D-Day Landing and Normandy

We had a fantastic 4 day WWII battle site tour, starting with Dieppe.  Noel, my brother's brother-in-law joined us, but he is AWOL in any of our pictures.  It was great to catch up with him since he too is here in the UK.  

Imagine landing on the beach facing insurmountable cliffs with Nazi guns firing down.  The Dieppe Raid of 1942 lost more than 900 Canadian soldiers.  How did they manage to hide the Mulberry ports for the resupply of food, munitions and equipment after D-Day?  The feat of US soldiers scaling the cliffs of Omaha with Nazi fire on them was pure bravery.  The Canadian soldiers landing on Juno Beach had the odds against them as the Nazis had warning they were coming.  The courage, bravery and determination of these men was truly amazing and we must remember what they gave up so we could live freely.  

The ducks are wary of French drivers and choose the safer route.  We took heed for the rest of the trip ;)

Memorial at Dieppe Beach

Beaches of Dieppe. Nazi fortifications on the top of the cliffs.  Imagine landing in waist deep water and trying to fight.

Craters

Cliffs at Omaha Beach

Cliffs at Omaha Beach

Digging on Utah Beach where the US troops landed

Beautiful sky and spring field

Friends

Un petit délice, parfum de cidre ou Calvados? Juste en Normandie.

Part of the Mulberry structures remaining in Arromanches.  The man-made port that allowed troops to land and be re-supplied in the final days of the war.  

Beautiful view of Arromanches

Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery.  Every Canadian should visit to understand the profound sacrifices.

Inside an iris at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery

Writing in the visitors book at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery.

How idyllic Juno Beach is today.

Family pic on Juno Beach

Not quite bathing-beauties - Pam, Delisa and Michelle on Juno Beach.

Cafe Gondree, the first building to be liberated in Normandy next to the Pegasus Bridge.

Une petite pause avec patisserie en Bayeux.  Vive la France!

Food, glorious French food.  A trip to France is not complete without some gastronomy.  The Normands know fresh, flavourful food.  We had reservations for 12 at Caen's A Contre Sens.  A small Michelin starred restaurant with fantastic food.  Elegant, innovative and absolutely delicious.

Dinner started off with a few amuse bouche.  Let the pictures show the rest of the meal.

A starter of potato smoothie with a fritter of local sausage and escargot.  In the "soup" are hidden escargots and garlic butter in the shell.

A perfectly cooked piece of fish with a smoked Chardonnay foam.   Spiced cabbage, citrus asparagus and artichoke puree made every bite perfect

This is not what you think you're seeing.  Its the cheese course!  Well, cheese air.  Its a lighter than foam Camembert froth with a Mimolette crisp and fruit compote underneath.  An amazing light twist on the usually heavy cheese plate

The ladies' dessert.  A perfect pastry crust and custard cream filled with cooked and raw strawberries and basil ice cream. Funny, no pictures of the mens' chocolate dessert with brown beer ice cream.... 

Another evening of gastronomical feasting....

Another fine meal at Chez Charlaux

Citrus marinated salmon, melt in your mouth.

Perfectly cooked stack of lamb chops and cream reduction.

Seafood "choucroute".  An unexpected twist on slivered steamed cabbage, an assortment of seafood and a vanilla sauce to pour over making the whole thing delectable.

Can't talk.  Eating.  Lamb chops

Market day in Caen.  Truly seasonal produce.  No wonder French food is so good.  No corky out of season veggies.

Can we just go home?  

This is my fourth time visiting Normandy, France and WWII battle sites.  It only gets more emotional with each trip imagining the horrors for so many young men who were part of the Normandy landings.  I learn a little more each time and each time, I come home with increased respect, pride and gratitude for our freedom.  This year is the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day landings, and with fewer WWII veterans, we must do our part to remember their sacrifice and thank them for the freedom we are able to live.

Here is a new link provided by Phil D.  Its an amazing look at D-Day now and then from the Atlantic

Scenes from D-Day, then and now