D-Day Beaches at Arromanches
Calvados Time!
Sir, yes sir!
American D-Day Cemetery
Bombed out German bunker.
Bayeux Streets
Bayeux Cathedral Crypt (spooky!)
After leaving Paris, the group headed to Normandy and arrived in the
afternoon. René dropped us off at the cliffs outside of Arromanches where we
spent some time exploring and looking across the French Channel (according
to Patrick our guide, its the French Channel not the English Channel). We
walked down from the cliffs into Arromanches and to our hotel. It was
beautiful.
Later, Gen and I took a stroll on the beach where you can still see the remnants of the man made harbor. We met up with John and Pam Stoney and Monte and Pat Fligsten. They all hail from Santa Barbara (along with Dick and Jean Callanan) and took this Rick Steve's tour together. As it turns out, a women that Pam used to work with in Santa Barbara was originally from France and had moved back to Arromanches! She had arranged to meet up with her for dinner. I need to find some friends in Europe... :)
After the group dinner at the hotel, which was very good, a group of us decided to try the local specialty -- Calvados which is an apple brandy (and rather potent).
Later, Gen and I took a stroll on the beach where you can still see the remnants of the man made harbor. We met up with John and Pam Stoney and Monte and Pat Fligsten. They all hail from Santa Barbara (along with Dick and Jean Callanan) and took this Rick Steve's tour together. As it turns out, a women that Pam used to work with in Santa Barbara was originally from France and had moved back to Arromanches! She had arranged to meet up with her for dinner. I need to find some friends in Europe... :)
After the group dinner at the hotel, which was very good, a group of us decided to try the local specialty -- Calvados which is an apple brandy (and rather potent).
The following day was jam packed. Our guide for the day was Ellwood von Seibold. Ellwood is British but his love
of everything WWII drew him to Normandy where he owns a historical house (a US paratrooper landed there) and gives
tours of the D-Day beaches. First, Ellwood took us to Utah and Omaha beaches, St. Mere Eglise church where a US
paratrooper got hung up on the steeple, and to Ellwood's house which is practically a WWII museum.
Following lunch we toured the American cemetery which is impressive in
its magnitude.
Overall, the day was fantastic! Ellwood's stories and history lessons, the impressive scenery and sites really gave us an appreciation for the sheer magnitude of what happened on D-Day.
The next morning we boarded the bus to Bayeux to see the Bayeux Tapestry which depicts the Battle of Hastings. The tapestry was impressive considering how old it was.
Next stop is Mont St. Michel which we were looking forward to ever since seeing the Rick Steve's TV episode on it.
Overall, the day was fantastic! Ellwood's stories and history lessons, the impressive scenery and sites really gave us an appreciation for the sheer magnitude of what happened on D-Day.
The next morning we boarded the bus to Bayeux to see the Bayeux Tapestry which depicts the Battle of Hastings. The tapestry was impressive considering how old it was.
Next stop is Mont St. Michel which we were looking forward to ever since seeing the Rick Steve's TV episode on it.