The Art of War

Today, we remember the attack on Pearl Harbor. I have never been to Hawaii, but it is on my list of places to visit. I appreciate seeing sites where important events took place. I also like to learn about World War II. One way to do that is to travel. Loren, Ann-Clayton, and I visited France in March 2020. We spent a few days in Paris and a few days in the Normandy area. It was my 3rd time in Normandy, and I learn more each time. Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, and the USA entered the war. Then, 2.5 years later, the USA landed on the beaches of Normandy, France - June 6, 1944.

After we dropped our bags at the hotel, we headed out to the "City of Lights." Stops included Shakespeare and Company bookstore, Notre Dame, and the icon of the city - the Eiffel Tower. Set along the Seine River, the shop is crowded and filled with books up and down the shelves and shoved into each and every nook. If the walls could talk, they would boast of the past presence of Hemingway and Fitzgerald, so as one's eyes roam the crowded shop, one can imagine the scenes of eras gone by. Here's our video of Day 1:

We wanted to experience what makes indulgent Paris so decadent. So our mouths were made happy with a croissant cooking class, where we participated in making our very own pastries and even got to take some with us for snacks later. Our eyes were thrilled with touring the Louvre, which is a palace housing miles of art, claiming to be the world's most visited museum. Musee de l'Orangerie also filled our eyes with its eight permanent large Water Lilies murals by Claude Monet. These masterpieces have been seen in textbooks around the world, but seeing them in person is an amazing moment in time. Finally, a private alchemist perfume-making class filled our sense of smell with memories and an education. We enjoyed learning about the layers of notes and left the store with a personal scent that each of us created.

The Palace of Versailles was the seat of the royal family from 1682-1789. It's famous Hall of Mirrors was the setting of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, ending World War I. Stepping foot into this iconic room is humbling. Musee d'Orsay is my wife's favorite museum in Paris, housing masterpieces from the impressionist artists, too numerous to name her favorites. Around every corner, she appreciates different paintings she loves - Renior's Girls at the Piano and his Bal de moulin de la Galette, prints of both of which were in her childhood home. There were many impressionist paintings there, but these two are her favorites. She could spend all day at Musee d'Orsay. We then took a segway tour of the city, which is always a quick and easy way to tour a new place. We did a little research on dinners with views and ate at a rooftop cafe with a pretty view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower.

Everybody who spends time in Paris will take pictures of the Eiffel Tower. A very special thing we planned was a family photo shoot at the Eiffel Tower with a professional photographer who is from the USA but now lives and works in France. We met early, beating the crowds, and caught some lovely images before driving to the Normandy region. On the way, we took a short stop at Giverny, the home of Claude Monet and even explored his gardens. Even in the winter time, we could imagine the colors of the blooms because of all of our studies of his garden paintings.

I took the picture below in May 2019. When we were there in March 2020, there were no blooms and the leaves were off the tress, but there were also no people. This image will make you recall Monet's painting "Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies." It was a special place and one of his favorites, inspiring many hours of light-changing color on his canvases.

The official "Band of Brothers" World War II Guided Tour followed in the steps of Easy Company and Officer Richard "Dick" Winters. This was a meaningful and thought-filled day for our family. Stops included:

Longues-sur-Mer Battery – Omaha Beach – American Cemetery of Colleville – Pointe du Hoc.

Sainte-Mère-Eglise – Sainte-Mère-Eglise Museum – Crash of the C47 # 66 at Beuzeville-au-Plain – Marmion’s farm – Brecourt Manor – Angoville-au-Plain – Drop Zone D – Carentan

That evening, we explored the wonderful town of Bayeux and wished that we had more time to stay here.

I hope you have enjoyed this virtual tour of Paris and the Normandy Region. Being fortunate to live in Europe for four years, my family has done some traveling throughout the continent. Every time we are in France, my wife says to me, "Why would anybody ever leave this country?!" We are big fans of the cities and the countryside and would recommend a trip to the City of Lights and the Normandy region for all ages. Paris is my daughter's favorite city with its curvy architecture and sophistication of style, food, art, and people. My wife states that the architects must have thought angles were for sissies. These buildings are her favorite in Europe, also. We'll definitely be back.