Cholmondley_Warner

I'm thinking we could do Oxford, Coventry, and Derby as day trips.>>>>

Coventry? Really? It's horrible - probably britain's nastiest town.

Both the British Museum and the louvre (named after the window blinds) offer short "highlight" self guided tours (to save you the effort - the mona lisa is smaller than you think and the elgin marbles are boring). so you won't be "overwhelmed".

gruezi

Chicago Dallas,

Honestly, I don't know the driving time to Caen - I had just heard 4 or 5 hours but I could be way off. We are training it and that's about 2 hours. I'm sure if you search Normandy Beach here you will get some times from people who did the driving.

Also, regarding museums, I think given what your interests are, you would prefer the Louvre. My daughter is a history buff and she really preferred the Louvre to the D'Orsay. the Louve is much more than the Mona Lisa....We have used Paris Muse guides for the Louvre twice now and it really made the museum come alive for us. www.parismuse.com

I like the D'Orsay, but it is quite large as well and lots of impressionist and neo-impressionist works. It can be a lot if that is not your thing. The building itself is a renovated train station and is really wonderful to see.

Do you read much? I would recommend Sena Naslund's "Marie Antoinette"before your trip to Paris. It's a novel but very similar to the Frazier biography and really brought a lot of the French Revolution alive for me in an easy to read way.

Someone has just loaned me "Band of Brothers" to watch before we head to Normandy....

I'll check back in to your thread later in the summer after we've done our Normandy Beach and London travel just to see if I can add any good tips!

gruezi

StCirq

Well, OK, it's DO-able, but Friday she's in Paris and Monday she's in London. Sooooo...she's got to drive to Normandy presumably (3-4 hours), and grab something to eat, and get settled at a hotel or whatever, which leaves half a day. Which is about as much time as you need to do the Memorial Museum justice. Even if you only spent a couple of hours there, and then raced to Bayeux (half-hour drive), there goes Saturday.

So Sunday you go to Omaha Beach and then get yourself to London? OK, that works. But no American Cemetery or Arromanches or Pointe du Hoc, or Sainte-Mere-Eglise, or...or...or?

Mimar

My question is how -- and when -- do you get from Normandy to London?

And I think Oxford deserves a whole day (at least). Cramming in Coventry and a return to London in the same day is just too much. Of course you could stay that night in Derbyshire. Will you be picking up a rental car in Oxford? A car would make it easier to see Haddon Hall and Chatsworth in one busy day.

And the Elgin Marbles are well worth seeing just for the sculpture alone, yet alone the history.

More time is really needed for this itinerary. You'll enjoy the beautiful English countryside in June.

ChicagoDallasGirl

Apres - Thanks for the tip. I will definitely study the site more to maximize our time. Really, I'm thinking we'll need to probably add a couple days onto the itinerary.

happycampr - You're reading my mind. I ran across an apartment that was pretty close to the British Museum, and thought, "Hmm. I need to check that out." The museum, that is.

azzure - I'll see what I can do;-)As for the Treasure Room at the British Library... Fabulous! I'm sure DH also will be thrilled with this prospect!

CW - I'm thinking Coventry will be a stop-by as the 'museum' as it's called, appears to be quite small. Really, the Mona Lisa is the last thing we're interested in (gasp) and prefer to peruse other less 'popular' exhibits. Nothing against Da Vinci, of course.

gruezi - I don't read as much as I once did, although I'm in a book club that meets and discusses a different book each month. That said, thanks for the recommendation. I checked and my local library has several copies! Yes. Please check back after your trip, I'd love to get your feedback.

St. Cirq, Mirmar - I've not quite figured out that little detail ;-) Need to determine where we'll be Caen, Bayeux...

In Oxford, we're hoping to see C.S. Lewis' home (is this possible?) and have lunch at the Eagle and Child, stop by Coventry en route to Derby and then see Chatsworth on Friday.

Of course all this will flush out more as we get deeper into research, learning the logistical possiblities and challenges. And, surely as DH chips in, which usually happens later in the process, things will firm up.

Thanks everyone for all your input! You've given me things to consider, follow up on, and investigate! I appreciate y'all.