I’ll admit I haven’t been able to update my blog as frequently as I’d like, but here’s an update since my last post until now!
One of the most incredible field trips I’ve taken so far has been to the island of Mont Saint Michel. With a great monastery at the top of the mountain on the island, high tides completely cut off the road on to the island. We went at low tides thankfully and it was really an experience to walk on the sand surrounding the island because it’s still soft and soggy from when the tides are up.
The monastery was gorgeous and walking the walls led to breath taking views. For lunch my group and I had the French-famous Croque Monsieurs (which are grilled ham and cheese sandwiches but BETTER). I also got a lemon meringue tart! I could get used to eating like the French do.
A couple days later my History of Normandy class went to Pegasus Bridge. It’s a monumental landmark for D-Day and was essential to the Allied victory in Europe. It was one of the first locations Allied soldiers took the morning of D-Day. The bridge crossed the Caen Canal, and later the Allied soldiers would need to cross it if they wanted to continue their liberation of France. So before the beach invasions three British bomber jets towed gliders, (which are basically small planes without an engine made of wood, like a paper airplane) carrying soldiers and let them go a few miles from the bridge. The gliders flew down and landed silently with incredible precision and the 90 soldiers they were carrying were able to take the bridge from the Nazis quickly. It took them under 10 minutes. However, the hard part was holding the bridge. Those 90 soldiers, with only the cover of the sides of the bridge and with German shooters on two opposing mountain tops nearby held the bridge for nearly 12 hours before backup came from the beaches.
Before this trip, looking at my schedule I wondered what Pegasus Bridge even was. None of my history classes taught me the story of Pegasus Bridge, maybe because it was on French soil or because it was British soldiers, but it sounds pretty important to me. I wish I had learned about it earlier, but nevertheless, I’m grateful I know the story now, as I’m blown away by the feats performed here 75 years ago.
Last weekend I treated myself to a little trip to Dublin, Ireland! I knew I wanted to explore Europe a little bit while I was in France and Ireland has always been one of my bucket-list locations! I feel like I crammed so much into two little days and I came home exhausted but it was absolutely worth it! I took a tour of Trinity College, which has a history almost as long as the city of Dublin itself, and fun-fact: was one of the first European colleges to allow women to earn a degree!
I then got to go into the library at Trinity College and see the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript dating back to the one hundreds A.D. It blew me away how incredibly well preserved it was despite its age. It survived a fire, has been stolen and retrieved, hunted, and moved from city to city until it finally came to rest at Trinity College a couple centuries ago. We weren’t allowed to take photos of it, but I can describe it! Big book, old calf skin pages, Latin words, vibrant pictures and borders! (I know my descriptive powers are incredible)
I also checked out St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which was enormous. I didn’t know that St. Patrick was the first one to baptize the Irish into the Catholic faith from a little well near the location of the Cathedral, and that’s why he has such importance in Irish culture. I learned a lot about Irish culture while I was there.
As I am a little obsessed with castles, I had to visit Dublin Castle. It was different than the French chateaus, or Russian palaces that I’ve visited in the past because it was still a living building. Political dinners and meetings still take place in the castle today, so it’s more than just a testament to the past. The castle also isn’t held in such high esteem by the locals as other castles I’ve seen are, because it represented the oppressive British rule over the Irish. The old throne room literally has a lion (the symbol of England) and a Unicorn (the symbol of Scotland) holding tight the Irish harp (the symbol of Ireland) symbolizing (not subtly) their control over the Irish subjects. So, the castle has a lot of modern features because for the Irish, preserving all the pomp and circumstance was preserving the history of tyranny.
I walked up and down Grafton street and did some shopping on one of Ireland’s most famous streets and tossed a couple coins in a bagpipe players case. I also was able to meet up with one of my friends from San Diego State and he, his family and I went on a literary pub crawl. We visited four pubs that famous authors like Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde and James Joyce. I’m not much of a Guinness fan, but luckily the cider was plentiful and delicious!
Dublin was fantastic and there's absolutely so much more that I want to see so I know I'll be back to one day! (Family vacation to Ireland, anyone??)
Now safely back in my dorm in Caen, I’m sad that I only have about a week and a half left of my classes. I can’t believe how fast time is going by, but I’m happy to report that I’m healthy, safe and excited to continue my journey and education here! There’s still lots to do and I plan to make the most of it!