Spain and France Odyssey

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Independence Day - from Normandy

One of the main reasons to end our trip in France after leaving Spain was to stop for a day of reflection at Normandy. On this day, as we celebrate our nation's Independence and our freedoms, we remember those who gave so much for the way we live, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

In the center of the cemetery there is a chapel, and on the wall of the chapel are inscribed the words, "Think not only about their passing, remember the glory of their spirit."

9,387 US soldiers lie in graves at the US cemetery in Normandy.

The North Sea at Point du Hoc

Color at Point du Hoc

Craters from US warship artillery at Point du Hoc

More craters from US artillery

Barbed wire at the top of the cliffs at Point du Hoc

Shelled bunker at Point du Hoc

View from inside a bunker

Point du Hoc and the English Channel

Looking down the cliffs at Point du Hoc

Memorial at Omaha Beach

The Stars and Stripes flying with Allied colors at Omaha beach

"To those we owe the high resolve, that the cause for which they die shall live"

The US Cemetery at Normandy

Memorial at the US cemetery at Normandy

The Canadian armed forces took Juno beach. They are memorialized at that location.

Canadian memorial at Juno beach

Canadian Memorial at Juno beach

Friday, July 3, 2015

Arrivee a Paris, l'Arc de Triomphe, le Louvre et Emma Neveu

A dream come true to be in this amazing city. By plane and train we arrived in Paris from Madrid. The train into Paris from Charles de Gaulle Airport is the easiest thing to do. After popping up from the subway it was just a few blocks to our apartment. We took a brief nap and set out to find some food and drink. We are staying in the Marais area of Paris, close to the Bastille (which is now simply a monument to 3 days in July which changed this country (sing Les Miserables)) and also very close to the Notre Dame cathedral and the river Seine. After exploring our neighborhood a bit we hopped back on the train to go explore the Champs Elysee and l'Arc de Triomphe. Part of our journey here in France includes a day trip to Normandy which we will post on this blog on July 4 which seems appropriate. The Arc de Triomphe certainly brings the the history of WWI and WWII (and other French wars) to our attention. At the base of the Arc is an eternal flame which burns over the tomb of the unknown French Soldiers of WWI. Opposite that is an inscription of Charles de Gaulle's appeal of June 18, 1940 which he broadcast on the BBC from London asking Great Britain and the United States to come to the aid of the French people. He also called upon the domestic resistance to not give in.

Excerpt from his speech:

"Pour la France est pas seule! Elle est pas seule! Elle est pas seul! Elle a un vaste Empire derrière elle. Elle peut aligner avec l'Empire britannique qui tient la mer et continue la lutte. Elle peut, comme l'Angleterre, utiliser sans limites l'immense industrie des États-Unis."

He ends his speech saying, "Quoi qu'il arrive, la flamme de la résistance française ne doit pas être éteint et ne sera pas éteint. Demain, comme aujourd'hui, je vais parler à la radio de Londres."

Translated:

For France is not alone! She is not alone! She is not alone! She has a vast Empire behind her. She can align with the British Empire that holds the sea and continues the fight. She can, like England, use without limit the immense industry of the United States.

Whatever happens, the flame of the French resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished. Tomorrow, as today, I will speak on the radio from London.

His speech resonated around the world and it stirred emotions for us to read it under the Arc while watching an amazing sunset. It would be another 4 years until D-Day, but more on that tomorrow.

le Louvre:
WOW!
WOW, WOW, WOW.
Art overload. Yes, we saw the Mona Lisa but that was just a small part of the museum. My favorite was The Wedding at Cana by Italian painter Paolo Veronese. The painting is floor to ceiling and depicts the wedding where Jesus turned water into wine.

Zach loved the painting Liberty Leading the People by French painter Eugene Delacroix. Depicted in this painting is Lady Liberty carrying a French flag in one hand and a bayonet in the other. She is leading the charge for a new government for the people in the revolutionary war.

The Greek and Roman sculptures were a favorite of Kathy, especially Venus de Milo, or Aphrodite of Milos. Created sometime between 130 and 100 BC it is thought to be the work of Alexandros of Antioch. The marble sculpture is breathtaking as she stands 6' 8" high and takes up the center of a room of sculptures from the same time period.

The museum did not disappoint but once again, like the Prado in Madrid, our minds were fried after a few hours. Luckily, we had a lunch date!

We met our friend Emma Neveu in the courtyard of le Louvre for a mid afternoon lunch and glass of wine in the park. Emma has called Paris home her entire life, but she also has a home in Bellingham with Aunt Wendy and Uncle Brian. (They have made their house home to all our family and we call it our Bellingham home too). Emma was a student in Bellingham seven years ago and we met her when she was part of our extended family for two years during that time. Emma is made of awesome and it was great to catch up with her and hear about her time at the Cannes film festival which showed two short films in which Emma had roles.

Paris is beautiful.

The "lock" bridge

On the River Seine

l'Arc de Triomphe

Zach and his Dad at le Louvre

The inverted pyramid. According to Tom Hanks in The Da Vinci Code there's a bunch of world secrets lying here

Entrance to le Louvre

The pyramid from below

Venus de Milo

Yep...

Wedding at Cana

Short man on a horse - oh wait, it's Napoleon

Liberty

Emma and Zach #wavetheflag

Lunch with Emma!

American bar in Paris

Notre Dame

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Toledo - not Ohio

Today we took a day trip out of Madrid to the smaller city of Toledo. (Toe-lay-doe)

Toledo is about 70 km south of Madrid and has reference in some documents to 1000 years BC. We felt small on this earth walking around in a city that is over 3000 years old. Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage and historical co-existence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures. (Until the Muslims and Jewish were driven out in the 1490's).

Toledo is known as the "Imperial City" for having been the main capitol of Spain until the early 1500's when Madrid became the capitol of the country. In 1085, it the first major city to fall in the Christian Reconquista. Toledo has a history in the production of swords and knives, which are now popular souvenirs of the city and of Zach. Toledo has been a traditional sword-making, steel-working centre since about 500 BC, and came to the attention of Rome when used in the Punic Wars. Soon, it became a standard source of weaponry for Roman Legions.

The old city is located on a mountaintop with a 150 degree view, surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Tagus River, and contains many historical sites, including the Alcazar Fortress, the Palace of Spain prior to the 1500's and the Cathedral of Toledo which is amazing to tour (pictures to follow). The river is in a deep canyon and created a natural moat around the city for protection through the years.

The Cathedral (Catedral de Toledo) was built between 1226–1493. It is remarkable for its incorporation of light and features the Baroque altar called El Transparente, several stories high, with fantastic figures of stucco, paintings, bronze castings, and multiple colors of marble, a masterpiece topped by the daily effect for just a few minutes of a shaft of light from which this feature of the cathedral derives its name.

Toledo was also the home of the painter El Greco and his masterpieces can be found throughout the city. The main display of his works are in the sacristy of the Cathedral which was open to the public.

After a great tour of Toledo we are back in Madrid packing our bags for a quick flight to Paris tomorrow.

Also of note, for those who have read The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha, Toledo is the scene of part of his travels.