We stopped in the small historic city of Bayeux France. This city was the first to be liberated by the Allies on June 16, 1944, after the invasion of Normandy. Ā This is also where General Charles de Gaulle made the first speechĀ in Bayeux in which he made it clear that France sided with the Allies.
Bayeux France
We walked through the centerĀ of the old medievalĀ town looking at the cobblestoneĀ streets and timbered buildings. There was a quaint watermill which was still working.
A working waterwheel in Bayeux, France
We came to a medieval plaza which was also the location of the local Museum.
Plaza in medieval center of Bayeux, France18th-century seminary converted into Museum
The museum was converted from an 18th-century seminary. We decided to enter the museum and view the famous 68-meter “Tapisserie de Bayeux”. It is an 11th-century tapestry depicting the 1066 Norman invasion of England. It was very interesting and each section of the tapestry depicted a scene of the invasion of England.
Scene 22 of Bayeux Tapestry.Bayeux Tapestry depicting Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, rallying Duke William’s troops during the Battle of Hastings in 1066
Although we only spent a few hours in Bayeux, it was a very enjoyable and interesting city.
We walked through the cemetery looking at the individual tombstones and saw something quite interesting. Placed on some of the tombstones, were coins or other small tokens. These small tokens or coins are left by visitors to indicate that someone has visited that particular grave.
Coin and Canadian Flag pin left on grave marker of Canadian soldier
We saw lotsĀ of the grave markers with coins or other small tokens. That was something that drew out raw emotions from us and touched our hearts deeply.
In the center of the cemetery, there was the cross of sacrifice monument.
The cross of sacrifice at the Canadian War Cemetery France
We walked through the cemetery and read some of the names of fallen soldiers. The age of the soldier was inscribed on the grave marker.
We were saddened by the number of soldiers who were in their late teens or early twenties. So many young soldiers sacrificed their lives for freedom.
Going to the Canadian War Cemetery was very moving and emotional. It was something that will stay with us throughout our lives.
Before heading down to see the Omaha and Juno beaches, we went to a cliff area on a point of land called “Pointe du Hoc”. The point overlooks both the Omaha and Utah Beaches. Ā We walked along a trail that brought us to the Pointe du Hoc. There on the cliff was the remains of fortified bunkers and lookouts built by the Germans.
Trail leading to the point
This point of land high on the cliffs provided the Germans an excellent vantage point to see Allies advance in the Atlantic.
View of the Omaha Beach from the cliffs area
The ground on the point was heavily damaged with craters caused by the bombings from the Allies during the D-Day operations.Ā It was amazing to see just how big the craters were from the bombs.
Craters caused by bombing during the D-Day operations
It was a moving experience walking through the area, imagining what had transpired on June 6, 1944, when US Army Rangers scaled the 90-foot cliffs to capture this strategic and well-defended point of land. In total, a 150 US Rangers reached the top and seized their objective against machine guns and grenades. The US Rangers then had to fight to defend their position against repeated counter-attacks by the Germans. Ā It took two days for reinforcements to arrive on June 8th. and during that time 60 Rangers had perished defending their position. This heroic act helped to provide the needed foothold for the allied forces. This became the start of the liberation of France.
Ray in front of a damaged Machine gun bunker
We walked through some of the old bunkers and could easily see theĀ damage caused by bombs and gunfire.
Ray at one of the 155MM heavy Gun platforms on Pointe du Hoc, France
We went to explore one of the main fortified bunkers on the PointeĀ du Hoc. The bunker had only one entrance/exit from the complex and it was strategically designed to be impenetrable.
Ray on the stairs to the only entrance to the German bunker
Once at the entranceĀ landing, Ā thereĀ was a hallway immediately to the left of the door with a machine gun postĀ in a small opening. There was also a machine gun post at the base of the stair that could shoot the lower area of any advancing soldiers.
Machine gun opening near the main entrance to the bunker
Anyone trying to gain entry would have been shot before getting to the reinforced door of the bunker.
Shelley looking into one of the machine gun posts of the bunkerRay at the entrance area of the bunker, Bullet holes in the concrete can be seen at the entrance.
