Tag Archives: St. Lo

Last Minute Christmas Groceries in France

Having recovered our equilibrium after the fire two days ago, we ventured out today to do some last minute grocery shopping in St. Lo. As we approached the InterMarche, I told Mark that the parking lot was completely full. But we managed to get a spot quite quickly and in we went.
 

Busy shoppers at supermarket two days before Christmas in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 

Last minute gift shopping two days before Christmas in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
The large store was bustling with purposeful activity as people purchased last minute gifts and groceries. But everyone lined up cheerfully and there was no sense of anxiety or aggravation as everyone waited politely to be served in turn. The wine aisles, meat and seafood counters, and the cheese counters were the busiest areas followed closely behind by the fresh fruit and vegetables. Quietly and competently, the French staff waited on customers, filled orders, found specific gift items, and checked out the purchases.
 

Last minute food shopping 2 days before Christmas in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
As we left the store and drove away into the icy-cold rain and darkness, we both remarked about how calm everyone had been inside the store. It was a marked and charming contrast to the frenzied atmosphere we had felt in Great Britain, Australia, and the USA when we both dreaded it if we ever had to do any last minute shopping. We used to cringe about the fact that people routinely shopped during the week before any holiday as if they were stocking up for an invasion and the stores might never be open again. It was simply mad!

Here’s hoping that all of my readers have a happy and healthy holiday season. Blessings to all of you!

COPYRIGHT
©Deborah Harmes and ©A Wanderful Life
Please respect the words and images on this page.
All rights reserved.

16 Years And Counting in St. Lo

It was a gray and gloomy day — and it wasn’t exactly the usual way to spend a 16th wedding anniversary. But it seemed just right by our standards.

We began our day at the Prefecture in St. Lo to get the last of the paperwork done for registering our van in France. This has all been quite a complicated process requiring visits to rather a lot of government offices, but that’s a post for another day. We spent about 45 minutes waiting for our number to be called and then we were back out on the street about 10 minutes later.
 

Prefecture in St. Lo where we went to register our van


 
St. Lo is one of the many towns or villages that was almost entirely destroyed by bombs during World War II, so very few of the buildings in the town appear to be of any real age. Planted right in the middle of the municipal parking lot is a particularly ugly (in my personal opinion!) viewing tower that can be climbed for a view over the town.
 

Observation tower in the central parking lot in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
The center part of the town is almost completely comprised of squarish or rectangular concrete buildings that are rather devoid of charm. Fortunately there are still some buildings with a bit of extra ornamentation.
 

Government office building in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
According to the Wikipedia entry for St. Lo, the Notre Dame church seen in the photo below was one of the only buildings left standing after the Allied bombing.
 

Notre Dame church in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
The old tower in the fortified wall is another survivor.
 

Tower in the ancient fortified wall of St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
And the remnants of this bombed out building facade have been rededicated as a memorial for the Jews in the area who were persecuted or killed.
 

Memorial to the local population of persecuted or killed Jews in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
We had a lovely plat du jour luncheon of salmon lasagna, salad, wine, and expresso and then walked through the town for awhile.
 

Mark enjoying a plat du jour luncheon in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
It’s been a strange experience to live in a place that has seen so much military action. And as we walk through each reconstructed town, it’s hard to imagine that places like St. Lo and Villers Bocage were 99% flattened by the aerial bombing.
 

Mark looking at the architecture of St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
Below are some random photos from our day out. Come back soon for more visits to World War II locations here in Normandy.
 

Brocante Collections poster for a vintage goods show in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 

Poster for a lecture on the natural beauty of New Zealand in a window in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 

Distance signs to various global locations in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 

COPYRIGHT
©Deborah Harmes and ©A Wanderful Life
Please respect the words and images on this page.
All rights reserved.