Normandy

[june1]

Samantha Brown's travel show will feature Normandy on Wed. and Thur. at noon central time on the Travel Channel.

[aliaschief]

Thanks, Appreciate the heads up.

[aliaschief]

Should have stated that we will be cruising into Cherbourg, France next May and plan on visiting Omaha Beach. With my DW and I both with twentys six years of militaryeach and 52 years combined service (now retired) we would definitely like to pay our respects.

[2travelers]

Should have stated that we will be cruising into Cherbourg, France next May and plan on visiting Omaha Beach. With my DW and I both with twentys six years of militaryeach and 52 years combined service (now retired) we would definitely like to pay our respects.

 

 

Hi - My husband and I just got back from a cruise that stopped in the port of Le Harve. We decided that the only place we wanted to go to was Normandy. We hired a guide who turned out to be one of the best we have ever had. He took us back to June 6, 1944 and with his knowledge and expertise he guided us through the beaches and cemetaries of Normandy. It was one of the most moving days we have ever had.

Ronnie

[GeorgiaPeach51]

Completely agree. Normandy is a very humbling experience. My husband and I went years ago, in the late 70's when we lived overseas and took flowers to the grave of my uncle who was killed in the D-Day invasion in a glider. First time anyone in the family had been to his grave. They escort family to the gravesite and with a bucket of wet sand, rub it into the grave inscription so it will show in pictures. My Dad, who was one of 4 brothers at war, wanted us to make arrangements to bring his brother home, but of course that can't be done. It was a very emotional time showing those pictures to my Dad when we returned. So much heartache, even so many years later.

 

It is a privilege and honor to see Normandy. We hope to return someday.

[hcat]

Hi - My husband and I just got back from a cruise that stopped in the port of Le Harve. We decided that the only place we wanted to go to was Normandy. We hired a guide who turned out to be one of the best we have ever had. He took us back to June 6, 1944 and with his knowledge and expertise he guided us through the beaches and cemetaries of Normandy. It was one of the most moving days we have ever had.

Ronnie

 

an you pls share the name & contact info for the guide? what was the cost? Thank you

[sddsddean]

Should have stated that we will be cruising into Cherbourg, France next May and plan on visiting Omaha Beach. With my DW and I both with twentys six years of militaryeach and 52 years combined service (now retired) we would definitely like to pay our respects.

 

As long as you are not in Cherbourg on a Sunday and you do a bit of research, easiest way to do this is rent a car. Last year we did the British and Canadian beaches from Le Havre and the US beaches from Cherbourg. The furthest US one away is Omaha and its only about an hours drive, so you have plenty of time to come back via Pont du Hoc, St Mere L'Eglise, the various cemeteries and Utah beach and everything is very well sign posted, though you won't believe the size of some of the lanes down to the beaches. How did they launch an invasion using narrow lanes!?

 

Simon

[2travelers]

an you pls share the name & contact info for the guide? what was the cost? Thank you

 

Hi - We used Gary Weight from www.pegasusnormadytours.com I believe Gary owns the company. His prices for the different tours are on his website. We did the one-day American Beaches Tour. Be aware that he charges an extra 200 euros to pick up in Le Havre. Most of the guides we had contacted would not travel to Le Havre. We were hoping to add more folks which would have deferred the cost for us, but after months of posting and getting no response we made the decision to go alone. As said in my previous post - Gary filled our day with history, stories, and photos at each of the beaches we visited.

 

We have been touring with private guides for many years and Gary really raised the bar for any future guides we use.

My husband is a real WWII buff and he is still talking about our Normandy tour. It was a very moving day.....

 

If you email Gary tell him Ronnie and Artie Calem say hello ;)

Ronnie

[hcat]

Hi - We used Gary Weight from www.pegasusnormadytours.com I believe Gary owns the company. His prices for the different tours are on his website. We did the one-day American Beaches Tour. Be aware that he charges an extra 200 euros to pick up in Le Havre. Most of the guides we had contacted would not travel to Le Havre. We were hoping to add more folks which would have deferred the cost for us, but after months of posting and getting no response we made the decision to go alone. As said in my previous post - Gary filled our day with history, stories, and photos at each of the beaches we visited.

 

We have been touring with private guides for many years and Gary really raised the bar for any future guides we use.

My husband is a real WWII buff and he is still talking about our Normandy tour. It was a very moving day.....

 

If you email Gary tell him Ronnie and Artie Calem say hello ;)

Ronnie

 

thanks so much for this information-- we will be checking into this & sending your regards of we contact him...

[Cornishpastyman1]

As long as you are not in Cherbourg on a Sunday and you do a bit of research, easiest way to do this is rent a car. Last year we did the British and Canadian beaches from Le Havre and the US beaches from Cherbourg. The furthest US one away is Omaha and its only about an hours drive, so you have plenty of time to come back via Pont du Hoc, St Mere L'Eglise, the various cemeteries and Utah beach and everything is very well sign posted, though you won't believe the size of some of the lanes down to the beaches. How did they launch an invasion using narrow lanes!?

 

Simon

 

Hello Simon

 

I'd agree with you about how easy the beaches are to do by yourself if you don't want to do a ship's tour and have a little knowledge of the specific sites you want to visit by yourself for personal reasons.

 

From my 5 hours there I made these, which might be of help to some in planning your day :

 

Background to the invasion, Arromanches/Gold Beach and the Mulberry Harbour, Omaha Beach)

 

German gun battery at Longues-sur-Mer, Pointe du Hoc, Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer)

 

If you are lucky enough to be at Arromanches when the tide is out you can walk around and even get inside the remains of Churchill's Mulberry Harbour. The battery at Longues-sur-Mer is the only such emplacement to have kept its guns and you can get inside a casemate, stand behind the barrel and imagine what it must have been like on 6 June 1944. Pointe du Hoc is where the US 2nd Rangers scaled the cliffs under heavy gunfire. Their efforts remain a thing of wonder. And the Normandy American Cemetery is a fitting memorial to the nearly 11,000 Americans it honours for their ultimate sacrifice in the cause of freedom.

 

As others have said, it is a humbling experience, even if you can only be there for a few short hours.

[Hlitner]

Just an observation that Normandy is in France and CC has a specific board dedicated to France will you will find a lot more discussion on this topic.

 

Hank