Tag Archives: Expat

France

Amiens, France

We went to a beautiful medieval city in Northern France called Amiens. We were dropped off by our tour bus near the Gothic Cathedral.

Gothic 13th-century Cathedral in Amiens, France

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens is a 13th-century Gothic style Cathedral. It is the largest Cathedral in France and is a world heritage site.

Ornate arch above the main entrance to the Cathedral
Ornate design on Cathedral

We went to the main entrance and were amazed at the number of figures on the arch. Each one was unique and was made in great detail.

We went inside and check out the massive interior of the Cathedral.

Inside the Amiens Cathedral

The Cathedral was very impressive not only because of the size but also the beautiful decorations and stained glass windows.

The Altar in the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens
Stained glass inside the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens

After seeing the cathedral, we went for a walk in the old quarter of Amiens. What is an interesting feature is the city is divided by the Somme River. Shops and cafes line the narrow street along the Somme River.

Cafes and shops along the Somme River in Amiens, France

We walked along the Somme river for a while and then stopped to enjoy a relaxing drink before exploring more of the city.

Ray, Shelley, Jim, and Anne enjoying a drink in Amiens, France

We walked along the narrow streets in the old quarter admiring the unique features of buildings.

View across the Somme River in Amiens.

While walking through the streets of Amiens we came across a group of Canadian cyclist wearing Canadian markings on their shirts.  We decided to stop and ask them about their shirts.

Cyclist wearing Canadian shirts in Amiens

They explained that they were cycling “the 2017 Vimy 100 Battlefield Bike Ride” which goes across a section of Europe touring WWII sites. They were raising money for the Wounded Warriors Canada charity. We had a nice chat with some of the cyclist, which were retired military personnel or spouses of Military personnel.

It made us very proud to be Canadian and to have the opportunity to speak to these veterans of our Canadian Military.

We then walked back to the park near the Cathedral before ending our time in Amiens.

Ray and Shelley in the park near the Cathedral in Amiens

We enjoyed our time in Amiens and chatting with some Canadian Veterans.

“Au revoir et bonne journée”

France

The Bunkers and Guns of Pointe du Hoc

Before heading down to see the Omaha and Juno beaches, we went to a cliff area on a point of land called “Pointe du Hoc”. The point overlooks both the Omaha and Utah Beaches.  We walked along a trail that brought us to the Pointe du Hoc. There on the cliff was the remains of fortified bunkers and lookouts built by the Germans.

Trail leading to the point

This point of land high on the cliffs provided the Germans an excellent vantage point to see Allies advance in the Atlantic.

View of the Omaha Beach from the cliffs area

The ground on the point was heavily damaged with craters caused by the bombings from the Allies during the D-Day operations. It was amazing to see just how big the craters were from the bombs.

Craters caused by bombing during the D-Day operations

It was a moving experience walking through the area, imagining what had transpired on June 6, 1944, when US Army Rangers scaled the 90-foot cliffs to capture this strategic and well-defended point of land. In total, a 150 US Rangers reached the top and seized their objective against machine guns and grenades. The US Rangers then had to fight to defend their position against repeated counter-attacks by the Germans.  It took two days for reinforcements to arrive on June 8th. and during that time 60 Rangers had perished defending their position. This heroic act helped to provide the needed foothold for the allied forces. This became the start of the liberation of France.

Ray in front of a damaged Machine gun bunker

We walked through some of the old bunkers and could easily see the damage caused by bombs and gunfire.

Ray at one of the 155MM heavy Gun platforms on Pointe du Hoc, France

We went to explore one of the main fortified bunkers on the Pointe du Hoc. The bunker had only one entrance/exit from the complex and it was strategically designed to be impenetrable.

Ray on the stairs to the only entrance to the German bunker

Once at the entrance landing,  there was a hallway immediately to the left of the door with a machine gun post in a small opening. There was also a machine gun post at the base of the stair that could shoot the lower area of any advancing soldiers.

Machine gun opening near the main entrance to the bunker

Anyone trying to gain entry would have been shot before getting to the reinforced door of the bunker.

Shelley looking into one of the machine gun posts of the bunker
Ray at the entrance area of the bunker, Bullet holes in the concrete can be seen at the entrance.

We went inside a fortified bunker system and were immediately struck by the sheer size of the complex. There were rooms for ammunition, rooms for personnel and other rooms for communications etc.

Communications room in the bunker system

We walked through the bunker in a quiet and somber manner. There was a plaque located on the wall inside the entrance that listed the US Rangers who died trying to secure the Pointe du Hoc.

