On Top of the World

We travelled south to Verdun today taking the scenic route in places, with John navigating in the old fashioned way using a map while I was at the wheel. I'm used to driving a left hand drive car in Europe so it was a different experience with a wheel on the the 'normal' side.

We went to the Douaumont Ossuary where the remains of thousands are buried who fought in the conflict surrounding this area. It is humbling to see the sheer scale of crosses marking the graves but these are just the soldiers identified. There is a vast number in tombs within the building who remain 'known only to God'; tragic as they were all somebody's son, husband, brother. The contents of each separate tomb holding the bones of the unidentified is spooky, but important to recognise their place in this futile battle. (Extra)

On the way to Verdun I just had to pause when I noticed a stork's nest on the top of an electricity pole. I'm glad we stopped as it was the only one we saw on the journey.

It's been a hot day but now the evening is quite cool.