Bayeux Cathedral
Streets of Bayeux
River Aure flows through Bayeux
More pics of the river - so pretty!
The Normandy region in France is beautiful and I wish we had more time to explore that area. But, of course the main reason for our trip was to visit the D-Day landing beaches. In particular, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. We actually thought that it might not happen either, which was quite stressful during our trip. We decided beforehand not to book an official guided tour like we did in London, because we wanted to create our own itinerary. We thought we would get everything figured out once we arrived at the hotel. However, after looking into public buses, renting a car and [gasp] a guided tour – strike three…we struck out! I was so bummed and disappointed. There had to be a way. I mean, Bayeux is a great little town, but we didn’t travel to Normandy to be so close to the landing beaches just to turn back around without seeing them. I was determined to find some way to get there. I walked down to the front desk to see about getting a taxi for the next day. The evening receptionist spoke fluent English, unlike the one who checked us in, and told me that they have taxi excursions that will take you wherever you want and you can choose your departure time. I told here where we wanted to go and that we needed a baby car seat. She called up the company and – VOILA! Thank goodness!
Ryne did not sleep well Friday night! He was up several times, which is so not like him – he usually sleeps 11-12 hours straight through the night – and was finally up for the day at around 4am. He hadn’t eaten very well Friday either. I wonder if he was teething, although he’s never had issues when teething before. Hmmm…
Pehr with his tiny 2 euros café (a little more than $3)! I'm sure the coffee was worth it after a restless night!
Our taxi picked us up Saturday morning, car seat and all. The car seat was about 15 years old, but at this point I didn’t care! We were on our way to the American Cemetery and Omaha Beach! Our driver was a really nice Frenchman who grew up in Bayeux. He was very passionate about his heritage and the area where he lives.
We arrived at the American Cemetery and Memorial and walked down to Omaha Beach first. The beach is about 5 miles long and bordered by cliffs on both sides. Just past the beach is a heavily wooded bluff which we walked through to get down to the beach. Known as Operation Overload, the invasions that took place on that very beach on June 6, 1944 marked the beginning of the end of WWII and the liberation of Europe. It’s amazing to think of the enormity and significance of what happened on those beaches and of all the sacrifices that were made there almost 64 years ago.
Pehr and Ryne overlooking Omaha Beach
Getting closer...
And closer...
Pehr and Ryne at Omaha Beach
Ryne and I on the beach
Ryne liked the rocks and didn't want to let this one go, so we took it with us - oops!
Looking down the stretch of Omaha Beach
One of the cliffs surrounding Omaha Beach
Ryne and I near the cliff at Omaha Beach
Looking up from the beach at the wooded bluff
After visiting the beach we walked back up the cliff to the American Cemetery and Memorial. “1941-1945. In proud remembrance of the achievement of her sons and in humble tribute to their sacrifices, this memorial has been erected by the United States of America.” Inaugurated in 1956, the cemetery honors American soldiers who died in Europe during WWII and is the final resting place for 9,387 American soldiers, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy. The names of 12,557 Americans who lost their lives but whose remains could not be found or identified are inscribed on the walls of a semicircular area with a bronze statue entitled “Spirit of American Youth” in the center. Encircling the top of colonnade is the phrase “This embattled shore, portal of freedom, is forever hallowed by the ideals, the valor and the sacrifices of our fellow countrymen.” The cemetery itself is 172 acres and sits on the edge of the cliff overlooking the sector of Omaha Beach where the first division landed on D-Day. The white grave markers bear either the sign of the cross or the Star of David and display the soldier’s name or the inscription “Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God” on the 307 graves of the unknown. All graves face westward towards the United States.
American Cemetery
Pehr and Ryne at the American Cemetery
Grave markers overlooking Omaha Beach
An out of focus picture I took that turned out looking really neat
Next, our taxi took us to Point du Hoc, located on top of a cliff overlooking the sea. Point du Hoc sits between Omaha and Utah beaches and is where the Germans kept a battery of seized French weapons. This threatened the beach landings on D-Day and an American attack set out to destroy the weapons. Many of the original bunkers and fortifications are still in place and the ground is covered with huge bomb craters.
German bunker we passed on our way to Pointe du Hoc. Our taxi driver said most of the bunkers, or "pillboxes" as he called them, are closed now but he remembers playing in them on the hills when he was younger.
Me and Ryne in front of one of the massive craters - it's hard to describe how these look in real life. It's hard to capture in a photo.
More craters
Pehr and Ryne checking out the German artillery battery
Pehr and Ryne at the Pointe du Hoc memorial where President Reagan gave a speech in 1984 on the 40th anniversary of D-Day
View from Pointe du Hoc
We really enjoyed our Normandy trip, and to have missed a visit to the landing beaches would have been such a disappointment. There are really no words to express being able to experience, in person, a piece of history that is so important to the world and our country. God Bless America!
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