Paris to Normandy River Cruising and the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 2014 As we approach the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 2014, I realize that as each year passes, the number of remaining survivors who witnessed the horrors of that day are dwindling and those alive ageing well into their ‘80’s and ‘90’s. Yet, that one day of infamy was a defining moment during WWII that is forever memorialized on the beaches of Normandy, the Normandy American Cemetery, and the Musee Du DeBarquement, D-Day Museum. Cruising the Seine River on Uniworld River Cruises River Baroness on the 8-day Paris to Normandy itinerary, is one of my most memorable travel experiences. Not only was it the introduction to my love of river cruising, but also my first trip to Paris, which prior to the cruise I thought would be the highlight! Yes, Paris dazzles, bustling with Parisian life, its cafes, history, architecture and art, but the little towns and medieval villages along the Seine, Vernon, Giverney, Rouen, Honfleur , Le Havre, Les Andelys and Normandy, captured my heart and imagination. Though I was only a sparkle in my father’s eye during that time, who himself was a US Marine Veteran, one of six brothers serving who all miraculously survived, my visit to Normandy opened my eyes and heart to a moment in time that until then was just a chapter in a history book. From the rusted shells of the landing vessels entrenched in the sandy beach, to the underground German tunnel systems in the hills with their abandoned gun turrets taking aim at the beaches below, and the landscape of white crosses of the American Cemetery bearing witness to the losses suffered on that day in June 70 years ago, one cannot help but become a part of a day that devastated the lives of so many as it changed the course of history. You feel the fear and the fearlessness, visualize the horror of the blood-soaked sands and the sounds of raging battle and brave, young soldiers dying on a beach far away from home. Standing there on Omaha Beach, I felt my dad’s presence. This was his history. How I wished he could have had the opportunity to be here, standing beside me, as that chapter in a history book came alive and became a real part of my own living history. From the deck of the River Baroness, the Seine transformed me into a princess in a fairytale as the castles on the hillsides by the river slowly glide into view. My “Cinderella” spell quickly broken as I wandered and explored the medieval cobble-stone streets and ally ways imagining life for those not born into royalty. I felt small and insignificant gazing in awe at the gothic cathederals whose spires stood commanding over the towns of half-timbered houses, wondering how such masterpieces were created at a time when the wheel was coveted technology. Each little village holds its own paradoxal charm, preserving life as it was so many years before the Normandy invasion of our time, gracefully coexisting with modern day comforts and conveniences. In Les Andelys, explore the ruins of the fortified castle of King Richard the Lionheart. Rouen, the base from which you will depart on your visit to Normandy, is a well-preserved pre-Roman village despite its history of invasions and battles, and where Joan of Arc met her untimely demise. Honfleur (Caudebec-en-Caux), a lovely harbor town popular with Impressionist artists of the time, including Monet, where half-timbered homes along the harbor have been transformed into cafes and shops. In Giverny (Vernon), a visit to Monet’s home and gardens was like stepping into one of his most famous works of art hanging on a museum wall. There are cruise options and itineraries from 8 to 17 days with pre-and post-excursion options. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Avalon Waterways offer a “Grand France” itinerary combining the Paris & Normandy river cruise with a Burgundy & Provence itinerary along the Rhone and Saone rivers. In addition to its 11-day Paris & Normandy itinerary that includes two nights in Paris, AMA Waterways also combines a wine-themed cruise on its March 27, November 13 and 20 departures. Viking River Cruises has three river vessels sailing the Seine on its 8- day “Paris and the Heart of Normandy” with pre- and post-options of three nights in Paris and/or three nights in Oxford & Highclere Castle, the setting for the popular series “Downton Abbey.” In 2014, why not make the 70th Anniversary of D-Day your Paris to Normandy river cruise destination!
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 18:55:17 +0000
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