Family Fun

Alright..I know this is supposed to be a weekly blog and I skipped a week but I really didn't take even one picture.  That is really unusual...as you well know, I can usually ramble on and make a blog out of just about anything.  This week will make up for it!  Like I've probably said before...it's either feast or famine when it comes to our adventures.


My parents and niece, Karissa arrived on Wednesday morning for a nice three week visit and we will be busy, busy....

We spent Wednesday at the base getting passes and permission for dad to drive my car.  The customs dept. here in Germany requires paperwork and permission for a non USAEUR licensed driver to drive the car of a USAEUR licensed car.   Is that confusing or what!?

The next day was a day off of school for Travis.  We all decided to take a day trip up to Cochem and tour the Reichsburg Castle.  It was a beautiful almost two hour drive up through the woods.  We had such an adventure actually getting to the castle itself.   Google map showed a back way that looked like it went right to the castle (so mom wouldn't have to hike up to it) but we must have missed a turn and ended up right in Cochem down on the Moselle river.   The GPS told me to go up a little narrow alley, which I did and then found out I couldn't turn down the road.  It was a pedestrian area, so we had to turn right down a very, very narrow cobblestone road. I was worried the side mirrors were going to hit the buildings.   

We headed back into the cute town of Cochem, found some parking and then went exploring on foot.  What a cute town!  

We waited around for a shuttle to take us up to the castle for about half an hour before I read the sign and realized the shuttle is seasonal and we missed the season by about a week.  Mom and dad decided to take a taxi up and Karissa, Travis and I walked up.  It's very steep and took about 15 minutes.   Wow...I actually kept up with those young 'uns pretty well!

Karissa and T.J. under the good luck mermaid

We had to take the castle tour in German but they had a little paper handout in English that we could follow along on.  The castle was beautiful and so interesting.  
(remember you can click on any picture to make it bigger)

Later we all walked back down to the village of Cochem to eat a late lunch.  We found a cute waterfront restaurant and all ordered schnitzel.  It was really good food and scenery.

Outside of the restaurant

On Friday mom, dad, Karissa and I got up early and drove to Normandy.  A trip to the historic sites of D-Day was at the top of my dad's list of things to do on his trip to Europe.  It's an 8 hour drive, but the scenery its beautiful the whole way. 

 Our only hiccup on the way was trying to buy gas at a gas station in France.  First it wouldn't take dad's credit card, then he went in and she said go to the other pump, which we did, then it still didn't work and he went in again and then she said "your car ees facing the wrong way...you cannot pump zee gas"  So we turned the car the right way and ...  still no gas!  He finally went in and we though "oh, oh...he's mad now"  but he came out smiling and he had paid in cash and we finally got some gas and were on our way again.  

My dad

We went straight out to Point du Hoc.  This is the place where the 2nd Ranger Battalion scaled the cliff to disable the German guns threatening both Utah and Omaha beaches.  They used small rope ladders to climb the sheer cliffs. Once they managed to reach the top they found most of the german bunkers abandoned and then had to make their way to the highway through sniper fire and much resistance.  After the next 72 hours, less than one hundred of the three hundred rangers survived.  

It was so windy and lightly raining but we were all so glad we stopped here anyway.

Next we drove about 10 kilometers up the coast to a village called Sainte Mere Eglise.  It is a really cute little village surrounding a church that became famous when on D-Day two groups of paratroopers dropped from the sky over the village.  The Germans occupying the village opened fire and killed four.  A firefight and manhunt for the other paratroopers ensued and after about a half hour more paratroopers were dropped in on this chaos.  One of these paratroopers landed on the church and was caught on the steeple by his harness.  He watched as his fellow soldiers battled the germans though out the night.  He was later cut down and imprisoned by the Germans but escaped a few days later.  The village was so grateful to be liberated by the Americans, they have a memorial and have a dummy paratrooper that they leave suspended on the church roof to commemorate the event.

Paratrooper on the church.

Church at Saint Mere Eglise

We had a nice dinner at a little restaurant in Bayeux.  Karissa and I had a Galette which was a buckwheat crepe with ham and cheese on the inside and a sunny side up egg on the top. 

 After full bellies it was time to head for the hotel.  I booked us a family room at a place called the Chateau Bellafontaine.  It was like a fairy tale...we drove down a lane, through some iron scrolled gates and along a swan filled pond with big trees all around it and at the end of the lane there was a big chateau with lit up window shining though the dusk.  Pefect!  

The Chateau Bellafontaine

Our two story room in the carriage house

The next morning we were up early and off the the American Military Cemetery and Memorial at Omaha Beach.  This was my second visit here and mom, dad and Karissa's first.  It is hard to put the feeling one feels standing in this place into words in a blog.  In fact, it's not possible.

Even with a steady downpour of rain it is an awe inspiring place and so worth the long drive!

When we were done at the cemetery, we got in the car and began our long drive home.  On the way, we missed a turn and ended up off the freeway and headed in to Paris.  I try very hard to avoid large cities. I admit it.  They make me nervous and stressed.  I don't like to be in traffic especially in an unfamiliar place and especially when I can't read the signs.   So where do we end up??   Somewhere downtown Paris, driving bumper to bumper through the tunnels, under and over the Seine river and in the shadow of the Eifel Tower!   Karissa was thrilled she got to see the top half of it and take a picture.  We hadn't planned on it  but now that I have made it safely home, I am happy to say "I've been to Paris!"   Next time maybe I'll get out of the car.

love and miss you all,

corri