Carol King, too easy. But before the today's travels, some more amusing anecdotes (reference the Kumars).
Globalisation is upon us. I recognise the usual suspects, McDonald's and so on, but was surprised by Dominos, Subway and Mr Minit. In Ireland we discovered a McDonald's without the arches - very sneaky. Here in France they market, wait for it, the McBaguette! No we won't be trying it.
On the drive from Lille to somewhere, I think Dieppe, the road was less travelled and took us over a VERY HIGH BRIDGE. Google this one kids, it was 1.3km high. Before leaving Australia I vowed I would never drive across this bridge, but John Cleese had other plans.
Finally, today's fashion tip from Juno Beach. A middle aged French woman wearing a short black skirt (too short IMHO)black stockings and black boots - wait for it ladies, you should get in on this before the craze sweeps Oz next winter - and black leg-warmers under the stockings. Jayne wouldn't let me take a photo :-(
The Bayeux Tapestry
It is rather impressive at almost 70 metres long and 50cm high. There is an audio-guide to go with it that explains each of the 58 panels. Today we said we were Australian and we were given an audio-guide in English, she didn't ask if we wanted one in American.
Needless to say, the tapestry is enclosed in glass with special lights and it's own air conditioning. Then comes the justification for not taking photos. Again, my camera takes brilliant low light level photos, no flash required. Some of these musees need to move with the times. It's much like the French obsession with corks in wine bottles. They are using replacement cork material - we've been through this guys, grow up and screw cap your bottles. Anyway, here is a picture of part of the tapestry that I lifted from the internet.
Jayne picked this picture which is serendipitous because on the top panel there are two naked figures, a man and a woman, but no-one explained their purpose. All the horses were male too.
It's not actually a tapestry, it is actually an embroidered cloth. Impressive because of it's age and the story it tells, but I couldn't help but think of all those characters from Jane Austen novels who whiled away the dreary hours embroidering cloths. If they'd been more focussed on world events and a little less on Mr D'Arcy's inside leg measurement they could have told the history of the world.
Sorry, where was I? I nodded off at the mention of Jane Austen. ZZZZzzzzz. (Withering stare from Jayne and all you Austen fans out there save your comments, I won't publish them anyway.)
There was also a movie explaining the story of the tapestry and its origins as well as a display of Norman technology. All quite fascinating. The fact that it has survived is a miracle in itself. It has survived two fires, two world wars, annual displays where it was hung like a curtain around a Cathedral, the proposal that it should be cut up as part of a religious commemoration, being used to wrap artillery carried on a cart and the stupid woman who photographed it today. Jayne won't let me mention nationalities :-(
Bayeaux also has, what we assumed was a war memorial, and yes, you guessed it a Notre Dame Cathedral. It was another lovely French town.
The D-Day Beaches
Given that we spent all day at the Caen Museum for WW2 and the Normandy D-Day landings, we decided to skip the museum and just walk the beach front. We selected Juno Beach in honour of our colonial cousins the Canadians.
These beaches were certainly made for invasion. They have a huge low-tide, the water is shallow and there are no waves of any significance. It was fine to look around by ourselves, but today really drove home the importance of a good guide. Not just one that knows the history, but one that make sit personal. Cheers to you Andy Thompson.
We walked from where we had parked the car down to the Canadian memorial. As I said, we didn't go in. Partially because it was on the other side of the river and the crossing was too far away, we had already walked about 5kms. On our side of the river was a tank as a monument.
And dinner?
Thanks for asking. We are dining at home the whole time we are in Caen because we have 3 nights on the road coming up and will be back into restaurant/cafe/pub food. Tonight it's steak done in butter with steamed seasonal vegetables. Ok, it's steak, carrots and petit pois (well they looked like snow peas). And, much like the Bayeaux Tapestry, my dinner creations are too sensitive to be photographed. So, unless you can find it on the net, you'll just have to imagine what we're eating.
And tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
And tomorrow, we are going to Mont Saint-Michel! Much excitement! Jayne is even getting out of bed early!
