This morning we left Paris, quite tired after yesterday, which was filled with walking, and quite sad to say goodbye to such a beautiful place. We took a three-hour sleep-filled bus ride to Caen, a city of Normandy crucial to the events of the Second World War.
Visiting the Caen WWII Memorial, it was especially interesting to be able to view detailed statistics and firsthand accounts of the events and atrocities of the war. As Euro students, we so often learn about wars through a lens of detatched omniscience, tending to focus mostly on their political and economic impacts. The museum made me quite emotional, as the evidence presented of the graveness and horror of the wartime crimes committed made me further realize the extent of the war's damage on individuals and entire civilian populations.
We met our tour guide for the day, Laurent/Lawrence, who took us to see the Pointe du Hoc promontory and Omaha Beach, two sites of the D-Day Landing, as well as the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. Being in Normandy so close to the anniversary of D-Day helped connect us to its history and strive to understand the events of that day even more. On the way, Laurent shared his wealth of knowledge on the military planning and outcome of D-Day. The sites were misty and slightly chilly, setting a contemplative tone to our experiences there. At Omaha Beach, Cheryl said something that struck me— the promontory and beach seemed unsettlingly peaceful, as if there was a normality and stillness present which didn't belong in places that had seen such bloodshed.
Seeing the American Cemetery was a difficult but moving experience; reading the names of the hundreds of soldiers who were missing in action, and hearing stories from Laurent of those who were lost and then recovered was especially striking. The sheer number of headstones (more than 9,000) was the most overwhelming part to me.
After returning to the city, we had a wonderful dinner in Caen with entertaining anecdotes and food that was delightful. I look foward to Mont St. Michel and St. Malo tomorrow!
- Helen
On June 8th we had a partial travel day on our way from Paris to Normandy. The ride (which took about 4 hours) was fairly uneventful and calming, and was a nice change of pace from the large amount of walking from the previous day. However, after a brief stop at a WW2 museum and our hotel in Caen, we went to the old Nazi stronghold at Pointe Du Hoc where we learned of the important commando raid that took place there during the D-Day operation and viewed the remnants of the German bunkers that were there. After this, we went to the infamous Omaha Beach where the majority of the American casualties during D-Day took place, and we learned of the vast preparation and complexity of the operation. Later, we went to the American military cemetery in Normandy and have our respects before heading to a light dinner at a grill in Caen, and resting up for an early start the next day!
-Andrew
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