"A child may ask, 'What is the world's story about?' And a grown man or woman may wonder, 'What way will the world go? How does it end and, while we're at it, what's the story about?'

I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one, that has frightened and inspired us, so that we live in a Pearl White serial of continuing though and wonder. Humans are caught-in their lives, in their thoughts, in their hungers and ambitions, in their avarice and cruelty, and in their kindness and generosity too- in a net of good and evil."

~John Steinbeck~


"Peace is not a gift from God to man, but a gift from man to himself"

~Elie Wiesel~












Below: The American Memorial at Omaha Beach remembering the sacrafice of 9,400 soldiers. Near by, a German memorial honors the sacrafice of the thousands of young men who gave their lives on the same day.




Below: Omaha Beach, one of the many shorelines of debarkement of the American troops (Canadian and British troops as well) on D-day . In the distance you can see Point du Hoc, the strategic German stronghold built on top of a cliff that juts into the sea . On D-Day, a troop of 225 American soldiers stormed the German stronghold, climbing up the cliffs on rope ladders. Reinforcement did not arrive until 2 days later. 90 American soldiers were left.



Below: One of many huge wounds in the earth from American bombs dropped before D-day.



Below: Twisted remains of a cable.



Normandy was heavy with the weight of humanity and humanity's actions, with questions of right and wrong, freedom and captivity, sacrafice, love, death. Pondering is useful but dwelling can be destructive...so I will end with pictures of springtime and sunshine (and new life for those of you who haven't caught the analogy ;)









It was a lovely sunny morning, so I took advantage of the blue skies and my 4 hour break between classes to stroll through Le Jardin des plantes (The Garden/Park of plants). So, here is a little spring-time for all of you.




The castle (le chateau) in Nantes. After three years of renovation, it opened last weekend. What a beautiful morning.