We went inside a fortified bunker system and were immediately struck by the sheer size of the complex. There were rooms for ammunition, rooms for personnelĀ and other rooms for communications etc.
Communications room in the bunker system
We walked through the bunker in a quiet and somber manner. There was a plaque located on the wall inside the entrance that listed the US Rangers who died trying to secure the Pointe du Hoc.
Plaque on wall of the US Rangers who died trying to secure the Pointe de Hoc.US Rangers plaque at Pointe du Hoc, France
We went through different rooms in the bunker and imagined what had transpired on D-Day. It is not hard to imagine what happened to the bunker when it was attacked. The ceiling throughout the entire bunker system was burnt. We can only imagine that flamethrowers were used against the bunker.
The view from inside one of the gun slots in the bunker
Once we finished exploring the bunker we walked around the outside of the bunker. There was a series of trenches and other machine gun bunkers all along the cliffs.
The view of the gun slots in the bunker that rained terror on Allied ships and personnel advance on the beaches of Normandy.
Gun slots in the bunker at Pointe du Hoc, FranceMachine gun bunker damaged by artillerySection of trench system at Pointe du Hoc, France
We spend several hours walking around the bunker system and exploring this historic battle site of WWII. It was an emotional and amazing experience, all at the time.
We took a ferry called “Mont St. Michel” across the English Channel to Caen France. Ā The ferry was named after the Normandy town of Mont St Michel. The ferry is quite large and can hold up to 2,200 passengers and has vehicle storage of over 2km long.
We were taking theĀ overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Caen.
Map of the trip across the English Channel
This was our first overnight ferry and didn’t know what to expect. We boarded the ferry around 8 pm and was surprised at the quality of the ship. We walked throughout the ship exploring the different areas.Ā It was more like a cruise ship in some aspects with a games room for children, shops and a disco bar for the adults. There were even two cinema theaters on the ferry.
One of the lounge areas on the ferryLobby in front of one of the cinemas on the ferry
We went to the upper decks of the ship and explored the outside areas. We found an outside patio that provided a great view from the upper deck.
Outside patio area on the ferry
We went to the highest deck and admired the view.
Shelley, Anne, Jim and Ray on the top deck of the ferry
We watched the vehicles loading onto the ferry. It was astounding how many vehicles boarded the ferry.
Vehicles loading into the ferry
After exploring the ferry we headed back to our cabin. We were surprised at the cabin and how comfortable the room was.
Cabin accommodations on the ferry
There was an a la carte restaurant, called “Les Romantiques.”
Restaurant on the ferry
We enjoyed breakfast before disembarking in Caen, France.
We signed up for a WW I and WW II battlefield tour with a company called Trafalgar tours. The first two days of the tour were in London and it provided us with some time to exploreĀ some of the iconic sites.
We walked along the Thames River and enjoyed some of theĀ iconicĀ views.
View of Elizabeth Tower “known as Big Ben” in London
We walked for several kilometers along the path near the Thames River. Along the way, we saw the Westminster Palace, a beautiful building with great architecture.
Elizabeth Tower in LondonWestminster Palace in LondonAnother view of the Westminster Palace in London
All along the road that followed the Thames River, there were some great architecturalĀ buildings. Some of the buildings we recognized while other we did not.
View along the Thames River of some of the beautiful buildings
We walked for about an hour along the streets of London.
Wellington Arch in LondonThe Gates near Hyde Park in London
We went to Trafalgar Square and stopped there to admireĀ the location and take a few pictures.
Trafalgar Square in LondonShelley and Ray in Trafalgar Square in LondonFountain in Trafalgar Square in London
We saw some interesting monuments on our tour through parts of London. There was a unique large bronze horse head statue.
Bronze horse head statue in LondonLion statue at Trafalgar Square
We went the Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards.
A view of Buckingham Palace from the garden area
There was a very large crowd of people gathered there to watch the changing of the guards.
Changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace in London
We walked along the Princess of Wales Memorial Walk and decided to take a picture of the plaque.
Ray and Shelley’s foot with the Princess of Wales Memorial Walk plaque
It was a very enjoyable day exploring parts of London. There were so many interesting things to see.
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