On Our Own in Normandy - Day 1

We left Montdidier before 8am. There were a lot of tears and hugs all around. The girls have made many new friends and even Madame was sad to leave! Our train stopped in Rouen and we got off there for a 2-hour tour. We left our bags with a train agent and took the Rouen metro to the center of town. We first visited the famous cathedral of Rouen, painted by Monet in various lights and the site of part of Joan of Arc's trial. Then, we walked down the Rue de l'Horloge and we were treated to a parade honoring D-Day. We also saw the beautiful Renaissance clock and many homes that date back to the 15th & 16th centery and the 18th century home of Rouen's deputy to the Estates General in 1789. Finally, we arrived at the square where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. They've built a modern church at the site.

In a rush back to the train station, we stopped to grab some sandwiches and drinks. We ate and drank these standing in the train station and we made it easily back on the train to Caen. Upon our arrival in Caen about an hour and a half later, we were able to take the tram and a bus to the Memorial de Caen, a musuem that explains about D-Day, WWII, and the causes of the two Great Wars. We met several veterans from Great Britain and the girls were thrilled to ask all kinds of questions about their experiences of the Second World War. By the time we left, it was raining and we missed the 6:15 pm train to Lisieux, so we stopped and had homemade pizza at a restaurant near the train station. We caught the 8:15 train to Lisieux and we made it to the hotel by taxi around 9:15 pm. It is our first night in a hotel and we are all exhausted. We saw all the things Madame had on the list for today, so hopefully, tomorrow will be a bit less stressful.