Hatfield European Adventure, Part 2, 2016: Normandy, Day 4, 09-12-2016

The AmaAlegro stayed at anchorage overnight in Caudebec in order to give the on board travelers an opportunity to spend a full day touring. Pam, Roy, Sandy, John, Pat and Larry toured the D-Day beach at Omaha, the U.S. Cemetery and Arromanches. Sue, Manny, Linda and I toured the countryside and villages of Pays D'Auge.

June 6, 1944 is a day certainly ingrained in the memory of our parents. Many of our fathers and mothers took an active part in the U.S. efforts in WWII. Omaha Beach was the focal point of what was to become the largest amphibious invasion in world history. The Battle of Normandy lasted 76 days. Allied losses were 210,000 casualties including 37,000 KIA. German casualties were estimated at 200,000 with another 200,000 taken prisoner. As a side note, many of these German prisoners ended up in Aliceville, Alabama. A POW camp was constructed in west Alabama that housed over 6,000 Germans. While touring the cemetery, Larry was selected to assist in a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial. Quite an honor. I wish I had been with him. Our uncle, A.J.Davis fought with the U.S. Army in Europe, until he was wounded in Germany and med-e-vaced out of the combat zone. D-Day is where history, as you know it, becomes very real. I would urge anyone traveling to France to make a point to go to Normandy.

Our tour took us into Calvados country. Calvados is a pear and apple based brandy from the Normandy region. With a history dating back nearly 500 years, it holds a dear place in the hearts of many spirit lovers. Pays D'Auge is a unique landscape of orchards, half timbered houses, horse farms, and cheeses. This area offers you a gentle way of life along with some of the most picturesque villages in western France.
At the end of the day, we returned to our ship and set sail for an overnight trip to Rouen.