Honfleur and D-Day

Here is a map of our route from Paris to Honfleur and on to the D-Day beaches.

www.genedodd.com/images/a/K/Europe_map_01.jpg

The street in front of our place

Entrance to our place

On to Le Havre and then to Honfleur. Now we are really in Normandy. Honfleur is a small, old town across the Seine from big, industrial Le Havre. Here are some pictures that show the area around our B&B.

The tourist harbor of Honfleur

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There is a cathedral here that was built without a real architect. I've never seen one like this. I got a little artsy here.

artsy far

A wooden cathedral

A wall of the cathedral

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We walked toward and along the Seine and looked out into the English channel. We visited some museums. Did you know that Eric Satie was born here? There is a museum honoring him Here is a piece of his that I like and I hope you like it a little.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Xm7s9eGxU

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Monday was a cold, wet, windy day. We scheduled a guided tour of the Normandy coast where the allied forces landed in their assault of Nazi controlled Europe. It was very interesting, very technical and the weather added to our sense of what the conditions were like on June 6, 1944. I don't mean what the conditions faced by the soldiers. Just a feel for that area.


Our guide took us to Pointe du Hoc. It held a critical position between Omaha and Utah beaches and could bring heavy artillery fire on either landing. It also was near critical roads that could allow German counter attacks on Allied forces. Here is a little image of Pointe du Hoc with comments. 

www.genedodd.com/images/a/K/Europe_map_02.jpg 
 

It is now American soil and a memorial. BTW, one of the commanders here went on to be a legendary President of Texas A&M University, James Earl Rudder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Earl_Rudder

Just inland from Omaha beach

We spent time at the military cemetery and learned about how the US manages all these sites.

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Our next leg is back to Paris for a night at the Charles de Gaulle airport hotel to see the east Texas contingent off. After that, 1st class to Karlsruhe on the TGV fast train. I don't expect to have much to report until we are back with the Hayhows.