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Published: August 28th 2016
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Time for a serious piece of the last century history. I name the D-Day, the Battle of Normandy....and the serious start of the end on Hitler and all the fascism that was covering part of the world.
We are now based in Bayeux for two nights. We are staying in a Novotel that was built before I was even born....but still way after the D-Day! We first spent some time exploring the city of Bayeux. The Cathedral was pretty amazing and has seen some serious moments in the history of France. We didn't visit the tapestry. I have to admit, we didn't bother forking the expensive entry fee. None of us is deeply into tapestry. Smile! We still had a good look at it touring the souvenir shop of the Museum. Bayeux city center was pretty sleepy, but still very nice. I should add, that sun is still with us, and it makes our stay in France a pretty perfect one! Sun, seafood, bubbles, wine, cuddles, family, history! Smile, I don't hashtag!
Today is the 14th of July, so the plan was to head for a firework. We had the choice between Arromanches and Port-en-Bessin. We reached
Port-en-Bessin after another home made in-room seafood dinner platter with few bubbles. The firework was scheduled at 10.30pm. We made it early to be sure to park the car easily. The weather was so good, the sky so clear, that they couldn't start before 11pm...as it wasn't dark enough by 10.30pm. My expectation were pretty low....little town in France, not huge tax-income....and I've lived few years in China, the Kingdom of the firework. Well, it was short, but the fireworks were of great quality! Thanks Port-en-Bessin!
Next morning, we are on holidays, so as usual, we wake up early! Yes I know....these are full activities oriented holidays! Today it's all about the D-day, 6th June 1944, and the 100 days of the Battle of Normandy. Ten of thousands young men died for us to free us from the Nazis. To free us from the hate of a system who thought that people different from us are bad. In today's time....I wish more people around the world would reconsider what they think is right. From US to UK, Russia to Hungary and Poland, France and all over Europe....so many people seem to be ready to do the same
mistakes than in the 30s of the last century. You had to this the terrorist attack on Nice on that evening, a stupid and lost guy trying to play his little religious non-sense war....sadly, he killed more than 85 innocents, many of them Muslims. If they were not all those dead, I would simply tell you the guy is an idiot....but we know he won't be the first, neither the last. This is not about religion, this is about crushing those who are wrong! The don't worth any consideration...why would we consider little criminals..
Next morning, our first aim is the Utah Beach. Tiffany is currently learning at school how Hitler has accessed power in Germany. So we are going to jump-start her history classes a little bite over the next 48 hours. It's not because she has not much idea of the D-Day, that she cannot learn a lot too!
This is too my first visit to the area. Believe it or not, most tourists here are Americans, Brits and Canadians, do will not hear French a lot around the D-Day beaches historical sites! Tanya will also learn a lot today, even if
for her, the end of Second World War was not on the 8th of May 1995, but rather on the 9th of May! Smile! Here people know very well what the Nazis did to Leningrad!
First stop today was Utah Beach. For your info, most of these sites have been taking care of properly only over the last 20 years. These sites where not much pilgrimage around 1960! They have tens of little museums around, so we have decided to spend time only in the main sites.
Today, we start with Utah Beach....than made our way to La Pointe d'Hoc. I had never heard of this site. The Allied dropped on 4 beaches, but they had to take out this fortified position by the Nazis at the same time. The site is gorgeous, hard to think how many people died around here some 70 years ago.
We stopped by the germans huge canons of Longues-sur-Mer....and had lunch on the beach of Omaha Beach. We also spent some serious time at the American Cemetery and Memorial. Here are, you mainly see Americans around you. The site seems actually to be managed by
Americans. This is a very humble place to visit. At the same tiem, the site is beautiful. It makes you say "Thank You", and not to forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I could write a full history essay, but this day was really not about it.
We would finish our day by the 360 degrees cinema at Arromanches. The movie is impressive and last some 20 to 30 minutes. Seeing the faces of the people around you is enough to tell you how people feel here. I still don't know if we should have started by this, or if it was better to keep it for the last visit of the day.
Next morning, we left early....again...this time direction Caen, to visit the Peace Memorial. This is not a cheap museum, but we did it on the fast pace, and we took a good 4 hours. This place is just over 20 years old. It describes the XXth century history. They start after the First World War, and go all the way to the end of the Berlin Wall! This Museum 9 is simply amazing and should be visited by all of
us. I'm not truly sure what Tiffany will remember of such a visit. I can claim to have a serious knowledge of the History of the last Century. But how can you digest such an experience at 13th years old in four hours....time will tell!
This is it, we are reaching next our last entry of our little France trip. I understand I'm something like 6 weeks late on my writing....and actually, today, some 15 blogs late on this summer! More to come...and as funny as it can be, I'm still writing this in an airport lounge, sharing some bubbles with an amazing person!
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