Normandy and Beyond!

We finally made it to Normandy!  Will has anxiously awaited this trip for year and this past weekend was finally the time to do it!

We are lucky enough to have a few of Jeff's co-workers visiting us this week.  One of their desires was to go to Normandy.  Who were we to say no?  So we rented a nine-passenger Mercedes van and headed out of Paris to explore Normandy, specifically the D-Day beaches.

Our trip coincided nicely with all of the Paris transit systems going on strike.  As a result, in order for Jeff to pick up the rental van, fourteen kilometers away, he had to walk and rent a bike to get there.  But once we were safely out of town, and luckily missing the farmers striking on the highways, we headed up to Normandy.

On the way, we stopped in Rouen for lunch and to visit the Cathedral.  Can you guess the name of if?  If you guessed the Cathedral of Notre Dame, you are correct!  We also explored a Christmas Market and the old clock tower before heading back to the van.  We then stopped in Honfleur, which is supposed to be one of the most picturesque parts of France.  Unfortunately, it was low tourist season.  But our guests got to experience a small French, seaside town.  We then made it to The Grand Hotel of Cabourg where we would be stationed for two night.  We had an amazing (three hour) meal before turning into our own rooms for the night.  (That is right, the kids had their own room!  It was heavenly.)

Celebrating 5 months in France in the town of Rouen.

Cathedral Notre Dame

Dancing around the Rouen clock tower.

Honfleur

Honfleur at sunset. 

Arriving at The Grand Hotel in Cabourg.

The next day, our friend had arranged for a private tour of Normandy.  We met our guide Matt at 9:00 at our hotel.  We spent the entire day with him exploring many D-Day sights.  But poor Matt had his work cut out for him, with Will in attendance.  Will is quite the WWII historian.  Matt quickly became aware of this when he asked if anyone knew why the area was called Normandy.  When Will stated it refers to Men of the North and gave a brief statement about the Vikings, Matt knew he had to bring his A game.

Matt was an exceptional guide, filling us with true stories and history of the area.  He specifically took us to a German Cemetery, the Pegasus Bridge, Pointe du Hoc, the American Cemetery, and Omaha Beach.  While the rest of us were exhausted, and so appreciative of the tour, Will could definitely have seen and learned more.  He exchanged email addresses with Matt so that he could keep in touch.  We may have a future tour guide on our hands.

Entering the narrow doorway of a German cemetery in Normandy.

Captivated by Matt's knowledge of all things Normandy.

Will signed the guest book.

Pointe du Hoc - remains of German artillery and bunkers. 

Pointe du Hoc - Visiting a crater left by one of the allied bombs on D-Day.

225 Rangers climbed these cliffs the morning of D-Day to take this area from the Germans.  
This view is looking left towards Utah Beach

This view is looking right towards Omaha Beach.

Of the 225 Rangers who landed, after two days of heavy fighting, only 90 were left when the reinforcements arrived.

Looking out of one of the German bunkers.

The grenades the allies threw in, scorched the roofs inside the bunkers.  

Memorial at Pointe du Hoc for the Rangers.  

One of the main German bunkers.  

This is an example of the brush that the soldiers had to fight through in Normandy. 

Lunch!  Yum.

Omaha Beach - where the US landed on D-Day.

You can still see one of the remaining pieces of dock left over after the secured the shore.

Miles and miles of beaches.  Here the tide is only half-way out.  The soldiers arrived when the tide was at its lowest.  

Remembering... 

Mike, Jim, Jeff, and Shelly

"Will" will always be a part of Omaha Beach.

Now on to the American Cemetery. 

An impressive visual on the walls showing the progression of the war.  

At 4:05, the lowering of the flags, along with the playing of "Taps."  

Tbanks Matt for a great day!

The next day we headed back to Paris, with two quick stops along the way.  We visited Lisieux and Evereux, just to say we had seen them and so that we could add two more stickers to our map.

Goodbye to The Grand Hotel!

Visiting an impressive Cathedral in Lisieux

In the Cathedral, you can find a list of all the movies the priest approves of and who can watch it.   

Religious meets secular in Lisieux. 

Evreux

Hanging with Jim.

Inside the cathedral at Evreux.

Jeff's dream came true!  He drove a Mercedes in Europe!

All the places we have visited in France, in just 5 months.

Once back in Paris, we said good-bye to our guests for a few days, while they sight see on their own, and go ready to receive our new friends the Gontier family for a quick visit!  Yann, Hortence, Ella, and Paul are the owners of our apartment, and the lovely family we visited in Brittany.  They were in Paris for the weekend and were able to fit us in.  It was their first time back in the apartment since they moved out.  I know it was pretty emotional for them.  We had a wonderful time, as before.  The best part is that Jeff now has a scarf to match Yann's.

Both wear their scarves so well.

Ella and Edy

Sunday was a big day for young Will!  He made is acting debut as the Scarecrow in the American Theater Company's production of Wizard of Oz!  He was incredible.  The best part?  He really did memorize his lines and the lyrics to his solo all on his own.  He brought such emotion and humor to the role.  He made us so proud.  He said I could post a few photos below, but NOT a video of his solo.  (You'll just have to wait until the DVD is released!)

Will's debut as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Ox.

Tin Girl, Dorothy, and Will

Will, Dorothy, Tin Girl, and Lion

Today we spent the day working ahead of school work, wrapping a few presents, and packing for our trip tomorrow.  We head to London for six days with Jeff's co-workers.  We can't wait!

The first of two packages have made it successfully to the US.  This first only cost 55 Euros to send.

Below are a few additional photos of things we have done, yet haven't shared in the blog or on Facebook.  Enjoy!

We went up to the middle deck of the Eiffel Tower!

Looking out towards our apartment.  

The kids and I went up a hot air balloon for a spectacular view of Paris.  (Disclaimer:  it was attached to the ground the whole time.)

A closer look, in the daytime, at our neighborhood.  

We had our youngest visitor so far - Anderson!  His mom, Andrea, and dad, Milyon also visited.

After years of trying, we purchased advance tickets to explore the catacombs of Paris.

There are kilometers of underground passages where the dug out the stone for many of the buildings in Paris.  When they ran out of room in cemeteries for bodies, they moved them here, and arranged them in a decretive way.

We finally visited the business district of Paris, known as La Defense. We visited the Christmas Market there as well as the very modern Grand Arch.

The Christmas Market under The Grand Arch.

When at a Christmas Market, you must get cotton candy.

At the top of The Grand Arch, the kids enjoyed some foosball.

The entire Christmas Market

We visited another famous Chateau just outside of Paris called Fountainbleau.  It does not get as much attention as Versailles, but some could argue (Jeff) that it is more interesting.  This is where Napoleon spent a great deal of time, and also where he was exiled from in 1815.

The famous steps Napoleon walked down on his way to exile.

A chapel within the Chateau.

A ceiling in one of the rooms.

The ballroom.

Dancing in the ballroom.

The library.

Exploring the grounds. 

Finally, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Parisian style, by getting a roasted chicken from the local Boucherie.  I roasted some brussel sprouts, made mashed potatoes, and cut some fresh mango, since there were no cranberries to be found.  While we missed our families tremendously, we enjoyed a leisurely day together.

Thanksgiving Dinner! 

Mango, Chicken, Brussel Sprouts, and Masthed Potatoes.

Much love,
Betsy