Then we hop off and go to pick up the car... are you kidding me, we needed something with a little more roar. 
Now we're talking
With pops behind the wheel, me in the front with some AA maps, and mom in the back with some sedatives, we successfully (minus a slight toll incident) made the 3 hr Paris to Caen drive.
If you're looking for some history, look no further than Caen. Its castle was built circa 1060 by William the Conqueror and is one of the largest medieval fortresses of Western Europe. It is also home to the Eglise de Ste. Etienne and Eglise de la Ste Trinite, the Men's and Women's Abbeys. The Men's Abbey houses the tomb of William the Conqueror. The city was more or less completely destroyed in the War in 1944. In Montgomery's plan, it was the objective of one of the D-Day landing squads to take the city that evening, but it wouldn't be won from the Germans for over four weeks. Ok, some pics...
Here's the view from our Hotel balcony.
Saint-Pierre Cathedral.
Spires were popping up everywhere in this city.
The edge of the walls of the old castle.
Inside the castle.The edge of the walls of the old castle.
I've always considered myself a thinker...
...and a Heisman candidate.
William's 'Men's Abbey' - the home of his tomb
Now, moving on to Bayeux. Again, the history is everywhere. The city is best known for its tapestry, made to commemorate the Norman conquest of England in 1066. I have to say, for a piece of cloth, it was pretty amazing. And it's still in good shape after nearly 1,000 years. The town also has a large Norman-Romanesque cathedral (pics below), consecrated in 1077. It was one of the first cities liberated during the Battle of Normandy and amazingly, virtually untouched as German forces defending the town were pulled away to help at Caen.
