And then Spring sprung

Bonjour

We don’t have a lot of news this week. After the Easter break, then Anzac Day, we had a public holiday last Tuesday to celebrate Labor Day. Same as home, it’s a day off which everybody is always happy about, but also a day when trade unions etc organize marches for whatever the issue of the day is. At the moment there is a lot of angst about Government cutbacks of workers’ privileges and pay cuts. (sound familiar?)

Then next Tuesday is VE Day – (Victory Day in Europe) – a public holiday always celebrated on 8 May each year to mark the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces. We’re not sure what will be happening here in Cherbourg, but in 1944 it looked like this.

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We had our first visit from Australian friends this week and showed them a few sights around town. Craig is a big military history fan and we took them to see the Musée de la Libération near the fort we visited  few months ago.

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With Craig outside the fort at the top of the Roule Mountain
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Near the entrance to the fort – when a simple knock on the door doesn’t work.

We went for a bike ride this morning and even though we have been past this Abbey plenty of times, today we stopped to take a look. It was started in 1145, and although it needs a bit of work, they built them to stay standing in those days.

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Notre-Dame du Vœu abbey or Abbey of Our Lady of the Vow.

I doubt the gardens are that old, but some amazing plants that are in full flower at the moment.

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This is either a rhodendron or an azalea. We couldn’t get close enough to find out but whatever – it’s the size of a large car.

And here is a closer look at what is definitely a rhododendron – even the bees buzzing around it were huge. The bike is to give an idea of its size.

 

And here is an example of Australian/French culinary harmony. Not sure if it will go down as a classic.

 

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Love

L & M