Day 5 - Traveling to Caen

I was looking forward to traveling to Caen today.  We would be traveling by train and would be able to see the countryside.  It is always nice to get away from the metropolitan area and see how the  country really lives.  Even the french people think that the Perisians are snobs.  It is the same feelings that the Americans have towards New Yorkers.  Once you live in a metropolitan area, you realize that the people around are just trying to survive and the pace of life is fast and furious and you better hussel are you may be eaten up.  My three years in New York taught me about New Yorkers and once they are your friend, they are your friend for life.

We were meeting at the hotel around noon for lunch and then we would head to the train station.  Our morning was open, so several of us decided to go back to a vendor that we talked with the day before.  He had some beautiful scarves and I thought a scarf for my mom would be the perfect gift.  Linda and Rhonda found some souvenirs to take back to their grandchildren.

We were about 15 minutes from the train station.  When we arrived at Gare Saint-Lazare, it was crowded.  It was Saturday and people were traveling to various places.  The train station is one of the six large railway stations of Paris.  It handles 275,000 passengers each day.  We located our platform and we waited patiently for the arrival of our train.

We found our reserved seats and got comfortable for our 2 1/2 hour ride to Caen.  Each seat was filled on the train.  People were ready to escape the hustle and bustle of Paris.  The area that we traveled through was flat and some vegetation.  You could feel the humidity getting higher as we got closer to our destination.  Caen is about an hour northwest from Normandy.

Arriving at the Bayeux Station around 3 p.m., we located some taxis and off to our apartment, we went.  We were staying at the Bayeux Historic Apartments, which was located in the center of town.  This way we would be able to experience how one lives in France.

Caen is located about 10 miles inland from the English Channel.  It is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who is buried there.  A lot of heavy fighting took place in and around Caen during the Battle of Normandy in 1944, destroying much of the city.

While we were unpacking and getting freshened up for the evening, Becca went to locate a restaurant that would be able to accommodate the ten of us.

Another spectacular meal was enjoyed by everyone.  Another day of virtual touring through France.  Tomorrow will be an emotional day in reliving the Battle of Normandy!