Last legs...

Today we finish with our time in France.  We've been through so many fascinating places in the last five weeks. I've been horrible about keeping up with this blog, but we've been in so many places with less than optimal internet that posting takes forever.  I kinda gave up.

Anyway, we hit Tangiers, Sevilla, Salamanca (one of my favorites), San Sebastian, Andorra, and now Caen, France.  Everyone I know should visit each of these places - each is lovely in its own right.  Tangiers is a truly international city.  Sevilla has some of the prettiest places - and is close enough to visit Cordoba and Portugal, which we did. Salamanca is a college town much like Oxford.  It is considered the third oldest university in Europe - following Bologna and Oxford.  The only problem we had in Salamanca was the service in our hotel.

From Salamanca we drove to Getaria, Espana - a few kilometers from San Sebastian.  Our hotel was outstanding and the area beautiful.  We drove to Bilbao one day to go to the Guggenheim Museum.  The entire complex is a work of art.  Then we went to San Sebastian the other two days - one day was overcast and the next sunny.  I understand why so many people go there for the scenery and the food. It's Basque country.  Excellent food everywhere.

After San Sebastian, we drove to the tiny principality of Andorra - Delene is convinced it is really the forest moon of Endor.  Great hotel, cute little town - big snow ski area.  Way too many people.  It was a short stay, then back to Barcelona to return the rental car and catch our train to Caen, France.  There is nothing like a train station at 5 a.m. - the only breakfast available:  McD's.

We had a high speed train from Barcelona to Paris, then changed trains and train stations to get to Caen.  We've had 5 nights here visiting the Normandy beaches and Mont St. Michel.  The weather was far cooler; we even had some rain.  We also had to contend with huge strike by French farmers who blockaded several major highways and tourist sites.  Pain in the ass.  Instead of taking an hour to get to Mont St. Michel it took 2.5 hours.  Then we had to walk an extra mile to get over to the place.  They did NOT block the WWII monuments or the American Normandy Military Cemetery.  We went there, Pointe Du Hoc, Omaha, and Juno Beaches.  The scope of that event is so amazing.  As was the tremendous loss of life.

Tomorrow we head to Amsterdam, then Brussels, then back to Paris for our return flight home.  Six more days.  It's been a great trip.  But, I can tell that it's getting closer to the end - I've had several emails from incoming AP students about their summer reading.  Two and a half weeks before students return. Wow - went fast.

Until later