Paris

We pulled into Paris in the evening and enjoyed the historical buildings as we drove to our hotel. Our great driver Frank did a drive-by of the Eiffel Tower and also took us through the tunnel where Princess Diana died.

Supper with the guys a block from the hotel. Husband, Woody, Doug David was prepping for meetings the next day.

 These types of roofs with the chimneys reminded us of Mary Poppins.

Sainte Mere Eglise

After our tour of the cheese co-op, we bought lunch at a bakery in the small town of St. Marie Eglise. This was the first town liberated by the Americans after D-day. We ate in the sunny towne square near the famous church where a paratrooper was caught and hung for hours, feigning death, before the Germans cut him down. This story was told in the movie "The Longest Day."

This stained glass window shows St. Michael along with the insignia of the various Allied units that fought near the village in WW II.

We had a quick look through the airborne museum before leaving for Paris, where we had meetings the next day.

Isigny St. Mere-France

We toured an innovative dairy co-operative. As everyone knows, the French are superior cheese makers and it was interesting to tour a cheese factory. The co-op has 500 members. We toured with Mr. Arnaud F. who is one of the cooperative's farmers and also the coop chairman/technical manager. (second from R.) Arnaud told us he had recently found 4-5 unexploded grenades as he was tilling one of his fields. (This is still in the Normandy area of France.)

 The guys looked great all suited up for a hygienic tour. Husband, Woody, Doug

The coop has been serving farmers since the 1800's.

D Day-Normandy

The second half of Sunday, we had a chance to go to Omaha Beach. Our local driver, Frank, said he was not a tour guide, but he was extremely knowledgeable and excited to share our American history in Normandy. He would tell us all kinds of facts as he drove us places, and then do "drive by" visits so we could hop out and take pictures. 

 

American cemetery

 German bunker above Omaha Beach.

 

 

This is the only house left in the area from before German occupation and shelling. It remains because it was a German headquarters.

 

We learned the land the cemetery is on is American territory.

Mont St. Michel

On Sunday we toured the Normandy area with local farmer Phillippe F. We were fortunate to see Mont St. Michel. Google says it is a "small, inhabited island with 11th-century, Romanesque abbey and the highest tides in Europe." They began building here in 900 AD. Such an amazing place. We only had a few hours and could have spent much more time, if there had been any.

There is only one way in and out.

 There are shops, hotels and a few homes on the steep walk up to the abbey.

 

 

From R: Husband, Nadine (interpreter), Phillippe F.

The church.

Phillippe, Woody, Myself, Husband, David and Doug

One of two fireplaces of this size in one room. (l. Frank, our driver.)

A sledge trolley/pulley system used to transport supplies into the abbey.

Men walked in this wheel to raise the loaded sledge. Below: a roller sledge.

This bird was scolding some tourists who were having a sack lunch by his tree.