http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , France , Upper Normandie en-us Tue, 08 Dec 09 01:49:41 +0000 Tue, 08 Dec 09 01:49:41 +0000 When we first started planning our roadtrip through Europe there was really only one place that I was concerned about going and that was the beaches of Normandy. For those of you that don't know my Grandfather on my Mom's side was among those that stormed the beaches during World War II. He was in the third wave of soldiers which is probably one of the deciding factors of my family existing http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/blog-444370.html Our first day trip from the River Baroness was a trek up a steep hill to Richard the Lion Heart's late 12th century Chateau Gaillard at Les Andeleys. It was very foggy so we could only guess at the view that our guide described. The fortification would remind New Yorkers of the way that West Point provided protection by its high elevation and river location. The little town was charming. This http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/blog-442699.html This middle ages city is well preserved and so pretty. It is here where St. Joan of Arc was sold to the British who tortured her as a witch and burned her at the stake. It seems that no one spoke up on her behalf. The church built in her memory is an incredible piece of very modern architecture in the town of gothic churches The cathedral of Notre Dame so frequently painted by Monet dominat http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Rouen/blog-442695.html Subtle beautiful peaceful so in harmony with nature and so impressionistic. Giverny We felt right at home in Claude Monet's charming gardens and bright the dining room is totally painted the brightest yellow we have ever seen eclectic cottagey home. Our own little Ballston Lake garden tends to get a little busymessy like Monet's on a much much smaller scale. We love the wild and mu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Giverny/blog-442692.html The following pictures were taken in Normandie France. They include Veules Les Roses Rouen Etretat Giverny Ponte du Hoc Bayeaux. They were taken between July 19 and 24 2009. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/blog-441298.html Voie Verte is French for GreenwayAcross France the state is developing a network of greenwaysmdashknown as les Voies Vertesmdashreserved for pedestrian and nonmotorized vehicle use. Irsquod cycled a few kilometers on a greenway in Burgundy last year and was eager to see what one in Upper Normandy would be like.I chose the greenway called The Valley of the Epte so named because it intertwi http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Giverny/blog-439955.html Well we have been home over a month now and have begun to edit our photos so far we are down by two thirds from 3000 to 1000 Don't worry we wouldn't post them all but we thought you might like to see a few. These are from our first days in France. July 1719 which we spent with our friends in Deauville and visiting the DDay beaches and American cemetery. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/blog-438633.html By Bus and by TrainThis day Tuesday was a travel day. I left the Hotel Chopin after breakfast and traveled by a single city busno transferdirectly to the Gare St.Lazare. From there I caught a train to Vernon about an hour away in Upper Normandy. A fellow passenger on the train who was coming from Paris to visit his family offered me a lift to the Avis car rental office saving me the long http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Giverny/blog-438448.html It's Always Nice to See Other Americans in ParisI was welcomed to the Left Bank by the bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson who served as ambassador to France prior to his term as president of the new US. They say he spent much of his time here enjoying the sights socializing with the French elite and developing a close personal relationship with a member of his American staff. Seeing Jefferson th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Giverny/blog-438252.html A Bit of Practical InfoPublic restrooms that don't require admission to something else first can be scarce in Paris. In an emergency I've used those gray metal cylinders on the sidewalksmdashthe ones that automatically clean themselves after every customermdashbut I find them damp and a little scary and they aren't plentiful either. The conventional solution is to stop at a cafe then 1 or http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Giverny/blog-437520.html A Hotel Down a PassageTouched down at Charles de Gaulle airport late this morning and got myself into the city by the Roissy Bus. My lodgingsmdashin the Hotel Chopinmdashare in the lower portion of the 9th district only a kilometer or so from the Opera Garnier where the bus drops its passengers before heading back to the airport.Hotel Chopin is a budget accommodation but it suits me just fin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Giverny/blog-437168.html Departure Date minus 1.I've just started this blog and am unfamiliar with how it works. Anyway the idea is to record a holiday that Jane and I are taking in France. The mode of transport being the Big Bad Chev my Chevrolet Camaro the hero of the Big Drive Home in 2002 back to doing what it does best long distrance cruising.The plan is to take the ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre and stay the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Le-Havre/blog-436573.html Hey everybodyWell I just wanted to update a bit unfortunately cannot post pictures on this entry but I will try on another computer at some pointSo we left London early on Saturday morning Aug.8. We arrived in France via the Eurotunnel quite quickly spent most of our first day travelling. We made a brief stopover on Saturday in Iepres Belgium to see the MenenMenin Gate. It is a war mem http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Rouen/blog-427613.html Tuesday August 4thWhat a difference a Channel makesThe weather pattern really does look like it has changed but the forecast too for France was for fine weather so summer is officially declared back on track for the BBA.It is only a short distance to Dover and the Sea France ferry to Calais but we wanted to get there in plenty of time to locate where the ferry sailed from and because we anticipate http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Le-Havre/blog-426951.html Upon landing we departed portable steps to the tarmac and a line extending to Lichtenstein but the efficient French shuttled us through in record time as we almost passed a rock snail and a lightning quick sloth. Getting our rental car the French agent handed me the form and said Sign. Since Visa is supposed to cover CDW collision I asked to make sure it was not included. He said T http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Rouen/blog-426481.html Well apologies to all those who have been checking this blog thingy to see updates but I'm back here in the UK already without having added any blogs whilst on my travels. The lack of blogs was down to the relative lack of internet access in the places I ended up visiting and also the fact that I was enjoying barely going near a computer for the best part of 5 weeks so didn't look too hard. Most http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Le-Havre/blog-424405.html We took a drive about 80kms outside Paris to Visit the house and gardens of Claude Monet. This was suggested by my cousins Jean and Beatrice who came along also. You get get full information about this place here ... Giverny and Vernon In the Heart of Impressionism This was a beautiful place to visit it was a little crowded but you still got a very good idea where Claude Monet got his insp http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/Giverny/blog-424250.html Wednesday July 22 Market Day Jumieges Abbey and Sunset on the Beach at Veulles Dean Jackie and I go into the market square at 9. Wednesday is Market Day in VeuleslesRoses. There are many stalls selling fruits vegetables meat jams even paella a knife grinder and clothes sellers. We buy a nail clipper since mine was confiscated and some fruit jam and vegetables. Jackie has been cooki http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/blog-422380.html Sunday evening July 19 VeuleslesRoses The house in VeuleslesRoses is on a tiny road not even wide enough to be called ldquocheminrdquo. We stop on the slightly wider lane that it Trsquos up to and I walk down to find the house. Four neighbors are chatting and thankfully they can speak ldquoFranglaisrdquo They point me to the correct house. Its yard has a wide gate for a ca http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/blog-421386.html Saturday July 18 Deauville and DDay Beaches After market and petit dejeuner Eric takes Jackie Jeff Sixtine Caitlyn Dean and I on a tour of the beaches. Our first stop is Pegasus Bridge so named because it was liberated by RAF glider troops. Outside there is the bridge itself a replica and part of a real glider guns and other equipment. There also is a small museum with a video and di http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Upper-Normandie/blog-421056.html