We planned a day trip to Normandie, which became an unexpected adventure. After negotiations (!!), the tour Peter and I agreed upon included beaches with both Canadian and American significance, but at the expense of missing Pointe du Hoc. Decision made, off we went from Paris, with only a dozen passengers in the van.
But, after about an hour and a half on the highway, the van broke down. There we were, a dozen of us lined up in the side of the road! After a brief wait, another bus took us to a highway rest stop to wait. And wait. And wait.
Eventually our original driver arrived … with a new van. Because the day was shortened, they had to modify the itinerary. Suddenly Pointe du Hoc was included and they dropped another stop which didn’t interest either of us. So the breakdown actually worked out for the best and we had a great afternoon and evening.
Our first stop was Juno beach, the second beach from the east among the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion of World War II.
ann Arato
16 chapters
19 Mar 2023
We planned a day trip to Normandie, which became an unexpected adventure. After negotiations (!!), the tour Peter and I agreed upon included beaches with both Canadian and American significance, but at the expense of missing Pointe du Hoc. Decision made, off we went from Paris, with only a dozen passengers in the van.
But, after about an hour and a half on the highway, the van broke down. There we were, a dozen of us lined up in the side of the road! After a brief wait, another bus took us to a highway rest stop to wait. And wait. And wait.
Eventually our original driver arrived … with a new van. Because the day was shortened, they had to modify the itinerary. Suddenly Pointe du Hoc was included and they dropped another stop which didn’t interest either of us. So the breakdown actually worked out for the best and we had a great afternoon and evening.
Our first stop was Juno beach, the second beach from the east among the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion of World War II.
It was assaulted on June 6, 1944 (D-Day of the invasion), by units of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division, who took heavy casualties in the first wave but by the end of the day succeeded in wresting control of the area from defending German troops.
Next, we visited the village and beach at Arromanches.
Arromanches is remembered as a historic place of the Normandy landings and in particular as the place where a Mulberry harbour artificial port was installed. This artificial port allowed the disembarkation of 9,000 tons of material per day.
It was on the beach of Arromanches that, during the Invasion of Normandy immediately after D-Day, the Allies established an artificial temporary harbour to allow the unloading of heavy equipment.
Even today sections of the Mulberry harbour still remain with huge concrete blocks sitting on the sand and more can be seen further out at sea.
Next we saw the American cemetery.
The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a World War II cemetery and memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, that honors American troops who died in Europe during World War II. It is located on the site of the former temporary battlefield cemetery of Saint Laurent, covers 172.5 acres and contains 9,388 burials.
While we were there, a short ceremony took place with both the US national anthem and taps played. It was very moving - as was the sight of row upon row of white crosses.
Our next stop was Pointe du Hoc.
Located between Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc is one of the key heritage sites along the D-Day Landing beaches in Normandy.
Pointe du Hoc, a strategic element of the Atlantic Wall, was stormed by Colonel Rudder's Rangers on the morning of the 6th of June 1944 - D-Day. it proved to be one of the toughest battles to be fought during the Normandy Landings: of the 225 Rangers that began the assault, only 90 were still fit to continue their fight for France's Liberation.
Our last stop was Omaha beach, a landing area in Normandy, northern France, used by Allied forces in the WWII D-Day invasion. Today, the beach is dotted with the remains of German bunkers. On the shore, the stainless-steel sculpture Les Braves commemorates American soldiers.
This day was very thought provoking. They say we need to learn history in order to avoid repeating it. But, looking at what’s happening in the world today, what have we learned?
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Before we board
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And we’re off!!!
3.
The UK ports - Plymouth & Dover
4.
The Netherlands - Rotterdam & Delft
5.
Scandinavia: Oslo
6.
Scandinavia: Copenhagen
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The Netherlands - Amsterdam
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Paris - Parks & neighborhoods
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Paris - Museums
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Paris - Normandie D-Day beaches
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Paris - Giverny
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Paris - Chateau de Versailles
13.
Greek Islands cruise - Greece, Turkey & Italy
14.
Italy - Varenna
15.
Italy - Rick Steves Best of Italy tour
16.
The finale - Iceland
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