Normandy, St. Mere Eglise and Mont St. Michel-Formidable!
Bonjour,
The last few days on our side trip to Normandy have been exhilarating, exhausting, and emotional. The entire area is such a special place for Americans. I believe the trip exceeded everyone’s expectations…at least I hope so. The weather was absolutely perfect with cooler temps, a wonderful breeze, and of course daylight until almost 10pm. We had no snags along the way and there was certainly plenty of opportunity for some hiccoughs. Bernie had done a marvelous job planning everything, getting reservations, etc. for train, hotel, rental car, and maps. Johnny was a top-notch navigator, and Dennis and Jodie were always there with a positive attitude and encouragement whatever the situation. Sharon developed her own new signature cocktail…a Kir Royal. The two she had at Mont St. Michel were $21 each!!
We begin with Normandy which is not just one place but many areas along the beach, the cemetery, and Pointe du Hoc where the Rangers climbed those incredible cliffs.
Bernie and I had never been to St. Mére Eglise, famous for the beautiful church where the paratrooper was suspended by his parachute. He pretended to be dead so the Germans would not shoot at him. This town is delightful, and we had a fun time eating at the only spot open, a hamburger joint! 
We stayed at a very nice Ibis hotel in St. Lo overnight and were off the next morning at 8am. Mont St. Michel is a UNESCO World Heritage site with the first known structure in 780 A.D. It was added onto over the years and was a pilgrimage site along with a prison. It’s an amazing place on the sea where the spring tide can rise as much as 50 feet with the confluence of three coastal rivers. Quaint, ancient, full of history but also commercial shops. We loved every minute of it, and stayed until around 2:30, then hauled our tired bodies back to Paris by train.This is a video of the swirling tides. B00BEA15-C8B1-4FD4-9490-EE9EB432CEBB
Hope you love the photos as much as we loved our trip!
À bientôt
L & B
July 18, 2018 @ 9:09 am
Fantastic! Most enjoyable and wonderful to see good friends enjoying this journey together.
July 18, 2018 @ 10:51 am
Some really excellent photos!
July 18, 2018 @ 11:46 am
Fell in love with Mont St. Michel when reading “All the Light We Cannot See.” Love the descriptions of the town there. Great shot, by the way. A nice beginning to what appears to be a dreary day in Alabama.
July 18, 2018 @ 12:12 pm
Never been to Normandy and have so enjoyed seeing it through your eyes, Linda. Great pictures. Please tell Sharon I am so happy she has her priorities in order! Drink looks festive!
July 18, 2018 @ 12:23 pm
So wish we had seen the church- beautiful pictures.
July 18, 2018 @ 12:41 pm
This trip brought back so many memories for me! Loved the pictures!
July 18, 2018 @ 12:47 pm
Linda: Probably more than you can display, but this taken from citation describing Sergeant Peregory’s actions.
On 8 June 1944, the 3rd Battalion of the 116th Infantry was advancing on the strongly held German defenses at Grandcamp-Maisy, France, when the leading elements were suddenly halted by decimating machine gun fire from a firmly entrenched enemy force on the high ground overlooking the town. After numerous attempts to neutralize the enemy position by supporting artillery and tank fire had proved ineffective, T/Sgt. Peregory, on his own initiative, advanced up the hill under withering fire, and worked his way to the crest where he discovered an entrenchment leading to the main enemy fortifications 200 yards away. Without hesitating, he leaped into the trench and moved toward the emplacement. Encountering a squad of enemy riflemen, he fearlessly attacked them with hand grenades and bayonet, killed 8 and forced 3 to surrender. Continuing along the trench, he single-handedly forced the surrender of 32 more riflemen, captured the machine gunners, and opened the way for the leading elements of the battalion to advance and secure its objective. The extraordinary gallantry and aggressiveness displayed by T/Sgt. Peregory are exemplary of the highest tradition of the armed forces. Six days later, Peregory was killed while fighting in the hedgerows. He is buried at the American Battle Monuments Cemetery in Normandy also known as Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer Basse-Normandie Region, France. His grave can be found in section G, row 21, grave 7
Also, glad that you included the semi’s in the photo of Mont St. Michel. Gave us an idea of how massive it is.
July 18, 2018 @ 3:15 pm
Thanks, Pat, for such a great bit of history which we can all applaud!
July 18, 2018 @ 12:57 pm
What an incredible journey. Never to be forgotten.
July 18, 2018 @ 3:07 pm
What fabulous photos, thank you! Note for those who may repeat your visit-Father George Wood, now deceased assistant priest at Nativity, was the inspiration for the priest who parachuted in The Longest Day. At the museum in Marie St. Eglise they have some of his vestments and when asked have loving taken visitors to see their collection (which rotates on/iff display).
July 18, 2018 @ 3:14 pm
Wonderful photos. I can only imagine the emotions from that visit. I hope your feet are holding up with all this walking!
July 18, 2018 @ 3:27 pm
Anyone who could walk through that cemetery and not shed a tear has no heart.
July 18, 2018 @ 3:41 pm
The pictures are great and bring back memories of our visit there with our Guernsey friends. I love following along with you and Bernie and friends.
July 18, 2018 @ 3:54 pm
Fab photos and account of your trip-within-a-trip (as our family likes to call them 🙂 ). Again I’m in awe of everyone’s pace and stamina. Kudos to all and the kir royale looks quite good!
Glad you’re back in Paris and look forward to your next update.
July 18, 2018 @ 4:22 pm
PS apologies mis-spelled kir royal — guess what’s in the glass is the important thing! Clive and I often order a regular kir (white wine, not champagne) on the evenings we arrive in Paris and before we leave. With or without champagne, a lovely, classic French drink!
July 18, 2018 @ 4:22 pm
Than you for sharing these pictures with us. What a wonderful experience you guys are having.
July 18, 2018 @ 7:36 pm
Mont St. Michel is awe inspiring and spectacular! I hope to see it one day. The beaches and cliffs of Normandy I suppose can be seen in photos, yet I suspect you have to be there to fully feel it’s significance. Thanks for sharing your journey with us.