Aug – Sep 2018

France

A 38-day adventure by skip's retirement travel Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Share

Footprints
Photos

Trip start
August 8, 2018
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 2
- Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 10:37 AM
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 20 m
- France Bordeaux 44.83776, -0.5777444°50’16” N 0°34’40” W
Bordeaux cathedral
August 9, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Cathedral of Saint Andrew. What more can I say?
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 2
- Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 3:58 PM
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- France Labarde 45.00312, -0.6430245°0’11” N 0°38’35” W
Chateau d'Arsac
August 9, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
My first visit to a Chateau. D'Arsac is a village in the Margaux and Haut-Medoc appellations. After the label is a pic of the Chateau, the inside the remodeled Chateau. The some barrels in the aging cellar, the vineyard. Finally, some ripening Merlot grapes. The harvest should be in 6-8 weeks. The wines were great. The Margaux is the best I've had.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 2
- Thursday, August 9, 2018
- ⛅ 21 °C
- Altitude: 21 m
- France Bordeaux 44.84316, -0.577944°50’35” N 0°34’40” W
Bordeaux
August 9, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
First stop in France. Most of us know Bordeaux as the wine capital. And it is. There will be several posts about that. This is about the city itself. First is the Bourse plaza along the river Gironde. Thee second and third are monuments. 4&5 are street scenes. The last is the public garden.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 2
- Thursday, August 9, 2018
- ⛅ 21 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- France Bordeaux 44.84824, -0.5772144°50’54” N 0°34’38” W
Jardin Public
August 9, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
The Public Garden goes back to the early days of Bordeaux. Here is where meds chants would walk together and make deals. I'm not sure if that still happens, but it is a lovely place to walk
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 4
- Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 5:29 PM
- ☀️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 32 m
- France Néac 44.92158, -0.1862144°55’18” N 0°11’10” W
Saint Emilion
August 11, 2018 in France ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Probably the most famous village in the Bordeaux region. These are various scenes to give a sense of the medieval character of the town.
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 5
- Sunday, August 12, 2018 at 5:39 PM
- ⛅ 30 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- France Bacalan 44.86252, -0.5500344°51’45” N 0°33’0” W
Le Cité du Vin
August 12, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Le Cité du Vin Is a museum in Bordeaux about wine, it's history in the region, viniculture, and more. The first pic is of the building, followed by interior pictures. The last two are of the 360° theater room where we tasted 4 wines from around the world (see the last picture). Each wine was accompanied by a video of somewhere in the world that either related to where the wine was made or to a cuisine the wine might go with. They even pumped in scents that related to the videos. Amazingly well done, and really good wines.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 5
- Sunday, August 12, 2018 at 9:28 PM
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 70 m
- France Saint-Germain-du-Puch 44.8525, -0.3270344°51’9” N 0°19’37” W
Three chateaux near Saint Emilion
August 12, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Three Chateaux in another region of Bordeaux. All really good wines. La Dominique has a new winery in various shades of red lacquered stainless steel. They are in a prestigious area, with two neighbors being Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Petrus. The latter is said to be the second most expensive wine. The former is none to shabby, either.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 7
- Tuesday, August 14, 2018
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- France Vannes 47.65727, -2.7608647°39’26” N 2°45’39” W
Arnor Festival
August 14, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Annual celebration of culture in Bretagne. Bretagne has a Celtic connection as you can see from the bagpipes. Also traditional costumes from the many villages participating. They all differ. The parade is of all the participants from the harbor to the town hall for crowning of this year's Arnor Queen and her court. It's tough to use still pictures of traditional dance, but that is the last one.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 8
- Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 3:05 PM
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 34 m
- France Vannes 47.65756, -2.7570647°39’27” N 2°45’25” W
Vannes
August 15, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Vannes is a walled medieval town with much of the medieval cus after intact. The first three pics are of the city wall, garden at the wall and the wash house. The a street scene, cornice decoration traditionally called Vannes and have a woman. Last is the town hall.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 10
- Friday, August 17, 2018 at 11:02 AM
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 21 m
- France Carnac stones 47.59286, -3.0815747°35’34” N 3°4’54” W
Carnac
