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Published: December 2nd 2008
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Dune de Pyla
These a the photo's I wanted to put on. The boys jumping for gold I have an apology to make it wasn't Dune de Pylon it was Dune de Pyla. Don't know where that came from. It's alot easier now because we're back with friends so no more internet cafes with the boys discussing loudly who's turn it is on the computer nor anymore strange keyboards.
Here's what the boys thought of the last week.
24th November
Amboise by Anton
We got up to a cold morning and walked to Leonardo da Vinci's Chateau du Clos Luce. He lived the last three years of his life there. King Francis and 1st invited him there. He is said to have finished three famous paintings there - the Mona Lisa, John the Baptist and some other painting with naked people and clams.
His sketches for some inventions had been made into small models in the basement. It was amazing because he was so far ahead of his time - he was design things they didn't have the materials to make, like helicopters and tanks. Also in the basement was a secret passage to the Kings Chateau - it was pretty cool.
Outside in the freezing cold was a awesome garden with the
models made life size. We loved playing on them and testing them out. We wandered around the garden that da Vinci spent time in drawing plants.
That night it was freezing in the morning it was 2 degrees in the campervan.
Chateau de Chenonceau
This place was spectacular as it was built across a river. It holds lots of stories about different people. There was a big fight between the Queen Catherine and the Kings mistress diane who lived in the chateau. But when the King died Catherine kicked her out. There are two gardens at the Chateau - one designed by Catherine the other by Diane. My favourite was Dianes. The White Queen lived there. Her husband wrote her a letter on this death bed saying pray for me to the gods. She took it literally. She dressed in white, painted her room black and did nothing but pray from morning to night. She only left her room to go to the chapel for some more praying.
Le-Mont-Saint-Michel
We could see this place 10kms away as we drove toward it. It is something to see. We were lucky because it's winter and the tourist
crowds aren't that bad. We went through the Abbey which was built in 709. It's hard to believe that something could be that old. The knowledge they had of engineering to build something so huge and for it to last this long is incredible. In fact one room has been unchanged since it was built.
The streets were narrow and winding with cobble stones - christmas lights hung everywhere but when we went back that night they weren't on.
We watched the tide come in because we camped right beside it. It was pretty cool.
Dinan
We went to a cool market here. There were scallops, oysters, fish of all types, fruit and veg, crepes and big woks full of delicious hot food. We got what they called couscous - it was steaming chicken, lamb and sausages in a creamy tomatoe sauce served on couscous and also a dish of creamy potatoes with bacon and cheese. Yum.
Arromanches-les-Bains
DDay landing beach. Fantastic place to stay. We drove to Caen and went to the museum there. We heard about the Battle for Britain again so that was good. We watched a film with half of it
Chateau de Chenonceau
Fantastic history but really cold about the Allied Forces preparing for DDay and what the Germans were doing at the same time. It was really good.
There were great displays throughtout the museum - ones to watch, listen and read. We stayed there for 4 hours and loved it.
The next day Dad, Mason and I went for a run along the beach and saw the harbour that the Allied Forces had built. It was suppose to last 100 days and it's still there today. Quite amazing.
The morning we went into Bayeux and went to another market. Dad wandered off to check out all the prices and we stayed with Mum. Then mum took us to a Cafe for morning tea. Oh my goodness. I had layers of pastry and cream and raspberries. Mason had thin chocolate cake layered with chocolate cream in a triangle shape covered in chocolate. Blake had a cream puff thing with caramel cream in it. Dad arrived as we were finishing. Poor Dad. Mum had the best coffee she'd ever had.
Then we went to see the tapestry 70m of story about William the Conquerer beating up England. But it was shut so we went
Le-Mont-Saint-Michel
It dominated the landscape out for lunch instead. Plates of fish and beef, rice pudding, normandy tart, red wine and it was all delicious.
Calais
Back on the ferry to England. We can't believe it's nearly all over. 28 days left of our holiday.
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