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.
