D Day tour

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Geo: 49.2764, -0.705529

Today was our D-Day tour with our guide. I don't even know where to begin. Our guide, while a little quirky, was very interesting. We couldn't ask questions during his spiel. We had to wait till he was done. Even so, he had great stories to tell and kept it interesting. We started in Arromanches and saw the beach, some bunkers and guns from both sides. We there we went to Omaha Beach. He did a great job explaining the logistics of the invasion. The beach is huge! And there is no cover. I can't even imagine.

From there we went to the American Cemetery. It was surprisingly moving. Our guide had some good stories of some of the men there. I did not realize that US bought the land and it is American soil when you are at the cemetery. He let us wander on our own for a couple of hours. The visitors center brings things to life with short video clips, a movie of interviews and letters from the time. They had stories about the brothers that are buried here (the ones Saving Private Ryan is based on), there is a father and son buried together who both died here. They tried to bury brothers together. Theodore Roosevelt Jr is buried here. See pic. Also short video:

From there we went to Pointe Du Hoc where the Army Rangers had to climb the cliffs to capture the German battery. We were able to tour that German complex. There are giant crater holes all around it where bombs fell. Short video of the bunker:

From there, we went to the German Cemetery. Very different from the American. See the pictures below.

Long day. Lot to think about. Getting ready to go out for a nice dinner.

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Photos

Gun bunker at Omaha Beach

Gun battery bombed through the front hole

Dot and Chris Omaha Beach

Plaque at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach

Chris and Dot at the cemetery

Theodore Roosevelt Jr
He was buried here (Henry Fonda in the Longest Day) after surviving D-Day. He died later and was awarded a Medal of Honor. They brought his brother Quentin Roosevelt who died in WW1 and buried them next to each other.

Chris overlooking Omaha Beach

Cliff the Army Rangers climbed
This is at Pointe du Hoc, where they landed at 4 am, climbed these cliffs and captured the German bunker/battery.

German complex
This is at Pointe du Hoc, a German lookout post that we could go inside

Dot at the German Cemetery
Not near as fancy as the American cemetery

Memorial in the German cemetery
21,000 buried here, usually 2 to a spot. 300 are buried in the mound pictured here.

Comments

[Con]

Looks like this tour was probably everything that you expected!

[Con]

wow!

[Marilyn]

Unreal!