Our Dutch friends' story of 1944 Germany
Started off hot and sunny - so had a swim and a short sunbathe, as a mist arrived. The beach here gets right up to the sea wall, so always starts clean! Thunderstorm in afternoon, we were lucky and avoided the ‘donner and blitzen’ ‘où éclairage et tonnerre’. Went out afterwards to Intermarché for some wine. Want to buy some boules now we know the rules! In the evening we went to see our Dutch friends Rid and Korrie Klÿn (pronounced ‘Kline’). They have a trailer tent, very nice, I broke the arm off their chair (it was split already) I was very embarrassed, but they had already explained that it was ‘kaput’. Had a very pleasant evening, mostly trying to communicate! Bill and Rid spoke German, I spoke French mostly, as Rid understands it. Korrie can’t speak much of anything but Dutch, but we can communicate, as many English and Dutch words are the same. Rid explained that in 1944, when he was 17 the Germans took all the men, including him, to work in Germany. On the way the bombing started and eventually he and a friend escaped and walked back to Holland, sleeping in bombed buildings on the way. When they got back, they were arrested by the Germans and were put in gaol! He suffered a throat infection, and went to hospital. Sounded as if it were Diphtheria or something similar.
FRANCE 27 JUNE - 04 AUGUST 1989 holiday overview
- Crossing the Channel on the 'Reine Matilde'
- Rain in Caen and the tomb of William the Conqueror
- Lost spare keys and "where the 'ell are we?!"
- Wine at lunchtime, sleep, walk around the Dahouët port, cards
- First swim. Still no keys.
- Château Bienassis & Church St Jacques Majeur & Port Morvan
- A swim and a drink/welcome by local mayor
- Forte-la-Latte & Cap-Fréhel & St. Cast
- Our Dutch friends' story of 1944 Germany
- Château de la Hunaudaye
- A 4 hour walk with our Dutch friends in Erquy
- Cliff-walk in Val André & Listening to tennis
- Route to Carnac
- Market at Trinité-sur-Mer with Wendy and Trevor
- Doing the washing at a laundrette
- Grotte de Apothicairie on Belle-Île off Quiberon peninsula
- Re-enactment of French Revolution with Bagad players and fireworks
- Late morning, bank, shopping for wine glass and nice meal
- Nice meal in Carnac with Wendy and Trevor
- Étel, Kerhillio, and Port Louis
- Shopping in Cholet, Bill fishing, calling Maxine & Zoë
- Communal shower, cheap dresses on market, and cheap wine
- Villegongis and Tallyrand's Valençay
- Brenne & Boules with Sammy Davis Jnr look-a-like
- Journey to Vichy
- Tennis, petanque & St.Germain
- Visiting Paul & Yvette in St.Germain in their beautiful 100 year old house
- Vichy centre & repairing broken wheel
- Wheel is back & Traffic controller's strike
- Moulins Cathedrale and new campsite in Bourges
- Visiting Bourges Cathedrale and Roman crypt
- Abbaye and Meillant Château
- Journey to Nogent and a rainy new campsite
- Montmirail château
- Another circuit touristique in St Cyr-la-Rosière
- Moving back to Falaise via Alençon
- Last minute beach at Caen before uneventful ferry crossing
- Meal with Chris & Maxine & Zoë for anniversary