“David’s gigantic, rousing bronze monument to Jean Bart (1650–1702), a French naval commander and privateer. Bart raises his sword (lost) as he tramples an enemy cannon at his feet. His sailor’s costume whips and curls in the wind, producing an energetic surface and delineating a human form that deviates from the idealized proportions of the classical nude body. David’s monuments were intended to educate and inspire and drew upon nationalism and local pride. The Jean Bart monument was erected in the privateer’s native Dunkirk, its inauguration on September 7, 1845, attended by a crowd of thousands. The statue continues to play a central role in that city’s annual civic rituals.”
Heading back to England then Canada. Think I grew up on this trip (at least came to my senses). We saw no other Canadians on the road. Yet we were treated with respect by the whole European community. I know they found us ‘odd’ but we were accepted. (Actually after close to 60 years later I find the whole adventure ‘odd’.)
Walter Allward designed this soon after the 1st world war. Vimy Ridge became a place where it was said that ‘Canada became a nation’. It took years to finish. The stone could be only found in one place in Northern Europe. Walter was fussy and the thing wasn’t finished until 1936. For the official opening four warships delivered surviving soldiers and their families to France in July 1936.
I had been reading about this battle for years and was really looking forward to seeing the monument. I wasn’t disappointed. I was dumbstruck by the beauty of the construction. A visit of a lifetime!
The campsite was right on the river and a wondrous thing happened. We heard singing and laughter coming from the water and went down to see what was going on.
Apparently you could buy a ride through the rapids, drink beer(lots of beer) and disembark in the calm lake at the campsite.
Here they come! There was about one barge every hour which kept us entertained through the day.
Threw a beer at me. Luckily, something wrong with his focus.
Of all the Germans we met, the ones around Munich were our favourites. Very Friendly and giving.
A funky little outdoor restaurant to service the many tourists that came to see the wall.
West German border Guard. Doesn’t seem too impressed with his job.
According to my notes we had a hard time leaving Berlin. In those days Berlin was only joined to west Germany by a two lane road which was scary to drive down as the East Germans had every imaginable war machine on either side.
The road was very busy. Great lineups of trucks travelling to supply the city with western goods. This was the road that was shut down during the great airlift where plane after freight plane was used to keep West Berlin going.
If you want to see this story ‘Europe’ from the beginning or my previous story ‘Japan’ go to potpourri above and click on the subject.
A semi-practical use for my 10,000 historical photos
