Some comments on our visit to Normandy and the D-Day Museum, first our tour guide did everything possible to maximize the time there however trying to see the beaches and particularly the American cemetery (in which we only had 40 minutes) in the time frame allotted is like saying to a couple on their wedding night you have 5 minutes for kissing, 12 minutes for foreplay, 30 seconds to rise to the occasion. Additionally the visit to the D-Day beaches was an "optional" from the tour company. I invited the tour director to visit Cape Cod and to look at the beaches, but if he wanted to go on them, that was an "optional." All the members of the group however were generally very pleased with the entire tour, and loved the tour director, Ronen, who was EXTREMELY knowledgeable. The reason the tour company is not named is personal but I would be glad to name and recommend to anyone who identifies themselves.
This is at "Gold" beach where the British landed, in my hand is a bag of sand I collected from Omaha beach
This is part of the artificial harbors still there after 60 years called Mullberrys. The 50th Northumbrian Division landed on Gold Beach. Their primary directive was to take control of the small port of Arromanches. This was to be a site of one of the (two) Mulberrys - artificial harbors for bringing supplies on land
More of the artificial harbor
The invasion was code named, "Overlord." As you can see the French have not commercialized it. When I visited a concentration camp in Austria in 2000, there was only a small, very proper book store, but then again they are not French.
The old American absent mindedly arrived at French customs at the airport in Paris and fumbled for his passport. "You have been to France before Monsieur?" the customs officer asked sarcastically. The ancient Yank admitted that he had been to France before. "Then you should know enough to have your passport ready for inspection", snapped the irate official. The American said that the last time he came to France he did not have to show his passport. "Impossible, old man. You Americans always have to show your passports upon arrival in France." The old American gave the Frenchman a long, hard look. "I assure you, young man, that when I came ashore at Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day in 1944, there wasn't a damn Frenchman on the beach!"
"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." —General George S. Patton
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion." —Norman Schwartzkopf
This was the only picture I took in the D-Day museum, it would take a day to see it all, so we had an hour. But we did see some great films. The picture reminded me of Sam Fisher, my grandfather.
The village of Bayeux, is that an SUV I see?
How pizza's are delivered in France, by moped. I heard that their pizza is dam good?
Many stores in France close for lunch, but this is a restaurant that is closed for lunch and dinner
In France school is in session until June 30th, this is a class on a field trip. They also get 2 weeks vacation in October, December, February, and April. They go from 8-430PM and half day on Saturday but off on Wednesday, also they get 2 hours to go home for lunch. Two foreign languages are required. Average teacher pay is $30,000. Absolutely no religion in the schools or in government. If the President said "God Bless France" after a speech he would be removed from office. Absolute separation of church and state.
This is a picture I took of our entire group, the tour guide is up front.
1st. row - Burt Fisher
2nd row . Ann Bolt, Tami Autry, Carla Barricklow, Sandy Satzler, RonnieKerekes,
and Kathryn Schlichte
3rd. row - Kay Smith, Jacki Gray (white hood), Deb Peters, Sally Sheets(glasses),
and Jennifer Kerekes
4th row - Bob Schlichte, Terry Beckwith, and Jim Peters
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