Day 9

Day 9

 

Today was our first REAL D-Day adventure.  We are right in the middle of the “war” concentrated on the town of Arromathe.  WE walked into the town in a heavy morning fog….typical of a gorgeous northern coastal city.  We hit the Ammermathe museum first which described and explained the massive port building project that made sure the invasion went as planned.

 

Just a small description……

 

They needed a port to make the invasion a success because the troops needed supplies for support.  But all the regular ports on the northern coast were very heavily protected by the Germans.  So they picked this area because it was weakly supported and it had the perfect setup for being a port.  So they actually MADE a port….in less than 2 weeks!!!!  Right after the invasion they sank about 50 old ships that the British had to make a breaking line in the harbor.  Then they built and towed about 115 concrete barriers across 100 miles of water and sank them too…..all in a line.  Then they brought in 3 rows of “bridges” that were towed in and hooked up in line to make 3 “roads” for the trucks and tanks and supplies were driven on shore.  It was one of the greatest feats in modern history.  So this museum showed and explained it all.  It was really incredible feat. 

 

We also saw 2 movies that also explained and supported the feat.  Then we walked up a beautiful hill to look over the town and go to the 360 degree theater to see the reenactment of the invasion.  After the movie one really felt the sorrow and happiness of such an experience.  WE then ate a great homemade lunch overlooking the bay and then walked our way back to the car to continue our adventure.  We decided to head east because most of the beaches were the British and Canadian fronts.  We stopped at Gold Beach and Juno Beach where the British and Canadian lost thousands of soldiers in a horrible attack.  Each had museums and monuments and bunkers to visit.  It was quite powerful.  Also, a very interesting note after the fact.  After the war no credit was being given  to the Canadians for their contributions, so the Canadian government took it upon themselves to build a monument (a huge cross) and a museum at their beach to commerate their contributions.  It was appalling that the leadership ignored Canada in such a way.  We wanted to visit the Canadian cemetery but we were running out of time and headed home.    The reason was that we asked to have the landlord visit and try to fix the WiFi that did not work.  So we headed home so we would meet him. 

 

Ah to get back to our place….we just love it….a small cottage with all we really need to live comfortably in Normandy.  We all decided to stay in tonight and so on the way home we stopped and bought some really great pasta, sauces, and such for an evening in. 

 

Tomorrow I guess it is time to really get serious and hit the western area where the Americans attacked……Utah, Omaha and etc.  We really cannot wait to see them and the solemn cemetery.  I do hope the weather holds out (remember we do not have internet now to check the daily weather.

 

Oh by the way….they could no fix the WiFi!!!!