As we started our day, the one goal we had in mind was to make it to the Normandy American Cemetery. It would be impossible to exaggerate how many people are in Normandy for the 65th Anniversary of D-Day. We didn't get to see Obama in person yesterday because French security made about a 15 km security band around the American Cemetery where Obama was speaking. To get inside the security zone, you had to have a special pass (which we, of course, did not have). Apparently, everyone and his 15 friends didn't have the pass needed either, so we were all on a quest today to make it to the American Cemetery. [Note: we were at the Memorial de Caen when Obama was speaking and we saw him on a jumbotron inside the musuem, but it was dubbed in French, so we couldn't really appreciate the quality of his oratory.]
So, we headed for the Lisieux train station this morning and prayed that St. Theresa of the Little Flower would bless us on our quest. We ate breakfast at a cafe near the train station. (Pain au chocolat, miam!) Then, we caught a train for Bayeux where we hoped to get on a tour bus to the American Cemetery and other related sites.
Along the way, we met several British D-Day veteran soldiers and we took pictures and talked with them a great deal. Once in Bayeux, a place on a tour was impossible to find. We met two people from Kentucky who apparently got the last two tour tickets @ 45 Euros each. Our only option was to get a taxi. Madame was seriously concerned that the cost would be prohibitive! But, with six people in the taxi @ 110 Euro total cost, it looks like St. Theresa was looking out for our wallets as well as our travel plans! We set a rendez-vous point with the taxi service and since we had just under two hours to wait around, we went and visited the Bayeux Tapestry. Then, we ate very typical tourist fare in a restaurant. Jessie and Madame had traditional Normandy omelettes.
The day had announced itself as sunny and pleasant, but a dark cloud arrived at Colleville-sur-mer just as we arrived at the cemetery there! We toured the cemetery under torrential rain, but
we each loacted our soldier's grave and the girls all got to see Omaha beach. Jeanne, Melissa, and Cate all got to walk on Omaha Beach! Given all the rain and CRAZY traffic, we didn't get to go to Pointe du Hoc. The girls have all caught on to Madame's philosophy that it is good to leave something undone so you have a reason to return there again in the future --- so the girls will all have to return here someday to see Pointe du Hoc. Our taxi agreed to take us on a driving tour of the area and we got to see many beautiful views, including a cliff-high view over Arromanches where the British built an artificial port to support the Normandy invasion. It was wonderful to see all the WWII re-enactors and the period clothing, jeeps, and other parphernalia.
We caught a train back to Lisieux via Caen and
ate dinner at a Chinese/Thai restaurant. The food was excellent but we were wet and tired. On our way back to the hotel, as the sun was beginning to set, we stopped for a photo-shoot at the Lisieux Basilica for St. Theresa.
So, we headed for the Lisieux train station this morning and prayed that St. Theresa of the Little Flower would bless us on our quest. We ate breakfast at a cafe near the train station. (Pain au chocolat, miam!) Then, we caught a train for Bayeux where we hoped to get on a tour bus to the American Cemetery and other related sites.
Along the way, we met several British D-Day veteran soldiers and we took pictures and talked with them a great deal. Once in Bayeux, a place on a tour was impossible to find. We met two people from Kentucky who apparently got the last two tour tickets @ 45 Euros each. Our only option was to get a taxi. Madame was seriously concerned that the cost would be prohibitive! But, with six people in the taxi @ 110 Euro total cost, it looks like St. Theresa was looking out for our wallets as well as our travel plans! We set a rendez-vous point with the taxi service and since we had just under two hours to wait around, we went and visited the Bayeux Tapestry. Then, we ate very typical tourist fare in a restaurant. Jessie and Madame had traditional Normandy omelettes.The day had announced itself as sunny and pleasant, but a dark cloud arrived at Colleville-sur-mer just as we arrived at the cemetery there! We toured the cemetery under torrential rain, but
we each loacted our soldier's grave and the girls all got to see Omaha beach. Jeanne, Melissa, and Cate all got to walk on Omaha Beach! Given all the rain and CRAZY traffic, we didn't get to go to Pointe du Hoc. The girls have all caught on to Madame's philosophy that it is good to leave something undone so you have a reason to return there again in the future --- so the girls will all have to return here someday to see Pointe du Hoc. Our taxi agreed to take us on a driving tour of the area and we got to see many beautiful views, including a cliff-high view over Arromanches where the British built an artificial port to support the Normandy invasion. It was wonderful to see all the WWII re-enactors and the period clothing, jeeps, and other parphernalia.We caught a train back to Lisieux via Caen and
ate dinner at a Chinese/Thai restaurant. The food was excellent but we were wet and tired. On our way back to the hotel, as the sun was beginning to set, we stopped for a photo-shoot at the Lisieux Basilica for St. Theresa.
