Blogs from Nord-Pas de Calais, France, Europe - page 6

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Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Dunkerque September 26th 2015

l'Une dernière étape avant le retour à la maison demain... toubib oblige... Nous continuons à longer la côte tout en passant par Le Touquet, Boulogne sur Mer (un petit salut argentin à San Martin, vu qu'il est enterré ici...), nous évitons Calais car tout est bien bloqué par la gendarmerie vu la situation des réfugiés... et tout doucement approchons de la frontière... Mais avant cela nous nous arrêtons encore à Etaples où les musées naturels sont les poissonneries... Un régal pour les yeux mais ce sera aussi un régal pour notre assiette de ce soir !!! Nous passons aussi par les Caps Gris Nez et Blanc Nez de même que par la Pointe aux oies. De beaux paysages... Nous approchons de plus près le Cap Gris Nez car le parking du Blanc Nez ne permet pas ... read more
Homard européen
bouquet : pas pour rien : 39 € le kg !
ah !

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Lille September 14th 2015

France has never really appealed to me as a country to visit, yet I've seen some beautiful photos online of different parts of the country. I've heard reviews that you must be good at speaking French and not many people will speak English may have had some influence in me not wanting to explore this European country. A poor excuse since France is a neighbour to the UK making a daytrip possible. However, I decided to give France a try on my return from Belgium since I needed to catch a ferry back home from Dunkirk. My manager at work suggested I take a look at Lille, as its only about 80km away from Dunkirk. I found a hotel outside of the city centre with free parking and good motorway connections, and it was only a ... read more
Column of the Goddess
Cathedral of Lille
Beauitful architecture

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais September 12th 2015

Pozieres Just north of Stanthorpe Qld there is a town called Pozieres. The town adopted that name after WW1 when so many Australians experienced harrowing war and suffered casualties at the town’s namesake in the Somme France. So when we were driving through from the town of Albert to Arras it was compelling to stop and look. This town and its surrounding district was the scene of 3 extended and costly campaigns to regain 3 specific targets From German invaders in 1916. There are many British cemeteries and memorials in the surrounding area including the famous Thiepval monument – the biggest monument to British war dead in the world as well as numerous cemeteries and smaller but significant monuments. These sites attract many visitors every day - mostly patriotic citizens visiting sites commemorating their respective country's ... read more
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France WW1 SITES 047

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais September 11th 2015

Australian War Memorials Somme France Long before we reached Amiens in the Somme region of France we became aware of various commemorations Au Coeur de la Grande Guerre- of the Great War 1914 to 1918. We were headed toward Villers-Bretonneux where we knew there is an Australian War memorial. But the full extent of that war on France is hard to comprehend. The front line moved from time to time. But it stretched all the way across France and Belgium, from the Atlantic coast around Dunkerque and Zeebrugge right down to Nancy and Mulhouse at the Swiss border. As the crow flies that is over 500 klm. The way the line wobbled around it may well have been 700 to 1000 klms long at times. That’s a long line to man. In the northern parts of ... read more
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Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais September 11th 2015

Monash A True Australian Hero From the worst to the best Superhuman bravery on the part of Australians, extraordinary and needless loss of life, and incapable military leadership have been at the centre of what my father and others told me about WW1 ( in which Australia and other nations friendly to Britain and France came the defence of France and repel an anticipated invasion of Britain by German forces between 1914 to 1918) While visiting Gallipoli and northern France I have been reminded of those childhood lessons and my observations here have amplified those simple messages Simple messages which must have resonated like a clanking bell between 1914 and 1918, in the hearts and minds of families of lost ones. At The Australian Corps Memorial Park – a little distance away from the Villers-Bretonneux Military ... read more
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France WW1 SITES 022
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Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais August 9th 2015

Die Fahrt nach Calais war ereignislos, aber in Calais hatte ich den festen Plan, das Lager der Flüchtlinge zu sehen, die dort versuchen durch den Euro Tunnel nach GB zu kommen. Schon kurz nach Dünkirchen begann ich, eine Straße zu suchen, die nahe am Meer entlang führt. Eine schmale, geteerte Straße schien mir goldrichtig zu sein. Keiner unterwegs, aber dann plötzlich ein Lager - allerdings ganz offensichtlich nicht das, das ich suchte. Mehrere Autos, einige Wohnwägen, Menschen. Die Flüchtlinge besitzen weder Autos noch Wohnwägen, also fuhr ich nicht dorthhin. Als die Straße mittendrin endete und auch sämtliche Abzweigungen nicht weiter führten, musste ich wenden. Und dann war da plötzlich Leben auf der schmalen Straße: Aus einem Polizeiauto waren massenhaft Polizisten gekrochen, hatten den Verkehr in beide Richtungen gestoppt. Erstaunlicherweise war in beiden Richtungen eine Schlange... read more
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Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Vimy August 4th 2015

Tuesday 4 August 2015 The sound of thunder could be heard last night but the morning dawned fine, even if a little cloudy. We decided to take it easy today, our last day on the road. The cornflakes are finished, only a little coffee left, enough clothes detergent to last a few days in Paris, and a car to clean out. But first a visit to Vimy Ridge. Vimy Ridge overlooks a wide plain and was a very strategic position for any army. The Germans held it until April 1917. The Canadians were given the task of capturing the ridge. With careful planning the officers and men set about preparing for the attack. Something unheard of at the time was the sharing of plans and strategies with all ranks so everyone knew what was expected. The ... read more
Vimy Ridge
Vimy Ridge
Vimy Ridge

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Lille July 22nd 2015

Friday 17 July Avignon Avignon is still under the influence of the festival and the heat so we head out of town to the national park where the roman aqueduct Pont du Gard is maintained in a reserve along the river near Nimes. The aqueduct has survived for all these years and is a fairly imposing structure as I hope you can see from the photos. It is a significant gorge that it spans and it apparently carried water and foot traffic in those days. It is also situated in a lovely national park where people are escaping the heat by swimming and playing in and near the water. There is a group just arrived after kayaking from upstream and a group of American teenagers on bikes arrive as we are having coffee. They tell us ... read more
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Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Le Quesnoy July 15th 2015

Wednesday 15 July 2015 Our time in France is rapidly coming to an end. This last week has been enjoyable and we have been able to visit our "must see" sights. Today we head for a little village just south of Calais. We have one "must see" town to visit today. We have enjoyed exploring Reims and the Champagne Countryside and sorry to leave so soon. The hotel on the other hand is a different story. We won't spoil our wonderful memories of the area by writing of our hotel experience. With the car packed and a quick discussion with Polly we head off for Le Quesnoy, about a two hour drive away. This town is very historic with remarkable defensive ramparts. During WWI the German army had control of the town for nearly the entire ... read more
Le Quesnoy
Le Quesnoy
Le Quesnoy

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Boiry Notre Dame April 13th 2015

D Day minus 3 - three more sleeps. I sound like a child waiting for a holiday or for my birthday or Christmas. And of course Sion keeps asking "Are we there yet?" He looks forward to sharing his adventure of travelling across Europe with his best friend Woolly Mammoth who currently is in Spain . In search of latrines, a fancy roof or two, manholes and pistachio nuts he has his little book handy and his pencil at the ready. And his head has swollen out of all proportion now he has joined the Hall of Fame. He won't fit in the motorhome if he carries on. Suzy has had a spit and a polish and looks ready for trip . Will it be Iberia or will it be Italy and Croatia? The weather is ... read more
I am on my holidays
Probably Boiry




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