The Beaches of Normandy

Early one morning in December, Kevin and I boarded a train to Normandy. We were on the train for about 20 minutes when it suddenly came to a halt. Apparently, the tracks had frozen over further down our path so the train couldn't continue in that direction. Also, multiple train cars, including the one we were in, lost electricity so they detached those cars and moved everyone to the other half of the train. After about a good 45 minutes, the train changed directions towards Paris and we were finally getting somewhere. The rest the ride conductors were trying to find out where they needed to stop so people could find new connections to their original destination. It was all so confusing and we almost got off at the wrong stop to find a connecting train! Since the train was half the size as it normally would be, and it was now heading towards the country's capital, it got really crowded. They were no longer checking seats because everyone was piled on top of each other. At one point Kevin and I were stuck in an entry way near a door, sitting on our pile of 6 suitcases. There was no walkway, nothing. It felt like I was on a train in India. Eventually we got to Paris and had to switch train stations to catch the train going to Normandy. Finally, we were heading in the right direction.

On that last train, I met the child that would change my life... Lalo. Okay, that seems like a dramatic statement but it's kind of true. He was the smartest 3 year old that I imagine exists. He loved animals and his favorite was the tiger. He had a hat and mitten set that was a tiger face and paws and he put them on and played with another child his age and it was SO CUTE. He showed me all his pictures of animals and told me where they live, what they eat, etc. He showed us his school work and his class photo, where he was obviously the most fashionable student. He was just so smart, well-mannered, and cute, I couldn't take it!

Finally, after our 4 hour delay, we arrived in the city of Bayeux just in time for a late dinner.

The next morning we took a tour of sites having to do with D-Day. Our guide, Olivier, grew up around the D-Day beaches so, as a kid, he used to play in abandoned barraks and on old battle fields. He knew so much information about every site and could answer any question you had!

Our first stop was Pointe du Hoc. This location was actually where Germans were stationed but they were attacked by the elite 2nd U.S. Rangers who had to scale the cliffs to get to the pointe. The whole field is filled with depressions made by bombs and cement blocks scattered from explosions. Olivier took us inside some of the barracks where the German soldiers lived and worked. It was so weird and scary knowing I was standing in the same room that Nazis stood in years ago.

I don't know if it was the overcast and rainy weather or what, but I found the whole experience a lot more emotional than I thought it would be. Even though I originally planned this trip for Kevin (because he's an U.S. History major), I ended up getting a lot from it and it was probably one of the most interesting places I've been. I highly recommend a trip to Normandy for anyone who comes to France!

  

Omaha Beach

The American Cemetery & Memorial