Paris to Normandy Day 8 - 10/13/16 - WW II Landing Beaches

Hello from Les Andelys! We had a wonderful day yesterday.  It has taken hours to post the pictures to this post and still not all that I wanted to share.  But here is a recap of our day #8 for you to read.


 We had to get an early start so breakfast was at 6:45 so we were ready to leave the boat at 7:45 to board buses to the WW II landing beaches in Normandy.

Viking is so awesome in their service.  Even though we had breakfast they were waiting for us to disembark with water bottles and warm croissants to help make the 2 hour bus trip pass comfortably.

We drove by Juno beach the Canadians landing beach. It was the 2nd bloodiest battle after Omaha Beach. The next beach was Gold Beach the British landing beach.  Very moving to see both places.

Gold Beach

Then we went to the town of Arromanches, France where we watched a video showing how the allies work together to build the Mulberry Harbor  which are floating piers built in England and floated across the channel to the Normandy coast town of Arromanches.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWO5wpZGG14

After the film we did a little shopping and looking through museum then we had lunch at a local restaurant Viking style.

Then we were off to the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach!  When we departed the bus we were each given a rose to place on one of the 937 graves.  Michael and I chose to place our rose on different Virginia men who lost their lives here. They held a ceremony and honored the veterans on the Viking cruise.  We have a gentlemen traveling with us that is a 90 year old WW II Navy Veteran.  His daughter is traveling with him for his first ever visit to Normandy.  We aren't sure whether he fought here or not but non the less he is a WW II Vet so it was touching to have him here with us.

After the ceremony and honoring the Veterans we were allowed time to walk around or visit the museum.

Below is one of the pictures of all the veterans aboard our boat.

 Then we left and head to Omaha Beach itself.  Very windy and chilly but that didn't distract from the remarkable sacrifice these men and women made.

We boarded the buses (4 buses were used to transport us all today) for the 2 hour trip back to Rouen.

Dinner was spectacular as it is every night so far.

We have a more relaxing day today with departure from Rouen at 7:15 am to Les Andelys! We just arrived after lunchtime.  We are headed to see Chateau Gillard soon.

Stay tuned for more France adventures!