Invitation To France, Vignettes-4

Chapter 7 Normandy West

One brochure for this area shows 17,769 British in 16 cemeteries; 5,002 Canadians in two cemeteries; 650 Polish soldiers in one cemetery; 77,966 Germans in six cemeteries, and 13,796 Americans buried in two cemeteries.

Pointe–du–Hoc, … cliffs that were stormed by the US Army in the same manner that the old medieval castles were attacked — with grappling hooks and ladders.

… pock-marked with shell craters, and the bunkers provide a chilling spot from which to view the panorama watched so futility by the German defenders.

Ste-Mére-Eglise … The church was built from the 1000s to the 1200s, and was damaged in WW II. Repairs include a stained glass window showing an American parachute drop — an interesting combination of an ancient art, a venerable building, and a relatively current event.

Mont-St.-Michel … our first sight of the cathedral was across a mile of grassy pasture with grazing sheep and cows in the foreground. Once we arrived at the point where the causeway leaves the coast, there were still two kilometers of awe and wonderment.

Chapter 8 Brittany

Dinan … Jim reminded Emmy that she must walk up, just as far as she walks down. Well, to coin a phrase, her eyes were almost bigger than her feet, but we did make it back to the center of town.

St. Malo … Sunlight streaming through the beautiful stained glass windows in back of the altar cast a lavender glow throughout the cathedral.

Landivisiau … a shaft of sunlight shining through a high stained glass window, spot-lighting a bouquet of gladioli in front of the altar. Two large candlesticks stood to the left, and the scene was backlit by the stained window just past the altar.