Normandy and the D Day Beaches

WOW!  What an amazing day!

Went to pick up our rental car near Gare Montparnasse, and that was quite an adventure getting out of the city.  My aggressive driving skills paid off.

We then headed to Rouen for a quick visit, and walked down to the Gros Horloge (big clock) and the cathedral.  Beautiful, amd Rouen was so quaint and lovely.  There was a market with food stalls and the most beautivul fresh food...oysters, lobster, meat, cheese, fruits and vegetables...you name it.

We then headed to our first stop related to WWII - a german artillert battery.  These were the German army housed the big guns that fired on ships and boats landing at Omaha, Utah, and the other D Day beaches.  Each gun took 7 German soldiers to man, and could fire 6 rounds per minute.  It was interesting to see and walk around in...such carnage.  The sounds, sights, and smells must have been unimaginable.  The pictures don't do it justice, so here is one of us standing atop the armament.

The next stop was the American Cemetery.  Simply beautiful, and I'm trying not to cry right now as I write this post.  Such a devastating loss of life, such an impact to families who lost soldiers, such an impact to those who were liberated in France ans beyond, such a hatred that drove the Nazis.  It was overwhelming.

Our last WWII stop was to Omaha Beach, the main landing site for the American forces.  It was raining pretty heavily by the time we got there, and imagining the tens of thousands of soldiers rushing the beach to be shot, drowned, blown up, and successful in breaking through the German defenses.

An absolutely amazing day and trip.  I am so glad we went.