D-day beaches, Bayeux, Normandy

I went for a day trip to Bayeux, a small town in Normandy area yesterday, and i really had a great time! It was soooo good to get out of the city. Small town, lots of greenery, blue sky, and the beach = ♥

My main goal was to see the D-day beaches, where the Allied troops landed  on 6 June 1944, and proceeded to free Europe from there in WWII.

We did encounter some hiccups, which included being rejected twice to be taken on a tour of the d-day beaches. Who rejects a chance to do business?! Though it was understandable for the second person, the first was just bizarre. haha. But everything turned out well in the end so alls good (: But we were all really exhausted by the end of the day as it was about 2.5hours away from Paris and we all got up really early. Time for photos!

Town of Bayeux

Warning - Photo-filled post!

Boat along the river, next to a restaurant

Cider at lunch

Veal Kidney - it was good!

After lunch, we called a cab to go to the coast where the D-day beaches are, as only 1 bus goes there for the whole day on saturday, which we missed so we could have a good lunch, and it was too far to walk there. We only had enough time to see the Omaha beach, which was where the Americans landed. Also, transport was an issue as the beaches were quite far apart. The car rental option wasn't cheap either! The beaches kept their D-day code names (from West to East): Utah Beach (American), Omaha Beach (American), Gold Beach (British), Juno Beach (Canadian), Sword Beach (British)

The girls i went there with!

It's possible to go into those holes! I did, and it was quite muddy and slippery...

Pretty flower buds!

Vache!

And i saw many huge cows! They were lazing around. haha i always get really excited whenever i see cows in the open (not the zoo), a piece of me that never left even after i left childhood.

Memorial

The men in the military wear, are German. I think it's great that they actually come to visit these places. It's part of Transitional Justice and reconciliation, that's what i learnt last semester.

The we proceeded to the museum...

Countries that contribute troops to the Allies

To the American Cemetry

Another memorial

The view was just undescribable, it was so vast and all these crosses and stars were in perfect lines.

We do not forget, we never forget, the infinite debt of gratitude that we owe those who gave everything for our liberation.

Then we went down to the beach before heading back to the train station...

I must say it's really tough to imagine what D-day looked like, when the beach and all just looks so serene and beautiful...

Apple Cinammon Jam

Oh! The Normandy region is famous for its use of apples in food, so i bought a jar of apple & cinammon jam. My favourite combination of two ingredients i have to say! I also got a box of Caramels au Calvados. Apparently they are known for Calvados (Apple Brandy) too! We were rushing for time so i didnt buy a bottle of Calvados itself, kinda wish i did though. Oh wells.

Had a good weekend break, now it's back to school and assignments.

bisous!