Pleasant Weather Blesses Us
Today is D-Day and at the American cemetery in Normandy, French caretakers will have collected sand from Omaha Beach and rubbed it into the gravestones to highlight the names of the departed.
They do this for all 9,388 soldiers who lay there.#DDay79 pic.twitter.com/dRrjG9MWQK
— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) June 6, 2023
Bonjour mes amis,
My son sent this yesterday in one of the comments on my blog. I have tried to post it here and hope you can see it. If not, perhaps you can get it to open and play directly from Chris Parton’s comment at the bottom of yesterday’s blog. Truly amazing that they rub the sand from Omaha Beach into each marker to highlight all the information. What a labor of love on over 9,000 markers! This is an appropriate place to post additional pictures from our memorable day in Normandy. If you didn’t read that day’s post, go back and see what a time we had with Murphy’s Law. Thanks to Natalie who took all of these photos of Pointe du Hoc. I had so much sand in my eyes, I could barely keep them open much less focus on taking pictures. I am so very glad we went, however, as ALL of it will be a forever memory and a family story told over and over again through the years. I’ve always been a story-teller, one of my favorite things to do with grandchildren when they were young. We all have stories and we should preserve them for the ages.
Yesterday was a quiet day in Paris. Schools are still in session and vacation for the school kids does not start until the end of the month. We had no obligations other than returning a dress I had bought at the Monoprix. Returning items is always a challenge but this one turned out okay.
We had lunch at one of our favorite little restaurants hidden away on rue de Tournelle, Chez Janou. It’s delightful, always good food, no English menu offered, friendly waiters, and a massive bowl of mousse au chocolat. Shame on us for no food pictures. I simply forgot. Take the time to go here if you visit Paris. Not many tourists, mainly locals as it’s a big favorite. They have authentic French food (provençal from the area of Provence) which you may find off-putting but give it a try, including sometimes their rabbit. I’ve never had a bad meal here. Their claim to fame is that they have 80 different kinds of pastis which is an anise drink that the French love. It’s a colorful, happy place!
We grabbed Line 8 just around the corner and took a spin to our neighborhood from last year. I wanted to go to a famous little shop called Papier Tigre (thank you, Carolyn Barnabo) to purchase a welcoming gift for our sweet Izzy who is coming with her parents from Louisville, KY to visit next week. The Shorys were here five years ago and we can’t wait to see them. They have quite a week planned so we’ll be off to the races once again. What fun and my vertigo is better!!
Here’s some photos from our stroll back home up rue de Turenne.
Quiet days in Paris are the best because they give us time to relax and experience what makes Paris so special. And this gorgeous weather fosters that ambiance.
Happy Mercredi,
L & B
June 7, 2023 @ 11:29 am
So happy to hear your days are going well. The Normandy photos are appreciated as well as your pictures of your Paris neighborhoods. I’m happy to hear you have time to relax and renew.
June 7, 2023 @ 1:05 pm
Thank you for sharing the cross rubbings. What an undertaking! Makes me wonder how many individuals take part.
The best thing I read- …and the vertigo is better.” PTL!
June 7, 2023 @ 2:24 pm
Amazing undertaking in Normandy. Loving the beautiful flowers in your pictures!
June 7, 2023 @ 9:40 pm
I think a visit to Normandy should be on everyone’s list of must see places when they come to France. So many gave their lives, not just Americans, to win back freedom for Europe. Seeing the beaches and the daunting task of scaling the cliffs is sobering. I was there for the first time in the “80’s. There were many older veterans there with their families, recounting what they had enduring or encountered as part of that effort. it was hard not to stand and eves drop on each one. I returned 3 years ago and still felt awe at it all. On my first visit, one could walk among the crosses, but not now. I understand why, but miss having the opportunity to feel more communion with those buried there.
June 8, 2023 @ 6:14 am
Bonnie, you can walk among the crosses quite easily these days. The entire field is open and accessible.
June 7, 2023 @ 11:16 pm
It’s good to hear you Catch Your Breathe and enjoy quiet days in Paris.
June 8, 2023 @ 8:17 pm
I especially enjoyed the Normandy Beach photos. How very sobering they are. Would that every American could experience this and understand what our greatest generation was made of. Thank you for sharing those, and the information about the sand rubbings. It is good that these efforts are still appreciated and acknowledged.
Your joyful photos are also a treasure to share. What a wonderful adventure you and Bernie are on. And how selfless you are to share it with all of us!
Merci beaucoup
June 9, 2023 @ 7:17 am
Thanks for your always kind comments!