An American Girl in Avignon

May 22, 2009
June 6th is the anniversary of D-Day. I have always wanted to visit the beaches of the embarquement (D-Day) after learning about them in history class, so I was super excited to take a D-Day bus tour today. Our guide David drove us, two sisters on vacation, and an older couple around in a van from 8:30 to 6 to and from the famous sights having to do with D-Day and WW2. I think it is so amazing how things have so much more meaning to you once you have learned about them…and then you get to visit the place where the events actually took place! It really brings history to life.
Our first stop was St. Mere Eglise, where some American paratroopers landed (and even clung to the side of the bell tower…there is a replica paratrooper still hanging there today). Amazingly, most of the church remained intact during the war, minus a few stained glass windows, which were replaced to house new ones with paratroopers and war-like symbols and sayings, such as “Ils sont revenus” (they have come back). Also in town was the US Air Museum where we watched a film in French, strangely enough with German subtitles. It was almost funny to see the Americans’ (there were lots of them) reactions to the film, “It’s in French?!” It really didn’t make sense, being an American museum and all, but I was so excited: I wanted to stand up and shout, “Je peux le comprendre!!!” (I can understand it).
It is really a remarkable experience being able to understand a second language. I have noticed something lately which has kind of freaked me out, yet been amazing at the same time. I have started dreaming and thinking in French. Also, when someone asks me a question, I can’t remember if they asked it in French or in English. It is so odd. My brain just translates it for me, and I subconsciously respond in the correct language. It is an odd phenomenon. Also, my franglais is getting more and more frequent. At OU in the fall, don’t be surprised if random French words creep into my conversation, and I don’t even realize what I said. I am definitely going to bisous everyone too…just saying :) XXX (trios pour Provence!)
We then went to the German cemetery, where I was overwhelmed by the amount of unidentified soldiers. It was really sad. I can’t imagine what those families whose sons, brothers, and husbands were never found would feel. I think not knowing what happened would be worse than finding out that they died. It was really somber and moving, yet, en meme temps, the cemetery was beautiful and very peaceful. Most are.
Before this, we made a stop at the Pont du Hoc near Utah Beach to see the battle field and bunkers. I could not believe the size of the guns and holes in the ground! The whole strategy of war is really fascinating to me in a weird way. How does one decide where and when to attack? What are the thought processes that go along with this? It is all a big game. Unfortunately, with huge stakes on the line: a matter of life and death.
Utah Beach was breathtaking. There was still a model gun and barbed wire in the sand. Seeing the place where countless men lost their lives in battle was haunting. You really start to look at things differently when you are standing in a place with so much meaning for so many people around the world.
The other famous site was Omaha beach, and it was low tide. The depth and width of the beach was mindboggling. It was huge!! The stretches of sand seemed to extend for miles into the horizon. The ironic thing is that the soldiers weren’t even planning on landing here. The current drifted them to the wrong spot. Comforting how God always seems to work things out, because this turned out to be a more ideal location.
Our last stop before heading to the German occupied bunkers was the American cemetery, where we were technically on US soil. Pretty cool how you can be on land “owned” by your homeland, when you are thousands of miles across the sea. The cemetery was impressive. Yet, again and sadly, there were countless unknown soldiers who were laid to rest on the shores of Normandy. I found it interesting how American soldiers had two options for headstones: a cross or a Star of David. Every now and then, one would spot a Jewish soldier amongst the sea of crucifixes. It was really somber, yet the view of the sea and the lush earth made this resting place a beautiful spot for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. May they forever rest in peace. Teddy Roosevelt’s son is buried here, as well as the brothers who the movie “Saving Private Ryan” is based off of.
What a great, yet very long and tiring day! We went back to our tavern of a hotel to do some shopping in town before all of the stores closed. Conveniently located next door was what Jenny refers to as “the TJ MAXX” of France. While browsing in a shop down the street, we found the pear liquor bottled by Lance’s host dad in the store! He was explaining so us the concept the other night and quite frankly, we all thought he was bs-ing us, but there it was: a bottle of liquor with a pear on the inside! Apparently, he puts the bottle on the tree branch and lets the pear grow inside the bottle before putting in the liquor. Creative, huh? This stuff was not cheap either: around 50-something euro per bottle. I’d say he has a nice little business going for him. J
For dinner, we got some kebabs, classic and cheap, before revisiting our new favorite place: the bakery attached to our hotel. We bought glazed fruit tarts as well as tiny Calvert liquor-filled candy apples. We bit into them unknowingly…what a surprise when apple-flavored liquor came pouring out the center! They were so good and not badly priced either. French bakeries never fail to amaze me. In the store, they had all the traditional favorites such as: pain au chocolat, pain au lait, croissants, pepitos, marmalades, macaroons, baguettes, tartes, and…animal-shaped bread! There were molded bread pigs and dogs. It was so hilarious that I had to take a picture! Check it out: