Farwell England, Hello France

Late Monday night we found out that Blake's grandmother passed away so we all pretty much did not sleep trying to figure out if we needed to change flights to get them home for the funeral. After talking and researching we decided it was better to just stay due to all the additional fees it would cost. It was bitter sweet to leave mom and dad especially knowing it would be another year before we saw them again. We should have planned things a little better and stayed with them longer. There was still so much to see and it was great have some one on one time to just spend time with them. Thank you mom and dad for letting us take over your flat and showing us the ropes of your new town. We are all so proud of you and all the hard work and dedication you have for your mission. Keep up the good work, can't wait to see you again. I Love you and miss you.

At 3am Tuesday morning we took a 2 hr drive that we thought would be shorter to the airport to catch a 6am flight yes we barely made it! We landed in Paris and got the rental car and off we went on another adventure.

 Marissa sat 3 wide the whole trip with her parents, it was so cute how much she wanted to just be near them.

Heading out of Paris there was a ton of traffic so it took us a while to find other routes.

These yellow fields are everywhere, we never figured out what they were but everyone had them so they must be used for something in the farming industry. Whatever they were they were beautiful to see. Loved it

First stop Normandy to see D-day history. This was right off the highway entering into Normandy.

This was at the exit of one of the museums and on the wall was this quote - "If ever proof were needed that we fought for a cause and not for conquest it could be found in these cemeteries. Here was our only conquest all we asked... was enough soil in which to bury our gallant dead." General Mark Clark

Omaha Beach

US Memorial

Imagine men of all ages scaling down these cliffs to get to the beach with bullets coming at them and in these waters are men that never even made it to the beach and drowned from the weight of there packs.

All the craters made from the bombs, I stood in the middle of one and it was a least 10-12ft deep. An amazing reminder of what sacrifice our troops do to give us the freedom that we have today.

Some of the German barracks blown apart from the bombs.
We did not spend as much time as we could have here but what we saw was just amazing and hard to believe what these men went through to take over the German/ Hitler reign.

Bath or Bust

Monday we went on a wild ride to the city of Bath in England. This is where the Roman Baths are that are made from the natural spring and still flow hot and steamy today. This place was also were Jane Austin lived and wrote several of her books. We had a great time, wish we had a little more time there the shopping was great and the town was beautiful. It only rained off and on during the day, only lost one side view mirror heading out of town and I of course got bad stomach issues when we were heading home.

 The Abby in town.

Side view of the Roman Baths

Front

Top view, it was a bank holiday so things closed early this day and it took us longer to drive out there than we though (that was the theme for the whole trip) so we did not get to go inside the baths. Hopefully mom and dad can go back out and check it out.

A little street entertainment

On the double decker bus tour.

one of the first cottages built there

Random head and bird hanging out on top of the building

Entrance to the Jane Austin museum, they have a festival in September that everyone who attends dresses up. 

Exploring England Sunday Style

Sunday we went to church so mom and dad could show us off to their friends :) This was us walking to the train station 2 trains and about 45 min later we were walking some more to the church. Gotta hand it to mom and dad I think if it was raining/snowing I would say maybe next week.

A view of the street heading to the church, could not help but start singing, Chim Chiminey chim chim cher-ee while holding my umbrella! Mary Poppins songs sprung in my head quite often looking at the scenery.

After church we went on an adventure in the rental cars to Richmond Park about 20 min outside of Kingston. Cherlyn was a brave soul for driving in the crazy streets of England. People drive crazier than New Yorkers and the roads are full of round abouts .

A super cuter cottage in the middle of the park.

Ah such a cute niece I have, Marissa.It was fun having her on the trip with us.
These deer were everywhere it was a hunters paradise. This park was a Kings at one point that he had to keep the deer in so that he could hunt them with his friends.

This was inside the park a gorgeous place to walk amongst the flowers and trees. 

Mom and Dad have become Monks since living in England.

Once again amazing but so much better in person.

Ah Purple so Pretty!