France 2014

During this past summer, I travelled to France to celebrate my Mom’s 70th birthday.  I was fortunate enough to visit Paris, the grave of Vincent Van Gogh, the spot where Joan of Arc was martyred, and the Normandy beaches on the 70th anniversary of the invasion of World War II.

Normandy Beaches

This was the real highlight of the trip for me, being it is the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, when the Allied forces liberated France (and Europe) from Nazi occupation.

We started the tour, visiting Juno Beach; the section of the Normandy coast that the Canadians were in charge of during the coordinated Operation Overlord. As you drive through the towns and villages that make up the coast, you come across American, British, Canadian, French, and European Union flags flying high above houses and stores.

From Juno Beach, we traveled to Arromanches and visited the D-Day Museum there. Arroanches was a prefabricated harbor created by the British to bring goods in to aid the invasion of Northern Europe and whipe Hitler out permanently. From June 6th to August 19th, the Allies worked to cross the Seine River and gain a foothold on the continent, forcing Hitler and the Germans to have to fight on two fronts, eventually leading to their defeat. The museum does a nice job of showcasing the events that took place during those months, with exhibits honoring the men and women who lost their lives in order to liberarte Europe.

 

 

 

While the entire day was intersting, the two specific highlights were visitng Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery dedicated to those men (and two women) who lost their lives during that fateful day of June 6th, 1944. For those of you that are not history buffs, half of the Allied men were killed in their effort to arrive on shore at Omaha beach. In the cemetery, there are 9,387 American soldiers who lost their lives, with the average age being 22. The headstones in the cemetery all head west, towards the United States. Not everyone was buried there, as families had the option to bring the bodies of those deceased home, but this was often the more expensive option.

 

Rouen

The historic capital of Normandy, Rouen is an amazing little medieval city that captivated me from the moment the ship pulled into port. Many famous people have called Rouen home, including Joan of Arc, Richard the Lionheart, Claude Monet, and Gustave Flaubert. On our first night in the city, I was wired after dinner and went for a stroll when I came across the famous Notre Dame church which has an amazing light show every night. Though my initial reaction to light shows at major tourist destinations is skeptical, this was not cheezy in any sense; it was art! It is hard to convey in pictures, but if you are ever in Rouen on vacation, I highly recommend this!

During the full day in Normandy, there was a walking tour of the ancient city, but because we were with the “gentle walkers” (remember, I was travelling with my mom:) ), we wound up on a trolley tour that took us through the historic heart of Roen. While I enjoyed this trip, it was in the afternoon when I really had the opportunity to go out and explore the city, such as the historic market square where Joan of Arc was martyred.

 

 

 

Honfleur

After the boat docked in Caudebec-en-Caux, we took a bus to about two hours to the adorable sea-side village of Honfleur. As we drove through northern Normandy, we passed through picturesque villages and rolling hills.

 

Located on the southern bank of the Seine, and is one of the oldest ports in France. The port is characterized by old, slate row houses that wrap around the main road, dotted with cafes and restuarants specializing in the delights of the sea. The Vieux Bassin (old port) was the main area where my mom and I hung out, just enjoying a Cappuchino by the bay, shopping a bit, then treating ourselves to a delcious meal of local specialties such as fish soup, lobster salad, mussels, and Normandy cheeses.

 

Auvers-sur-Oise

This little village, located about 20 miles outside of Paris, served as Vincent Van Gogh’s home for the last few months of his life. Van Gogh shot himself on July 27th, and died two days later, but the village has changed little over time, visiting the 12th century church which Van Gogh immortalized in his famous painting “The Church at Auvers”.

Other highlights include walking up the famous wheat fields which he painted, and then later on, shot himself in. Next to the fields, one can visit an old cemetary where Van Gogh is buried.

Paris

The last day we arrived in Paris and took a morning bus tour to orient us to the city. Here are some highlights of Paris:

Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, though I’m not sure seeing it through a bus window for three hours is the way to do it.