On Tuesday we had a big drive from Rouen up to around Lille in Northern France. On the way we stopped at a McDonnald for a little more internet time and to look up where exactly Fromelles is. It ended up that we were about 25 Km's from the villiage which was brilliant. The reason we wanted to visit Fromelles is because there's a new war memorial and cemetary there for the Australians that were killed during the battle of Fromelles in the first world war. You may have seen it on the new in the last 12 months as they've just finished the reburial of 250 Australian and British soldiers. The cemetary, although not yet open to the public is really beautiful and well set out. We were able to look over the cemetary and look at the temporary memorial they have setup. Reading over the stories of the men, the battle, and the project to lay the soldiers to rest with a full military burial was very touching. It was also great to see the number of Aussies visiting the site and signing the guest book. We really are a proud nation.
Our last night in France we spent camped on a strawberry farm (Also diary producer) which was one of the France Passion stops. We bought some of their product and enjoyed next to the stream in lovely weather. What a great way to end this leg of France.
We're now in Brugge (Belgium) which is a beautiful town thats full of history and makes it impossible to take a bad photo. The movie "In Brugge" won an award in 2009 for best scenario. Quote: "If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me. But I didn't, so it doesn't". Although we loved the movie, we definately don't subscribe to the above idea that Brugge is an ordinary town. We had a day of sightseeing yesterday where we ate a waffle (which lead to the next activity), climbed the Belfry's 366 stairs for a brilliant view of the city, wandered the markets in the town centre, went on a boat tour around the canals of the town then, of course, went to a bar and tasted some of the hundreds of local beers whi\le watching Sam Stoser destroy Serina Williams in the French Open!
Today we're off to Brussels to meet some of our new relatives and see the capital of the EU. We're having supper tonight at one of Andrew's Dad's cousins then doing the siteseeing thing around Brussels tomorrow.
More to come...
A&J
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Us
- Andrew and Jamie Griffioen
- Andrew and Jamie are a married couple from Brisbane, Australia. We have embarked on an overseas adventure for 6 months leaving in April and returning in October. We plan to cover the UK and a lot of Europe. To see more details, check out our posts below.
You are a week or so ahead of us. We finish in the UK tomorrow 4/6 and return our hired motorhome to Just go near Luton then fly to Copenhagen and do Copenhagen and Sweden for a week before ficking up our nex motorhome at Dusseldorf for 5 week touring the EU. Enjoyed reading you Blogs. Cheers Peter Arnall 3/6/10.
ReplyDeleteHey Jamie, do you have an email? Like hotmail or something? Lots to tell you!! Mel. P. xx
ReplyDeletePeter Griffioen wrote. You must be having a great time over there. If you see Alexander please apologise to him as I forgot his birthday about 14 days ago. You might also remind Lexx that she still owes me the Tilgenkamp family tree details. It is the only part of the Griffioen tree that I have not been able to finish.
ReplyDeleteHow is Callum running now? You will have to go to Wolfsburgh in Germany. That is where the Volkswagen was first built back in the 1930s.
Think your parents have been washed out in Grafton. There have been stacks of rain on the north and mid coast of NSW. Lennox head was hit by a small tornado and the Byron and Ballina shires were declared a disaster area last night.
Take care - PeterG and family.
Hello darlings
ReplyDeleteWe are thinking of you spending time with the Belgium side of the family. Please give them all our love and tell them we remember them all fondly. The photos are great and we feel very close to you on this trip by reading your blog.
Yes we have had quite a bit of rain, the Copmanhurst school reunion is on this weekend, I bet Amelia is worried about the weather. I will give your regards to the lamppost outside the school which you clung onto so dearly on your first day of school. :)