#Normandy fossil

[new-dinosaurs]

Caletodraco cottardi Buffetaut et al., 2024 (new genus and species)

(Type specimen of Caletodraco cottardi, from Buffetaut et al., 2024)

Meaning of name: Caletodraco = Caleti [Celtic tribe that lived in what is now Normandy] dragon [in Latin]; cottardi = for Nicolas Cottard [discoverer of the original fossil]

Age: Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian)

Where found: Saint-Jouin-Bruneval, Normandy, France

How much is known: Partial skeleton of one individual including a partial hip and a tail vertebra. An isolated tooth found nearby may also belong to same individual.

Notes: Caletodraco was an abelisaurid ceratosaur, making it a close relative of genera like Carnotaurus and Aucasaurus. Most abelisaurids are known from the Southern Hemisphere, but they have also been found in Europe. Caletodraco is one of the oldest known European abelisaurids, and the first dinosaur to be reported from the marine fossil sites of the Pays de Caux region in Normandy.

Reference: Buffetaut, E., H. Tong, J. Girard, B. Hoyez, and J. Párraga. 2024. Caletodraco cottardi: a new furileusaurian abelisaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Cenomanian Chalk of Normandy (north-western France). Fossil Studies 2: 177–195. doi: 10.3390/fossils2030009

[dragonflight203]

Mass Effect 2 replay, exploring and Mordin’s loyalty mission:

Xe Cha

-Aphras – A garden world that was home to a sapient avian species in their bronze age. Massive impacts to their habitation centers killed them, vaporized the water, and lifted dust into the atmosphere.

The obvious conclusion is Reapers, but they supposedly only go after space faring species. Planet descriptions like this make me think they might kill species in earlier stages, to prolong the time until the next harvest as much as possible.

-Tosal Nym – A second garden world in the system. It was destroyed by similar strikes that created a dust shroud that killed the planet. Based on their patterns, it was not a natural disaster.

So the question is: Why?

The planet description makes no mention of a sapient species, making Reapers unlikely. However, perhaps their fossils and/or remains just haven’t been found.

Or in one cycle there was a species that destroyed garden worlds for shits and giggles and destroyed both Aphras and Tosal Nym. It’s possible.

-Zadar Ban – The location of the N7: Blood Pack Base mission.

Going by the mission, this is the third garden world in the system. It has waterfalls! Grass!

However, since two garden worlds in system is considered extremely rare, I suspect this was an oversight and it’s not supposed to be habitable.

-Not much of interest to this mission. It’s just a long corridor of shooting because Shepard apparently vents their frustration by killing Blood Pack.

Normandy

-Cerberus sent an email assuring Shepard that TIM had ordered the Subject Zero project shutdown before the riot, and that the surviving children were given amnesia and handed over to the Alliance. Surviving doctors were “forcibly retired”.

How convenient. And absolutely bullshit. Except killing the survivors doctors, that I believe.

There’s no evidence that TIM has any limit when it comes to experiments, except that they produce results. If he ordered the Subject Zero project shutdown, it’s because it wasn’t successful. Not because he had any moral qualms.

Aresh says he believed he was the only survivor. He woke up after everything was over; while I can believe he missed other survivors – he was a child and in no frame of mind to thoroughly check – it’s quite possible he’s the only one that made it out. And if other children did survive, it’s more likely that Cerberus repurposed them for another project than hand them over to the Alliance.

-Jack says she’s “not a girl’s club person”. She likes Shepard and that’s a good place to leave it.

-If you talk to her again, she says Shepard is just messing around and she doesn’t want to play.

Understandable behavior if frustrating. Jack doesn’t know what to do with sincerity or how to be someone’s friend. It’s easier to drive Shepard off than to grapple with it. She has enough to deal with working through her past.

Urla Rast

Talis Fia – The Citadel Council gave the volus colonization rights in return for favorable trade terms.

Once again: This is in the Terminus System. The Citadel Council supposedly has no power in them. How are they giving way colonization rights?

The Terminus Systems are one of the biggest headaches to work out in the series.

In ME1 the Citadel Council wants nothing to do with them; in ME2, the game goes back and forth over whether or not the Citadel Council has authority. The main plot generally says they do not, but the planet descriptions imply that they do.

Mordin’s Loyalty Mission

-Compared to most other loyalty missions in the game, Mordin’s is deep. There’s a lot to sift through in it.

-The Chief Scout doesn’t think the krogan can unite if offworlders interfere.

Fair. Ideally, unification will be driven from within. If it’s created artificially be external forces, then it will likely fall apart once the external forces that drove it vanish.

-He also says that the Weyrlock Clan started the Blood Pack.

However, the Codex says that the vorcha started the Blood Pack, then the krogan Ganar Wang took it over and made it the force it is in ME2.

Krogans normally have their clan name as their first name, so I doubt Ganar is part of the Weyrlock Clan.

So, which history is true?

-The mako would have been handy on Tuchanka, I’m just saying.

-The lead up to the Weyrlock base provides one of the best excuses for the conveniently placed cover: Given the krogan clans are perpetually at war, they probably placed the cover there themselves at some point or another.

-Miranda says the only krogan buildings more durable than hospitals are bomb shelters, and most of those were destroyed in civil wars.

If the krogans ever stop fighting, they’d probably do great in engineering and construction.

-And another patented ME2: Humans are Special moment.

Humans are useful as test subjects because they’re more genetically diverse. Ergo, they have larger reactions to stimuli.

This diversity also makes it more difficult to predict the nature of a given human. Humans have a wider expression of intelligence, biotic ability, etc. than other species.

Was any of this necessary?

It’s not actually plot relevant to ME2 or ME3, so it just feels like propaganda for humans. Which is strange, because all players are (presumably) human.

-Mordin assumes that it must have been the krogans that experimented on the human research subject you find. He never even considers that it could have been Maleon.

-The renegade dialogue when you speak to the Weyrloc Clanspeaker is very good.

-If you go paragon, it shows the complexity of the genophage.

The Clanspeaker is clearly upset when describes “the piles of children that never lived”. It’s quite a poetic line, and is designed to garner sympathy for the speaker..

Then he immediately goes on to describe the revenge they’ll take on the turians, asari, saleons, etc. That pretty much kills all the sympathy.

This is the dilemma of the genophage – it’s cruel and unethical, but the dangers of curing it are also undeniable. It’s hard to sustain a desire to cure the krogan when they’re plotting out how they’ll destroy your people afterward.

