First stop today , after a lovely breakfast, was the very famous Bayeux Tapestry.

I’ve been so looking forward to seeing magnificent tapestry ( actually it’s an embroidery). It’s 70 metres long and depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest in England in 1066. It show young Harold who was a very naughty boy and didn’t keep his word to William leading to an invasion and his eventual death. This whole story is embroidered on this linen piece and stretched around a dark gallery. It’s well presented.  I though everyone would be jostling for a position to see it but the clever French line you up and give you an audio which guides you through at a comfortable pace. Everyone get to see and hear  it’s a win win situation.

Then it was off to our own practically prepared invasion of the five beaches making up the landings of the Normandy DDay invasions on 6June 1944. Such a lot to see and take in. We started with the museum and Memorial in Bayeux then we drove the 20km to the coast for our invasion of the 5 beaches. It was a huge feat of organisation but I must say the beaches were much easier for the landing than the poor Australians had at Gallipoli. The information is presented in different ways: French – Charles de Gaulle ( the French were the bravest) or American ( we saved the day) or English ( it’s all in meticulous preparation. ) kind of way. Very interesting and I’ve learned a lot. Steve had a swim at the middle of the five beaches startling the people and the lifeguards by swimming out and around one of the “mulberries” part of the false harbour the English created. It wasn’t far – well not for our Steve.

We finished with a visit to American Cemetery a magnificent place overlooking Omaha Beach. Very moving place set in wonderful gardens with simple white marble crosses. All 9,000 of them.

Now im listening to more beautiful bell ring g telling me it’s wine o’clock. So off I go to meet Steve at the nearby bar – he couldn’t wait for me to finish!

Looking towards Arramanches where Steve swam around one of this things you can see in the water!

Steve off for his D Day swim

The beautiful American War Cemetries.

Saw this little chap and it reminded me of our very significant contribution to the war.

It never ceases to make me sad to see the loss of life.

Our last night in this wonderful little village and it wasn’t without incident ! 

We did our usual wander around checking out menus and selected Medieval on a corner at the entrance to the village. It had a lovely garden courtyard and was perfect until the rain! We scrambled inside along with the others which made it hot. So after the rain stopped out we went again and then …… 

Drama. A big truck tried to fit up the little street. There was a bollard in the middle of the little cobbled road. But that didnt  stop him …….boom went a tyre. Crash went the bollard and whoosh. Off drove the truck. 

At least he created a drama and had everyone in the little restaurant courtyard chatting like old friends. 

But next morning the workers were there fixing it. 

Our lovely room at the B&B overlooks one of the main cobbled streets into St Emilion but there was very little noise. It’s a rather hushed small town. Probably because of the heat and the wine tastings. People are moving slowly and quietly around the streets. 

So we slept well, did our hand washing and headed off to Libourne for a train to Bordeaux. It only takes a half hour so we were there by 10.30. The city sits along the river Girond and has a beautiful stretch of river with gorgeous low rise pale stone buildings with decorative balconies in the style of Louis XV. There is an open plaza with beautiful tall trees in rows providing shade and cool. The buildings are superb. Decorative without being gaudy. 

We decided the city looked too big for the few hours we allowed so we took a small yellow bus tour. The bus  is a single story with only 20 seats and gives an hour overview to the main sites around the city. It got off to a very funny start as when we went to get on having booked, there were no seats for us and about 8 others. No one owned up to being on the wrong bus so the driver had to get his superior to come and check the tickets! Very funny as a group of Spaniards had missed their earlier bus and decided this one would suit. They refused to get off and there was a bit of an Opera unfolding but the French won the war and off we went. 

 Come along as I show you some photos 

The main plaza covered in trees.

Girondiers monument in the main square.

Beautiful green space where there had been a guillotine for public beheadings!

What a day. We got to Mark and Lauren Chisholm’s house by 2 pm, for a meet and greet and the odd glass of champagne. Lauren has her sister, brother in law and their 2 children staying from London. Also her brother from Australia, his American wife and their 2 children. Her sister and her new husband ( another Rugby player with the Force) Her parents Bill and Lynne Campbell ( also a former Wallaby) sensibly choose to stay at the beautiful Palace Hotel in Biarritz. We met Lauren and Mark’s 5 children who are all adorable and toured their lovely big French house. 

Today was like being in the land of the Giants. Wherever we went in Bayonne people stared! Bill Campbell is huge and then there is Mark 6’6, his two brothers’ in law both 6’5 and another brother in law small at 6.1! Poor Steve! 

Bayonne was awash in red and white and the whole Fete was like the Ekka, the Royal Easter Show, Expo, the running of the Bulls, a huge pop concert all rolled into one city! People were friendly and chatty. Everyone was having fun dancing, drinking yes, but not to excess ( except maybe for our little group who were trying hard!)
We had a long lunch that started at 3 and ended I’m not sure when. Then we walked around the city and looked at dancing, a band, some singing and did a bit of bar hopping. After awhile the “oldies” decided to pull the plug and head for home. However party boy Bill stayed behind with the kids.

We got back to the hotel round 10 and Steve has hit the bed already. 

We headed to the beach this morning which means a walk from our hotel down a zig zag path surrounded by trees to a long promenade along the beach. The clouds were threatening but nothing happened. Steve took to the water and the lifeguard he met yesterday waved and told me he was a very good swimmer! It was too cold for me so I watched as lots of mainly young people arrived for their surfing lessons. 

It’s the same all the world over. Young surfy types with salty hair, chapped lips and weathered skin gathered the novice surfers around for instruction before hitting the baby waves. 

   
   
They warmed up and went out – several looking pumped as they managed to stand up. 

Meanwhile I walked along the beach front hoping Steve didn’t disappear on me!  About 40 mins later he walked out of the water in between the startled surfers. 

Later we wandered downtown and had breakfast before exploring the town centre and the beautiful beaches. The sun is slowly coming out and we are preparing for our visit to Mark and Lauren. We’ve bought our red basque neckties ready for the festival. It comes from Pamplona in the Basque Country of Spain. Here they have cow chases instead of bull running ! 

   
  Note the bags and sleeping bodies!
Sand sculptures   
    
   
We enjoyed the scenes round the coast. It’s awash with young people wheeling bags and sleeping on the beach. We guessed they were sleeping off hangovers while waiting for their flights out in this afternoon. We even caught sight of a man having a beach shower and cleaning his teeth. What a good boy! 

It’s finally sunny and warm and we’re off to Bayonne for the Fete.