The best WWII history lesson-Caen, France

After considering several spots we decided to make Caen, France our base for exploring Northern France and the WWII sights.  We checked into a great budget traveler's lodge and found some french food.  It was delicious.  We also found the WWII memorial and scheduled a tour for the next day.

We started our day early exploring the memorial and then went to the D-Day beaches and other sights.  It was the best history lesson.  There were 3 American paratroopers stationed in Germany that were on our tour, which added an interesting element to everything we saw and talked about.   



That night we ate kabap (our new favorite food) Patrick called our nephew, Hunter, for his birthday, and we went to an internet cafe.  You can talk to Patrick about his "love" for the French keyboard.  Oh, and we both loathed the radio choices in France.  

The next day we drove to Mt. Saint Michele.  It was amazing!  All of a sudden it just popped out of nothing into the sky-line.  It was magnificent!  

Patrick was in the middle of reading Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet, so he was very into the architecture of the monastery and cathedral.

We stopped in Bayeaux for lunch and a visit with the largest tapestry and another magnificent cathedral.  


And another stop at a WWII memorial not on our tour.

I was a totally safe driver as we observed the hedgerows remaining from the war.

We also stopped at this church that is notable because it is where one of the paratroopers got stuck on the steeple and the towns people helped him down and took him in.  They keep a parachute up on the church roof to remember the sacrifice the troops made for their freedom.  Pretty cool.

We stayed that night in Caen, then we left for a one night stay in Rouen, France on our way to Paris.  Cute town with good food.  We were old pros at driving into a town with no place to stay and finding perfectly adequate and inexpensive lodging.  We saw their Notre Dame, 

and this really pretty McDonald's

and the Joan of Arc square, with a church built at the sight where she was burned alive.  

All very cool.  Also noteworthy, we did our last load of laundry for the trip.   

B&B circa 1515 and really good food-Bruges, Belgium

Quintessential Belgium!

We drove through the gates of Bruges, Belgium and loved it instantly.  Patrick's mouth began to water like a Pavlovian dog at all the picture opts and beer choices.  The streets were narrow and  stone paved.  We found a B&B that was originally built in 1515 and was on the original map of Bruges.  It was perfect.  

We only had one night so we quickly set out to see the town and ingest all the good food and beer we could.  We got some good pictures and ate classic frites with mayo.  



Then we went to a Rick Steve's recommended restaurant "in der Wittenkop".  The best thing about Rick Steve is that he tells you the little stories that go along with the recommended place.  This restaurant was owned by a couple, the wife was the chef and the husband served.  We had a chance to chat with them and they gave us some great tips for our next stop, Northern France.  We both ordered traditional Flemish dishes that were delicious.

Then some beer and we "slashed" Bruges off our list.  (I thought these signs were hysterical.  They signified whenever you were leaving a town.  I just thought they were funny.)

Red lights, coffee shops, and yummy Argentinian food-Amsterdam

We drove into Amsterdam and found a great little spot atop this steep stairwell.  It was very reasonably priced (and we were worried about Europe) and spacious.  

We drove our car to a parking garage by the old Olympic Stadium and took the train back the Van Gogh Museum.  We especially liked it because it was all about one artist (Van Gogh) and it showed the progression of his work.  Early on, his work was dark and classic. Later works were bright and abstract-ish. 

We explored the city a bit marveling at the canals and architecture.  Then we ate an amazing meal at a random Argentinian restaurant.  There was some exploring of the red-light district-seedy, yet fascinating and fun.

The next day we took a boat tour of the city, since it is all canals.  We marveled at the architecture, house boats, and history.  


Then we went to the Rijks Museum and saw loads of Rembrandt's ("Night Watch" being the most famous) and Vermeer's.  We also foudn some yummy treats from a cart near the museum...mine was a custard filled dutch donut and Patrick enjoyed mini dutch pancakes drizzled with caramel.



Two nights in lovely Amsterdam and now we're off to Northern France via Belgium.