Our trip began with our Chevrolet Spark, tiny 1.0L/68hp road warrior.
On our way to Normandy, we stopped in the little city of Magny-en-Vexin for some lunch.
We also stopped at Claude Monet's house in Giverny, France. He's famous for the impressionism paintings of floral and pond scenes. This was a tulip in his garden.
Erin photographing Claude Monet's flowers in his backyard.
Another of Claude's flowers.
Another of Claude's flowers.
Claude also had a stream running through his backyard.
Claude's pond. Famous in many of his works like this one.
Claude Monet's home. I couldn't take photos of the inside, but it was very warm and cozy. His studio in the top floor still looked exactly as it did in this photo.
Claude's flowers.
After another hour we finally crest over the hills to see the city of Ouistreham, the far east edge of the Normandy Beach.
Ouistreham beaches and view of the English channel.
Ouistreham beaches in the Normandy region.
Ouistreham beaches in the Normandy region.
Ouistreham beaches in the Normandy region, with Ouistreham and Merville-Franceville in the distance.
Point marking the start of the World War II beaches of Normandy.
The city of Lion Sur Mer and Lion beach where 450 Royal Marine commando battled German Nazi forces.
View of coastal town of Arromanches and Gold beach, the heart of the D-Day invasion. You can also see parts of the prefabricated Mulberry Harbour caissons that were constructed by the British military to offload cargo during the attacks on Normandy.
Upon walking down into Arromanches, many military vehicles are left standing.
Mulberry Harbour caissons on Gold beach, during the low tide.
Pieces of military debris lay stranded on Gold beach.
These pieces have become home to much aquatic life since 1944.
Gold beach.
Gold beach.
Erin photgraphing this somewhat surreal sight/site.
Gold beach.
Standing inside, looking out, from one of these concrete/steel pieces.
Some remains of D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Some remains of D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Not sure what this was, some type of large underground tank, right in front of the town of Arromanches.
If you go back 14 photos, you'll notice a large cliff with a pasture of flowers in the far distance. We had to go there.
These fields checker the pasture land all throughout northern France, Belgium and Germany. They're quite vibrant, and they're actually Oilseed Rape flowers, used for Canola and animal food, but mainly for bio-diesel.
A opposite view of the Mulberry Harbour caissons on Gold beach.
On the edge of the cliffs, Erin prepares her camera for a photo-fiesta.
The cliffs of Gold beach.
The cliffs of Gold beach looking towards Arromanches.
Gold beach.
We started down one of the sides of the cliffs.
Goodbye sun.
On our way up the stairs to our room at the Normandy Hotel, in Arromanches.
Sunday morning! Erin is all smiles.
Good morning Gold beach, hello high-tide .
More left-behind military assault vehicles.
Good morning Arromanches.
Quick cafe and croissant in Arromanches before our journey to Omaha beach.
Tour Vauban constructed in 1694 by Benjamin de Combes in the city of Port En Bessin, on the east edge of Omaha beach.
Tour Vauban and Port En Bessin in the background.
Tour Vauban and Port En Bessin in the background.
Erin vs. the muddy hill.
First section of Omaha beach.
Though it's not Omaha, Nebraska, Erin is still quite happy to be at the beach.
Sadly, there's a bloody past here at this beach. This is a memorial for the 1st Infantry Division who lost their lives on D-Day.
A few meters down the hill is another memorial for the American 5th Engineering Brigade.
Arrow-dynamic tree.
The entrance walkway into the American Cemetery of Normandy on the bluffs with the waters of Omaha beach in the background.
The main area of the American Cemetery and Memorial of Normandy.
9,387 American soldiers are buried here, most of which were killed during the assaults on Normandy.
Driving northward, we stopped in the little town of Vierville sur Mer, off the middle of Omaha beach.
Another pier.
A sign desginates the history of this location.
The pier.
The rocky coast of Omaha beach.
Erin likes the beach.
This emotional day has exhausted Erin, time to rest on a "rock-ing-chair."
Looking left down the coast of Omaha beach.
Lovely.
On our 5-hour drive back to Reims, we stopped at the only thing that was serving food at 3pm on a Sunday, a boulangerie in Caen, France.
The rest stops aren't much better. No toilets, just a squate toilets.
A massive full rainbow appeared in front of us... didn't find any gold though.
An hour outside of Reims, we stopped for a break at the small city of Laon. The center of the city sits 100 meters above on an unsual plateau.
Erin driving off without me. "See ya".
Now she decides to park.
Laon, France.
The streets are quiet on Sunday evening in Laon, France.