We began our day at the Ranville War Cemetery - it was peaceful and very beautiful...as you can see, they allow plants around the grave markers. This added such a living testament for these soldiers and so much beauty to the cemetery!
We were then off to the Batterie De Merville, The Merville Battery was a German Army strong point in the Atlantic wall, situated on the Eastern flank of the Allied invasion of June 6th, 1944. This is a totally preserved historic site, complete with several bunkers and in one of the bunkers you can experience the "total immersion" every 20 minutes...sound, light, smoke and odors will transport you for a few short minutes into the hell that was the bombardment and the attack on the Battery. Unplanned, but appreciated all the same, we were able to attend a D-Day Memorial Service outside one of the bunkers.
Our next experience was the Pegasus Bridge, actually the field where the men of the 6th British Airborne Division, arrived as the first liberators in Normandy on the night of 5th/6th June 1944. They have since put up a new bridge, but part of the old bridge has been reconstructed and is included in the memorial museum (as you will see from the pictures). You might recognized the bridge, it was used in the film "The Longest Day". The museum also includes a replica of a Horsa Glider used by the glider borne troops commanded by Major John Howard. And as you can see, leaving the field and heading to the museum, we were able to catch yet another Memorial Service.
Le Grand Bunker Musee was our last stop before boarding our ferry back to London...as you can see in the pictures, this bunker stands above the buildings around it and has a look-out to the water. You can see our ferry in one of the pictures waiting for us near the shore.
We boarded our British Ferry for London, this ferry ride was during the day and included much conversation with fellow passengers and yet another D-Day Ceremony, including a wreath being thrown into the water!
Didn't I tell you it was beautiful with the live plants?
A camp of re-enactors, they add so much to the experience!
This is the "new" Pegasus Bridge...
Diane and Jody making new friends!
...The "real" Pegasus Bridge!
Full size replica of a Horsa Glider.
Up in the bunker...
...looking out the bunker at our ferry waiting at the shore.
On the ferry waiting to head back to London!
If you look in the left 1/3 of this picture, you can see Le Grand bunker Musee
(the flag pole almost reaches the skyline).
Coast line of Quistreham, where our return ferry departed from.
Danny & Mary Jane Linn - wonderful new friends!
And yet, another Memorial Ceremony honoring D-Day - I didn't catch the wreath being thrown into the water, but it was a moving ceremony!
Sorry this picture is sideways...this guy added fun and laughter to the ferry ride back to London!
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