11 november. A holliday in France commemorating the Armistice of the 1st World War, or its end. In the news, today is a historic day because it's the first year no veteran from this war is alive to commemorate it. It is also the first year that the German Cahncellor accepted to have a joint commemoration in Paris, cellebrating "l'amitié entre la France et l'Allemagne".
Also a good day to wake up late and recover from 2 heavy weeks of teaching. And to go for a bicycle ride to burn the excess callories gained in 5 meals in London.
Off to the north of Le Mans, roughly along the Sarthe river, out through Coulaines, a residential area of Le Mans. Beautifull Autumn colors along the road
Ballon is a small village 20 km to the north of Le Mans. There is an old dungeon on the top of the hill which dates from the 13th century. Everything in the village was closed though
This is what the countryside looks like around here
Beaumont-sur-Sarthe, another 10 km to the northwest of the previous village is somewhat bigger and a bit more active on this day. Many of these small towns put an effort into improving tourism, so that there was some information about the history of this town, which was founded in the 10th century with a small castle that is now in ruins.
Can't remember any more of the hsitory because I was having the picnic, badly needed by this time.
and crossing the Sarthe on the romanic bridge to get back home
