Bucket list: Bayeux tapestry ✔️

So I had to get out of the city today. I needed to be away from the hustle and the bustle and the noise. So this morning, I caught a train to the northwestern town of Bayeux in Normandy. Its claim to fame is the looooong tapestry recounting the Battle of Hastings in 1066. I've known about it at least since college and I teach it as part of one of my history units in French 4 & 5. The thing plays pretty much like a comic strip. And shows lots of men in chain mail, horses, battles and the loser with an arrow in the eye. It even shows Haley's Comet. 

So it took me just over two hours to get here because it's not part of the TGV network (high-speed trains) in France. The ride here was peaceful, quiet and lulled most everyone to sleep. One guy in front of me even started to snore! I tried to read a book and after chapter one, I could hardly keep my eyes open. Anyways, arriving here about 12:15pm armed with a city map, I was gearing myself up for a hike into the city and really, it was so much easier than I expected. I found the tapestry museum without a problem and got right in. They give everyone audio guides to tell you the story of each panel and it was really interesting, giving details I would have just passed over. After that, I went into the cathedral and thought that was about it for the town. My train back to Paris wasn't until 6pm and I dreaded trying to find ways to kill a few hours. So using my map, I explored farther and found the real city with shops and restaurants. Then I sat and read my book for a while and was back to the train station very early. Ah, country life. 

Another 2 hours and 15 minutes back to Paris, back through the métro and just like that: home again, home again, jiggity jig. 

I plan on staying in Paris tomorrow and maybe taking another day trip on Saturday - this one shorter and closer... And faster. And by the way, these day trips were always part of my original plan - don't think I ran out of things to do in this city!