Bonjour from our French studio apartment! After days of off and on rain showers, the weather forecast has improved for the rest of our trip. My plan for this post is to show you our day yesterday in photos. The rainy morning and surprising news that the Olympic flame would pass through Bayeux kept us close to home. The police presence was unbelievable, and many routes would be blocked, so we breakfasted at home and walked to do our laundry and shopping. Our plan was to take a taxi to see the Bayeux tapestry in the afternoon, but in the end we drove after all and found a superb parking spot right by the museum. Anyway, here goes…enjoy!
Having visited the tapestry before in 2018, here is what I wrote then: the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry is a remarkable work of art and storytelling. Embroidered with richly dyed woolen yarns on a 224-foot-long strip of linen, it is not actually a tapestry at all. Tapestries are woven, not embroidered. Its colors, primarily blues, greens, gold, and russet, still hold true after more than nine centuries.
Going to see this treasure is a must; the visitor experience is so well done. Before entering the darkened room, each person is given an audio guide, like a telephone handset, that narrates the tale and keeps everyone spaced out and moving at the same pace. The subtle lighting enhances the colors, and you can move up close to see the details of the stitching. These are stock photos.
The tapestry’s more than fifty scenes tell of the events leading up to the Norman Conquest, culminating in the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066. There’s a Norman spin to the story. The scene at the start of this post shows the coronation of King Harold after the death of England’s King Edward, despite Harold having previously pledged allegiance to William of Normandy. Much like a comic strip or graphic novel, the scenes are action-packed, depicting treachery, heroism, and humor. The audio guide pointed out details we might have missed, like Hailey’s Comet, seen as a portent of the coming invasion.
Well, wouldn’t you know, the forecast for today has changed to showers and rain. So once again we don our raincoats and set out for another adventure!
Laurie Apgar Chandler 