This is what makes Wrex and Bakara so critical – they desire to move past the genophage and build a new future for the krogan that doesn’t include conquering the galaxy.

-In the lab, Mordin is emphatic that he’s never used medicine to kill.

If he needs to kill, he has plenty of other means to do so.

This is Moridn’s dilemma – he struggles to reconcile the parts of him that are a killer and a healer. He justifies the killing as necessary to protect, but it still troubles him.

-Mordin considers the rachni extinction a tragedy. Diversity is important.

Not surprising – Mordin places a high value of life. When possible he’ll preserve it.

-It’s clear that what he enjoyed about his work on the genophage was the challenge of modifying it.

Seeing the fall out of his work hurts him to his soul.

Mordin’s head tells him that the genophage is essential, but his heart hates what it does to the krogan.

-The krogans were offered a truce during the korgan rebellions. They refused it.

-If you go paragon, Shepard says that the upgraded virus kept the krogans in barbarism.

I disagree with that: The krogan stayed in barbarism because they chose to. They could have gotten their act together and worked on way to revitalize their people – Wrex even tried to!

The genophage didn’t help matters, but the krogans are responsible for their own choices.

-Mordin has distinct overtones of white man’s burden: He says that the genophage is not a punishment – it’s just a correction for the krogans’ removal from a hostile environment.

The salarians uplifted them, so it’s their responsibility to “correct” the harm caused by that.

-Paragon Shepard is frustrating through this mission. They’re very self-righteous and insistently naive; they think that curing the genophage would fix everything with the krogan.

And it would not! There are many krogan like the Weyrloc Clan and Wreave that want to fight for the sake of fighting. They’ll swarm over the galaxy if the genophage is cured. They are why it was invented.

But the genophage is cruel. And it creates more cruelty as krogans lose hope for their future or desperately try to cure it.

Just, I wish there were a way to acknowledge that the genophage is complex when speaking to Mordin rather than treating it as a binary good/evil.

-Mordin says that the simulations showed that if the genophage was cured, the krogans would go to war and the turians and humans would eliminate them completely.

The modified genophage was meant to save the krogans as much as anyone else.

At least to Mordin. I suspect many other salarians have different opinions.

-Miranda, about the scout leaving: Hopefully his story of curing the genophage will be passed off as a hallucination.

Of course she’d be thinking of that.

-Mordin’s as pissed at how Maleon is developing a cure for the genophage as the fact that he is. Maleon is violating all ethics Mordin taught him about science.

-Maleon, for his part, figures that he’s so drenched in blood that a bit more doesn’t matter.

Clearly salarians don’t have the saying “The first rule to digging a hole is to stop digging”.

Even if Maleon’s hands will never be clean, he doesn’t have to spill more blood on the floor.

-Maleon does raise the valid point that the decision to modify the genophage was justified based on simulations, but simulations can’t account for everything.

For example, the Reapers.

However, I’d argue that you have to work with what you have. You’ll never know everything, so if you wait until you do you’ll never do anything. You just do the best you can and accept the consequences.

That is what makes ethics so critical – you draw lines and say This, I will not do. No matter how bad it gets, this is unacceptable.

So when you do have to act with imperfect information, at least what you do is less likely to be unforgivable.

That’s the step the STG skipped.

-That Mordin even considers saving the data shows how much the modified genophage upsets him. No matter what he says, he feels guilty.

Normandy

-Mordin’s proud of Maleon’s backbone, even as he’s furious about his behavior.

-Mordin claims salarians resolve their emotions quickly. Maybe not healthily, but they decide how to handle them for better or for worse.

Is that true, or just Mordin diverting Shepard? What other salarian is he going to check with?

-For someone so talkative, Mordin is very evasive about discussing Tuchanka. He does not want to go there.

[mosswolf]

2, 14, and 19! <3

2. Album of the year?

im not generally a huge album guy but sorry by meg myers is one of the rare albums i consistently listen to from front to back!!!

14. Favorite book you read this year?

god this is SO hard i read some really really good non fiction this year, 'poached: inside the dark world of wildlife trafficking' by rachel nuwer and 'fossil capital: the rise of steam power and the roots of global warming' by andreas malm especially. poached was so interesting in exploring just how many aspects there are to illegal wildlife trade and why it like. hasn't just Been Stopped yk. and fossil capital was really really thorough and detailed into why exactly steam power (which is based on coal) overtook water power and all the labour and climate history entangled in it, and i really can't recommend more if you're 1) interested in the environment, 2) interested in engineering, or 3), ironically, interested in steampunk. i think if more people had read that book there would be so much more informed, interesting steampunk that would interrogate class and culture way more than actual steampunk ever does!!

19. What’re you excited about for next year?

will and i are going to see normandie our like, fave band in spring!!! and im excited to turn 21 and get paid the next band up of minimum wage but that's less cool,,,

[entomoblog]

Eure. Ce couple transforme des insectes et des crustacés en objets de décoration luxueux

See on Scoop.it - Insect Archive

Marion Arbona et Guillaume Viel ont ouvert un atelier d'art étonnant à Bernay. Ils marient la taxidermie et la joaillerie pour fabriquer des pièces décoratives de grande valeur.

  Actu Normandie Eure Bernay

Par Anthony Bonnet Publié le 9 mars 2025 à 7h00

  "Un véritable cabinet de curiosités se cache à l’abri des regards indiscrets depuis le mois d’octobre. Marion Arbona et Guillaume Viel y ont installé la « Thanatothèque », un nouveau concept mélangeant taxidermie et joaillerie.

« Nous sortons du lot »

Le couple d’artisans crée des objets décoratifs luxueux, des pièces uniques ou issues de petites séries en utilisant essentiellement des insectes et des crustacés.

Nous avons créé notre société il y a deux ans sans savoir si cela allait marcher. Et, au final, cela marche, car cette activité est rare, et nous sortons du lot.

Marion Arbona

  L’aventure a commencé à Paris, là où ils se sont rencontrés, passionnés tous les deux par « les bestioles ». Diplômée des arts décoratifs, Marion est illustratrice de livres jeunesse à l’origine, et compte une quarantaine d’ouvrages à son actif.

  « C’est mon premier métier, je l’aime et je le continue, je jongle avec les deux casquettes », s’amuse-t-elle. Titulaire à la fois d’un CAP d’ébénisterie et de bijouterie-joaillerie, Guillaume, lui, est plutôt du genre bricoleur et touche-à-tout.