Until then ....
Globalisation is upon us. I recognise the usual suspects, McDonald's and so on, but was surprised by Dominos, Subway and Mr Minit. In Ireland we discovered a McDonald's without the arches - very sneaky. Here in France they market, wait for it, the McBaguette! No we won't be trying it.
On the drive from Lille to somewhere, I think Dieppe, the road was less travelled and took us over a VERY HIGH BRIDGE. Google this one kids, it was 1.3km high. Before leaving Australia I vowed I would never drive across this bridge, but John Cleese had other plans.
Finally, today's fashion tip from Juno Beach. A middle aged French woman wearing a short black skirt (too short IMHO)black stockings and black boots - wait for it ladies, you should get in on this before the craze sweeps Oz next winter - and black leg-warmers under the stockings. Jayne wouldn't let me take a photo :-(
The Bayeux Tapestry
It is rather impressive at almost 70 metres long and 50cm high. There is an audio-guide to go with it that explains each of the 58 panels. Today we said we were Australian and we were given an audio-guide in English, she didn't ask if we wanted one in American.
Needless to say, the tapestry is enclosed in glass with special lights and it's own air conditioning. Then comes the justification for not taking photos. Again, my camera takes brilliant low light level photos, no flash required. Some of these musees need to move with the times. It's much like the French obsession with corks in wine bottles. They are using replacement cork material - we've been through this guys, grow up and screw cap your bottles. Anyway, here is a picture of part of the tapestry that I lifted from the internet.
 |
| Sorry no pictures! Go to Google. |
Jayne picked this picture which is serendipitous because on the top panel there are two naked figures, a man and a woman, but no-one explained their purpose. All the horses were male too.
It's not actually a tapestry, it is actually an embroidered cloth. Impressive because of it's age and the story it tells, but I couldn't help but think of all those characters from Jane Austen novels who whiled away the dreary hours embroidering cloths. If they'd been more focussed on world events and a little less on Mr D'Arcy's inside leg measurement they could have told the history of the world.
Sorry, where was I? I nodded off at the mention of Jane Austen. ZZZZzzzzz. (Withering stare from Jayne and all you Austen fans out there save your comments, I won't publish them anyway.)
There was also a movie explaining the story of the tapestry and its origins as well as a display of Norman technology. All quite fascinating. The fact that it has survived is a miracle in itself. It has survived two fires, two world wars, annual displays where it was hung like a curtain around a Cathedral, the proposal that it should be cut up as part of a religious commemoration, being used to wrap artillery carried on a cart and the stupid woman who photographed it today. Jayne won't let me mention nationalities :-(
Bayeaux also has, what we assumed was a war memorial, and yes, you guessed it a Notre Dame Cathedral. It was another lovely French town.
 |
| I love gargoyles, Jayne thinks they're ugly. |
Given that we spent all day at the Caen Museum for WW2 and the Normandy D-Day landings, we decided to skip the museum and just walk the beach front. We selected Juno Beach in honour of our colonial cousins the Canadians.
 |
| Juno beach |
These beaches were certainly made for invasion. They have a huge low-tide, the water is shallow and there are no waves of any significance. It was fine to look around by ourselves, but today really drove home the importance of a good guide. Not just one that knows the history, but one that make sit personal. Cheers to you Andy Thompson.
 |
| A monument on the beach front |
 |
| A bunker, part of the Canadian display |
And dinner?
Thanks for asking. We are dining at home the whole time we are in Caen because we have 3 nights on the road coming up and will be back into restaurant/cafe/pub food. Tonight it's steak done in butter with steamed seasonal vegetables. Ok, it's steak, carrots and petit pois (well they looked like snow peas). And, much like the Bayeaux Tapestry, my dinner creations are too sensitive to be photographed. So, unless you can find it on the net, you'll just have to imagine what we're eating.
And tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow
And tomorrow, we are going to Mont Saint-Michel! Much excitement! Jayne is even getting out of bed early!
Until then ....
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