fh_trips | Viking Fjorgyn, Seine River Cruise, France [Wednesday Daytime]

Viking Fjorgyn, Seine River Cruise, France [Wednesday Daytime]

After breakfast, begin your full-day tour to the historic beaches of Normandy. Visit World War II landmarks such as Omaha Beach, the American Military Cemetery and the Caen Memorial Museum. Alternatively, take a tour of Bayeaux, where you can admire the magnificent tapestry that chronicles the pre-Battle of Hastings events. Afterward, head to Normandy’s coast and enjoy free time at Juno Beach after your visit to the museum; then visit the Pegasus Museum. Return to your ship for dinner and relax on board, or take an evening stroll through Rouen.

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The Fjorgyn, named for the Norse goddess of the Earth, is a 410 foot long ship built in 2020.

Edited 2022-10-12 05:53 (UTC)

Students are in Veranda Staterooms on the Upper Deck, which have queen or twin sized beds ~~depending on which is funnier~~, wifi, televisions, and twice-daily housekeeping. This does NOT mean you can throw ragers. The chaperones are in Veranda Suites, also on the Upper Deck, with queen or twin sized beds ~~depending on which is funnier~~, wifi, televisions, fully stocked minibars and free champagne and fruit platters daily. It is, after all, why they chaperone.

[OOC: NFB goes into private journals, list of room assignments is here]

Located on the top of the ship, go on up there to get the best views of the passing scenery and to sunbathe if you really like being cold in October, you weirdo. There's also a walking path if you aren't getting enough exercise on all of the daily excursions.

If you're more interested in eating al fresco and not having a multi-course meal, the Aquavit Terrace is for you. There's no assigned seating and they have quick options for grab and go at breakfast like pastries, yogurt, and coffees.

Located on the Middle Deck, the restaurant will serve as the hub for our meals throughout the cruise, assuming you aren't on shore. Each table seats six, and you've been assigned to one (over here). Make friends with your fellow Fandomites! Enjoy the breakfast buffet or order something off of the menu!

Today was probably going to be a pretty big, educational sort of day, so Sakaki wanted to make sure she was fueled up with a good breakfast, and even though she adored all of her new souvenirs, her favorite was a small, sleek ceramic cat she'd picked up at one of the shops along the way, and so she had brought that new friend with her down with her, carefully making sure she was situated nicely on the table as she got settled in to eat.

Witness memorials to two legendary Norman conquests that had far-reaching consequences for the British Commonwealth. Join your guide for a drive to Bayeux, where you can admire the magnificent tapestry that chronicles events leading to the decisive Battle of Hastings in 1066. Continue to Normandy’s beaches, site of the Allied landings of D-Day. Pass Gold Beach and the seaside village of Arromanches, where you can see remains of the ingenious Mulberry Harbor. Then stop at Juno Beach, heavily assaulted by Canadian troops. After time at the museum here, a fascinating overview of Canadian life before, during and after the war, you can pay respects at the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian cemetery. Later, visit the Pegasus Museum, with time to ponder the Pegasus Bridge taken by the British so as to prevent a German counterattack. Then, drive to the British cemetery at Ranville, the first village to be liberated by the British.

Military history always had been a bit of a spot of interest for Amaya, as many of the dry chronicles of various historical figures from her own lands on her bookshelf would attest to, so this was the sort of thing that was right up her alley and would keep her rather fascinated and interested throughout the day. Especially the more modern stuff that added an extra layer of interest for her, and the more critical eye that not really being personally invested in any of these wars afforded her.

Edited 2022-10-12 10:34 (UTC)

Belle's home had been at war for quite some time. War with ogres was, of course, different from war with other humans.

It was interesting to learn about the history though, especially in the museums along the way.

Her grandda would come back from heaven (or hell, depending on who was telling stories) to yell at her personally if Clare didn't pay her respects today.

Tahani might be bound, eventually, for the Bad Place, but it wasn't going to be because she was behaving boorishly at war memorials.

Well.

Aside from the two or three small comments about the outfits.

Ponder the courage of the Allied troops who changed the course of World War II during a visit to the D-Day Beaches. Travel with your guide to the Caen Memorial Museum, where you will learn about the invasion of Normandy and the events that led to the liberation of Europe. On-screen, watch “D-Day and the Battle of Normandy” featuring archived footage. Browse the museum exhibits and souvenir shop. After lunch, follow the coast to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer. Located high on a cliff over Omaha Beach, it is the final resting place of nearly 9,400 American service personnel. You can walk among its many white crosses and Stars of David, then browse the visitor center. Continue to Longues-sur-Mer, pausing to view a German artillery battery and its guns that have remained in situ to this day.

