12 September

Yesterday we got up kind of early to head to the World War II memorial at Caen. The museum was really interesting because it gave a French and European perspective of the war, which is definitely a new way to learn about it for me.

It was an ironic day though. Just as I got to the section on the Holocaust, an announcement came over the speakers telling everyone that we needed to evacuate the building. I had noticed a funny smell, kind of like smoke, but I didn't really think anything of it. So, everyone headed out of the building. We sat outside and talked with a man from Italy who just retired and is going to class to learn English and who loves to travel. He spoke in very broken English but he was so cute and was trying so hard to talk correctly.

Eventually, we learned that there had been an electrical fire in the basement of the museum and that power was going to have to be shut off for the rest of the day. I couldn't help but feel a little chilled that we had to evacuate a war museum on September 11.

We headed to Arromanches sur Mer, one of the debarkment beaches. The British landed there and after taking the beach, began building a floating port! I had NO idea that anything like that had ever happened. It was fascinating. We went through a museum and then walked around the beaches a bit. After that, it was time to head to the American war memorial and cemetary.

The memorial was beautiful. I cried a little bit. Walked down on the beaches and couldn't imagine what it must have been like.

After the cemetary, we stopped at the ruins of a German strategic stronghold, where you can still see the identations in the earth left by bombs and the bunkers and gun mounts left by the Germans. After that, we went to the German cemetary. Really gave a face to what I think is oftentimes a faceless enemy. There was a grave marker for a young man who was killed on his 25th birthday.

Dinner last night at the hotel was much much better than the first night, thank goodness. After dinner, we went out and amazingly found a bar where all the young kids in Bayeux like to hang out. It was a lot of fun.

This morning we went and saw a GIANT tapestry from the Middle Ages that tells the story of William the Conqueror. It was pretty cool. We're now just a few miles from Mont Saint Michel...I can see it out my window! I'm so excited for the tour tomorrow. This place is BEAUTIFUL!