Day 3: Normandy

We awoke to a gorgeous day in Bayeux.  No clouds and no wind and 58 degrees.  It's supposed to get up to 74 degrees here today which is incredible.

Our driver and tour guide Bertrand picked us up at 9am to begin our walking tour of Normandy.

On the 5th and 6th of June, 1944 three airborne divisions were dropped on the beaches of Normandy, while 5,000 ships, 135,000 men and nearly 20,000 vehicles approached the five landing beaches along a 50-mile stretch of coastline.

First stop was depicted in The Longest Day where a US airman John Steel parachuted and was hung up on the steeple of this church. 

Sainte-Mere-Eglise, hailed as one of the first towns to be liberated in France. It was made famous by the paratrooper John Steel (played by Red Buttons) in the film The Longest Day.

Stained glass represents the US and allied forces that saved the city.

Walking up to Utah Beach with Bertrand.

German bunker

Depiction of the US troops landing on the beaches.

Vast flat wide beach was beautiful but moving knowing what occurred here.

Life goes on however, and there were children playing and this horse carriage.

Beautiful church that 2 US servicemen medics used to tend to wounded on the pews inside.  The blood of the soldiers was still on the pews.

Omaha Beach and German bunkers 

Where Ronald Reagan gave his infamous speech:

Site of the first American cemetery 

The American cemetery where roughly 10,000 US soldiers are buried.  The wall of names below is of soldiers MIA.

What a day.  I'll write more later when I have time to digest the experience.  Really incredible.

We're off to dinner at 7pm and there is an annual music festival in all of France (including Bayeux) tonight so fun times ahead as there will be music everywhere.  The Fete de la Musique according to a website: 

For the last 38 years in France, the 21st June is not just the longest day of the year but also the day of the fête de la musique. This "festival of music" is no ordinary festival. Created in France in 1982, it has been taken up by neighboring countries where it has been just as successful. Music takes over in public places: the city's streets, with live bands, singers, amateur musicians, drummers, DJs and so on throughout the city, expressing themselves through music and inviting the crowd to enjoy themselves. 

In Paris, stages spring up all over the city, in particular on the capital's major squares and in parks. The biggest and best-known are generally in the Jardin des Tuileries, the Petit Palais, the Institut du Monde Arabe, the Louvre, Jardin du Luxembourg, on Place Denfert Rochereau and along the banks of the Seine. But amateur bands playing all different kinds of music around every corner. 

Our dinner at another Michelin restaurant - Bayeux called La Rapiere

People getting ready for music to begin in the streets:

Incredible Michelin star restaurant meal yet again. Wow.

Back at the room and packing up for a 3 hour trek back to Paris in the morning.  Our doors to the balcony are open so we can hear all the music and watch the sun set.

Brock and Sarah are flying over in a couple of hours....