This trip so far had been a very thoughtful, introspective one for Libby, and today was only continuing that trend. It was such a fascinating marvel to get to learn so much about something she'd only read about in books by actually being there, trying to put herself back into the past to imagine it, and she just wanted to soak it all in.

Irene had once more made sartorial concessions to the fact she'd be walking -- and on sand, no less -- quite a bit today, but it had only felt right to represent her home country when she was actually making a day of solemnly observing history she'd read but not witnessed.

It was a pity Paris had been their first stop; after a tour like today's, she could have used the mood elevator of a perfume shopping spree.

Anakin was a war veteran from two different conflicts and so he was fascinated to see the different tactics used for small, only-one-planet warfare.

You don't have to stick to the tours! Steve Rogers isn't here to give you the Disapproving Frown of the Greatest Generation! Maybe you got really confused by a trip to Mont St. Michel! Head to the haunted abbey during the daylight where it's less creepy! Just tell us where you are in the header so we can ~~stalk you~~ join in!

There was a certain something that had Kurt feeling like maybe spending the entire day immersed in one of the biggest sins his people had ever committed was not the best way to enjoy the vacation. So instead of all the WWII immersion, Kurt was sticking to the shops and cafes in the area and doing some off-the-beaten-path wandering for at least part of the day.

Yeah, Rosa was definitely going to leave today's excursions to all the nerds who enjoyed that kind of thing, since she knew there were plenty enough of those on the faculty to have it covered. She, instead, was just going to enjoy a nice morning at a cafe that she felt she was all but obligated to make a stop at because of the name ~~and blatantly ignoring that it is now actually closed IRL~~.

And maybe take a moment to check in and see how her dog might be doing back home, not even caring that this was probably a terrible time for a check in over there.

Edited 2022-10-12 12:13 (UTC)

Allie had thought this might be a cool way to spend the day. Mostly what she was getting was wandering around and muttering things like "This is a giant mindfuck."

Because it was.

Beta supposed she should have taken more of an interest in the military history of the region. Learning more about the great battles of the Old Ones should have been an interesting exercise in strategy, if nothing else, but... well, it seemed unlikely that such strategies would apply to planning for NEMESIS anyway.

Anyway, she was starting to understand the appeal of getting to do things that she wanted to do, and at a sustainable pace. And she didn't want to focus on military history. But she did happen to wander far enough off the tour routes (much easier to do here than in the urban density of Paris) to spot an island with a striking resemblance to Fandom, or part of it anyway and had to go explore.

So this was where she'd wound up too, and while she wasn't audibly saying anything about giant mindfucks, her expression definitely agreed.

"I know I haven't been around long," Allie said, "but I'm pretty sure it's weird that they should be the Perk."

Beta shrugged one shoulder uncertainly. "I haven't either," she admitted. "But I'm pretty sure the park wouldbe over that way, and it isn't."

"Well, at least if we're both seeing it, then it's a shared weirdness," Allie sighed.

"I'm definitely seeing it," Beta told her, sighing. "It doesn't make any sense, but I'm seeing it. The castle looks exactly the same, the -- the architectural style matches up, in a lot of ways structurally it appears to be just about identical on the outside."

Though she was pretty sure this island didn't have an abandoned warehouse district.

"Except it isn't, at all, is it?"

"But I bet they don't have a Lobster Hut so obviously we're winning," Allie smiled.

Beta laughed, a hesitant and brief sound. "No teal deer, either."

Look, she didn't venture off campus very often.

"There are teal deer?"

Allie hadn't had reason to speechify in Fandom yet.

"In the preserve," offered Beta. "I was thinking out loud to myself there and after a few minutes it somehow attracted them?"

It got pretty rambly in her brain when she got going.

"Huh. Somehow I didn't see that one coming," Allie admitted.

"My Intro to Fandom class went over them a little bit, but actually encountering some was still a surprise," Beta said, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

Someday, I will manage to make a trips post and not need to edit at least one comment. SOMEDAY.

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Viking Fjorgyn, Seine River Cruise, France [Wednesday Daytime]

THE SHIP

Rooms

Exploring the Ship

Sun Deck

Aquavit Terrace & Lounge

Restaurant

Table Four

ON SHORE

Normandy Beach: Commonwealth (11 hours)

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Normandy Beaches: D-Day (11 hours)

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Explore On Your Own!

Off the Beaten Path

Le Pavlova

Mont St Michel

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OOC