Normandy coast and D-Day beaches

Our first visit to the north of France and having come from Newcastle, the north of England, with all our camping gear onboard, the choice of pitching a tent at one of the (many) camping grounds was easily made… We found a site on the cliffs overlooking Omaha beach. We had a couple of objectives: the American cemetry, the beaches and from there…..

The American cemetry was awe inspiring. The rows and rows of white crosses were overwhelming. The amount of effort and respect that the US has taken, with stories of courage, valour and heroes somehow contrasted immensely with the German cemetry close-by that was somber and spoke more of reconciliation.

The bunkers were a stark reminder of the hard reality that war is. But the towns around the countryside seemed stuck in time…. Old farmyards, crumbling walls and fields of hay and cows. Narrow little roads and friendly french people (no really…). Although on every corner there seemed to be a museum of some kind to remind us of the incredible undertaking that is hard, even these days, to comprehend…

The beaches are wide and sandy and flat. The tide levels unreal… Beautiful countryside….