![\"IMG_2766\"](\"https:\/\/micho.org\/cayblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/IMG_2766.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAfter leaving Paris, we had a few things on the agenda. \u00a0Notably, visit some Chateau, visit some family and also see the D-day locations in Normandy. \u00a0Considering my family’s involvement and how they were impacted in WWII, it was very important for me to see the Normandy beaches.<\/p>\n
First off, my odd ball stop of the trip. \u00a0 A German Uboat pen in St-Nazaire. \u00a0This massive structure is 300 meters long by 130 wide. \u00a0The roof (which you can see on the below picture) is 30ft thick concrete to resist any bombs the allies to throw at it. \u00a0 This thing is so big that apparently the city of St-Nazaire is just leaving it these since the cost of destroying it would be prohibitive. Anyone can just go in and walk around. Its a very austere and grim place, but fascinating nevertheless.<\/p>\n
Another neat stop was the Mont St-Michel. After the visit of the island where the Monastery is located, I opted to go for a guided walk on the sands at low tide. Where I am standing in the picture, there would normally be +-3 meters (10ft) of water at high tide. \u00a0 The tide is so fast, that you can see its progression with the naked eye, hence why you go for a guided tour and not on your own. \u00a0The Mont St-Michel has the highest tides in Europe. \u00a0 (The highest in the world are at the Bay of Fundy in Canada – shame on me, I have never visited)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is Juno beach, the beach where the brave Canadian troops landed in “Courseulles-sur-Mer” on that fateful day 69 years ago. \u00a0 The Canadian visitor center is located just a few hundred feet away. \u00a0Julie & I really enjoyed the center. Once could easily spend a whole day ; there is so much to see. \u00a0The US visitor center at Omaha beach (+-30 minutes away) was also very nice.<\/p>\n Here is the USA cemetery. \u00a0Very serene and beautifully done. \u00a0The grass is perfect and not a long strand of grass to be see around the individual crosses ; our guess is that they are done by hand so to not damage them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here is John Steele! \u00a0He is the US paratrooper that landed (and got stuck) on top of the Church at Sainte-Mere-Eglise on D-day. \u00a0If you have see the movie “The longest day”, there is scene where they show how this happened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Next, we went to see some really awesome Chateau in the Loire valley. \u00a0Here is Chateau Chenonceau, one of the most spectacular, considering its spans over a river.<\/p>\n Finally, here is the entire trip. \u00a0Starting in Paris, then down to the coast near La Rochelle. \u00a0Then up the coast all the way to Normandy. \u00a0After Normandy, back down to the “Vall\u00e9e de la Loire” for some awesome Chateau and then back to Paris. \u00a0Total +-2,400km (+-1,500 miles). \u00a0Awesome trip \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n