Normandy

Normandy deserves a post of it's own simply because it is such a special place and it's one of those places where you can recall exactly what you felt and the thoughts you had.

To start off the whole Normandy part of the trip we had just gotten back from the crazy rain storm in Mont St. Michel so half of our clothes we soaked so our whole room was covered with our clothes and shoes trying to be dried off (some things didn't completely dry until we or rather Mom and my sisters found a laundromat in Chamonix)
There was a restaurant at the hotel that Ricks Steves raved about especially the mussels. Well for some reason I was being adventurous. Why not right? I like sea food and he said it was his favorite so I just decided to go for it. It was good except this bowl was huge! I don't know if I was eating them wrong or what but there was always one part that I would bite into that had a crunch and it tasted that a huge piece of pepper. Aside from that part the mussels weren't all that bad. I think I only ate half of the bowl and I might just stick to prawns and shrimp for a while.

The next day we walked down the beach for a little bit. I have been to reverent places where tragic things have happened before but for some reason this one felt different. This beach felt hallowed. Normandy has such a beautiful countryside and it was refreshing to be able to experience that place without the commotion and walk along the beach and try to grasp this experience that is so unfathomable to me. Beaches are generally a place a recreation, but I can't imagine anyone going to that beach to have fun. I hope that whole countryside remains that way. 

We made our way to the American Cemetary and walked around there for a while. The overcast day felt fitting. It was one of the most beautiful places I have been to and it was like the sky knew how to appreciate and respect what happened there.  If Normandy is not on your Europe bucket list it needs to be put on their right now. You will not regret it. 

Versailles and More

Versailles was a dream. Museusms plus wandering through a garden with grand hedges on a bike is an A+ in my book. It was like a scene from Anastasia without the the daunting music and Rasputin:) I could have spent all day riding a bike through the grounds and being on the water. After the row boat we rented a tandem bike and it was a bit of a struggle. It was soooo wobbly every time we started, but once we got going it was totally fine. Natalie and Julia tried riding the tandem bike up a hill on a path that was not very clear. Needless to say they did not get very far before "gracefully" falling over. 

Taking selfies like nobody's business

We took a train to Normandy and from their rented a car and visited Mont St. Michel and explored that tiny town. We played around in the mud for a little bit and then we got caught in the CRAZIEST rainstorm I have ever been in. There wasn't really any shelter and didn't know how long it was going to last so we decided to head to the shuttle along with the other 1,000 people on the island. We obviously weren't pushy enough to get onto the shuttle and just decided to walk to the car(at least a mile away). We were soaked within seconds. My pants were drenched and I could FEEL the quarter sized raindrops through my pants as they hit me. We were all soaking wet but I couldn't help but laugh the entire time especially every time another shuttle passed us. I think everyone needs a crazy rain storm story like that one. If you're traveling even better. 

Minutes before we looked like drowned cats

Next stop: Normandy

*Nothing like posting about a trip that happened over a year ago amiright?