Day 10- Traveling Still

How things change in such a short amount of time. 
We were in France, driving through the countryside, having a grand time, not a care in the world... I was enjoying the scenery, enjoying the road, enjoying life! 

We didn't go do the touristy things, but tried to do the kind of thing you would do on a Sunday afternoon if you lived in France. We visited the beach, we visited the cemetery, we visited church... I wanted to soak up as much of France as possible. We ate at local restaurants, we had continental breakfast, we at outside at the little table... we had French cooking, not American that is so abundant all over the world. We had sliced ham and cheese for breakfast. We ate Boudin Noir aux pommes. I mean, you can't get much more French than that. 
We were driving along, near Abbeyville, and I started having problems with my vision. I don't know what happened, if I was overly tired, or if I had been in the sun too long, or if maybe my allergies had started up worse... but I went from being able to see pretty darn well at a distance... to not much . It was of someone held a sheet of wax paper over my eyes... and I was scared. 
We turned around and drove back to Calais, where I had rented the car...I had to have someone else drive the car or leave... My friend, Kev, to the rescue. He was placed on the car rental and graciously drove us around France for the duration of the stay there. My vision never got any better. It seemed that every day it got a bit worse but I wanted to finish up the trip. And finish we did. We visited the WWII museum and walked the cemetery, We swam at Omaha beach, we saw the memorials and statues there, got to meet some of the Wounded Warriors (cycling the coast of Normandy)  that recognized our UT tshirts and knew we were from Texas!

 We went on to Caen right in time for their street festival, the streets were packed and the nights were warm and delicious.

The St Sauveur Church The Abbey aux Dames that was founded by Mathilde around 1060, the church of Trinity is a masterpiece of Norman Romanesque architecture. The sights and sound and smells of the city are amazing. Fresh bread and roasting chicken fill the streets, the perfume of the flowers, the smell of the city... ahhh, magnifique. 

You notice we didn't go to Paris on this trip?
Mais non, we didn't. I was not up to the city... and I couldn't encourage my friend to go either. We discussed it and decided that being in Paris was just a bit too much for me to handle. My son couldn't care if he went or not. He was blissfully happy visiting any museum that had anything remotely to do with weapons, war, guns... war... He is all boy.. through and through. And so the rest of the trip went. 
Churches, cemeteries, museums, cafes and the nicest people. 
I tried out my French, my son, who never speaks... ordered his food. 
We lounged on the beach.
I took picture after picture... sketched one after the other pages. 
We were blissfully aware that it would end too quickly, and that i will not be able to go again, at least not as it was at that point in time. 


The trip back to England was rough. I was exhausted and unable to see. I didn't leave the seating area. for this trip.  I felt queasy. I didn't know if it was the sadness of leaving or if I had sea sickness. The sea was up and the going slower it seemed. I think that is normal on any trip. You are so excited to be there and hesitant to leave. I just can't imagine not returning, yet I can no longer wish to return and not have the same memories of the hillsides and the beaches, and the beautiful architecture.  Is it wrong to want to preserve those memories just as the are?

My son is still practicing his French, waiting for our next visit. He thinks it will be fine if I can't see. He says that he will drive us this next time... he knows the traffic lanes already! lol...Me? I don't want to disappoint him,  so maybe in a couple of years....

The Abbey aux Dames was founded by Mathilde around 1060, the church of Trinity is a masterpiece of Norman Romanesque architecture. - See more at: http://en.infotourisme.net/monument/caen/5683/abbaye-aux-dames#sthash.2oJhESvN.dpuf