My Impressions of France 

As I was planning my trip, I heard a lot of folks share their opinions of France. Some positive and many not so positive. Here’s what I thought…

I have so many things to share with you guys about my trip. My head is spinning round and round, but I felt impressed to share with you this thought first before I go into more details of my trip in later posts.

First, let me just say there are and always will be a handful of bad apples where ever you go. Just because you run into one or two bad apples doesn’t make the rest of the group bad.

Honestly, I didn’t have one bad run-in with anyone in France. In fact, I found the folks that I interacted with to be kind, patient and very genuine. While I was in the hospital, the staff bedside manner was wonderful. As Nate and I road-tripped from Paris to Normandy our interactions with people went very well, so well, it warmed my heart.

While staying in a charming chateau just off the coast of Normandy, the owner, Comte Régis de Roquefeuil of the chateau was so kind and welcoming. There was no small talk, it became an instant friendship. In fact we spent most of the morning with him chatting about several topics during breakfast. We talked about his family and our families, about the history of the chateau (being built in 1763 and is still a family home today, by the same family). We chatted about World War II. Nate and I mentioned our families and how they served in the wars. I also mentioned I had family buried in Normandy. He talked about how his family had to go into hiding during the struggles of the French Revolution. All of the 16th century items in the home were burned and parts of the interior of the house were damaged by the revolutionists. Then we learned how the German officers occupied their home during WWII and what it was like for his family to live there.

This is where we ate breakfast.

This was our room.

His father was known as a war hero and fought with the French Resistance during WWII. It was fascinating to learn from the Comte Régis that his father had always drawn cartoons from his life as a way of journaling – in a stunning comic book style – and that this was now recorded in a book. What an amazing gift to leave behind for generations to look at and learn from.

 

His father was a beautiful artist. We had a preview of his illustrations that his father drew during the war about his experiences between 1939 and 1945. These are published in a book called Chronique illustrée de la Manche en guerre by Arnaud de Roquefeuil. They are absolutely astounding showing many accounts of what the war actually looked like in that part of the world. He even included an illustration of how it looked above his home when planes covered the skies overhead on D day. Very, very powerful. Evidently, there is talk of an independent movie made from his father’s comics that is in the works right now.

He mentioned how grateful the people of Normandy are, including himself and his family, for how bravely the Americans fought. He said, “If it wasn’t for the Americans bombing the train tracks and taking out a particular bridge where my father was captured and being sent off to a concentration camp, my father would have died.”

He said that many of the locals have adopted American solders graves that are buried in his town as a way of thanks for their sacrifice. He talked about the soldiers grave that he adopted. His name is George H. Mick from Wisconsin. He asked us if we would like to visit his soldiers grave and lay flowers there. We adamantly agreed.

When we drove up to the American Cemetery, it was just Nate and I. There was a quiet reverence there that can’t be explained. I was so overcome with emotion I had to stand still. Saying “Thank You” just didn’t come close to being the right words to say. I had no idea that the locals cared so much for these men. The grounds are flawless and immaculate, plus, how beautiful and magnificently designed they keep the grounds made it even more of a humbling place. There were countless rows of crosses. Countless. The impact of the many rows of crosses and stars of David cannot be adequately described. As I looked over the endless graves I couldn’t help but think of all their wives, fiances, mothers, fathers, siblings and friends who mourned for all these selfless men. It is an emotional experience to see it first hand. I can’t even begin to try to attempt to understand their sacrifices.

I will never forget this beautifully loved and sacred place.

XOXO

Melessa