August 17, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Menhir's or standing stones dated to as much as 7,000 years old. There are several thousand stones, mostly in alignment. Pics 5&6 show one of the largest and a quadrilateral set of stones, unique at Carnac.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 11
- Saturday, August 18, 2018 at 12:00 AM
- 🌙 13 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- France Odet 47.87594, -4.116647°52’33” N 4°6’60” W
Benodet and l'Odet River cruise
August 18, 2018 in France ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
Benodet is a small town at the mouth of the river l'Odet. It seemed to me to be mostly a beach and sailing town, mostly touristy. The river cruise was nice. Someone said that the l'Odet is the prettiest river in France. So far, I can't disagree. The pictures are all from the cruise. The first looks back at Benodet from the water. The second is a river scene. 3,4&5 are some of the Chateau along the river. The last is a recent reconstruction of a house at the site of the river toll station.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 11
- Saturday, August 18, 2018 at 10:00 AM
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- France Steir 47.99669, -4.1027147°59’48” N 4°6’10” W
Quimper
August 18, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Another medieval town. Quimper Is the administrative center for Finisterre. I stayed in the old town, which is the interesting part. The first picture is a street in Quimper, followed by a bit of the remains of the city wall and a tower. Then a half timbered house and a couple street musicians playing traditional instruments. The last two are of the cathedral. It's hard to see, but I am amazed by the amount of open work in the stone structure.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 12
- Sunday, August 19, 2018 at 4:53 PM
- ☁️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 162 m
- France Locronan 48.09798, -4.2102148°5’53” N 4°12’37” W
Locronan
August 19, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Locronan is well preserved medieval town not too far from Quimper. As you walk into town, the first thing you see is the old church of St. Ronan. That arch at the entry seems unusual. The building seems like a cross between Romanesque and gothic architecture. Those are the first two pics. Then some street and plaza scenes, followed by one of the old lanes coming into townRead more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 14
- Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 11:46 AM
- ☁️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 50 m
- France Mont Saint-Michel 48.63597, -1.5120748°38’9” N 1°30’43” W
Mont Saint Michel 1
August 21, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
We start with the iconic view of MSM, followed by a closer look. The stairs up into the Abbey proper, the steeple and the cloister. As MSM is such an extraordinary place, I'm stretching this out over multiple posts.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 14
- Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 11:46 AM
- ☁️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 50 m
- France Mont Saint-Michel 48.63596, -1.5120648°38’9” N 1°30’43” W
Mont St. Michel 2
August 21, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Continuing in the Abbey of Mont St. Michel, the first two pics are of the Abbey church. Then the meeting hall, one of the crypts. Last is the shell installed when the Abbey was used as a prison to bring supplies up the side of the building.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 14
- Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 11:47 AM
- ☁️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 50 m
- France Mont Saint-Michel 48.63596, -1.5120648°38’9” N 1°30’43” W
Mont St. Michel 3
August 21, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
More of the Abbey: a preserved detail wall decoration, the hall where knights were received when visiting (with hanging tarps used in the ongoing renovation work), the chapel at the crypts and one of the main staircases. The last two are of the outside of the Abbey buildings in the gardenRead more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 14
- Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at 6:46 PM
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: 63 m
- France Mont Saint-Michel 48.63612, -1.5113148°38’10” N 1°30’41” W
Mont St. Michel outside the Abbey
August 21, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Over time a village grew up below the Abbey but still on the Rock. First is a view over part of the village. Then a street scene and a gate. Mont St. Michel is also a fortress that was never conquered, making it even a symbol of the nation of France. The next pics are of the fortification, including some of the tidal flats surrounding the island. The last pic is a working windmill nearby.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 16
- Thursday, August 23, 2018 at 12:00 PM
- ☁️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 61 m
- France Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe 49.19743, -0.3839649°11’51” N 0°23’2” W
Memorial de Caen
August 23, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
A memorial to the battle of Normandy, with a look at the years leading up to it and an exhibit of after 1945 photos. Very moving. I spent between 6&7 hours there. Very intense. Worth a trip in itself.
The building is built on top of what was the German command bunker for that part of the coast. The bunker has been restored and is part of the exhibit. I confess to recognizing some of the equipment from war movies. No photos allowed though.
