Douaumont -- the Fort

Fort Douamount

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douaumont

Verdun was the strongest point in pre-war France, ringed by a string of powerful forts, includingDouaumont and Vaux. By 1916, the salient at Verdun jutted into the German lines and lay vulnerable to attack from three sides. The historic city of Verdun had been a Gallic fortress before Roman times and later a key asset in wars against Prussia, and Falkenhayn suspected that the French would throw as many men as necessary into its defense.

Battle of Verdun

The "new town" part of Verdun -- a very old city.

On the way to Verdun, France, from Luxemborg.

Tranchée des Baionnettes

The horrors of war: It was not until after the war that French teams exploring the battlefield provided a clue as to the fate of 3 Company. The trench it had occupied was discovered completely filled in, but from a part of it at regular intervals protruded rifles, with bayonets still fixed to their twisted and rusty muzzles, On excavation, a corpse was found beneath each rifle. From that plus the testimony of survivors from nearby units, it was deduced that 3 Company had placed its rifles on the parapet ready to repel any attack and — rather than abandon their trench — had been buried alive to a man there by the German bombardment.   Source: http://www.worldwar1.com/heritage/bayonet.htm

gentle fields of France

France, as seen from the car window on the way from Metz to Verdun.

I am sterdam

We land in Amsterdam, shake off the jet lag and hit the town. Highlights include Vincent van Gogh museum, the Rijksmuseum and the friendly Amsterdam coffee shops.

at 40,000 feet over the Atlantic

The screen says were at 40k; I don't recall ever flying higher!