Wednesday. July 19, 2006

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Today we braved the roadways as we departed Paris for the Normandy coast. For any of you who have driven in NYC, as I have a couple of times, Paris traffic is much worse. No one stays in their lane. They generally do not obey what I would consider to be basic rules of the road. We had quite a few near misses just trying to get out of the city. Once we got on A13 out of Paris, we encountered 'normal drivers'.

We decided to hit the hotel first. We checked into Holiday Inn CAEN CITY CENTRE.

Paris to Caen 145.6 miles

After unpacking we headed for Omaha Beach.

Caen to Omaha 31.8 miles

The World War II Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a cemetery and memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, that honors American soldiers who died in Europe during World War II.

The cemetery is located on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach (one of the landing beaches of the Normandy Invasion) and the English Channel. It covers 70 ha (172 acres), and contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations in World War II.

ReJeana & Jim and the World War II Normandy American Cemetery

There are few surviving bunkers and gun emplacements. Time was tight and I did not want to spend the extra bucks for a Normandy tour. We just drove along the beach road and found some monuments and signs related to the invasion.

Hedgehogs

Looking east along Omaha Beach

Looking west along Omaha Beach

German Bunker

Looking east along Omaha Beach

Looking west along Omaha Beach

This monument commemorates the Allied landing at Normandy. It says, "The Allied Forces Landed On This Shore Which They Called Omaha Beach Liberated Europe June 6th 1944"

2nd. Infantry Division

German Bunker on Omaha Beach

Sherman Tank at MUSEE MEMORIAL D'OMAHA BEACH. This museum was rather disappointing.

Hedgehog

We drove back to the hotel in Caen arriving just before sunset. You have noticed that we have not mentioned the food in France. That is because we've found nothing to rave about. If you like American food you will not like French cuisine, in our opinion.

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