As a final excursion before classes begin on Monday, my program took a trip to Normandy this past weekend. The weekend was an adventure into the culture and history of one of France's northernmost regions and an excellent reminder of everything wonderful outside of its capital city that I call home. Early Saturday morning 20 of us in the program loaded ourselves onto a bus with our three intrepid directrices and Daniel, the fantastic and stalwart driver. Our trip north was punctuated with stops in small villages, a tour of a cider distillery, and numerous bathroom breaks. We were able to shop through farmers markets for the fruits de la mer and Camembert that Normandy is so well known for, and learn about the rich farming and distilling traditions throughout the area. Each town we passed through was a beautiful amalgamation of French, British, and German architecture and food, and seemed straight out of the medieval fairy tale. Each street we walked down was far older than any man-made structure I've visited in the United States and the ancient, wooden bell towers were breathtaking.
In the spring and summer Normandy is a delightful beach are with shops, restaurants, art galleries, spas, and casinos as far as the eye can see. While I have no regrets about our trip, I wouldn't necessarily recommend visiting a beach in northern France in the middle of February. It is hardly the ideal beach environment and was just as cold as D.C. this past week. However, we were able to avoid the tourists and a sunrise on the beach looks just as magical in 1 C weather as any other time of the year.
The second day in the north (where they were far less concerned about winter coming and the building of walls than one might think) we spent the day discussing the regions incredibly important history. Though the area is adorable and prosperous now, vestiges of WWII and D-Day in particular are everywhere. The remnants of battleships sit a few hundred meters off most beaches, and certain areas are still dotted with craters and concrete bunkers. We began the day raising the flag at the American cemetery near Omaha beach, and then visited the debarkment beach itself. Although evidence of the war is everywhere, the area has a certain monumental peacefulness today. The beaches are a reminder of horrifying loss on both sides of the war, and serve as a victorious turning point. It was fascinating to learn about WWII from another country's perspective but gratifying to know that it had not permanently jarred the lives and culture of this beautiful region. In nearby Caen we visited the Memorial Peace Museum with exhibits on WWII and the fate of post-war France. The influx of Canadian, American, British, and German culture has managed to enrich the area in many ways, and so many American soldiers fell in love with France after the war that the region attracts a diverse heritage. I personally feel this also probably has a lot to do with the region's fantastic cheese.
On a more personal note classes begin this week and I couldn't be more excited to shop by way through the French university system to create the perfect schedule. The sun has finally begun shining with some regularity, and our first glimpses of Paris on the drive back reminded me how grateful I am to be here. As we crossed the Seine the clock struck the hour and the Eiffel Tower began sparkling on schedule, which I have always taken to be a sign of good things to come.