartments and Petite Trulon - a long walk from the front enterance  in a cool breeze ie 2+ kms from chateau

Would recommend any person visiting to allow 2 days to see all sights or just restrict visit to either the Chateau or the gardens + Marie Antonette

Mont St Michelle

Saturday 14th April

A trip by bus to Mont St Michelle. 6am start, bus left Paris 7:15, 5 hr drive. good views of small villages along the route.

Lunch at local hotel as part of tour. Good food and local cider. Guided walking tour of the site then 1 hour of free time.

THe trip back took 4 3/4 hrs entering Paris passed the Eiffel Tower after 8:45 in evening.