Travels in the Ardennes

[Anniemcc2]

Despite some rain today, we visited Fort Vaux nr. Verdun - and found this swallow's nest in one of the gun encasements. Himself took the photo on his phone [never done that before] while we were closely watched by Mum & Dad swallows.



It's heartbreaking to learn what happened there during WW1- a complete waste of young men's lives - just to feed political egos.

[suesjools]

Oh wow, how cool is that, that life could flourish in such a place? Pretty darn awesome IMHO. Nice pic, I need to get one of those cellphones, or maybe I should learn to take pix first.

Enjoy your travels.

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[Anniemcc2]

Where we were today:



http://www.cndp.fr/crdp-reims/memoir..._menehould.htm

[suesjools]

Oh wow, that is so peaceful and so sad at the same time. Not sure I'd have the courage to go there, I'd probably wind up crying and embarrass myself, I try not to, but I do it all the time whenever I see anything tragic.

Best wishes,

[Anniemcc2]

Yesterday we went back into Verdun to see the Citadel [free parking right outside].



It was used to house soldiers - French and American - returning from/going out to the Western Front and was a complete city miles underground. You do the tour on a little train affair which made things a lot easier for me. The ticket lady gave us what we thought were the English auto-guides - turned out she gave us the German ones. So we had to make do with the French commentary

Have found a very good WW1 enthusiast's photo website with much better photos than mine:

http://pierreswesternfront.punt.nl/c...verdun-citadel

[sucadot]

Looks a fascinating place Annie, thanks for the link.

[Anniemcc2]

It seems we have a Farmer's / Local Producer's Market here on Sunday - in our landlord's yard and right next door to our holiday cottage - that's Sunday lunch taken care of !

[Anniemcc2]

Saturday we went down to Cramant in the Champagne region



As some of you know, I lost my father-in-law back in April. Some of his ashes are now sprinkled under some of the Moet & Chandon vines

[Anniemcc2]

Sunday was the above mentioned Farmer's/Local Producer's Market + the Vides-Greniers & Brocante fair down in the village -Vaux-les-Mouron







Not a brilliant picture of the singers but they were all in striped Breton tops and the man leading them was the image of 'It is I, LeClair' from 'Allo, 'Allo

[HerMajesty]

So interesting! Thanks for posting! I always appreciate people putting up pics of places I will probably never see.