Normandy and the D-Day Coast

The trip to Normandy was through some of the most beautiful landscape we've seen. The rolling hillsides covered with ploughed and planted fields in one valley then covered with forests in the next. I never knew there were so many shades of green, from the iridescent emerald green of the canola fields before they bloom, to the varied colour pallet of the forests.

We stayed the night on the coast in Villers sur Mer, a seaside resort at the eastern end of the D-Day coast. We stayed in an Aire (its French for Area) and short for Aire du Campingcar. There are thousands of them all over France and the rest of Europe. There are areas where only Motorhomes can stay overnight. Most are provide by the local councils. You can stay overnight and in most you can get fresh drinking water, dump your toilet and grey water. Some even have electricity. Some are free and some you pay a nominal fee for. They are great for stopping overnight and then moving on the next day.

We drove along the coast the next day and visited some of the D-Day landing sites. I can see why the allies choose this stretch of coast. The coastal beaches are very shallow and tide goes out a long way. Ideal for landing craft and men wading ashore. We stopped at the Omaha Beach memorial. The plaques on the dozen stone monument number thousands. Margie found it a little depressing.

We left the beaches behind and headed for Bayeux, just another historical regional town now but in 1066 it was ground zero for the Norman conquest of Britain. Guilleme le Bastard better know as William the Conqueror to the Brits launched his invasion from here and it is here that the Bayeux Tapestry resides. It is not really a tapestry but an embroidery. It is over 70 metres long, 50cm high and tells the entire back story of the conquest. It is an outstanding piece of historical art.