Plaque on wall of the US Rangers who died trying to secure the Pointe de Hoc.
US Rangers plaque at Pointe du Hoc, France

We went through different rooms in the bunker and imagined what had transpired on D-Day. It is not hard to imagine what happened to the bunker when it was attacked. The ceiling throughout the entire bunker system was burnt. We can only imagine that flamethrowers were used against the bunker.

The view from inside one of the gun slots in the bunker

Once we finished exploring the bunker we walked around the outside of the bunker. There was a series of trenches and other machine gun bunkers all along the cliffs.

The view of the gun slots in the bunker that rained terror on Allied ships and personnel advance on the beaches of Normandy.

Gun slots in the bunker at Pointe du Hoc, France
Machine gun bunker damaged by artillery
Section of trench system at Pointe du Hoc, France

We spend several hours walking around the bunker system and exploring this historic battle site of WWII. It was an emotional and amazing experience, all at the time.

“Au revoir et passez un bon jour”

Germany

Dachau Concentration Camp

We took a tour and went to the Dachau concentration camp located outside of Munich. The tour began with a train ride to Dachau which was about 20 minutes away.

The train ride was emotional as we thought about the thousands of people forced into boxcars and sent to this concentration camp in the 1930’s and 40’s. It is hard to the terror they must have felt.

The train ramp at Dachau concentration camp

We arrived at Dachau and walked through a park-like trail before arriving at the main gate of the former Dachau Concentration Camp. Along the trail, there are information boards about the camp.

Trail towards Dachau Concentration Camp

We arrived at the main entrance of the camp. The entrance was through a gate arched in the centre of a building with a watchtower on the peak.

Entrance to the Dachau Concentration Camp

The iron gate which has the inscription  “Arbeit macht frei” (Work sets you free).

The iron gate bearing the notorious slogan “Arbeit macht frei” (Work sets you free)

We entered through the gate and saw a very large area which contained several buildings and large rows of rectangular gravel areas. On the right was a long building which was now used for the museum.

Museum building in Dachau Concentration camp.

Inside the museum, there were numerous rooms with displays and information about the camp.

Inside the Dachau Museum

We walked through the museum and read the information on how horrific it was. It was difficult to imagine just how much pain and suffering occurred in the building we were walking through. There were displays of images of prisoners and the living conditions they endured. It was a very emotional time walking through the museum and to see and read the terrible things that were done there.

After going through the museum we went into the yard of the concentration camp. This was also a surreal experience walking down the former rows of where the barracks were.

The gravel where the prisoner barracks were in Dachau Concentration Camp
Rows of bases of former prisoner barracks in the camp

There were rows and rows of barracks with a central road. Along the central lane were rows of trees of both sides.

Central road lined with trees between the prisoner barracks

We walked the central road and it was very long and hard to imagine the size and horror of all the barracks.

Museum image of the prisoner barracks in the 1930’s

We walked the length of the barracks then headed to a small barbwire gate which was off to one side of the camp. All along the perimeter of the camp was an area with a strip of grass and ditch before the barbwire fence which was electrified during the operation of the camp

The area along the perimeter of the concentration camp with grass, a ditch and electrified barbwire fence.

We walked through the gate to an area of the camp that was separated from the remainder of the camp.

The gate area to the separate section of the Dachau Concentration Camp

There was a brick building secluded in an area away from the remainder of the camp. This building was used to incinerate prisoners of the Nazi regime.

Building used to incinerate the bodies of people killed by the Nazi regime in the camp.

We went into the building and it was very emotional for us. The rooms were divided into a process used to remove their property, then their clothing from the victims before they were killed.

This is the room where the victims were told to disrobe to get ready for the “supposed” shower

They were then moved to the “shower” room and were gassed until they died.

Mock shower room used to gas the prisoners

They were then stacked in an another room and other prisoners would be forced to move them to the incinerators and burned. Victims were stacked three at a time in each incinerator and the ashes removed to the rear of the building and disposed of.

Incinerators of the Dachau Concentration Camp

We went outside to the rear of the building and came there were two monuments behind the building marking the thousands of victims buried in unmarked mass graves.

Incinerator room at the rear of the building

Here we saw the monuments for the thousands of victims buried in an unmarked mass graves.

Jewish monument for the thousands of dead at Dachau Concentration Camp
Monument for the thousands of dead at Dachau Concentration Camp

We then walked down a trail into a wooded area behind the building.

Trail behind the incinerator building in Dachau Concentration Camp

We saw a plaque which identified the area where the Nazi’s would use their pistols and execute prisoners.

Pistol range area in Dachau Concentration Camp where prisoners were executed

There was a wall at the other end of the pistol range where the prisoners would be killed.

