more france

When we planned this trip, we knew we would want to plan a whole week in Paris because there would be so much to see and do. And that proved to be a good idea. But we were also tempted to take the opportunity to see some french countryside and visit a beloved site, Le Mont St Michel. So we took off for 48 hours and drove to Normandy and Brittany. We toured the Mont, which was more breathtaking than the pictures and a well-preserved old village. We also visited the D-Day beaches and the cemetery where American soldiers are buried. There are 14 such WWII cemeteries in the world and it was a very amazing, sobering experience. Lastly, before heading back to the capital we saw St Malo, a coastal town with some decent surf and the old city within a wall of ramparts.
Three things that I came to Europe for (and Europe did not leave me disappointed):awesome food-- we've tried 3 or 4 new kinds of cheese and eaten baguettes and pastries daily; beautiful and old architecture--it's amazing how much effort and money have gone into building and preserving these buildings, statues, and monuments; and culture-- I think I've already touched on this before, but I love how the French and English cherish art and history. For me, trying to take a crash course has made me be "museum-ed out."
I can't wait to come home and kiss those darling children of mine.