The D-Day beaches

Arromanches

The seaside town of Arromanches was designated as Gold Beach by the Allies during the invasion. Remnants remain of the artificial harbor code named Mullberrys that the Allies built to facilitate the massive flow of supplies for the invading army.

Longues-Sur-Mer

German gun batteries at Longues-Sur-Mer: A spectacularly preserved example of the massive firepower the Allies faced in storming the Normandy beaches, these four German 152mm gun batteries are situated on the coast in the midst of a working French farm field. Finally knocked out by Allied warships following a daylong artillery duel, three of the guns remain in their massive concrete bunkers.

Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach, over 4 miles long, was the codename for one of the principal landing points of the Allied invasion. There were over 3,000 casualties suffered by American troops who landed here on D-Day. The high cliffs and strong German defences made this a formidable objective. Despite heavy losses, by the end of June 6th, over 30,000 soldiers of the US 1st and 29th Divisions, and the 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions, had gained a foothold at Omaha.

The Pointe du Hoc

Strategically located between American landing beaches Omaha and Utah, La Pointe du Hoc remains virtually unchanged from when American Army Rangers scaled its sheer cliffs under deadly fire to knock out huge coastal guns they didn't know had been moved. Pocked by huge craters left by naval bombardment, most of the German bunkers remain. The cliff-side battlefield also offers a scenic view of the French coastline that saw some of the war's fiercest fighting.

They face westward...towards home

9,387. Never was so much owed by so many… to so many.

If you’ve ever needed to feel small in this life, visit here.

-

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

Part Duex: Caen and Bayaeux

Part 2... off to France. If you're ever going London to Paris, definitely do Eurostar. Cheap (well, relatively), easy, and fast. Here we are pre-chunnel.

Then we hop off and go to pick up the car... are you kidding me, we needed something with a little more roar. Now we're talking

With pops behind the wheel, me in the front with some AA maps, and mom in the back with some sedatives, we successfully (minus a slight toll incident) made the 3 hr Paris to Caen drive.

If you're looking for some history, look no further than Caen. Its castle was built circa 1060 by William the Conqueror and is one of the largest medieval fortresses of Western Europe. It is also home to the Eglise de Ste. Etienne and Eglise de la Ste Trinite, the Men's and Women's Abbeys. The Men's Abbey houses the tomb of William the Conqueror. The city was more or less completely destroyed in the War in 1944. In Montgomery's plan, it was the objective of one of the D-Day landing squads to take the city that evening, but it wouldn't be won from the Germans for over four weeks. Ok, some pics...

Here's the view from our Hotel balcony.

Saint-Pierre Cathedral.

Spires were popping up everywhere in this city.
The edge of the walls of the old castle.

Inside the castle.


I've always considered myself a thinker...

...and a Heisman candidate.

William's 'Men's Abbey' - the home of his tomb

Now, moving on to Bayeux. Again, the history is everywhere. The city is best known for its tapestry, made to commemorate the Norman conquest of England in 1066. I have to say, for a piece of cloth, it was pretty amazing. And it's still in good shape after nearly 1,000 years. The town also has a large Norman-Romanesque cathedral (pics below), consecrated in 1077. It was one of the first cities liberated during the Battle of Normandy and amazingly, virtually untouched as German forces defending the town were pulled away to help at Caen.