A Paris Travel Blog

Today we celebrated the 69^th Anniversary of the D-Day Allied Landing Invasion of Normandy. What a full and wonderful experience. As always, we were accompanied by our fabulous guide who took us to Ste. Mere Eglise, Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, the American Cemetery, and Pte. du Hoc. My guide is also a dear friend whose Dad was in the French Resistance, was captured in Caen, and who had the unfortunate misfortune (understatement to be sure!) to be sent to Dachau Prison Camp for the remainder of the war. (He survived the war, but not without great pain!)

May 8th is not a holiday in the US, but it is in France and elsewhere in Europe. Rightfully so! It's called V-E Day or Victory in Europe Day, for on this day in 1945, the United States and Great Britain celebrated the defeat of the Nazi war machine.

Just back from France and the highlight was my four days in Normandy. Yes, I’ve been to Normandy many times before, but this time it was with fellow travelers who hadn’t been there before. To see sites that I’d seen before through these fresh eyes was like seeing Normandy again for the first time. It was magical in every way.

The trial of Joan of Arc began in the city of Rouen on this day in 1431. Rouen is located in Northern France and is in the region of Normandy though some 90 miles from the English Channel.

Like so many last Sunday, I watched the Super Bowl (and for once, the team that I wanted actually won! Congrats, Ravens!). I couldn’t help but notice the deification that took place as the announcers spoke of various players and their accomplishments. Who would want to or ever could take away from the enthusiasm of a Super Bowl victory? It was well deserved and it’s part of our American culture. They are our sports heros (at least for a day). But unlike a sports hero, I’m thinking today about the unsung heroes from WWII. Tom Brokaw called them the “Greatest Generation” in his book of the same name.