France (July 26 - August 1)
This part of our trip will look very different than that of the tour we started on. But when things go sideways, the best thing to do is to go forward, make the most of it, and see Europe through the back door.
When we made it to France, we all needed a break. So, while not picturesque shopping district you may think of when you imagine shopping in Europe, the Aeroville mall next to the airport was exactly what these three exhausted Oregonians needed. A day of normal and an escape from the sweltering heat of Rome.
The next day we rented a car and drove north of Paris to Caen, where we would stay in a lovely Airbnb apartment for the rest of our time.
We stopped on our way in Rouen. I was amazed at the accessibility we found here. We could just walk into the Rouen Cathedral, for free!
And the same was true of the near empty art museum where we could marvel at Monet's paintings of the same cathedral. I really did feel like we found a back door.
Another unique adventure we found was buying groceries at a grocery store in Caen. In case you are wondering, you have to scan your produce in the produce section before bringing it to the register, and no, no one in the grocery store spoke any English. Thanks to the kindness of strangers, we made it out a little bit wiser!
The next day we explored the Caen Castle and then drove west towards Mont St. Michael. While not on the tour originally planned, this sight was featured in Rick Steves book and piqued our interest.
On the way we got crepes in a small village where no one spoke English. How fun to stretch ourselves! There was a lot of pointing, nodding, and smiling happening. But that's part of the fun!
Mont St. Michael took us by surprise. Like a fantasy castle floating just off the horizon, the Abbey was a sight to behold.
We climbed up and down the Abbey until the sun set.
A trip to Normandy isn't complete without visiting the landmarks of D-Day and World War II. We drove along the coast, stopping at battle grounds and museums. Just as our time at Dachau was powerful, walking this ground reminded me of the sacrifice so many made for freedom and justice.
We ended our time in Normandy with a visit to Bayeux, opting to wander the streets and look into shops over hitting the museums.
The next morning we drove back to Paris.
When we arrived, who was there to greet us but a couple of fellow tour-mates! We had lunch together and discussed our experiences on the trip. I loved how our time together on the tour really made us all a family. We said our last goodbyes and made some stops in Paris, including the originally planned Sainte Chappelle, and the Musee D'Orsay. What a whirlwind of a last day!
As we flew back across the Atlantic and to the west coast of the US, I reflected on my time on the Rick Steves Best of Europe Tour. With Rick Steves we could fit in so much more in a day then we could on our own. It was such a blessing to have reliable transportation, delicious dinners, lovely hotels, a competent guide, and access to wonderful resources such as specialized guides and tours. I would highly recommend trying a Rick Steves tour and personally hope to have the opportunity to go on another one in the future.