France 2024 on The Jamison Family

France 2024 - Day 13

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

Saint-Chapelle

Our final day in France started with a visit to a little park near our hotel. The Park has a special past with a small chapel in it. Chapelle Expiatoire was the original burial ground for those beheaded during the French revolution, it was the remote burial ground for St. Denitz Church outside of the city of Paris in those days. King Luis XV, his wife, Marie Antionette, and other loyalists were buried here for 21 years. The graves were relocated 21 years later. There were calls to destroy the chapel after the revolution, but the site was fortmally saved in 1800 when it was protected by the state. The site is relatively unknown to tourists but is still in favor with French monarchists to this day.

France 2024 - Day 12

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

Versailles

Louis XIII built a hunting lodge outside of Paris where his very young son developed some fond memories. At age 5 Louis XIII died and that young son was to be the next king. His mother and a court elder ruled until Louis XIV turned 17. Once king, he decided to turn that hunting lodge into his main palace, And, what a palace he built. Unlike other kings, XIV was actively involved with the building process which meant that process never really ended during his reign. He loved dancing, dressing fashionably and women. He kept his court under observation by mandating their services at the palace throughout each day.

France 2024 - Day 11

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

Remembrance

Our final day of the tour was back near the beaches where many of those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom lie. We started at the newly completed British memorial where the names of all the dead and missing are listed. we then drove across Sword, Juno and Utah beaches where we saw the remnants of the British main-made harbor. Finally, we toured the American cemetery off Utah beach. It seemed almost fitting the rain was pouring down on us for the first time all week, The place is somber and peaceful at the same time. We cry tears of sadness for the lives lost and, at the same time, tears of humility for being gifted the freedom they passed on to us.

France 2024 - Day 10

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

Falaise Pocket

After the failure of the german counter-offensive, the rout was on. The Britishm Canadians and Polish forces were finally pushing the Germans back. Meanwhile, the American Forces had cleared the Cherborg peninsula and were heading towards central France. The combine efforts afforded an opportunity to encircle the German army. The Germans were most aware of this peril and began to push eastward. First the pace was deliberate, but then it turned into a panicked retreat.

France 2024 - Day 9

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

Operation Cobra

The grind of the bacage fighting in western France and the battle of attrition to the east was weighing heavily upon the allied command. Clearly, something had to be done. General Omar Bradley, usually known to be methodical and conservative in his planning, came up with an ambitious plan to break out of the grind. Operation Cobra was to apply the highest level of artillery and air power ordinance into a roughly one by three mile box outside of Avranches. The plan started out slowly at first, but then turned into a rout of the Germans. Territorial gains which previously took weeks were accomplished in days and hours.

France 2024 - Day 8

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

U.S. Airborne and La Haye du Puits

Today we continued looking at the American sector and the continued slow, deadly progress in the Cherbourg peninsula. Over the course of the first weeks of the Normandy campaign, the Americans took on tactics which were more lethal for the Germans, but also, unfortunately, for the French civilians. We spent some time in St. Lo where the pictures show the entire town was leveled. The decisions to change tactics was not one of haste or indifference, but of a measured choice which produced the least awful consequences.

France 2024 - Day 7

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

Terrain Day

With the initial securing of the beach heads allied forces began to move inland. The British, Canadian and Polish troups started a head-to-head battle with the Germans protecting Caen and other routes east. Canadian troups had to hold ground to protect the left (eastern) flank for the entire invasion force. The Americans had need to proceed west and cut of and then occupy the Cherbourg peninsula. The Americans came to quickly know and hate the bocage which is typically two rows of trees aligned on either side if a path with mud banks up to eight feet high. Used by locals to herd livestock, they are a ready-made defensive asset. Entering a field, U.S. troops would not know if a motor or MG was waiting for them to all get into the clearing and become targets with nowhere to hide. It took over a month to accomplish what was initially thought to be a task of a few days. The invasion morphed from a successful landing phase to one of attrition and slow progress.

France 2024 - Day 6

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

Commando Day

Today we focused on the eastern sections of D-Day including Sword beach and its defenses. A major part of these operations included the Commando raids, especially the famous “Pegasus Bridge” raid. The British efforts included the Commonwealth nations including Canada. As Paul Woodadge put it “Canada really punched above its weight.” While the initial landings on all beaches were very successful, this good fortune was about to become more difficult over the weeks preceding June 6.

France 2024 - Day 5

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

Omaha Beach

Our first day of the WW2TV tour started out on the sands Omaha Beach, We arrives shortly after low tide and learned first hand how fast the tide rises and how it creates troughs and sand bars along the shoreline. We then visited bunkers and Weiderstandnester on the bluffs above the beach. We walked the five draws, plus “Cota’s Draw”, which were the primary target for the first waves of allied troops.

France 2024 - Day 4

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

Paris to Bayoux

Saturday was a day of travel by train from the Gare Saint-Lazare station in Paris to the town of Bayeux in Normandy. The train trip was very nice as we rolled through the French countryside. We arrive in Bayuex and made our way to the Hotel Belle-Normandy. Our room was the “General Patton” room which was very spacious and welcoming.

France 2024 - Day 3

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:07:08 -0700

The Louvre

For our 38th anniversery, we did the usual thing and celebrated it at the Louvre Museum. What can you say about the Louvre, but “Ouah“? Natalie, our tour guide, was fantastique! The pictures do not do justice to the scope of the collections there. After the Louvre, we had a wonderful steak dinner at the “Hippopotamus” restaurant.

France 2024 - Day 2

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 14:07:08 -0700

The River Seine

We booked a day-long Batoboat Water Taxi service to cruise up and down the river Seine. Making our way to our pickup spot at the Louvre, we walked through the magnificant Jardin des Tuileries. Then we boarded our water taxi and cruised up and down the Seine. As our photos reveal, a lot of history and architecture aligns the river. We left the our Batoboat taxi and had a lovely lunch on the left bank of the Seine. We then visited Notre Dame cathedral which is nearing its recovery and renovation after the terrible fire of April 2019. The we took the subway back to Saint-Lazare and picked up dinner to take back to the hotel from the market place in the subway/train station.

France 2024 - Day 1

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 13:32:55 -0700

Phoenix to Paris

We flew the new Air France flight from Phoenix direct to Paris. It was a 10 Hour flight with a very short night. Air France’s food and service were excellent! We left on a Tuesday afternoon and arrived very, very tired in Paris Wednesday morning. We checked into our hotel and went out for a few short walks.