Exploration of Normandy and the D-day beaches

This was top of Karl's list for things he wanted to do in Europe - so here we are!



We had originally hired a rental car from Paris, but decided last minute to change this and train from Paris to Caen and pick up a hire car there - this would then eliminate the stress of driving out of Paris and possible traffic issues on our return on Sunday to meet our train to Montpellier.

This was a great plan - and after saying our goodbyes to Emma and Dean, we were off to our train station to get our tickets and head to Caen - this was done with ease and before 12 noon we were getting our car and on the road.

First we started at Juno Beach at Courseulles-Sur-Mer which is where the Canadians landed.  The Canadian forces suffered 50% of their losses in the first hour of the assault, however they liberated its coastal sector and took control of villages inland.  Of the five landing zones, this one saw the furthese Allied advance by the eving of D-Day - JUNE 6, 1944.

Here we did lots of reading and enjoyed our lunch of baguettes and ham on the beautiful golden beach.  The day today was stunning and warm which was perfect for exploring.

Next we headed to Gold Beach and the village of Ver-Sur-Mer for a brief look before heading to our accommodation in Port-en-Bessin-Huppain to relax before exploring again later.  As we were driving to our accommodation we noticed what looked like mist or fog on some of the paddocks - interesting (more about this later) -

After relaxing at our accommodation and having an early dinner we headed to explore Arromances Des Bains another key location on Gold Beach.  By this time, the mist/fog that we could see earlier was now fully settled and we could barely see 5 metres ahead - it was crazy and we had never seen anything like this before.  I remember in NZ one day in winter going to watch Loki play rugby in Pahiatua and we could not see the other side of the paddock - and this was much worse - crazy and even more interesting it stayed this way for the rest of the evening and the following day! As Normandy is on the coast of the English Channel we had heard there could be weird weather - but we were not expecting this.

Anyway we explored the Arromanches, both up at the lookout (where we could see nothing - we could hear the sea but not see the sea) 

The view......................

Cute pics I couldn't resist in the maize

and down at the beach.  It was apparently weather like this however for those advancing on D-day so it almost felt fitting that we were exploring in this type of weather.  The British landed at this spot and took control of the town on the morning of June 7^th.  There remains at Arromanche multiple pill boxes on the beach. 

We then headed in to the inland town of Bayeux and noticed the weather clearing the further inland we went.  We had a drive around Bayeux exploring (mostly because we got a little lost) and found a few cool things including museums, tanks and a gorgeous cathedral.  It was then time to head back to our unit for bed - great day. 

SATURDAY - May 28th, 2016

After great sleeps and scrambled eggs for breakfast we were ready for another day.  1^st stop today was the German Gun Battery at  Longues-Sur-Mer, which is situated in the area between Gold Beach and Omaha Beach.  This gun battery is the only one today still equipped with its guns from the period.   If we had not been in deep fog we would have apparently have had extraordinary panoramic views over the Landing Beaches - however not today!  However, even without the views it was an amazing place to visit.  We all loved exploring this area - 

Next we were heading to our most anticipated site was next on the agenda - the Normandy American Cemetery - this is the one you would have all seen photos of - the vast area containing 9,387 white crosses of the graves of American solders who feel in combat.  This is situatied just above Omaha Beach at Colleville-sur-Mer.  Again, the weather made this an errie site as we could see nothing but crosses - the memorial centre was also very sobering and gave cause for much thought and sadness for those that were lost, not only here, but everywhere with war.  There was also a New Zealand flag flying in the memorial centre which was good to see. 

Karl was excited to be doing this trip - as he had read and studied lots about World War II both at school and as an Air Force Cadet in his younger day - 

It was now time for lunch and so we found a great little café down in Omaha Beach - time for some heart warming l’oignon soup - delish!  At the beach there was a sculpture called "Les Braves" which honoured those that died -

And a memorial -

And just up the road there was this tank - 

 The wild and deserted Omaha Beach on a day like today -

Then we were off to Cricqueville-en-Bessin and the Pointe du Hoc Ranger memorial.  This is one of the few places still showing clear signs of the violence of the landings in Normandy.  Severely hit by the fighting it allows you to imagine the extreme conditions in which the Rangers climbed the cliff under the fire from German soldiers lying in ambush at the top.  It was crazy - there were huge craters absolutely everywhere and the cliff faces looked impossible!  135 Rangers lost their lives here.  The walk around this sight was around 45 minutes - it took us longer as the kids hooked up with some American children and were having a great time playing in and around the craters and the bunkers.  Both our kids, and the American kids who are currently based in Italy, really enjoyed playing together, speaking and understanding each other!

Fun times exploring 

The kids playing....................

The cliffs that had to be scaled....................

The monument honouring the soldiers - I thought it was an unfortunate shape.

 The amazing area that was shelled............................

We were then done for the day - information overload and ready for a break we headed back to our unit.  The boys headed off for a swim and it was relax time for mum and I.

We certainly have done some exploring today and this is a gorgeous area of rural France - there are some very cute roads, buildings and villages.  It is really nice to be out in the countryside again.

OUR ACCOMMODATION:

Our accommodation is great, a timeshare that has multiple pools, lots of green space and large units - well, our unit now is large and two bedrooms - but that was not what we got on our arrival.  We booked through Booking.com and got a great deal - however there is a discrepancy between booking.com and the hotel regarding what is being booked - it says a two room apartment; whereas the hotel says one room - anyway got it sorted and we are in a great apartment for under 100 euros per night - whoop whoop.  It was straight to the pool for the Fraser family - heated pools both inside and out! Yay! Just perfect.     

The inside pool - 

The outside pool - 

The pool with the units in the background 

Great units 

Check out the crazy mist in the background at 5pm.......................

SUNDAY May 29th and time to head back to Paris to catch our 7pm train  to Montpellier, in the south of France for Karl to attend a conference.
The train we were planning on taking back to Paris at 1pm said it was full on the website; the train at 2pm was also full - panic! Well not really, there was another train at 9 and 10am but this would mean we would miss the Caen Memorial Museum.  Oh well, we were up early on Sunday and at the train station by 8.30am.  Found that we could get seats on the 1pm train - yay and so we headed off for a coffee and to wait for things to open.  We found a market and a coffee/hot chocolate place so we were all good.  Then it was off to the Caen Memorial Museum which was about both world wars and a special section on D-Day and Normandy.  One of my favourite things was a statue outside entitled "embracing peace"

  There were also lots of somber reminders of the effects of war - on those fighting, those left at home and those caught up living in areas of war!

What Connor brought at the gift shop with some of Uncle Dean and Aunty Emma's birthday money - thanks guys!

By the time we finished at the museum it was 12 noon, time for a quick bite to eat, drop the rental car off and then on our train at 1pm - perfect timing.