Auberge De Jeunesse Verdun

... but then we aren't Japanese down under!! It was a bit like WW3 had started for a couple of hours in the pm with several fighter jets and helicopters doing maneuvers above us, just like a free air show. Don't know if we are near an air base or a manufacturing facility, the locals didn't seem to take any notice but for me interesting!!

Number One Son drove today all around the quaint villages of the champagne district. The tastings are not free, at least 5E each and there are hundreds of cellars, but the ladies managed to restrain themselves to just two samplings!! Apparently the champagne tasted good a few bottles were purchased and we ended up at Epernay which has the Avenue de Champagne. Local produce was bought for lunch which included some powerful smelling cheese that tasted good ...

... it only had to surrender weeks after the German did occupy France and the armistice was signed. As a sign of respect the French crew of the "Fort De Fermont" was allowed to parade out of the fort with full military honours.we then returned to Etain for a fast change of clothes to head to my cousin jean-claude for diner. I will not bore you with the menu but a lot was homemade like fois gras etc...Etc...

... a special "borne" or marker. But as I am not that familiar with the area we looked for the monument for 2 hours and could not find it (only to learn later it is on a side road) anyhow we had to go packing as tomorrow we are leaving for Berlin. But before we are allowed to go we have to go for dinner at Anne-Marie (my cousin and godmother) and here we go again re fois gras ...

... Devant Douaumont" one of the 9 villages that disappear during WWI, numbering more than 400 inhabitants it was evacuated and destroyed during the battle for Verdun. Finally we went to the "ossuaire de Douaumont" this place really deserve some respect as over 130,000 people of all religions rest in peace there. Amazing with its monument ...

So far the weather has been pretty average for Europe... even in spring where it should be much nicer and warmer than what we have now. Unfortunately this morning we have to get up at 0545am to go gat Alex at Frankfurt airport and is raining like the proverbial deluge. So here we go for the next 3 hours in the pouring rain ... too bad as I really love the autobahn. On arrival we are told that the flight from London will be around 45 late (damn we ...

Got up this morning a little late as we were supposed to do breakfast with Manu and Isabelle but as we have a big "Bauchet family reunion at lunch we do not have the time so... sincere apologies to everyone I may have offended but we only have a limited time. So here we go on the road again for the next hour and half to a little place ...

Since we were headed in the same direction, towards Luxembourg, we decided we would stop at take a look at the World War I battlefield sites at Verdun in France. One of the big draws for history buffs are the forts built by the French after the war in 1871 with the Prussians (i hope I got my history correct). The tourist office offers a bus tour of four sites and we decided that was the best way to see the sites and learn a bit before heading North. Verdun is ...

... of battlefield territory but have not yet stopped to fully savour it as too busy clocking up the KMs. Around me are constant reminders, cemeteries, crumbling blockhouses, fenced off forts. At lunchtime I passed through Varennes. It was drizzling and cold so the place probably seemed greyer than usual. I entered the local bar and the few farmers inside all instantly ...

... had seen in the other two. Back in Verdun, we had another dinner on the river and then back to the campground for our desert of wine. It was going to be sad leaving here tomorrow. Day 3 Once breakfast was done, we packed up and drove away. 200 K's away was our next stop. Compiegne. It was a place steeped in war history. Back in 1918, there were a couple of train lines going through here in the middle of a forest, and on the 10th of November, the ...