Trip to Europe May 18 to May 31, 2002 --- Page 8

Saturday, 25 May 2002: Bayeux --> Normandy Beaches
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Our alarm works this morning -- too well, it seems, as we rise early (and a little slowly) and eat a (surprise!) continental breakfast at the hotel -- lots of Americans around.  We leave Bayeux, driving north to the American cemetery at Colleville sur Mer.

We walk to the main memorial, then see the stage and chairs awaiting a visit from US President George W. Bush in just a few days, and then see the ocean, rather, North Sea/La Manche/English Channel. 
At the edge of the bluff we can see pathways to the beaches,
so we follow them to the water.
There's almost a religious awe surrounding Omaha Beach
-- hallowed ground, in the words of Lincoln.
It's high tide and the beaches are short, contrary to our memories of low tide from the many films and documentaries.  We walk around on the beaches, looking up to this break in the bluffs overlooking the water, now overgrown with vegetation.  We wander to two bunkers still largely intact  -- the tracks for the gun show that it was aimed across this break and it takes little to imagine this bunker 58 years ago. 
Climbing up on the other side, we pass two memorials, one to the first division, another to the engineering batallion. 
We head back to the parking lot and cemetery again.
We walk past the perfectly aligned crosses (& Stars of David)
like we were in church.
A chapel at the end of the walkway is tiny, but beautifully decorated.
In contrast, there is a large memorial on the other end of the cemetery.
We leave and drive east along the coast, in and out of small towns, all the way to Arromanches.  We find an easy place to park in the street, and walk up the hill to view the remains of the 'temporary' Mulberry harbor.  We eat some baguettes (yum!) and ice cream and watch the water -- which was at high tide just a short time ago, now ebbing quickly.
Although we're on schedule, we nix a diversion to Falaise, and head for St. Lo and Mont St Michel.
 
Follow this link for more Normandy Pictures
 
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