057 Fantastic France

Fantastic France

Large cities, small towns, green fields, lovely rivers, and rolling hills combine for amazing assaults to the senses, as natural and manmade views are overwhelming in France.

A river cruise on the Seine is how we decided to attempt to see the beautiful country that is so prominent during the weeks of the Tour de France. My husband watches the bike race for hours as he records it and plays it until the bitter end in the center of Paris. That is why he finally made the decision to take the trip which I had been wanting to do for years.

A whirlwind of stops and highlights greeted us each day as promised by the eight-day itinerary, including Paris, Giverny, Rouen, Normandy, and several lovely small towns. Who could ask for more?

The view from the boat the first day in Paris was a majestic look at the Eiffel Tower--which at night lights up and then flickers up and down the imposing structure every hour--an amazing sight that really charges the senses.

Galeries Lafayette 

Of course, Paris has so much to offer that the senses are totally in a state of overdrive that cannot be matched. Interspersed with the delicious tastes of the city are the spectacular views--from Sacre Coeur, looking down on the rest of the city to the rooftop restaurant of Galeries Lafayette department store, while partaking in local drinks and fare. It is an easy city to walk with tons of stops for libation and shopping. 

After leaving the official tour, we made our way to Sacre Coeur and Montmartre and then proceeded down the hill to find the department store I had visited many years before. I had never forgotten how beautiful it was with stained glass and a domed ceiling. An avid shopper such as me never forgets a structure like that. It did not disappoint and was packed to the gills. It only took one stop to ask for clarification of directions to find our way.

The view in front of Sacre Coeur is overwhelming rivaling a panorama that cannot easily be equaled. The size and scope of the city assails the senses in a dramatic spectacular vision.

The Tour de France had finished the week before so we could walk the course the bikers had followed but on the sidewalk, of course, on the Champs Elysse to the Arc de Triomphe and more.

Surprisingly, tourists can order and manage to pay the bill in restaurants and shops with little hassle. People were very helpful and friendly. It was rare that we couldn’t communicate with the locals – most times we managed to find what we were seeking with little help, but if we did need help, we found it.

Words cannot adequately describe Monet’s garden and house in Giverny. Every color, flower, plant, garden arrangement, and tree are beautifully arranged to get the maximum effect. His house traces the colors of the garden with each room airy and light in pinks, blues, yellows, and greens. Visitors feel as if they are part of one of his spectacular paintings 

Joan of Arc Memorial

Another amazing site was a lighting of the cathedral in Roeun. Standing among the residents of the third largest city in the country made one feel part of what the locals see and do. It was an amazing experience with families and tourists exclaiming as they watched the computer show that projected onto the historic structure and told the story of the city and St. Joan of Arc who met her end in the city center. A church and cross depict this event that is retold in the graphic show projected on the ancient structure.

What a novel idea that I am sure will catch on around the world or maybe it has but not in the U.S. yet.

Normandy was an emotional day with stops along the beaches where the Allied Forces had landed in 1944 to stem the tide of World War II and ultimately proclaim victory. I felt the presence of my uncle, my dad’s brother, who was a paratrooper who died later that year in Holland. 

What I never realized was the area especially Omaha Beach was a resort location where residents came to enjoy the beach. That is the case now as structures were restored and families vacation as in the past. But now a memorial to the war stands guard on the sandy shore as a reminder of how this life was defended and protected but at a cost.

I could go on and on about this great country, but I will stop here with the observation that there is some truth to the song--“How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em down on the Farm (After They’ve Seen Paree?)”