Blogs from Lorraine, France, Europe - page 5

This will probably be the shortest entry of our BBA V2 blog and that is because today we really didn't do a lot to report about. With over 20,000km now travelled we decided that it was time for a rest day although we are sure we will make up for it in the next two days with trips towards Verdun and the World War 1 battlefields and then north to Luxembourg and try and discover more about the French folly of their Maginot Line. Thankfully the complex has a laundry and after having to work on translation of what we needed to do some washing with the reception we found the washing machine in the basement and filled it with a build up of clothes ready for something more than a scrub in a wash hand ... read more

Geo: 49.159, 5.384 After leaving Metz, we headed for Paris, stopping off to visit Verdun, the scene of the First World War Battle of Verdun between France and Germany. This battle is considered the greatest and lengthiest in world history. Never before or since has there been such a lengthy battle, involving so many men, situated on such a tiny piece of land. The battle, which lasted from 21 February 1916 until 19 December 1916 caused over an estimated 700,000 casualties (dead, wounded and missing). The battlefield was not even a square ten kilometres. The battle degenerated into a matter of prestige of two nations literally for the sake of fighting.We visited a First World War Museum in the middle of the former battlefields. Most of the ground in the area is unchanged from First World ... read more

In Bayonne awaiting my bus to St. Jean. I have blessed to meet a ovely couple from Washington State and a lovely young lady from Australia - Jeri! Some pics fromBayonne.... read more

On the road again and only a few days left before we will be home and Suzy parked up. She needs a clean and a restock. It's amazing how the fridge soon empties, the emergency stocks are depleted and the cupboards like Old Mother Hubbards are bare. The carpets are covered in sand and mud and need a serious clean and the bedding needs to come out to be washed. But before that we are still in France and still have two more stops to go before we reach home. The weather is still poor and feels like winter. Our planned stop was going to be Camping Breuils in Verdun. It is hard to get to this part of the world without thinking about the young soldiers who lost their lives unnecessarily fighting in the First ... read more

Friday, Day 11 After Jackie read this blog she said that she was surprised that I omitted one of the best things we have seen on the trip up to now. I completlely left out comments on Burg Eltz, the beautiful castle just above Cochem. So, I am issuing an edit on this day. After breakfast we headed for Burg Eltz, the castle that R. Steves claims is his favorite in all of Europe. This castle has been in tact for 700 years. It is not on the Mosel River but in a thick forest a few miles north. In my mind it is the ultimate, and maybe the first, condomium. It seems that the three families lived together inside and had separate lives. There was a meeting room where they met to work out issues ... read more