Warn the Ducks

Omaha Beach, Normandy, France

This morning, we visited the D-Day beaches via the American Cemetery.

Larry explains D-Day using the maps at the American Cemetery

While the students walked down to Omaha Beach, Bill, Gabrielle and I made our way to the site of Bill's great Uncle Edward's grave.

Grave of Bill's Uncle Edward

View of the English Channel from the American Cemetery

View of Omaha Beach from the American Cemetery

It is both moving and humbling to see the thousands of crosses and stars of David. I think we all felt a great sense of gratitude toward these men.

A small sample of the crosses that mark the graves of thousands of Americans

We left the American Cemetery and explored some German bunkers with artillery.

A poppy inside the barrel of some remaining German artillery

Kyle, Nick, Bill, Glen, Ben, and Tim standing by a German bunker 

Dan and Tim inside a German bunker

From there we went to seaside town of Arromanches and learned about the harbor that the British towed over from England and built in a matter of a couple of weeks to get food and supplies to the troops who had invaded on D-Day. We ate lunch by the beach and enjoyed a little down time before we moved on to our final destination - Paris!

Arromanches, France

We arrived in Paris around 5:30, checked into our hotel then went out for dinner. We ate at one of Bill's and my favorite restaurants Bistro Victoire. The students ate confit de canard - duck legs - most of them for the first time. It was unanimously voted the best meal so far (even our picky eaters loved it!) We could hear them planning on where and when they could eat duck next. So, you all better warn the ducks of Selinsgrove and Lewisburg that they may want to head south a little early this year!
After dinner, we headed to Pont Neuf and enjoyed a river cruise up and down the Seine. Everyone enjoyed it and it was a nice introduction to Paris. We saw three large groups of people dancing (swing, salsa, waltz) in the quay next to the Seine. Several students have decided that they want to go down and join in tomorrow evening. Weather permitting, of course.

Sarah, Emily, Courtney, Brook, & Kate enjoy the Batteaux Mouches 

Nick & Sophia on the Batteaux Mouches

Kayla, Pavit, Shay, Hannah & Wendy on the Seine

Tim, Nick, Bronson, Gabby & Becca

Tailah, Sarah, Lauren, Sedona, Dan, Kyle, Glen, Ben, Luke, & Jesse

Academie Française

The Eiffel Tower

Tomorrow is Versailles, which is one of our favorite places. However, if the Weather Channel is correct, we will run into a challenge we have not yet encountered. It is supposed to be 92 degrees and rain/thunderstorm all day. But, the Weather Channel has said that it is going to rain every day we have been here, and it has yet to happen!
I must bid you all a bonne nuit and get some sleep. Plus demain...au revoir!