  « Nous avons commencé à travailler chez nous, dans nos cuisines respectives », se souviennent-ils, le sourire aux lèvres. Séduits par la ville de Bernay, découverte grâce à des amis, ils y ont trouvé le local recherché.

  Une technique scientifique et muséale 

Dans cet atelier aux poutres apparentes, où de vieilles affiches côtoient des fossiles et des minéraux, chacun a son propre espace et contribue à faire renaître une technique scientifique et muséale du XIXe siècle : l’Eclaté à la Beauchêne.

Il s’agit de séparer chaque articulation d’un squelette ou exosquelette et de remonter le tout sur une structure métallique en laissant quelques millimètres entre chaque élément pour donner à voir la constitution précise des spécimens tout en conservant leurs proportions.

Marion Arbona et Guillaume Viel 

L’incroyable richesse de la nature

Si la dissection, le nettoyage approfondi et la préservation des couleurs sont autant de tâches qui s’apparentent à la taxidermie, le remontage se rapproche davantage de la bijouterie et de l’horlogerie.

  Derrière son établi, Guillaume Viel se charge des soudures à l’argent, du polissage… Un éclaté de scarabée compte au minimum 67 éléments, quand une langouste en contient 125.

Un éclaté de homard peut demander une cinquantaine d’heures de travail, de la dissection à la fin du montage, sans compter le temps de séchage. « Nous avons besoin d’une concentration ultime », argue Marion Arbona à propos de ces gestes si minutieux."

(...)

  Image : Un éclaté de homard peut demander une cinquantaine d’heures de travail. Crédit : Marion Saupin

[freightcomms1]

DEME Offshore Secures Contract for Dieppe Le Tréport Offshore Wind Farm

DEME Offshore, a prominent player in the renewable energy sector, has been awarded a contract to work on the Dieppe Le Tréport offshore wind farm. This project signifies a significant step forward in France's renewable energy ambitions.

Van Oord Achieves Milestone with Baltic Eagle Offshore Wind Farm Installation

Van Oord, a leading marine contractor, has successfully installed the first monopile at the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm. This accomplishment marks a key milestone in the project's development and contributes to the expansion of sustainable energy production in the Baltic Sea region.

DEME Offshore's involvement in the Dieppe Le Tréport offshore wind farm underscores its expertise in the field of renewable energy infrastructure. The project, located off the coast of Normandy, France, aims to harness the region's wind resources to generate clean and renewable electricity.

Similarly, Van Oord's successful installation of the first monopile at the Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm demonstrates its capabilities in offshore wind construction. The project, situated in the German waters of the Baltic Sea, is part of efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in the region's power supply.

Both projects contribute to the broader goal of transitioning towards sustainable energy sources and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. By harnessing the power of offshore wind, countries like France and Germany are taking significant strides towards achieving their renewable energy targets and combating climate change.

DEME Offshore and Van Oord's expertise in offshore wind farm development positions them as key players in the global energy transition. Their contributions to projects like Dieppe Le Tréport and Baltic Eagle pave the way for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

More@ https://freightcomms.net/deme-offshore-contracted-for-the-dieppe-le-treport-offshore-wind-farm/

Web@ https://freightcomms.net/van-oord-installs-first-monopile-at-baltic-eagle-offshore-wind-farm/

[honorhearted]

Despite the surly mask Francesca initially donned, she surprised him when her features melded into a bright laugh, the sound reminiscent of wind chimes on a warm summer day. "Well the fridge is stacked, so help yourself," she offered. "I don't really tend to drink unless there's a drinking game involved, which actually happens fairly often when my sisters and I are trapped in a hotel for too long."

Ben snorted. "I can't tell if you're being polite, or if you're trying to ply me with liquor. Either way, I think I'll hold off for now...unless there's some root beer in there." Holding up a hand, he said, "I know, I know: I seem like I'm overreacting, but it's imperative that I stay sharp."

He didn't wish to damper the unexpected shift with talk of her stalker again, but it would always be the proverbial elephant in the room. In fact, Ben was, as well, given his role as her appointed protector. He couldn't very well just drink and risk lowering his inhibitions -- not unless he wanted Anthony breathing down his neck about it.

"I wanted to be an astronaut when I was really little," Francesca said, recapturing the earlier mood. "I loved the idea of going to other planets and being so close to the stars, but I guess it wasn't meant to be."

"Well, according to a Fanforum page, some people genuinely do believe you're an alien," Ben offered, "so perhaps your alter-ego got the chance?" Chuckling, he amended, "Actually, I think you were categorized as one of those 'lizard people' instead...but my statement still stands."

"I think I'd be pretty terrible at it anyway -- Were your parents supportive of your palaeontology dreams?"

"How come? Not a fan of gravity?" With a lopsided smile, Ben lowered his eyes again and nodded. "My parents were arguably too supportive," he said, "because they bought me anything dinosaur or fossil-related they could find. I remember walking around wearing one of those godawful bucket hats, quizzing all of our neighbors on varying factoids. A couple of them moved not long after that, so I can't help but wonder if I was somehow responsible."

Francesca brightened. "Monet is my favourite too."

Ben laughed. "Okay, now I know you're messing with me...there's no way that we have this in common, too."

"I'd love to go to Normandy where he painted most of his oils - He makes the world look remarkable, doesn't he? It feels a world away from the street we've just come from."

"You've never been?" he asked, surprised. "I'm sorry, perhaps that was ignorant to ask...it's just, you seem like you're granted just about everything your heart desires. Did your family never book a show in Normandy?" Expression softening, Ben nodded at her query. "Yeah...though you put it far more poetically than I ever could. As someone who's witnessed plenty of 'ugly' out there, it's nice to be reminded that there's a lot of beauty, too."

"Francesca."

For a moment, Ben was genuinely thrown by her remark, his mouth opening as he searched her eyes for clarification.

"Its not Miss Bridgerton -- Its Francesca."

"Oh...so no Fran, then?" Even though his kneejerk reaction had been to make a quip, his expression was warmer, softer, and he had to admit he was flattered that she trusted him enough to allow a hint of familiarity. The higher-ups always encouraged this level of rapport, but Ben hadn't been treating this as an assignment. In fact, ever since his arrival, he'd done everything in his power to try and shirk said responsibility, but now...well...perhaps this wasn't a punishment, after all.

"Ben," he finally offered. "My dad calls me Benjamin, so I guess if you're mad at me, that can be the address you prefer, but...my friends call me Ben." He chuckled. "They call me lots of things I'd rather not repeat, but that at least seems suitable as our start."

