Memorable recess: Easter break came early to the Sorbonne in 1970. A French admirer suggested we take a drive in the countryside for the holiday. “Michou,” I said, “let’s go to Normandy. I’d like to see the church at Sainte Mere Eglise. In the 1962 classic The Longest Day, American paratrooper John Steele gets stranded on the roof there when his parachute snagged a pinnacle.” So, off we went the next morning in Michelle-France’s utilitarian Citroen 2CV (deux-chevaux). Its mighty 18 horsepower cruised downhill at 45 mph. That evening, we stopped in Rouen. Some of her girlfriends had gathered there for a party. And what a party! The next morning, we reached Arromanches on the beach. The rest of the day we explored remnants of the invasion. An old Michelin map guided us to some fortifications. The cliffs concealed a few giant concrete bunkers, especially around Pointe du Hoc. In the late afternoon, the American Cemetery at Colleville reminded us of the costs of June 6, 1944. The blue ocean marks the direction whence the eternally-reposed came. Endless white marble crosses lining manicured grounds present an unforgettable vista. Visitors encounter deeper meanings here On the way back to Paris, we overnighted with another group of Michelle’s friends near Rouen. The next morning, we ate a fine breakfast outside on a picnic table. We enjoyed stone mugs of piping hot chicory, fresh rolls with raspberry jam, and thick round slices of golden French butter. We arrived in Paris that evening just in time for around steak with pommes frites at The Old Shoe near le Madeleine. Over dinner down in the second basement we admired our new souvenirs, which came in the form of lasting impressions of D-Day. Merci.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Jun 2013 20:59:27 +0000
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