Five trips, six photos

Wireless correctly points out that 2004 was our first trip to France.  I have now been five times, here are six photos.

2004, Porte Saint Pierre, Nantes.

The gate is the most complete remnant of the 15th century wall that surrounded Nantes.  This was the gate on the road to Paris.

2006:  Chinon, la Rue du Grand Carroi.

This the spot where according to now fairly ancient lore Jeanne, the Maid of Orléans, heard the voices informing her that her destiny was to support Charles VII in his struggle to recover France from English domination near the end of the Hundred Years War.

Right there, on that spot.

This is 2010, our friend, Monoprix.

It was about 3 blocks away, if we needed something, Monoprix had it.

2011, a trip to the suburbs and the Basilica of Saint Denis.

The church is where the kings of France and their families were buried for centuries. All but three of the monarchs of France from the 10th century until 1789 have their remains here.

This particular monument is the Tomb of Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne.  He was king and died in 1515.  She died in 1514.

2012:  The ridge above Omaha Beach, Normandy.  The main landing site is the beach just to the right of the stele on top of this ancient bunker.

Only small bits of the Atlantic defense wall remain intact.  Where the bunkers are still present they are always a part of one memorial or another.  This one is just down the hill from the American Cemetery and is a memorial for combat engineers.

And my personal favorite, from 2012, the fellow traveler is photographed from the window of our apartment while she was returning from the sandwich shop with lunch.

Big stone church for perspective.