"And is that a good thing or a bad thing? Given your status, I'm assuming you love your brothers. So in that case... Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing upon me the highest of honours."

She supposed it wasn't either of those things, judging by the fact that he would likely never hang around with her brothers outside of a professional setting. They could be good fun when they wanted to be, but would they show that side of themselves with the man protecting their sister? Maybe Colin, but he didn't have much of a filter anyway.

"Then I guess its too bad you only have me," she quipped, although she wouldn't be able to stop Daphne and Eloise from hanging around -- That was the deal when cementing your success and career with your sisters. "Hopefully I'm not too terrible to socialise with."

"My 'socializing' tends to be with people I serve and protect. For what it's worth, you're the least grating person I've had to aid in months. The prettiest, too, but that's not much of a competition, seeing how my last guy had age spots, dentures, and an ill-fitting toupee."

Surprising herself with a bright laugh, Francesca nodded towards the mini fridge nestled in the corner - Their own makeshift bar. "Well the fridge is stacked, so help yourself. I don't really tend to drink unless there's a drinking game involved, which actually happens fairly often when my sisters and I are trapped in a hotel for too long."

As Ben spoke of his childhood and the dinosaurs that he so loved, Francesca found herself holding onto each word with a soft fondness in her gaze. She so adored listening to stories, laughing quietly as she pictured his mother's exasperation.

"I wanted to be an astronaut when I was really little," she confessed. "I loved the idea of going to other planets and being so close to the stars, but I guess it wasn't meant to be. I think I'd be pretty terrible at it anyway -- Were your parents supportive of your palaeontology dreams?"

"Who's your favourite artist? I've always liked Monet...in fact, I did a report on him in third grade."

Nodding in agreement, Francesca's smile never wavered, wondering how the two of them had gone from mindless bickering to... well, this. She hadn't spoken to anyone like this is so long, it felt almost wrong to let her guard down.

"Monet is my favourite too. I'd love to go to Normandy where he painted most of his oils - He makes the world look remarkable, doesn't he? It feels a world away from the street we've just come from."

"I know this is just a job, but I also believe in basic human decency. I wouldn't be in this job if I was interested in making a quick buck. And you're not...y-you're not just... I can't even pretend to understand -- I don't -- but I imagine it's difficult knowing who you can trust, and who really, genuinely wants to be your friend. And although I'm sure this will come off as trite B.S., I hope you know you can trust me. I'm here to protect you, and leaking your secrets would do the exact opposite of that. I'd never intentionally endanger your life."

It was sweet, the way that he was so quick to defend, and yet Francesca's lips parted to reassure him that she had not meant it as an offense -- If only the words would release. For a moment after his speech, she sat, chewing on her lip as she considered what else could be said. 'Thank you'? 'Don't worry about it'?

"Francesca," she eventually said, blue eyes on blue in silent comradery. "Its not Miss Bridgerton -- Its Francesca."

[yannjo]

Ce week-end, c’était “fossiles, chapelle et tourisme”

[johannesviii]

Went fossil hunting in Normandy again (same place I usually go to). Very happy with some of the stuff I found

[uk-fossils]

Zugodactylites Fossil Ammonite Jurassic Caen France | Toarcian Genuine French Specimen with Certificate

This listing features a genuine Zugodactylites ammonite fossil, collected from the Toarcian Stage of the Jurassic Period, near Caen, Normandy, France. Dating to approximately 183 to 174 million years ago, this ammonite comes from a time when Europe was covered by shallow seas, teeming with life.

The exact fossil shown in the listing photos is the item you will receive, selected for its scientific value, preservation quality, and aesthetic appeal. This is an excellent specimen for fossil collectors, educators, and enthusiasts of ancient marine life.

Geological & Palaeontological Details:

Genus: Zugodactylites

Fossil Type: Ammonite

Family: Dactylioceratidae

Superfamily: Dactyliocerataceae

Order: Ammonitida

Geological Period: Jurassic

Stage: Lower Jurassic – Toarcian (approx. 183–174 million years ago)

Formation: Likely derived from the Caen limestones or associated Toarcian clay/marl beds

Location: Caen, Normandy, France

Biozone: Possibly associated with the Bifrons Zone, depending on precise stratigraphy within the Toarcian

Depositional Environment: Shallow marine shelf with fine-grained clay or marl deposition under oxygenated conditions, supporting diverse cephalopod faunas

Morphology & Features:

Zugodactylites is known for its evolute coiling, with all whorls visible and a relatively open umbilicus

Shell is usually flattened, with strong, dense, and often bifurcating radial ribbing

Lateral ribs may split or remain simple, often terminating in small ventrolateral nodes or subtle tubercles

The overall appearance is striking and diagnostic for Toarcian Dactylioceratidae ammonites

Notability: Zugodactylites is a well-recognised genus within early Jurassic ammonite biostratigraphy and is used to help define subdivisions of the Toarcian in European sequences. Specimens from the Caen region are sought after for their exceptional preservation and are a valuable addition to any palaeontological collection.

Additional Details:

All our fossils are 100% genuine specimens

Includes a Certificate of Authenticity

The photo shows the exact fossil for sale

Scale cube = 1cm – refer to the photos for full sizing details

A beautifully preserved ammonite from the Jurassic seas of France, this Zugodactylites fossil is ideal for collectors and educators alike. Add this striking example of ancient marine life to your collection today.

[ardenrosegarden]

I had the thought on the verge of sleep of modern AU John, Duke of Bedford collecting gemstones and fossils and having a very organised collection. What would be his favourite specimen do you think?

Ohh, I'm kinda in love with this image

Jenny Stratford mentions a lot of the historical John of Bedford’s collection had a strong preference for St. George, St. John the Baptist, and certain heraldic motifs like the root device that are also helpful for picking out which pieces are his.

I couldn’t pick out anything pointing to a specific taste in rock/mineral type, but I am kind of drawn to the root device bit, because I immediately thought of the dendritic crystal habit, which has a very plant-esque, rootlike look. Several minerals, like hematite and manganese oxide, and rocks like moss agate have that sort of trademark root look (I don’t think a modern AU John would really care too much about stuff looking like the root device itself, I just think he’d be drawn to them because he thinks they look neat).

In terms of fossils, after rotating him in my mind a little, I've become partial to the idea that he would be a fossil echinoderm enjoyer. They're a pretty common fossil in a lot of limestones, but they often disarticulate after death and getting the entire fossil is a lot harder. I feel like John though would have a pretty good eye for detail and be able to recognize what he's looking at.

