A Very French (and American) Weekend

Once again, no Monday Minute this week because I was too exhausted from our amazing weekend in Normandy!  We started the weekend by getting our carte sejours and then headed to Normandy to stay in a chateau with some friends.

We were so excited to get the e-mail last Thursday that it was time to go for our medical appointments, the last step before receiving our residence cards (carte sejour), even if it meant we had to go the next afternoon.  Our short-stay visas had been expired for about a month, so it was a relief not to worry about it any more.  After a quick chest x-ray and French interview with a doctor, we were approved and received our cards!  Sadly, I have to deal with it all again in 6 months because mine expires in December (of course, Nick's is good for 3 years).

On a high note, we set off for the drive to Normandy.  Each year, AWG (American Women's Group) hosts a Gala where they auction off different things to raise money for charity.  We didn't go to the Gala because it was just shortly after we arrived, but some of the girls I've met through AWG bid on this chateau in Normandy and won!  It sleeps 15, so they invited us to come along.  And how thankful we are...it was an amazing experience and probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!  We had the entire chateau to ourselves.

I wish I could put into words how amazingly beautiful the entire chateau and grounds were, but for now pictures will have to do justice:
We spent the weekend relaxing, playing tennis, eating lots of delicious food, and exploring the grounds around the chateau.  Of course we had to bring a little American-ism to the French chateau.  We made fajitas, guac, and queso one night! :)  There was a full tennis court on the grounds and also about 10 bikes available for use at any time.  Nick and I biked around the chateau but also to several of the nearby villages and countryside.  It was so peaceful and beautiful.  Sometimes you forget what it's like to have quiet living in a big city with all the hustle and bustle!

Downton Abbey, anyone?

Utah Beach

Besides relaxing and enjoying some great company and food, we also learned a lot about history over the weekend.  Nick and I visited the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach and also Utah Beach.  As beautiful as it was, it was very sad to think about all the lives that were lost during this time.  I was also surprised at how far away the beaches were from each other.  I always thought that Omaha and Utah were right next to each other, just maybe a few miles apart.  But, in fact, these beaches are many miles apart, which makes it even more amazing how they were able to plan and succeed in these battles!  I was also amazed at the cliffs and dunes the soldiers had to climb once they landed on the beach.  Some of them were 30-40 feet straight up...again quite amazing!

I wasn't super familiar with my WWII history before this weekend, but I found out so much, including the fact that the chateau we stayed at was a very important piece of history.  After the Allies attacked the different beaches, they eventually cut off the peninsula from Utah Beach over to the west side of the peninsula.  The Americans started to fight north toward Cherbourg because this was an important port still controlled by the Germans.  Eventually the Americans won, and the Germans surrendered, and on June 26, 1944 the Surrender of Cherbourg, or Treaty of Servingy, was signed at Chateau de Servingy, where we were staying!




When German General vonSchlieben was captured he was brought to the castle and signed the surrender treaty with American General Collins.  We were lucky enough to get to see the room where the treaty was signed along with lots of other memorabilia from the war and treaty.  We even got to touch the maps and books given to the soldiers.  You could see notes written by soldiers inside the book.

The wall the treaty was signed on, and the wallpaper from the wall

The table the treaty was signed on, with a copy of the treaty

Maps and handouts given by the US govt. to soldiers

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend.  Normandy is definitely a place I'd recommend, not only for history, but also for the beauty of the French countryside.  And if you're ever looking for a chateau to rent, check out Chateau de Servigny.  Simply amazing!  Be sure to check out more of our pictures from the weekend here.