Vimy Memorial

We arrived in Arras early on Sunday, checked into our hotel and started to explore the town. Arras is a really pretty town that appears to be very old but is mostly re-constructed after it was destroyed during the First World War.

After exploring the town for a while we walked out to the Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, the British equivalent …

... many visitors still lament to themselves: how did this happen?   As David raced us from Arras to the Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge, I wondered what Canadians had to do with this whole European affair in 1914.  Instead of asking, I allowed ...

Entry containing 13 photos titled: Museum at Peronne, Trenches, trenches, In the tunnels at Vimy Ridge, Vimy Ridge Tunnels, Electricity ran along the walls, Runners had the best beds but not a good role, Quarters for the top dog, More tunnel, No go area due to potential explosions

A quick stop at the awe inspiring Canadian ...

... in pristine condition. They have an excellent information centre and volunteer guides. On the top of the ridge is their memorial to the fallen - a stunning edifice dominating the landscape. We did the tunnel tour and wandered out into No Man's Land. The ...

Yesterday Jimmy and I went to Vimy/Arras to visit the Canadian Vimy Ridge Memorial. We had reserved a rental car from Canada and went to pick it up at the Antwerp train station.  We didn't want a compact size car so we chose a "mazda 3 or similar" ...

One of the only battlefield that preserved the destroyed terrain, as well as the trenches and tunnels that can be ...

Vimy Ridge Going to the Vimy Ridge Memorial is something that I will never forget. I have heard about it and read about it, but I never thought that I would be there. It had been foggy when we left our apartment, but as we reached the Memorial ...

... pointed in the direction of the memorial.  So I just hiked the 2km along the abandoned road and voila! The actual memorial has been beautifully restored and is an imposing sight.  The photos tell the story better than I could so check those ...

... up on goods from French supermarkets on the way, but as we whizzed through the fields of northern France I by chance spotted a sign for the Canadian World War I memorial at Vimy. Having been told about it prior to leaving for France (and possessing an ...

... the Canadian and German trenches. Learned about the differences between the two, saw a pillbox and a mortar too.  At the memorial, the rain died down. It was great to walk around, feel the monument and just experience the site. It was ...