Part of me is also kind of fascinated with echinoids in particular’s ability to call back to ideas like loss and life after death, and items like the Bedford Hours through the the fossils' possible folkloric ties as a symbol of resurrection. There's also fossil echinoids collection sites in places like Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Normandy, and Burgundy.

[thicc-astronaut]

Item idea: a cursed time machine. Every time someone uses it they get travelled to some place or situation that near-instantly makes them get hurt or lose the time machine and get trapped in that time. After the previous traveller is dead, another person eventually finds the time machine and accidentally activates it again, sending them to some other place.

Known locations and times include:

-Found by an Allied soldier after the Battle of Normandy Beach. Previous traveller assumed to have been killed by gunfire shortly after appearing. Allied Soldier disappeared shortly afterwards

-Found by a firefighting team after a massive forest fire. One volunteer firefighter picked it up and never returned to the firehouse.

-Found on the launch pad of the Apollo 17 launch, covered in sooty residue. Chemical analysis of the residue found that it was the remains of flesh that had been burned in the 6000 degree heat of the rocket exhaust

-Found along with fossilized bones belonging to a modern-day human inside the stomach area of a Tyrannosaurus rex fossil

-found alongside the remains of a man wearing Roman Centurion armor after the controlled demolition of a building in Connecticut in 2006

-Found by a sherpa in Nepal while finding the summit of a mountain. The sherpa claims that a man with a large brow, carrying a spear and dressed only in a shell necklace and a loincloth, suddenly appeared in front of him with the time machine, and died of exposure within minutes.

-Spotted by a submarine in the Mariana trench (a deep-sea crab was later observed accidentally operating it)

[massescapism]

so, imagine a traditional archeologist, digging for fossils on Earth and all that cool stuff, then suddenly a shuttle comes by and a freaking Krogan walks up to them and starts asking about dinosaurs and where to find some to fight

when they tell him they’re extinct, he very seriously pulls them aside and asks confidentially:

“But you can make them come back, right?“

and before they can answer, the Normandy swoops in by the shuttle and three war heroes, Garrus, Tali, plus freaking Commander Shepard, walk to them. Tali pulls Grunt aside, and both Shepard and Garrus apologize for letting Grunt bother them

anyway, so that’s why there’s a sudden rush to revive or recreate the dinosaurs on Earth starting 2188 and all through the 2190s

[theoriginalladya]

Dinosaur Brain

I have the most amazing friends, I swear!

The following ficlet evolved out of conversations about Rhys Shepard and Grunt and dinosaurs ... and then it had to have some commissioned ART, too!  Fabulous art by @thepixelagora​ who somehow managed to take my incoherent ramblings about this and turn it into the absolutely most perfect picture of events!!!!  Thank you so much for lending me your talents!!  

There is more to this story, but it wasn’t quite working how I wanted, so the rest will come later.  In the meantime, have the madness that started it all!!!

