Jeff (one of the other kids on my program) said today that it seems ridiculous that we have to go to another country to appreciate our own, but today was basically appreciate America day in France. We spent the entire day seeing World War II related sites in Normandy, and it was such a moving day.
We started at the Cité de l’Histoire, a museum devoted to World War II and D-Day in Caen. The museum went through the lead-up to and each stage of the war. It was so interesting because it was presented from the French perspective. We, obviously, learn history from the American perspective, so it was different to see more details about the German occupation of France and the French Resistance.
For lunch, we went to Saint Laurent-sur-Mer to a restaurant in D-Day House Hotel, which is right on Omaha Beach. Afterwards, we had some time to walk on the beach a little. We went to Pointe au Hoc next, which is a point set up on a cliff between Utah and Omaha Beaches. The point was a must capture for the Americans and they did, and it’s now technically American soil, so we’re responsible for maintaining the site.
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| Omaha Beach. The monument reads (in French and English) "The Allied Forces landing on this shore which they call Omaha Beach liberate Europe June 6th, 1944" |
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| Omaha Beach |
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| Pointe du Hoc |
We went to the Normandy American Cemetery after that, and it was incredible. All the headstones are white crosses or Jewish stars, and the sheer numbers are so moving. The cemetery has views of Omaha Beach and is so beautiful. We were all on an Amurrrica high afterwards.
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| Normandy American Cemetery |
Our last stop of the day was the Musée de la Débarquement in Arromanches-les-Bains on Gold Beach. The museum had models of the contraptions the British used to disembark from their ships. It was a so-so museum, but we got ice cream and walked on the beach, so that made the town infinitely better.
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| Gold Beach |
We came back to our hotel in Bayeux tonight and went to the same restaurant as last night, where I had tartine de chèvre (bread with goat cheese and salad) and profiteroles for dessert…sooo good. Now I think we might watch some Jersey Shore to continue our America is Awesome Day.
Bonne Nuit!
P.S. I'll update with pictures when I have more time to upload.
Sounds like a great experience, Ellen, I’m really enjoying it through your narrative! If JCD isn't reading your blog, you should email a copy of your description of this to him.
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Barbara C.