Adam's Trip

June 2018
A 10-day adventure by BoLin49
  • 9footprints
  • 3countries
  • 10days
  • 44photos
  • 0videos
  • 6.2kmiles
  • 5.1kmiles
  • Day 1

    Europe 2018

    June 13, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    Finally. It is travel day.
    First things first, we take Dodger and Baby to Barker Heights Bed and Biscuit, thier home for the next 13 days.
    Talked to Michelle, lots of questions, they have never traveled to Europe before: customs , where do we meet in the airport, etc.
    We packed the car and begin the 2 hour trip from our home to Arlington, where we picked up our oldest granddaughter, Abbie, who will be traveling with us. She will be spending an additional 6 weeks in Spain. She will be teaching Theater while she is there.
    5 pounds over for Abbie, so a mad dash to save $100. See picture.
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  • Day 2

    Day 1.5

    June 14, 2018 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    Arrived in Frankfurt without issue. However, once we got there, it was quite an adventure. Passport control only had two agents and the backup was reaching the stairs. It took us 45 minutes.
    When we got to baggage claim, we met up with Paul and Michelle. They got there about 2 hours before we did. With hugs all around,
    We rented a 9 passenger van, first for us, and it is perfect for our family European trip. We spent the next 3 hours driving to Spangdahlem, that is where my oldest grandson is stationed in the Air Force. We had lunch with him on base and said goodbye until tomorrow.
    Linda found this cute little hotel in Doodledorf, Germany. It is a quaint hotel, just perfect for our first night in Germany together.
    Ate dinner at the Burg Bistro (cash only).
    This has been a long day for us, by now barely keeping our eyes open, we all opt for going to bed early.
    Tomorrow begins the real adventure. We leave Germany, drive through Belgium and onto Normandy.Gute Nacht!

    Note: today was a day of seeing the Lord intervening in our behalf several times: a vehicle that would hold all of us and our luggage, a lost cell phone found and returned, learned what " blue" means for a diesel engine, and having the exact euro's for a place that only takes cash. Awesome.
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  • Day 4

    Normandy

    June 16, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    Today was overcast and cool along the French coast in Normandy.
    Of all things, we started our day off by eating at the "Golden Arches." The French version isn't very different than the USA, but there are subtle differences. The biggest complant is "no ice" in the drinks.
    We then toured Lounges-sur-Mur. This location has several large German gun emplacements, two of the 155mm guns were still in place. This unit did very little damage as it surrendered the day after "D-day."
    Omaha beach memorial -this is my second visit and it still moves me. 10's of thousands, on both sides gave thier lives in that first few days. The museum is very entertaining and explains the events in the two years leading up to D-day.
    When touring the US Cemetery, located just up the Omaha beach, what catches your eye is the number of crosses (Cross, Star of David, etc.) It seems like it goes on forever.
    The cemetery is just east of St. Laurent-sur-Mer. The site covers 172.5acres and contains the graves of over 9,000 American War Dead, most of whom died during the landings and ensuing operations.
    We next visited Sainte-mere-Eglise, got lunch and took pictures around the church. This city is so commercized that it tends to lose its importance.
    We drove to Pont du Hoc. This site is covered in craters from bombs delivered by US aircraf. The importance of this site for the Germans was the main lookout for the southern Normandy beaches.
    We finished the day with dinner in Bayeux
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  • Day 4

    Bayeux, France

    June 16, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    Enjoyed our stay in Dodeldorf, Germany. We picked up Adam at the airbase and began the 7 hour trip to the coasts of northern France. Belgium is a beautiful country with every turn in the road were new vistas of forest and farmlands.
    We had our first "Serendipity". We stopped into the town to see a church and a 15 th century Chateau de Mesnieres en Bray. Very beautiful. It was not open to the public.
    We arrived in Bayeux, in the Normandy region.
    We went into the city to eat and then went to bed. Really tired.
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  • Day 5

    Le Mont Saint Michel

    June 17, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    It was cool and cloudy as we left Bayeux for Le Mont Ste Michel. This will be Linda and my third trip to Le Mont. The coastal land is fairly flat an I look, with anticipation, for the first sighting of this abbey that sits on the English channel.
    I am in awe of Le Mont Ste Michel. The effort, through the centuries, in building this monument to the Lord, is almost more than I can fathom.
    Paul, Michelle, Adam and Abbie enjoyed the strenuous exercise of climbing the many, many steps to the top and through the abbey. When we finally got to the Chapel, a group of college kids were singing. While I didn't understand the words, the melody of the occuppella offering was beautiful and well received.
    Now on to the valley of the castles, the Loire Valley.
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  • Day 6

