Day one

This is out of order, but...
Day one...our flights were both a bit early and we connected at CDG with out issue. Got the rental car and with Craig behind the wheel we set out for Bayeux. We had to make a few U turns, (and Craig and Merrell engaged in some ritual bickering, supplemented by Karen's back seat driving) but once on the A3, we were buzzing right along.

Arrived at the Chateau Sully, then went into town to a brasserie for lunch, and to get Craig's and Karen's phones fixed.

Then Karen and Merrell went to see the Bayeux tapestry, while Craig napped. The tapestry is 70 feet long, the biggest sampler you have ever seen. Love the story of William the conquerer, and I thought the borders were as beautiful as the primary tapestry.
We had dinner in town, at la coline d'enzo. Yummy, particularly the chocolate mousse desssert with Caramel.

We then congratulated ourselves on staying awake all day-- discounting the 5 winks during the tapestry movie-- and turned in!

The scope and scale are amazing

Craig, Merrell and I spent the day with our tour guide, Katherine, touring the D-Day beaches.

 The enormity of losses, the complexity of the planning and logistics, the incredible leadership and courage of the young men who were our childrens'current ages made for an incredible and memorable day.

We visited both the German and American cemetery. The German cemetery is very small with two men in each grave. It is very understated, and a somber reflection of the loss of life on both sides.

There is a peace and reconciliation organization that is planting trees there in memory of the soldiers. They are planted in an allee very beautifully. Merrell found this to be the more appropriate of the two cemeteries. Craig and Karen respectfully disagreed. (is anyone surprised to find Craig and Merrell on the opposite sides of an argument?)

The American cemetery is a place of both reverence and beauty. There are crosses for over 9000 mean and 4 women who died in the war.

We were there for the lowering of the flag and the playing of taps. It was an eerie echo of the taps we heard at Bill's funeral on Tuesday in honor of his service in World War 2.

And even in Normandy Craig was able to find a taasting room....for calvados apple brandy,
which we had to buy.