Le Saint Paul 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!!

... 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 ...

... the Jewish and Muslims fighters on each side. Take a look at the windows and be surprise with piles of bones from the unidentified soldiers. Even today when a body is found in the field or forest and cannot be identified the remains are deposited at this sacred place. On the way home we did finally visit one of the WWI fort "fort de Vaux"

We came to a house in a village called Etain and we are staying with one of my dad's cousins. The house is cool 'cos it's 150 years old. The village is a small place in the country and beleive me you haven't seen the country until you've seen this place. We went to a museum and it was really cool! There were lots of guns and grenades and giant gun's and tank bullet shells ...

... have stay in bed longer). Got a park and got out of the car park on the wrong side... that was it for the rest of the day, I was not to be trusted with directions anymore lol. We finally collected Alex; he did not look to bad considering the 36 hours flight and transit time he had to endure. We went back in the car ... back to Etain (yep another 3 hours on the road. Arrive back to base this afternoon where we just chilled for the rest of the day.

... Etain 20km from Verdun in the Meuse area. On arrival it was amazing... I did not think I left France so popular (lol).the last time I saw them all together was for my mum's funerals. We had a typical French lunch lasting for hours... more conversations than food (thanks god for that) it was a lot of fun to catch up with them all.

... must be the fort. Iron grates, barbed wire, and huge chunks of concrete are layed out in front of the fort as well as the shell holes and damage from years ago. We go inside and begin the tour, the French guide is excellent, Elke is translating, as we move through damp tunnels with water dripping from over head. The fort was intended for 800 but sometimes held 3300. It was a transit stop to the front. The conditions were awful. Knowing something about how ...

... a hotel instead. Moules went down well for dinner, washed down with a nice red. As you do !!! I do like the French way of life. Day 1 Arriving in Verdun, we chucked the tent down and hit the Citadel. It was a old huge fort with a constant temperature of seven degrees. We didn't realise this when we parked up and walked inside out of the heat. Also, you're not allowed to walk around on your own, you have to do a kind of ghost train tour. You jump in ...

... no buses to the battlefield. having already rented bikes to tour Normandy, we looked for a place to do the same. well, we looked everywhere, and finally, one shop owner told us that there were absolutely NO places that rented any sort of vehicle in Verdun..we decided to hang out in town for the night and to take a taxi the next day to battlefield. they next day, June 24, we woke up, bought some bread, and found a taxi to take us to the battlefield. we ...