Wall where prisoners would stand and be executed at Dachau Concentration Camp

The visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp was very emotional. The sheer realization that we were in the very location that this horrendous atrocity occurred gave us overwhelming feelings of sadness, heartbreak, and extreme grief. It was important to see and to remember that tyranny can happen and the high cost of freedom that has been paid.

“Auf Wiedersehen und einen schönen Tag”

Germany

The Eagles Nest at Berchtesgaden Germany

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We took a tour bus from Munich to go and see the “Kehlsteinhaus” known as the Eagles Nest in Berchtesgaden Germany.

Anne, Jim, Shelley, and Ray getting ready to board the tour bus.

The two-hour drive from Munich to Berchtesgaden was very enjoyable with great views of the countryside.

View from the tour bus on the way to Berchtesgaden

We arrived near the base of the mountain and exited the bus. At this point, only designated special buses are used to shuttle people to the entrance of the Eagles Nest.

Special bus used for going to the entrance of Eagles Nest

We boarded the special bus and began our trip up the steep treacherous road which was cut into the mountain. The road was very narrow with many winding turns near the edge of deep gorges.

Edge of the roadway with steep gorges on the way to the Eagles Nest

When we reached the entrance area of the Eagles Nest we could see a large tunnel opening.

Tunnel opening at the base of the Eagles Nest entrance area.

We headed into the tunnel which is 131 meters (430 feet) into the mountain before reaching the base of the elevator shaft.

Tunnel leading to the elevator inside the mountain

When we reached the elevator we were amazed at the size of the elevator. It could hold up to 40 people and was the original elevator when the Eagles Nest was built.

Entrance into elevator at Eagles Nest

The inside of the elevator was very large and ornate with polished brass and gold throughout. The original phone and clock were still in the elevator and functional.

Inside of the elevator of the Eagles Nest
Original clock and phone from the Eagles Nest elevator

The elevator ascends a total of 140 meters (460 feet) to the inside of the Eagles Nest. When we stepped out of the elevator it felt like stepping into a different world.

The Eagles Nest is located near the summit of the Kehlstein mountain and is 1,834 m (6,017 ft) high. The building which was constructed as a gift for Hitler’s 50th birthday was made to impress and represent power.

Today the Eagles Nest is a restaurant with beautiful views of the mountains and a great outdoor patio. We went into the reception hall which has a large marble fireplace.

The reception hall, with marble fireplace
The reception hall, with marble fireplace

The marble fireplace was a birthday gift to Hitler from the dictator Benito Mussolini.

Italian Marble fireplace in the Eagles Nest

After the war, some of the marble was chipped off the fireplace by souvenir seekers. You can see damage where the marble was chipped away.

Damaged section of the marble fireplace

The large windows provided great views of the surrounding mountains.

A view from one of the windows in the Eagles Nest

There was a set of stairs which lead to a wooden paneled room off of the main conference room.

Panel room off of the main conference room

The panel room had two large windows which gave great views of the mountains as well.

Panel room in Eagles Nest
view from the panel room window

We then headed outside to the patio area to explore the outside area. The views were breathtaking, everywhere you looked the views were spectacular.

There was a path that went to the peak of the mountain. We walked up the trail admiring the views along the way. We stopped quite often to just take in the views.

Ray at Eagles Nest
Shelley at Eagles Nest
Ray and Shelley admiring the views at the Eagles Nest

We went to the top of the mountain and looked back at the Eagles Nest.

View of the Eagles Nest from the top of the mountain

To say that the Eagles Nest was amazing would be an understatement. The views were spectacular and our pictures do not do it justice. We enjoyed the experience however it is hard to express the emotions we felt while there. The idea that this was a symbol of power for the Nazi regime and decisions were made here that caused mass murder is disturbing.


“Auf Wiedersehen und einen guten Tag”

United Kingdom

Taxi in London

We took a London  taxi for the first time the other day. It was an interesting experience in a unique vehicle. The design of the car is specifically for a taxi. The back doors open opposite to a normal car door. The inside of the back seat has room for up to five people. There are two folding seats facing backwards and a bench seat facing forward.

We got into the back of the cab and Shelley and I sat on the folding seats facing backwards.

It felt like sitting in the back of a fire truck, and brought back some fond memories. Anne and Jim sat across from us on the bench seat of the taxi.

The taxi ride was not the most comfortable because it was a bit cramped for four people. Overall it was a good ride and we saw some of the London icons along the way back to the hotel.

The taxi had a different system as well for the door. There was a lock system which was activated when we began to move. We could use the intercom if we wanted to talk to the driver.

It was one of those small but unique experiences we enjoyed while in London. 

“Ta ta and cheerio”