I am thinking about France today and remembering a trip to Normandy. I have been lucky enough to visit Normandy on two special occasions. The first was a Father-Daughter trip long ago. We visited the cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer while staying in Deauville. It was one of the most moving places I have ever visited, where almost 10,000 Americans were buried after D-Day took place and so many brave men lost their lives. I remember taking a picture and turning around and seeing my Dad, a historian, cry. It was very emotional indeed. All of my Mother’s cousins served in World War II and my Father’s Uncle Murray was also in World War II. In fact, he was one of the only survivors from Pearl Harbor. Our Normandy trip wasn’t just about D-Day, although it would have been worth it if we stopped there too.

Lucky for me, we also traveled to other marvelous locations like the one in the picture above, the museum that houses the Bayeux Tapestry. This ancient Tapestry records the history of William, the Duke of Normandy, who became William the Conqueror and took over England in 1066. Again, historian Dad and his willing pupil, me, loved seeing this amazing art.

We also visited Mont-St-Michel, another location not to be missed in one’s lifetime. We climbed to the top, walked in the town, had omelets at La Mère Poulard, and marveled at the architectural and artistic feat that the church and its surrounding town are testament to. Other sites to behold while there were Honfleur with its picturesque port, shops, and restaurants and a lovely Boudin Museum and the amazing cliffs at Étretat. Normandy has so much to recommend it, including the delicious Calvados I wrote about earlier this week.