This is Jessie.
ReplyDeleteBayeux and the Normandy cemetery were both extremely crowded and impossible to get around, which was the unfortunate side effect of being around on D-day weekend. However, the really good thing about that was seeing the veterans everywhere. We talked with some of them -- on the train, in restaurants, in the street. We would shake hands, listen to the mens' stories, and then take a few photos. It was very cool.
At Colleville-sur-mer, as Madame said, it was raining and cold and windy. We went down towards plot A of the cemetery, and then we all separated to find our soldiers. Both of my soldiers were in plot B, and between the two plots they were deconstructing the platform from the ceremony yesterday, so I had to go back up to the statue and all the way down on the other side to get to plot B. By that time it was pouring rain. I found both of my soldiers and then returned back to the tree where Madame had said we would meet up. However, no one was under the tree, and I couldn't see well enough to look up through the rain into plot A. However, I turned around and saw Cate waving at me, and I followed her up to a covered area where the others were.
However, almost immediately Melissa and I went out again, because she wanted to see Plot B. We walked through almost all of the plot and looked out over the cliff onto Omaha beach. Then we met Madame back up and got into the taxi. We remained cold and wet for the rest of the day, but it was worth it.
today was the most amazing day. i met many veterans and got to talk to a british veteran. I was very touch to see all the americans graves and all the different country soldiers that came to visit the graves. I was very happy that i got to see all about the things from World War II. I was excited to see all the soldiers from different countries. It was a day i would not forget. I got to talk to a veteran and he gave me his army card. I was very moved and honored to walk around and see the graves of those very brave soldiers
ReplyDeleteThis is Stephsnie....
ReplyDeleteI had a great time today meeting many veterans.It was very interesting to meet them and learn about their lives and what important parts they play in the war. we went to the memorial and it started to rain so i stood under the tree and waited for it to die down, while everyone else went to look for their soldier and got wet. I was so happy i stayed behind because i got some german men to give me a poncho.:)...Then i looked around for my soldier and walked down to the beach with Jeany, where D-day happened.:).... I was so excited.
The cemetary was extremely crowded, but was no less powerful than I had expected. Through the pouring rain, we wandered around quickly to find our soldiers. Madame found her soldier, and I quickly found another Oklahoma soldier to adopt. After getting soaked right through my three layers of clothing, I was still trying to look around. I decided (on the spur of the moment) that I absolutely wanted to go down to the beach. I ran down (I didn't want to make us late for our taxi) beacause I wanted to try and see for myself the same view the allied soldiers had faced nearly 90 years ago, under very different conditions. I grabbed one rock for each girl in our group, to have a small momento from the Normandy beach. I ran back up, looking like a weird out-of-breath tourist. The rain that kept pouring down made the expereince slightly miserable, but more powerful because it continued to wisper to me about the miserable day that had been june 6, 1944. It was very moving to think about all of the soldiers involved that day, including my grandfather, who was a pilot flying over the beach.
ReplyDeleteThis is Jeanne.
ReplyDeleteToday has been a totally awseome day!! From an amazing breakfast of pan au chocolat and hot chocolate to meeting all the veterans who were actually at the beaches on D-day, just like my grandfather - today was filled with amazing adventures and excitement. I loved it!!