The story can also be found on AO3 here.

~~~

Rhys drops into an empty seat and starts eating immediately, his focus less on the food and more on the datapad in his hand. Across from him, a chair squeaks and shadows flicker in his peripheral vision.  Still, he pays little heed to the disruption until…

“You going all dinosaur brain?”

He would prefer to flat out ignore the question, but there are times that’s worse than responding to it.  Rhys doesn’t bother to look up from the pad.  “Not this again.”

Kaidan’s chuckle of amusement drifts across the table. “What?”

“You know what.”

Kaidan leans over and stabs a piece of Rhys’ meal, retreating quickly.  He chews with a thoughtful look in his eye, then swallows.  “Tell me honestly, when have you never been thinking about them?”

“What’s a dinosaur?”

The table wobbles as Grunt slams his tray down and sits next to Rhys.  This time, it’s Kaidan who is taken aback and Rhys whose interest perks up.  “You want to know what dinosaurs are?”

“Here we go,” Kaidan mutters, rolling his eyes and reaching for his coffee.

Rhys ignores him and turns to face Grunt. “O’Keer never imprinted them on you?”

Grunt shakes his massive head back and forth. “What are they?”

Rhys peeks over at Kaidan, his blue eyes sparkling with delight.  “Translated from the Latin, the word means ‘terrible lizard,’” he explains.  “They are creatures that lived millions of years ago on Earth.”  He grabs his datapad, pointedly ignoring the sputter of choked laughter from Kaidan, and scrolls to the end of the device before passing it over to Grunt.  “This is a Triceratops.  About eight meters long and three meters tall.  They are known for having three horns on their head; one long one above each eye and a smaller one over its nose, as well as a large frill made out of bone.”

Grunt examines the picture on the datapad then glances back over at Rhys.  “Looks like a mighty warrior,” he concludes with a sage nod.

Rhys grins.  “Actually, they weren’t the fighters.  Not unless they were attacked, of course.” He takes back the datapad and sets it aside.  “The real fighters were the Velociraptors and Tyrannosaurus Rex.”

“You know,” Kaidan muses as he sits back in his seat, “I’m going to tell Wrex you’re calling him a tyrant again.”

“Oh, shut up!” Rhys hisses over at him.  He spends the next several minutes explaining about the two different dinosaurs to Grunt before he reaches into his pocket and nabs the Deinonychus claw he always carries with him.  “This is from a much smaller dinosaur, similar to the Velociraptor, called Deinonychus.  I found this on our family’s ranch when I was a kid.”  

Grunt takes the claw and squints at it, holding it up to the light and tilting his head.  “Doesn’t look very dangerous.”

Rhys chuckles.  Pushing his chair back, he stands and lifts a hand to about chest level, just above his elbow.  “They were only this tall when adults,” he explains.  “A smaller version of the Velociraptor, if you will, but older.  They were also very bird-like.”

“You know, Shepard,” Garrus comments from down the table, “if you keep making references like that, I’m going to start taking it personally.”

Kaidan almost spits out his coffee.  Rhys just grins as he retakes his seat.  

Grunt, however, stares at the datapad.  “So, what did you do with them?”

Kaidan starts to laugh uncontrollably.  Rhys kicks his leg beneath the table.  “We didn’t do anything to them.  They died out over time, long before humans were around.  We’ve spent centuries searching for their bones, fossilized in the earth.”  

The krogan sets the datapad down.  “Too bad.  I would have liked to go up against one of them.”

 ~

 A week later, while on duty in the CIC with his attention focused on planets, minerals, and potential prothean ruins, Grunt comes thundering his way through. “Shepard!”

Caught in the middle of running a scan, Rhys cannot give the krogan his full attention, and calls back over his shoulder, “Yes?”

Grunt makes some sort of disgruntled sound. “Shepard, what’s a ‘shark?’”

With his fingers flying over the haptic keyboard, Rhys’ reply comes automatically.  “Water dinosaur.”  A heartbeat passes, and he thinks about what he said before turning around to find the krogan standing there, a piece of paper in his hand.  It is an image of a Great White shark.

Kaidan is just exiting the cockpit and happens by during the conversation.  Giving Rhys a bemused look, he replies, “Really?”

Rhys shrugs back at him, but Grunt grins, a spark of delight in his eyes, and turns back toward the lift, chuckling in his usual, deep, rumbly manner.  It’s quite adorable, even if it does leave both men scratching their heads.

 ~

 Late in the Collector mission

Stops at the Citadel are opportunities Rhys never ignores.  This time around, however, he isn’t tracking down prothean specialists at the university or the archives, but shopping.  He returns to the Normandy a few hours before required, not surprised to find the CIC nearly empty as he walks through, bags in hand.  What does surprise him, however, is when the lift doors open and Kaidan steps out.  The other man sizes up the current situation and his hand shoots back out to hold the doors open for Rhys.  “What are those?” he asks, nodding at the bags Rhys carries.

Hopping inside, Rhys shrugs.  “Books.”  

Kaidan chuckles.  “Obviously.”  He reaches into a bag and tugs one free.

Sighing and rolling his eyes, Rhys clarifies.  “On dinosaurs.”

The switch from amusement to… well, whatever the look in his eyes is now – half bemusement, half irritation? – is instantaneous.  Kaidan drops the book back into the bag without looking at it and slams his hand on the buttons.  “You need a fucking lab, I swear.”

Rhys chuckles.  “I tried, but Mordin won’t share.”  He’s the first one through the doors when the lift stops outside of Kaidan’s cabin.  The new arrangement works out better than expected, at least until this topic comes up in discussion.  “Besides, these aren’t for me.”

“No?”  Kaidan swipes his hand over the door’s interface.  “Who?”

“Grunt.”

Almost as if he’s listening in to their conversation, a soft, “Hehehehehe,” whispers through the walls of the ship as they enter the room.  

 ~

 2186, Citadel, during the Reaper War

While Kaidan heads off to do Spectre things, Rhys makes his way to Huerta Memorial Hospital.  After the incident on Mars and his time spent there, the desire to visit isn’t exactly thrumming inside of him, but Grunt is now a patient there, and it’s more important to check on how the krogan is doing.  Wrex’s assurances that Grunt is fine aside, Rhys decides to check in on him anyway, just to be sure.  Kaidan promises to meet up with him as soon as his responsibilities are taken care of, hopefully in time to visit the krogan as well.  

Entering the critical care ward, Rhys notices not much has changed in the weeks since his departure.  In many ways, it reminds him of the rest of the Presidium at the moment; hiding the true nature of what is happening in the Galaxy outside of the Serpent Nebula behind common, everyday things like Blasto movies, home redecoration conventions, and the latest varren races.  Nothing like sticking their collective heads in the sand.

Rhys enters to find Grunt sitting up in bed.  There are makings of a few scars – two across his face, another on his upper left arm, and one more across the broad expanse of his chest – but he appears greatly improved since receiving his injuries on Utukku.  As Rhys enters, Grunt slowly turns his bandaged head in his direction.  His voice is on the weak side, but there is an urgency to it that confuses Rhys at first.  “Shepard.”

Rhys takes that as permission to enter, removing his cowboy hat in the process.  “Hey, Grunt. How’re you doing?”

Grunt ignores the question.  “Shepard, what’s a kakliosaur?”

Startled, it takes Rhys a minute to digest the full question.  In the space between, he pulls over a chair and takes a seat.  “It’s… a krogan dinosaur, I guess,” he replies after a time. “Remember the Triceratops? Akin to that, I guess you could say.”

An added spark of life brightens the krogan’s blue eyes.  “Krogan had dinosaurs?”

Rhys chuckles but nods.  “I would point out that krogan are dinosaurs, but yeah. They had creatures very similar to Earth’s dinosaurs.”

Lying back, Grunt’s eyes close, but he manages a small laugh as he drifts back off to sleep.  “Hehehehehe.”  Rhys takes his leave a few minutes later.

After catching up with one another, Rhys and Kaidan reboard the Normandy.  Halfway through the CIC, Rhys announces, “We have a mission.”