    Day of the Chateaux

    June 18, 2018 in France ⋅ 🌙 64 °F

    Today is dedicated to the Chateux of the Loire Valley.
    We began by finding that the restaurants in Amboise were closed until noon on Monday, so we found a Carrefour City, bought bread, brie, butter, raspberry and apricot jam, orange juice and "chowed down" like a bunch of hungry tourists.
    By the way, using the parking payment machines is difficult at best. Spent way too much money and came away even more confused, even with instructions in English.
    First stop, chateaux Amboise. The beauty of this chateau sitting high agai st the Loire River, is really difficult to define. Add to this that so much of the original buildings, bulwarks and walls are gone, it is still impressive.
    We jumped into our Ford van (VERY COMFORTABLE for six adults and all our luggage), and made the short trip to Chateaux Chenonceau. This is by far our favorite chateau. It is not the largest (visiting Chambord tomorrow on the way to Paris), it does not have the largest gardens. What it does bring is "location, location, location." The chateau sits in a forrested area and spans the river Cher. It sits magestically within the confines of the forest, giving it a secluded feeling. The city of Chenonceau is about a mile away, so the chateau doesn't have the buzz of noise of Amboise or Blois which sit in the center of thier cities.we ate lunch out side so we could take in the view of the trees, chateau and the beautiful gardens. The burgers are wonderful and the fries are excellent.
    After taking many pictures, we drove back to Amboise and toured "Clos Luce" the home where Leonardo DiVinci spent his last years. It is filled with his drawings, paintings, water colors, inventions and thier plans. There are mock-ups of some of his inventions and video's play on monitors showing how the devices worked. From the garden, you can see the chapel, on the grounds of the Chateaux Amboise, where his body lays.
    We ate for one last time in Amboise, with thoughts of traveling north to Paris, after visiting the Chateaux Chambord.
    I hope sleep comes quickly.
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  • Day 7

    Chateau Chambord

    June 19, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Chateaux Chambord to Paris.
    We had "petite Dajunier at one of our favorite patisserie places in Amboise: Bigot.
    We drove along the Loire River so the family could see two chateau's along the way: Chaumont and Blois.
    We finally arrived at Chateau Chambord and was pleasantly surprised to see very few cars in the parking. We parked in the second row, and were thankful for it.
    We toured the chateau with gusto and determination to be done in two hours...and we did. There were many photo opportunities along the way. For those uninitiated, the chateau is gigantic with very large rooms. There isn't much furniture, tapestries or paintings. However, the chateau is breathtaking in size and the roof is a photographer's treasure.
    We left the chateau, and the Loire river on our way to Paris.we got a bite to eat and took a boat cruise on the Seine River. The weather was cool, but the views were wonderful.
    We are all tucked in with dreams of the Louvre, Notra Dame and going to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
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  • Day 8

    Last day in Paris

    June 20, 2018 in France ⋅ 🌙 70 °F

    Last Day in Paris
    Our last day in Paris found us eating petite dejeuner at a sidewalk cafe, just a 100 yards from the Arch de Triumph. We ventured to the long waiting lines to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Almost two hours after clearing security we were taking in the amazing view from the third observation deck.
    It is no stretch of the imagination that the Eiffel Tower is the most-visited paid monument in the world. Over 7 million visiters a year.
    The tower is 1,063 ft tall, making it a must see when visiting Paris.
    We next visited Notre Dame. Once again, long lines and it was very hot (mid 80s) under beautiful blue skies.
    A 10 minute walk and we are in the Metro, next destination, the Louvre. We saw the biggies and decided it was past time for a shower and some much needed rest.
    Tomorrow we begin our trek to Frankfurt.
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  • Day 9

    Paris to Frankfurt

    June 21, 2018 in Germany ⋅ 🌙 59 °F

    Leaving Paris, almost an hour, looking for gas with the fuel light on and construction everywhere. Very exciting adventure. However, we finally left the Seine, Found a gas station, ate at KFC (Pepsi was marvelous as most soda is Coke) and was on the road.
    3 countries today; France, Luxembourg and Germany.
    More to write later. Turning off the light for an early flight.
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