Here There and Everywhere

Taucks Longest Day at the Normandy Beaches

Every night all the passengers meet in the Lounge to hear Kamal, the Cruise Director, tell us what we will be doing the next day and the timeline. He tells us tomorrow will be The Longest Day; he is making a double entendre because it is a very long day and because in WWII, the storming of the Normandy Beaches came to be called The Longest Day.

We dock during the night in Caudebec. People board their buses at 7:30 to have enough time not to have to rush through these important and meaningful sites.

Sun rising over Caudebec and scenes in Caudebec.

This is the restored Maison des Templiers; below it is a record of the original building. It is now a shop selling goods from various local crafts people.

The Longest Day with Tauck Tours

Pont du Hoc

Omaha Beach Memorial

WWII Museum below, and guide. Our family really thought this guide made the tour relevant and kept visitors engaged with fascinating historical details.

It was an eventful and emotionally moving day. At the end, a Tauck delight, a private meal at the elegant Chateau du Taillis.

Back at the ship, we head for Rouen. Dinner was casual and simple after feasting at the Chateau du Taillis.

This was also the first election day of two, and the vote was held on a Sunday. I learned that you had to vote where you were registerd, but if you could not, you could fill out paperwork to allow someone else to vote for you. I asked “how do you know they will vote the way you want them to?” and the reply was “You choose someone you can trust.”

We heard many varying opinions about the hoped-for outcome of the vote. It turned out to be close; the far right-wing did not carry the election as they had hoped, and the parties will have to form a coalition in order to govern. It was a fascinating time to be there, emotions rising high both on the election and the upcoming Olympic Games.

August 14, 2024 - Posted by intlxpatr | Adventure