Blogs from Colleville-sur-Mer, Lower Normandy, France, Europe

We decide that today (Monday) is the day we'll head to the D-day beaches. We're going to follow the advice given by good 'ol Rick Steves and work our way East to West beginning in Arrowmanches. We get an early start. We have no idea how many tourists are in the area and I would like to get a few places in if it gets crowded. I wish we could be alone. I have a feeling that the emotions might be a bit overwhelming. We arrive in Arrowmanches and there are only a couple of cars in the lot closest to the Landing Museum and the Tourist Information Center. We head into the TI first to get any tips they might might be able to offer and set out on a 10 minute walk to the ... read more

Or Alternatively, Strolling the Beaches at Normandy: An American in "Village Famille Vacances" Living in Paris in the summer is something that must be experienced to be understood. There is an ebb and flow to activities that have a predictable, almost seasonal, feel to them. At the beginning of the summer, there is the migration of the expats. This corresponds with the children being released from school for roughly 2 months. So, the expats use the opportunity to return home, or go on vacation. Anything to keep the kids entertained, and to get a bit of breathing room from constant and insistent parental responsibilities. So, the vast majority of the expat moms that I know left, at least for a good portion of the summer. Some went home. Some went on an extended vacation but all ... read more