They’re just passing Traynor’s station and she hands Kaidan several datapads.  Absently, he replies, “I know.”

Rhys sighs.  “A new one, I mean.”

That, apparently, is enough to catch the man’s attention, and he glances up.  “What?”

Using his chin to point to the galaxy map, Rhys continues, “We need to go to the Phoenix System.  It’s… important.”

Kaidan frowns.  “What the hell are you talking about?”

A grin slips across Rhys’ face.  He can’t help it.  “We are going dinosaur hunting.  Krogan dinosaur hunting, to be specific.”

The blank look in Kaidan’s eyes as he blinks owlishly at him makes it clear he has no idea what Rhys is talking about.  Either that or he thinks Rhys has lost his mind. Maybe both.  “Check your messages.”

There is a hint of apprehension in his steps as Kaidan walks over to his terminal and retrieves them.  “Shit!”

Rhys tips his hat just a bit and turns toward the elevator.  “See? Told you.  Anyway, let me know when we get there.  I know the director of the museum.”

He’s just stepped onto the lift and pressed the button for the cabin when Kaidan calls over, “Have I mentioned you’re a menace?”

Rhys’ grin widens and he winks at him.  “Not this week…”

[rthstewart]

More Narnia Spare Oom AUs

So I’ve like actually written a lot of this.  But....  based on this lovely post by @athoughtfox and then @edmundjustking made the serious mistake of asking for me to elaborate and so I did , a little bit here .  But... I have opinions about this, OK?  And A LOT OF WORDS.   REALLY A LOT OF WORDS.

Digory – Professor at Oxford, professor of philosophy and theology, renowned expert on the Oxford Franciscans, the Blessed Duns Scotus, and Gerard Manly Hopkins.  Professor Kirke is trying to construct an elaborate theory of environmental stewardship and haecceity based upon his Narnia experience. An excellent theologian and a very bad Christian – he’s not been to church in over 30 years.  Ace.

Polly – Amateur zoologist and naturalist --- “maiden” aunt HA! Always accompanied by a dog, a cat, an umbrella and a carpet bag.  Drove an ambulance in France for the Red Cross in WW1 in France.  Drives an MG. World traveler.   Bisexual. Works at the Whipsnade Zoo and has a bad habit of always trying to curtsy in front of Peter.

Peter: Private, youngest member of Ox & Bucks 2d Battalion, D Company, Glider Corps (whose insignia is Bellerophon aboard Pegasus) and sees the first action on D-Day when his Horsa Glider crashes into the Caen Canal bridge (Normandy) (which becomes known as Pegasus Bridge). He’s wounded in hedgerow battles on the march to Paris, sent home to recover and (probably) never sees more action.  (Unless he joins Captain America’s Howling Commandos and cleans up Hydra nests in former occupied Europe).  Maybe ends up with T-Force, Ox & Bucks 1st Battalion, who are rounding up German scientists and high value targets and “persuading” them to come to England or America.  

After he’s demobbed, he enrolls at Oxford and starts an affair with a married woman.  He then drops out of Oxford as a dismal failure at the classics curriculum.  He comes into some money and finally gets Aslan’s message and begins rebuilding a country for a 3rd time -- he ends up working in construction and literally becomes a rock on which England is rebuilt, as a carpenter and bricklayer.  Ultimately he’s elected to Commons as the rep for Oxford-Cowley where his battles with Margaret Thatcher become legendary.  Bisexual, married, two children, 6 grandchildren. Knighted in 1992.  

 Susan:  Lying about her age and armed with forged identify papers, Susan begins running a spy through the British Embassy in Washington DC in the summer of 1942 to build support in the American Congress for the British war effort.  She leaves school in 1943 and enters SOE training.  She is deployed to Bénouville at a woman’s hospital to spy on the Nazi fortification of the Caen Canal which Peter’s Horsa glider crashed into on D-Day. Sometime thereafter, she is eventually able to return to England (and maybe hangs out with/has sex with Peggy Carter for a while in France on the road to Paris).  Eventually, she is recruited to MI6/SIS with her partner from Washington and they eventually marry where they built networks of spies throughout the Balkans that are blown and murdered by the Cambridge 5.  Her husband may die in Berlin in or around 1950 and/or she remarries.  One daughter; one grandchild.  COE Deaconess, international election observer, advocate for women’s pentathlon in the Olympics, always keeps wolfhounds and a really large handbag that she keeps a Little Joe crossbow in that she got during the War.  Becomes Dame Commander in or around 1980.  

 Edmund:  With forged papers, Edmund passes off as a British army private in Washington DC in 1943, becomes fluent in German and Russian, and is involved in espionage efforts in Greece and the Balkans that preceded Allied operations in the Mediterranean in 1943.   He narrowly avoids a honey trap and seduction by a man with the aim of  compromising him into becoming a Soviet agent – the Soviets are seeking information on the Venona project.  After flirting with the SIS, he decides to not join his sister in espionage.  He reads law at Oxford and works the Judges’ Trial at Nuremberg.  He becomes a successful barrister and renowned human rights activist, with a particular focus on war crimes (with Lucy) and tirelessly advocates for the Chagoss Islands.  Edmund refuses a knighthood for years because he wants Peter to get his first.  He finally relents and becomes the Right Honourable Sir Edmund Pevensie but hates being called Sir.  Sits on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.  Bisexual, married, three children, five grandchildren, married to a Holocaust survivor. Always keeps cats.

 Lucy:  Leaves school in 1943 with forged identity papers to begin agitating for Greek famine relief and more aggressive action to stop the Holocaust and allow more Jews into England.  Joins the Red Cross.  Eventually becomes involved in smuggling food to the Channel Islands which are under Nazi occupation. After the war, Lucy advocates for families of Chinese men in the Liverpool area after the Chinese merchant sailors are secretly kidnapped and forcibly repatriated back to China.  She eventually goes back to school and becomes a doctor.  She and Edmund are involved war crimes investigations all over the world.  Through NGOs, she operates clinics and advocates for security of the whole person (income, education, home, political stability, healthcare) as universal human rights.  Short listed for a Nobel Peace prize twice.  Has arrest records in 5 countries for civil disobedience.  Bisexual. Marries an American, has three children and four grandchildren.  

 Eustace:  Becomes a world-renowned paleontologist, with a focus on trying to find fossil records that can explain the worldwide mythology of dragons. Discovers a species of flying lizard, Draco Scrubb.  Marries Jill, two children.

 Jill:  A respected artist and cook.  She sells art to sporting magazines her mother and father run in the U.S. and Caribbean and also to paleontological and naturalist publications.  Also active with her family, in the cause of Jamaican independence and politics thereafter.  She purchases a cottage on the Isle of Wright that has portals to a magical place with pink water and blue sand.  

[peter-horrocks]

The glacial ice cave at Les Deux Alpes

After another hot summer in the south of France (sorry for those of you who experienced the opposite, I know how you feel I come from Manchester, UK) I was beginning to seriously wilt so it was with some relief that we headed off for ten days in the high French Alps.

The entrance to the ice cave at Les Deux Alpes is just beyond the people along the track

After last year's very successful trip to Les Menuires I doubted that we could repeat similar enjoyment this time round as at some stage it is bound to rain in the mountains and there has been plenty of that in many parts of France this year. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

We spent the first three days at La Foux d’Allos which is just two and a half hours drive north of Grasse where we live. Earlier in the year, we had spent a pleasant week there, just the two of us. This time we met up with my French wife’s sister and husband who had brought two of their grandchildren along with them, all the way from Normandy. They had a trying fifteen-hour journey down spent mainly in traffic jams ending with a rather terrifying last section over the Col d’Allos where the narrow road and huge vertical drops tested their nerves to the limit, though the kids marveled at the scenery. Regular skiers it was the first time they had holidayed in the high mountains in summer.

