Category: Trips
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Mont Saint-Michel, France 🇫🇷
Mont Saint-Michel, a tidal island, has a history dating back to the 8th century when it was established as a strategic fortification. By the 10th century, it became a renowned Benedictine abbey, attracting pilgrims from across Europe. During the French Revolution and until 1863, Mont Saint-Michel was repurposed as a prison, housing political prisoners, before…
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Sword Beach, France 🇫🇷
The easternmost beach of the Normandy landings, Sword Beach, was between Juno Beach and the Orne River. The British 3rd Infantry Division was the main force to secure the beach, along with British Commandos and a detachment of Free French soldiers. Their objectives were to secure a beach-head, link up with the British paratroopers at…
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Étretat, Normandie, France 🇫🇷
Étretat, a small coastal town in Normandy, France, is famed for its stunning white chalk cliffs and natural arches, including the iconic “Falaise d’Aval” and “L’Arche.” The dramatic seascapes have inspired numerous artists and writers, such as Claude Monet and Guy de Maupassant.
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Maritime Connections & Resilience: Le Havre, France 🇫🇷
Our journey brought us to Le Havre, a bustling port city on the Normandy coast. While exploring the harbor and waterfront, it was fascinating to reflect on its historical connections across the Atlantic. Havre de Grace, Maryland, was actually named in honor of Le Havre, France, as a tribute to General Lafayette’s assistance during the…
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Morning in Honfleur: Art, Harbor, and History 🇫🇷
After a restful night in our petit château, we started our morning exploring Honfleur, a charming port town in Normandy. Its picturesque harbor, Vieux Bassin, is lined with 17th-century townhouses that have remained remarkably well preserved. The slate-fronted façades and cobblestone streets give the town a storybook feel, and it’s easy to see why artists…
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Beginning the Normandy Journey in Reims 🇫🇷
Using the book “Road to War: Trip of a Lifetime” to plot our D-Day Normandy journey, our first stop brought us to Reims, a city layered with centuries of history and pivotal moments. Pronounced “Rance” (like France without the F), Reims immediately shows its importance in both ancient and modern times. Walking through the city,…
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Sun, Sand, and Seafood: A Beach Weekend in Lamezia Italy 🇮🇹
Sometimes, the best kind of getaway is the one where you do… absolutely nothing. No museums, no must-see landmarks—just sea breeze, sunshine, and plates of perfect pasta. For Memorial Weekend, we checked into Cridda Hotel & Restaurant, perched right on the coast of Lamezia Golfo in southern Italy. Check-in was easy at noon, and within…
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Blooms & Venetian Flair at Groot-Bijgaarden Castle 🇧🇪
For a quick weekend escape, we headed to Belgium to visit Groot-Bijgaarden Castle, just outside Brussels. Every spring, the castle grounds transform into a dazzling display of flowers, and it’s the perfect mix of history and beauty. We wandered through gardens bursting with tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, each pathway leading to another colorful surprise. The…
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Bluebells & Battlefields in Belgium 🇧🇪
Once a year, the forest of Hallerbos near Halle, Belgium, bursts into bloom, carpeting the woods in endless waves of bluebells. We felt lucky to catch it this year—and even luckier that we packed rain boots. The trails were muddy in places, but the misty atmosphere made the forest feel almost enchanted. Between dodging raindrops,…
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Traditional Life & French Flair in Bucharest 🇷🇴
One of our stops in Bucharest was the “Dimitrie Gusti” National Village Museum, an open-air exhibition showcasing traditional Romanian village life. The museum features historic houses, churches, windmills, and workshops relocated from villages across the country, giving visitors a sense of how people lived in different regions over centuries. It’s no surprise that this is…