Our hotel was right next to Disneyland Paris, in the town of Marne-la-Vallée - about 30 minutes east of downtown Paris. After being in the heart of downtown Paris for a few days and running the kids ragged, it was so nice to visit the French countryside and relax a bit and spend a day at Disneyland. Space Mountain 2 was incredible! Although it took us awhile to get used to Buzz Lightyear speaking French.
After about two hours on the road we stopped for breakfast at none other than Micky Dee's, complete with 'McDrive'.
Our first stop was the museum at Arromanches where the artificial Mulberry Harbor was built in a matter of days to accommodate all the allied landings. Everyone said to get here early, glad we did. We got to the Museum as soon as it opened. Tourists were already starting to trickle in.
Q and the kids at the front entrance.
Pretty amazing museum. had a lot of life sized replicas of soldiers, military vehicles, maps, bombs, machinery etc. The kids and I loved the movie that retold the history of WWII and made our hearts swell with pride for our freedom fighters - American, Canadians, British, Australians and many more. I don't think there was a dry eye once the film finished.
We would later stand in the holes these things left in the earth at Pointe Du Hoc.
Q and the kids pointing to UTAH Beach on the map - about a 15 minute drive west on the coast from the Musuem at Arromanches.
Outside the museum - part of the harbor is visible in background. This was where the Allied soldiers would unload military supplies and tankers onto the French shore. They built huge docks as part of the artificial harbor so they could drive tanks and trucks right off the ships onto dry land.
Audrey and Grace at the shops outside the museum. Grace picked up a key chain to add to her collection. It was so cool to see all the flags waving in the brisk breeze - especially the American flags. Americans are fondly remembered in this part of France.
Up the hill from Arromanches, an old German bunker.
This next few pictures are of Omaha beach. It is impossible to describe the solemn feelings we had while visiting this special place. We will forever honor the brave Allied soldiers who fought and died on these beaches for our freedom.
Placard outside the museum...
Tributes to some of the incredible men who lost their lives on this beach.
Overlooking Omaha Beach from the Cemetery.
We looked for Utah soldiers and found this one: Robert C. Grantham.
Grave marker honoring unknown fallen soldier.
One of the four Niland brothers, on whose story the movie 'Saving Private Ryan' was based.
Pathway down to Omaha Beach from the Cemetery...
Looking up from the Beach at the old German concrete defense bunkers.
Omaha Beach 64 years after D-Day.
These next few shots are at Pointe du Hoc, 4 miles west of Omaha Beach. It was the site of an incredible victory by the US Army Ranger Assault Group.
These large craters were everywhere; a testament to the firepower the Allied forces unleashed here that ultimately forced the Germans to surrender the Pointe.
Inside one of the old German casements.