It was interesting to observe the reaction of the children who are aged seven and nine, the youngest is an absolute live-wire and the elder somewhat reserved and a bit of a bookworm, as La Foux d’Allos is a low-key sort of place and the main attraction is mother nature. Our first days walk directly from the apartment where they stayed (which is owned by a friend of ours, we stayed there previously) was up the valley to the source of the river Verdon which goes on to carve out the Gorge which is one of the most spectacular and visited in France. Up by the source there was hardly anyone, yet the scenery is magnificent and it gets better and better the higher you walk, and we got up high, to 2200 metres. Everyone loved it and the numerous marmots (a sort of groundhog) and circling birds of prey kept us entertained. I was delighted to rediscover the rock with a partial imprint of a giant ammonite fossil which I discovered last time, just off the beaten path.

Lac d’Allos

The following day, early in the morning (to be sure we got one of the limited parking spaces) we drove up to the Lac d’Allos which is the biggest, highest freshwater lake in Europe. A wonderful place for pleasant walking at high altitudes and a superb spot for a picnic in the fresh mountain air. Even after a couple of days of long walks, the kids were still keen to walk out in the evening so they could sit and watch the marmots gamble around grazing as the sun set, it was they who were pestering us adults to go.

Marmot

We took our leave and headed further north another four and a half hours drive to the Oisans valley and the famous ski resort Les Deux Alpes where we stayed in a superb recently built wooden chalet on the edge of the village with the luxurious feature of a hot tub on the big balcony which commanded stunning views of the valley, mountains, and glaciers. 

This time we were with my wife’s five grandchildren aged from three to twelve and their parents, like last year. It is amazing how relatively inexpensive such a high-quality chalet is even in peak season. There is demand and there are people who take holidays in the high mountains but its nothing compared to the millions who prefer to pack on to hot crowded beaches and pay through the nose for exorbitant coastal accommodation.

There is still a buzz around Les Deux Alpes in summer as the ski set is replaced by mountain bikers. This activity has exploded with the development of electric bikes which has opened up the sport to less fit people of all ages. And in the resort, there are lifts running to take bikes and riders up very high and dedicated graded tracks to ride down. There are specialized shops for hiring the bikes and all the necessary protective equipment too. All-day long there were hundreds of people setting off nice and fresh or returning covered in a respectable amount of mud, nearly all smiling, chatting, and enjoying themselves.

There were many bars and restaurants open and it was our first experience of presenting our Passe Sanitaire (obtained after our double vaccination jabs), which were duly scanned by the waiter’s mobile phone system when we paid our bill, all very relaxed, easy, and reassuring. None of the bars or restaurants were particularly busy but the atmosphere was pretty cool all the same, out on the terraces in the fresh air overlooking the magnificent mountains, it was nice after so much time at home recently, avoiding people.

The children enjoyed walks around the valley and their treats were the dry toboggan run and the ingenious non-motorized carts which were adapted to be dragged up the mountainside by the Poma lift leaving gravity to provide the speed on the downhill with braking being the drivers main preoccupation. All good fun. An unexpected bonus was the de-stocking of the equipment shops in the resort at the end of August with loads of high-quality gear being sold at half price, we picked up some incredible bargains including walking boots and ski jackets. 

Just inside the glacier surrounded by raw ice

The highlight of our stay was a visit to the ice cave at 3400 metres up on the high glacier. I had wanted to visit one since I discovered more about them during my time working in Chamonix where I had the privilege of skiing down the Valley Blanche, but never got round to visiting the ice cave in the Bosson Glacier. I’ve always been fascinated by glaciers, especially the fact that such a huge quantity of ice is constantly on the move, typically 25 cm a day. And my imagination was enhanced by the tale my brother told me of when he discovered the frozen body of a Japanese mountaineer on one of his expeditions up Mount Kilimanjaro from the Kenyan side, the glacier finally gave up its prisoner after 15 years of entrapment, and they were able to reunite the preserved remains of the unfortunate man with his family at last.

The ice cave is hacked out by hand

It costs 25 euros for the lift pass and entry to the ice cave at Les Deux Alpes. A ride up two very long gondola ski lifts then on the highest funicular railway in the world which actually goes through the rock under the glacier via a tunnel, is easily worth the money. We were accompanied by Mathieu and his twin boys aged seven, one of whom has difficulty walking, all of us were well kitted out with puffer jackets and walking boots, which we appreciated as we had to walk a couple of hundred metres across the snow to get to the ice cave entrance and there was a bitter chill wind blowing up there. 

The ice sculptures in the cave included this octopus

Inside the ice cave, I was surprised at how long it was, there were vivid explanations of how it is hacked out by hand and there are parts with fabulous ice sculptures of things like sea horses and fish which are beautifully smooth and nicely lit for maximum effect, which had the children enthralled. Clearly not one for the claustrophobic, it did not disappoint as an experience. 

The views from the suspended platform were spectacular

And once outside we walked a few hundred metres more in the snow to a suspended viewing platform with awesome views of the surrounding mountains and as we made our way back to the lift we saw the white peak of Mont Blanc the highest mountain in Europe which loomed above all else. 

The passes are valid all day and Mathieu immediately insisted that his wife Caroline accompany him back up to the ice cave as he didn’t want her to miss out, his interpretation of how she would feel was correct, she didn’t want to come back down, she loved it so much up there on top of the world. None of us wanted to leave Les Deux Alpes at the end of our stay either.

At the tourist office in Les Deux Alpes, we learned that in August this year the glacier was closed for summer skiing for the first time ever due to the effects of global warming. I can but hope we are not too late to react and modify our way of living in time to both avert pending climate-related disasters and save the magnificent mysterious glaciers all over the world.

[johnvink]

FRANCE, Villers-sur-Mer (Normandie). 25/07/2020: A bush sculpted into a prehistoric animal adorns the central square of this city where many fossiles were found in nearby cliffs. At the beginning of what looks like the second Covid19 wave, popular holiday destinations in France are accessible to most Europeans. The cities of Deauville and Trouville, a mere 2 hour drive from Paris and only a 4 hour drive from Brussels, as well as the nearby coastal tourist attractions further South, concentrate a wide variety of nationalities. Parisians mingle with German, Dutch, Belgian, British citizens craving for a return of normalcy. They each have slightly different physical distancing rules at home and as a result have a different mindset on how to behave regarding safety measures. The beaches of the Normandy coast are generally very wide and offer a lot of space to the thousands of people enjoying their sacro-saint holidays. The shopping and restaurant areas as well as the landmark destinations like the Mont Saint-Michel tend to be very crowded. September will tell how reasonable it was to indulge in a normal holiday on the Normandy coast. More here: https://mapsbase.photoshelter.com/index/G0000zyc087dTV3I/I0000BdmKvvN5Czc #MAPS #Holidays #Normandy https://www.instagram.com/p/CD0Sza4JCLI/?igshid=ysq9fe7nftdl