France
We caught the train from Northampton to Euston Station, London. We walked towards St Pancras Station (virtually next door). In between is The British Library where Richard Cheeses (Warren's 2nd cousin is in charge of the Music Collections). We met & chatted to him for a while.
While nearby Kings Cross Station we visited Platform 9 3/4 of Harry Potter fame. They had the sigh set up & huge line up of people waiting to have their photo taken at it!
When we went to join the queue to get on the Eurostar & Warren presented his ticket, people 'jumped to attention' & 'come right through here sir; me following to the head of the line!
We had to pass through Customs & passport control - gone the special treatment when we had to lift ALL our bags onto the conveyor belt to be checked!!!!
However people very good helping us on & off trains. Warren just stands there & looks helpless !
Eurostar 40 mins in England; 30 mins in tunnel & 1hr & half to Paris. Changed to local train & arrived in
Arras at 8.20. Thankfully the hotel was right across the road from the station!
In the morning we met our Guide Lisa (British, early 40s; had been married to Australian; 3 children 21, 18, 15; step son 12. In France for 22 yrs & doing tours his 16 yrs) the other family - Theresa originally from Lugarno, 3 children with her 16, 14, 12 live in Hong Kong for over 6 years; husband in finance).
We did one day together - drove via Bapaume to Mont Saint Quentin. We had a look at some Australian Memorials there & walk around the eoods where Allied trenches were, surrounding an abbey where the Germans had set up their base.
Sir John Monash led 2 flanks of Australisns in surptise attack on the abbey - Australian won & one of last battles of the war.
French countryside very flat; all farms - so quiet & peaceful. Little villages everywhere.
LOVE THST THE RED POPPIES ARE OUT & ALONG SO MANY OF THE ROADS!
On to town of Peronne which was destroyed in the war, the only thing left 4 pillars outside Town Hall. All been rebuilt. Big citadel which was very badly damaged in war now a museum. WE WENT THROUGH IT - VERY MODERN DISPLAYS; few groups there.
We had lunch at new place & Lisa not impressed when we had to wait a long time before we were served
On to Bullecourt where we went through a museum set up in honour of a local farmer who saved & displayed all the war things he found in his fields - quite incredible. There are still 2,500 (unnamed soldiers) buried in fields around Bullecourt.
Lisa has built new house here & showed us. A couple more specifically Australian memorials.
All along the way little square war cemeteries marked out. France very grateful to the Australians.
We had to get back an hour earlier for family to catch their train to Brussels. We didn't mind as it had been terribly hot & we were tired!
We ate at restaurants surrounding hotel - all good!
While nearby Kings Cross Station we visited Platform 9 3/4 of Harry Potter fame. They had the sigh set up & huge line up of people waiting to have their photo taken at it!
When we went to join the queue to get on the Eurostar & Warren presented his ticket, people 'jumped to attention' & 'come right through here sir; me following to the head of the line!
We had to pass through Customs & passport control - gone the special treatment when we had to lift ALL our bags onto the conveyor belt to be checked!!!!
However people very good helping us on & off trains. Warren just stands there & looks helpless !
Eurostar 40 mins in England; 30 mins in tunnel & 1hr & half to Paris. Changed to local train & arrived in
Arras at 8.20. Thankfully the hotel was right across the road from the station!
In the morning we met our Guide Lisa (British, early 40s; had been married to Australian; 3 children 21, 18, 15; step son 12. In France for 22 yrs & doing tours his 16 yrs) the other family - Theresa originally from Lugarno, 3 children with her 16, 14, 12 live in Hong Kong for over 6 years; husband in finance).
We did one day together - drove via Bapaume to Mont Saint Quentin. We had a look at some Australian Memorials there & walk around the eoods where Allied trenches were, surrounding an abbey where the Germans had set up their base.
Sir John Monash led 2 flanks of Australisns in surptise attack on the abbey - Australian won & one of last battles of the war.
French countryside very flat; all farms - so quiet & peaceful. Little villages everywhere.
LOVE THST THE RED POPPIES ARE OUT & ALONG SO MANY OF THE ROADS!
On to town of Peronne which was destroyed in the war, the only thing left 4 pillars outside Town Hall. All been rebuilt. Big citadel which was very badly damaged in war now a museum. WE WENT THROUGH IT - VERY MODERN DISPLAYS; few groups there.
We had lunch at new place & Lisa not impressed when we had to wait a long time before we were served
On to Bullecourt where we went through a museum set up in honour of a local farmer who saved & displayed all the war things he found in his fields - quite incredible. There are still 2,500 (unnamed soldiers) buried in fields around Bullecourt.
Lisa has built new house here & showed us. A couple more specifically Australian memorials.
All along the way little square war cemeteries marked out. France very grateful to the Australians.
We had to get back an hour earlier for family to catch their train to Brussels. We didn't mind as it had been terribly hot & we were tired!
We ate at restaurants surrounding hotel - all good!
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