I drive towards the Normandy coast and stop at various towns and beaches where the D-Day Normandy beach invasions occurred. There any many monuments and relics from the invasions.
I visit the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches. The Mulberry Harbours are concrete harbours, built in England, and floated over the Channel. There created a defence to protect the landing ships during the invasion. One harbour is visible and almost intact. It is massive. It is impossible to imagine the effort and lives lost during the invasion.
The cemetery at Colleville (as seen in the movie Saving Private Ryan) is a spectacular and beautiful memorial to the many thousands who lost their lives. During my stay in Paris I became aware of how lucky I am to be British, in terms of my choices in life and the value of our Pound. My room mates find living in a city, and a trip like mine much more difficult. Today I realise how lucky I am that the British and allied forces during the war where fought so hard, and were so clever. I am glad that today England is not part of Germany, and I do not speak Germany because of these efforts. The beaches are sad, but will always serve as a monument to their lost lives, and a reminder of the pain of war.
Normandy is a lovely area. It is easy to drive, and easy to park, especially when compared to Paris. People are friendly and I enjoy a trip to the supermarket in Bayeux. I buy lots of nice food. The food and drink in France is every bit as good as the hype.
I visit the Bayeux Tapestry which is stunning. The detail is very high. It is 70 metres long and tells its story very well. The audio guide describes each scene which makes it easier to follow.
I drive to Mont St-Michael and stay at a good camp site. Tomorrow I will visit the island and abbey.
