Historic Normandy, France

After visiting Monet's Garden, we continued on to the Normandy region of France to see the beaches of D-Day.  The Normandy coast has steep cliffs leading to long, beautful beaches that will forever be linked to World War II.  Our first stop was Arromanches, a small harbor town made famous when the allies used it to build a man-made artificial harbor to move supplies for the invasion.  There are still remains of the ships seen on the beaches during low tide. This harbor was assembled completely on the day following the landings - June 7,1944.  We took in a 360 degree circular cinema that shows footage of the invasion combined with modern-day images shot in the same locations.  It was really moving and brought tears to my eyes because my Dad's Naval Fleet took part in the D-Day invasion. 

Just north of here is the American Cemetery sitting on the cliff above Omaha Beach.  It is chilling how tranquil and quiet it can be, even with many visitors.  Even though we have all seen pictures of the many crosses, nothing prepares you for the experience of seeing acres of white marble monuments.  The stones are polished smooth and many of them etched within days of the date of the landing - June 6, 1944.  There are 9700 dead soldiers here.  Over 2000 died on Omaha beach that first day.

Arromanches with remains of the artificial harbor

A view from the cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach

The only flowers in the cemetery are pink roses

One of our South Dakota boys



The Memorial with reflecting pond



In the memorial wall is a huge map showing the invasion and timelines

"Spirit of American Youth" bronze sculpture

From the bluff above Omaha Beach looking East

From there, we went to the small town of Bayeux for the night and the coastal town of Honfleur. It was here that artists like Monet spent their summer months to stay cool and paint images of the sea and this quaint harbor town.

Our Hotel in Bayeux tucked into a courtyard

A really old half-timbered building in town

A beautiful canal running through the center of town

Honfleur where the River Seine reaches the English Channel

Inside harbor surrounded by old buildings and cafes



Mary in a sweeeeet shop


... and then back home to Wiesbaden.  Tschus!