D Day Background

To set the context for D Day, we first visited the German gun battery that remains largely intact.  Our guide was a magnificent story teller and explained the background so well.  These massive structures dotted the Normandy coastline in preparation for something that the Germans knew was coming but not where or when.  The above ground batteries were linked with an elaborate series of tunnels which essentially housed everything for them.

While the Germans  were preparing,  the allied forces were also planning.  The amount of preparation for this event in history was remarkable.  One of these remarkable accomplishments was figuring out how to get the supplies ashore to support the soldiers.  They accomplished this by building an artificial port in Arromanches.  They figured out how to haul hollow pillars across the channel, fill them with water to block off the sea and build a port that supply ships could use to land.  Of course they also had to have floating roads to get the vehicles off the boats and these were also built.

We visited many Canadian sites and learned about the soldiers but the museum at Falaise gave a different view.  This museum is dedicated to the civilians that lost their lives.  Since the Germans were occupying France, the allied bombed some of these cities pretty hard.  The destruction of Falaise and Caen was huge and this museum really highlighted the suffering at that time by the local people.

The castle in Falaise

William the Conquerer

As we were leaving our hotel in Bayeux stopped to ask if we were Canadians.  She then told us how her grandmother was just 16 during the war and had been hiding in a bomb shelter under rubble for days when the top opened and a man looked down to tell her he was Canadian and she was free!

The French Countryside

Let me start this post with a comment about weather.  It has surprised us - first definitely not the spring I thought we would experience.  We have have had cool temps, bitter winds (I could have been in Sask), rain and then hail! The sun shines and then it rains and blows and then starts all over! Toques and warmer clothes have been purchased! 

Enough complaining about the weather.  We have now crossed into France.  The countryside has been green and lush.  The plan was a nice 2 hour drive to Rouen, a walking tour, lunch and get back on the bus to continue the journey to Bayeux.  

Two unexpected surprises greeted us in Rouen,  first our guide Margarita who was excepted to show us the city and second, it was a holiday and a  medieval festival all rolled into one. We were witness to some pretty interesting people and displays related to medieval times.  No words needed!

The medieval structures simply fascinated me! The design, the structure, the colors, the bulges, the leaning (almost into each other) made for interesting streets. 

The cathedral is a beautiful building inside and out. Unlike many churches visited it is very bright inside.

Joan of Arc was excited here and so there are many statues and monuments to her.

Fortunately our guide stayed with us to find the bus or we could still be there!  It was a short bug eventful trip to Bayeux.  We are travelling in a full size coach - don’t ask why!  Our poor driver tried to get us close to the hotel through the narrow medieval streets / not happening.  When we finally parked it was a good 20 minute walk with all our luggage to he hotel.  Not a light traveller among the group.

Honfluer was another lovely French town right on the delta of the Seine River.  The main focus is along the port and again the amazing old buildings with wood frames.  The wood used in the old days took years to prepare.  Art shops, restaurants and a very old funky wooden church built in multiple sections are the high lights.  We did not realize we would be in France on a major long week end - the crowds were unreal everywhere we went.

The church:

Our journey to the French countryside had one more stop - a tasting of ciders and calvados drinks made from apples.  Ranging in alcohol content from 3% to 17% there was something there out of the 12+ samples we tasted for everyone! And a quiet ride back to Bayeux!