The rest of the pics are of the US Armed Forces Memorial Garden outside. The first pic is of the top of the waterfall. The inscription that you can't read at the bottom of the picture reads, "From the heart of our land flows the blood of our youth given to you in the name of freedom." Then is a pic looking back at the waterfall. You can see the wall behind the waterfall that contains plaques for every state.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 16
- Thursday, August 23, 2018
- ☁️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 20 m
- France Caen 49.18549, -0.365849°11’8” N 0°21’57” W
Caen
August 23, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
A major city in Normandy and seat of the Duke of Normandy. The first pic is the Chateau de Caen, the castle built by William, Duke of Normandy, in 1060, so that, I think, he would have a good place from which to make it to his big appointment in Hastings in 1066. Then some of the interior of the castle that covers about 5 acres. Then an overview of the city from the castle ramparts, St. Stephen's church (under renovation) and the butterfly at the botanical garden. The last pic is the tower of the king with St Stephen's steeple in the background.
There will be more posts about Caen.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 17
- Friday, August 24, 2018 at 8:00 AM
- ⛅ 14 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- France Pointe Saint-Pierre 49.39799, -0.9894849°23’53” N 0°59’22” W
La Point du Hoc
August 24, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
A major gun emplacement between Omaha and Utah beaches on high ground. It could defend both beaches an so was a major concern for D-Day. The first pic is one of the gun emplacements. The second is the entrance to the command/observation bunker, followed by a shot insude part of the bunker and a look out the observation port toward where the invasion fleet was. The a pic across the high land showing the remains of craters from the bombing and shelling. The last is the type of 155 mm gun used there.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 17
- Friday, August 24, 2018 at 12:00 PM
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 15 m
- France Cap Manvieux 49.34272, -0.6335549°20’34” N 0°38’1” W
D-Day beaches
August 24, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
First is Omaha beach looking toward point du Hoc, followed by the monuments at the beach. Second is a long view to Utah beach. Then Gold beach. Fifth are the remains of the "mulberries" artificial harbor at Gold beach and a look at a "floating road" used to unload ships inside the artificial harbor. Even with all the pictures and movies, I have trouble getting my mind around what happened here.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 17
- Friday, August 24, 2018 at 3:55 PM
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 46 m
- France Omaha Beach 49.36035, -0.8579549°21’37” N 0°51’29” W
Colleville sur Mer
August 24, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The American military cemetery located above the East end of Omaha beach. A look at the cemetery and the statue at the entrance. Third is the oval wall listing all MIAs from the battle of Normandy. 4th is the chapel followed by the chapel ceiling. Last is a map of operation Neptune, the part of operation overlord the was the name of the D-Day landings and battle for Normandy it is located in the entry structure to the right.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 18
- Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 11:21 AM
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 46 m
- France Bayeux 49.27657, -0.7003449°16’36” N 0°42’1” W
Bayeux
August 25, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
One of the few places in Normandy not bombarded (no strategic value). So the cathedral is original 11th century. Many medieval buildings remain. The first two are the cathedral. The rest are around town
I also saw the Bayeux tapestry. 1,000 years old; 1,000 feet long: telling the story of the battle of Hastings. Beautiful and impressive, but no pictures allowed.Read more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 19
- Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 10:02 AM
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 5 m
- France Port de Chantereyne 49.64326, -1.6214149°38’36” N 1°37’17” W
Cherbourg
August 26, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Port town heavily bombarded and where the German destroyed the port before surrender. There is a rotating bridge across the harbor. The first two pics are taken from there, one looking seaward, the second looking into the port/marina. The others are street scenes in the old townRead more
0 likes
skip's retirement travel France
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 20
- Monday, August 27, 2018 at 1:54 PM
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 29 m
- France Caen 49.18224, -0.372949°10’56” N 0°22’22” W
Abbaye aux Hommes
August 27, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
In general parlance we would call this a monastery. Built by William, and started in 1066. He had married his 5th cousin, but the pope refused to bless the marriage as consanguineous. It has been suggested that it actually had more to do with Norman trips in southern Italy. So, after a new pope was elected, he was allowed to do penance, part of which was building 2 Abbey's. This is one of them.
The first pic is the Abbey, second is the chapter room. Third is the cloister. 4th is the service board where the monks found out their assignments each day. Then the refectory and the Abbey church. William is interred in the choir, beyond the altar.
The building is now the city hall.Read more
0 likes