Ypres

[lacroupade]

My grand father Thomas Nugent (must be some Irish connection there) was in the first world war, on his deathbed over forty years later he was still in the trenches, the last words he said to me was " we have been in these trench for five days without food, but I am worried about those I have left at home"

You can't begin to imagine can you, not just what he went through at the time, but what he clearly carried with him his entire life.....

I often drive through northern France, and especially when I've done it in the depths of winter, with wind and snow literally howling across these wide, flat open spaces, I always stop and wonder at the sheer balls of the men who had to fight and winter, wearing primitive clothing compared to whats available today, through conditions that most of us wouldn't last five minutes in. :rose

 

[davenclaire]

a nice play to visit

i go several times a year to taking groups of bikers to visit this part of france and belgium next year going to normandy for 4 days on the bikes to tour round the battle fields and pay our respects to the fallen

 

[paulp]

ypres

Hi Try the wellington caves in Arras

good guided tour

Just came back from bastogne and Malmady (the battle of the bulge)

great trip but the main attraction was closed for refurbishment

worth the effort though

With regards to Noramandy

portland camping in port en bessien is very biker friendly, been there with my mates on bikes and with the family, Arrowmanch 9kms and Omaha beach 10kms st Mere Eglise, Carentan and Utah Beach 45km all worth a visit

Utah Beach = a must do visit to Le Camion (sdnack van) Best sausicon sandwich on the Normandy coast

http://www.camping-portland.com/indexuk/indexuk.html

Happy to post pics if enough interest

paulp

 

[felixthelogchopper]

i go several times a year to taking groups of bikers to visit this part of france and belgium next year going to normandy for 4 days on the bikes to tour round the battle fields and pay our respects to the fallen

Make sure you visit the 360 at Arromanche :thumb2

 

[lacroupade]

I tell you one place I'm dying to visit: 'La Coupole' .....keep driving past the signs but always wrong time of day!

http://www.theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/visit/visit-stomer-lacoupole.htm

 

[paulp]

visits

la coupole and the blockhaus @ eperlecque are well worth a visit and can both be done in a day trip

(beware the exhibits re; the holocaust @ the blockhaus can be upsetting for children)

http://www.leblockhaus.com/modulosite2/welcome-gb.htm

http://www.lacoupole-france.com/en/default.asp

paulp

 

[davenclaire]

i agree the blockhaus @ eperlecque ace

i did the blockhaus @ eperlecque this year took my 2 boys oh and the wife for a day trip they have been doing ww2 history here at home with me they loved it at just 8 and 10 it was a great adventure they got to practise there french and see history for real