I got back from Normandy Friday evening after a week full of WWII museums, cemeteries, long bus rides and many, many children.
I am grateful that I was able to see such a beautiful area that is important not only to the French, but to Americans as well. I learned a lot that I didn't know before and I had some pretty emotional reactions to much of what I experienced {I about lost it when I heard the Marine Corps hymn at one museum. It just made me miss my family, and I felt such pride for my father and what he's done!}.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to get many great photographs but I'll share a bit of what I saw and did.
Day One: We went to a WWII museum in Caen and then went to the "Chateau du Molay" where we stayed while in Normandy.
Day Two: We visited Pointe du Hoc, the American cemetery, an Omaha Beach museum, Omaha Beach and a sapinière (a tree farm) where they make cider. The weather was so lovely this day, and then it just got miserable!
The lawn in front of our chateau
The front of the building
My room. I love the wallpaper!
It was SO sunny and windy which resulted in this squinty face. Classy. Also I think Utah Beach is behind me?
Some French Marines visiting all of the WWII sights. We saw them all over Normandy
These parachute dummies were dropped to confuse the Germans.
This only completely reminded me of The Fantastic Mr. Fox. All of those are apple cider bottles!
Mes enfants!
Day Three: We visited Les Arromanches museum {the temporary shipping port constructed by Allies} and went to this field where Germans had stationed these massive guns to shoot at Allied ships
Day Four: We visited a German cemetery and a caramel factory. Normandy is famous for its caramels.
Free caramels!
Day Five: We visited a tapestry that was created in 1070 and is 70 meters long and then left for home. I don't really have pictures from this day. They didn't allow cameras in the tapestry museum.
Whew. That was probably the longest post I've ever made! Normandy was fantastic and I am so grateful that I was able to visit!
-M
I am so in love with this Madison! And so jealous. It sounds like the most wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this, Madison. A very important place and time in our world and our history. The trip sounds like a nice balance of reverence and fun!
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