Normandy

Normandy and Beyond

On our 5 day trip to Normandy we were also able to visit Rouen, a city with Gothic architecture and half-timbered houses. It also has the cathedral that Monet painted a series of. There is a great fine art museum there that I was able to visit while the kids played with dad at the park just in front. It was a nice way to relax after the long drive from Stuttgart! We stayed in a great B & B in Bayeux called Les trois Pierre They were so friendly and great with our kids. We stayed in the Alsace suite that was perfect for our little ones. Bayeux was a fun town with good restaurants, and the Bayeux Tapestry.
Another day on our trip we spent at the awesome Mont St. Michel. The weather wasn’t great, but it didn’t take away from the unique ambience of the Abbey.
On the way home from Normandy we drove through Honfleur, a cute harbor town that many impressionists spent time in. We also visited the home of Claude Monet, where he lived and painted for 43 years. What a tour! Here are some of the many pics I took…

Notre-Dame Cathedral Rouen

One of Monet's cathedral paintings

Abbaye de Jumieges on the Route des Abbayes

ruins of Abbaye de Jumieges

I just liked this car

hanging out inside our car in France

The town we stayed in Normandy, Bayeux

Mont St. Michel island abbey

Mont St. Michel

The artistic harbor town Honfleur.

Honfleur

Riding the carousel in the rain!

Monet's gardens at Giverny

Touristy, but so cute!

pic of Monet in his gardens

Monet's famous lily-pad scenery.

The view in front of Monet's house.

Jun 06, 2009 | Categories: My Family Pics, Travel | Tags: European Travel, Family Pics, Normandy | 1 Comment »

Normandy: D-Day Beaches

Here is a slideshow with some photos I photographed at the D-Day sights in Normandy.

65th Anniversary D-Day

Our family took a trip to Normandy for Memorial Day weekend. We prepared for the trip by watching the movie “The Longest Day” and with several books on World War II and D-Day. Our 9 year old son Caden was excited to see the guns. PJ and I both were looking forward to actually being on the beaches where the Americans landed on June 6, 1944. But nothing could have prepared us for the emotions that are felt when visiting these historical pieces of land. The memorials, the plaques, statues, and most importantly, the beautiful American Cemetery were so moving to see in person. We were lucky enough to catch some of the ceremony at the American Cemetery in honor of the 65th anniversary of D-Day. There was a fly-over and a missing man formation. There was a whole stage filled with WWII veterans. There were French Navy members, a great band, and visitors all there to honor the memories of those who served in the war. The sheer magnitude of the crosses and the plaques can’t be explained. It is a place that needs to be visited in person. We spent a great day at the Caen Memorial Museum. They have free child care which is definitely a bonus! The museum is impressively laid out in a spiral beginning with background on the WWI, and the events that led to WWII. We also went through the Cold War wing, and finished with a film called D-Day.

Each historical landmark in Normandy is full of impact and relevance. Our favorites were Pointe du Hoc Ranger monument where the American Rangers took out the cliffside battery. 300 Army Rangers attempted the cliff assault. Only about 1/3 survived the assault. The magnitude of the cliffs make the assault seem unbelievable.

Another site we enjoyed seeing was St. Mere Eglise. This was the area that many of the paratroopers landed. There is a great museum that our kids loved. The church has a replica of John Steele, an American paratrooper made famous by the assault. There is also a really incredible stained glass memorial to the paratroopers inside the Ste. Mere Eglise church.

The American Cemetery located just above Omaha Beach was such an honor to see. Here are some photos from the cemetery and the Memorial Day weekend ceremony celebrating the 65th anniversary of D-Day.