Exploring Bayeux

 7/10: Bob and I got up and walked the 1 mile to the grocery store to get breakfast items and dinner for one of the next two nights. It was like a Target and King Soopers all in one, and in our opinion organized very haphazardly. Given that, as well as us forgetting we had to weigh produce prior to checkout, combined with no one speaking English, it took us longer than we anticipated to get out of there!

We arrived back at our place to find the kids still asleep at 1030 - I guess they needed the sleep! We enjoyed brunch, packed our backpacks, and headed out for a day of Bayeux sights. We started with the Norte Dame Cathedral right outside our place. We have quite a few pictures of this, as we just couldn’t believe how beautiful it was at different times of the day and evening. We all marveled at how the people could build this 1000 years ago!

HUGE doors!

While walking inside the Cathedral, Bob spotted a woman wearing leg braces. He introduced himself, and told her about Quinn’s recent CMT diagnosis, and she quickly said, “that’s what I have!” She has Type 1X, and so do her Mother and siblings. It was great to hear her story and see her moving around with seeming ease.

Caitlyn, Quinn, and Charcot

We headed to the Tapistry Museum, which showcases a very long linen scroll with embroidered pictures describing the early fight for who would be King of England. The story was told in pictures because most of the population was illiterate. One reviewer described it as a ‘super cool 1000 year old comic book, and I mean that in the most respectful way.’ I agree! We all really enjoyed the audio guide that explained the images and told the story.

Our next stop we grabbed a favorite sandwich of Bob’s (baguette with ham and cheese) and a few fresh pastries. We enjoyed them while we strolled down the street. It’s amazing how delicious and simple these 3 items taste together! The kids quickly fell in love with it too. Thank you, Mary, for the 10E as this was a cash only shop!

Next we went to the Museum of the Battle of Normandy and the Bayeux War Cemetery. We all found both places really informational and moving. At the museum, a few of the points that stuck with me were:

- that each Allied commander set aside his Country’s individual goals in favor of the collective allied goal.

- significant medical advancements had been made since WWI to improve survival, notably the usage of penicillin and sulfa antibiotics, the usage of plasma, and increased speed of transport of soldiers to more specialized hospitals. They also recognized that decreased time between injury and surgery resulted in better outcomes, so the goal was surgery in <1 hour. There were six surgeries occurring simultaneously in one room, oftentimes with the soldier’s muddy boots still on. Anesthesia was able to be delivered for longer stretches of time (Pentothal and Nitrous Oxide)

The cemetery was moving and lovely. Some of the quotes on the headstones brought us to tears:

-‘he left behind so sweet a memory that still he seems to live’ - loving wife

-‘to live in the hearts of those we love and leave behind is not to die’

-‘you were taken but Baby Frances came to take your place’ -your loving wife Marie

Out for dinner and ice cream, and home to watch some of the England vs Netherlands futbol match. Full day ahead tomorrow with a private guide recommended by the Bebarta’s taking us to the beaches of Normandy.

The view from Bob and my bedroom window - Bob and Quinn stepped outside one more time to admire the Cathedral before bed.

Simone looking out her window below

The Cathedral continues to enchant us: