(cool-low 60’s) I had pre-booked a private tour through Overlord Tours 450. Euros. I’d also pre-bought our train tickets online (thanks to everyone here) and was able to print most of them (except the short 15 min. regional train from Caen to Bayeux) which I prebought and picked up at St. Lazare station on our arrival day (just bring the voucher/reservation print out and the credit card you used to purchase them. I’m so glad I did as the SNCF office there wasn’t open when we arrived at the station and there was a line when it did…I would have been panicked. We were up about 5am, on the Metro about 5:45am and got to St. Lazare about 35 min. early. The Normandy trains all depart from the right half of the station- near the SNCF office at that end. You watch the boards for your train number and they post the voie/track about 20 min. before it departs (ours was the 6:42am train). Then you find the car and the proper seats (on you tickets as people here told me). We actually had a private cabin with a door on the way up to Caen which was nice as everyone except Husband and I slept most of the 2 hours. You give your home printed tickets to the conductor as he comes to your cabin (you don’t validate these before getting on in the machines). I was glad I decided to take the earlier (about 7 min.) train into Caen to give us more time to transfer trains there. When we got off in Caen we had to take the regional ticket we picked up Monday downstairs to the validation machine to stamp them and we just had time before the train pulled in (luckily the track was just across from the one we arrived at so we didn’t have to go anywhere). We could sit in any open seat on this 15 min. ride. MORE...
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OP
Mars, PA, USA
213 posts
Our guide, Phillipe met us with an Overlord sign at the station. We reviewed doing as many outside sites as possible and not too many museums (we asked to see the one in St. Mere Eglise). He’s certainly not a fan of the authenticity of the Hollywood versions we’d seen with the kids; BoB, Longest Day, Private Ryan, and he talked a lot that day about what they got wrong, but he was glad we’d watched quite a few documentaries, actual footage films as well. He was knowledgeable and his style was that he liked to ask us questions to engage us. He drove a big clean comfortable van. I’m sure I have some of this mixed up in order, and I’m not the one in my family who should be remembering all this and my husband’s away (haven’t had time to transfer my video yet, which would help me) but here’s the stops as I remember them (plus he pointed out other numerous sites, memorials and plaques along the way). At least you’ll get the idea that we did lots of stops: MORE...
Posted by
OP
Mars, PA, USA
213 posts
First stop was the American Cemetery at Coleville (so moving), then on to the Longues sur Mer-batteries, we walked the beach at Omaha East (bring a Ziploc or a bottle to collect some sand) and saw the bunkers. Then we stopped at the Omaha Beach Museum (Musee d’Omaha- 20,80 for the 6 of us) which was nicely done with a short film at the end. On to Omaha West and the temporary Cemetery, Hardelay’s villa, and the beach landing area, Bedford Boys. We ate lunch at Le D’Day House near here and it was sunny and warm. When we next arrived at Pointe du Hoc it was raining, but we were prepared with our coats and umbrellas (be prepared for cold, rainy, windy weather here even when it’s hot in Paris). This was everyone’s favorite stop. The ruined fortifications and craters left by the 600 or so shells were impressive. I believe we saw the site where Frank Peregory’s MoH was achieved. We went to St. Mere Eglise and visited the church, then the Airbourne Museum (28,00 for the six of us, very nice). We visited the La Fiere bridge and the memorial there, then Utah Beach and walked the beach there. We went through Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and I think went through Carentan as well. We saw some more bunkers on the way back to the train station and several fell asleep for the 45 min. ride back. MORE...
Posted by
OP
Mars, PA, USA
213 posts
It was raining again as we arrived at the station for our 6:21pm train to Paris (no transfers). This train was very crowded, just seats, no cabins. We arrived Paris late- about 9pm, so we just picked up something at Quick Burger near St. Lazare. Our cashier there was a hoot, she was trying to teach my husband French (My favorite story from our last trip was he finally said one word of French “Bonjour” as he was walking out of a bakery our last day—the owner and I tried hard not to laugh…OK, he tried). Then she was excited to offer us lots of ice with our drinks. The only problem was she put the drinks in each person’s bag with their meal and of course all the bags were ripping open by the time we got them. It took us ½ hour to get out of “Quick” Burger. We got the Metro home and ate our meals in the park near Invalides and were home before 10pm. It was a long day, but there are lots of chances for naps for those that can. My husband and I didn’t sleep enroute at all and we were tired, but fine. It was by far the least amount of walking we’d done all week, so it gave our tired feet a nice break. I’d try to get to bed early the night before (unfortunately our son’s class ran late so that didn’t happen for us). It was definitely worth doing, even if the only way you can do it is as a daytrip like we did, but stay overnight up there if you can. I was amazed how many sites we saw and we learned so much. Everyone agreed it was one of our favorite days of the trip. END DAY