One of Tim’s dreams is to retrace the steps of 82nd Airborne soldiers during the Normandy invasion. We think it would take about 3 months of walking through the French countryside along with side trips to England (because many soldiers would finish a mission and return to home base for a little recuperation). Since we are short on time, a visit to Normandy to explore the beginning of the invasion was just perfect for us. We left the kids at home in Germany with Grandma Rietkerk because a trip like this needed to be done alone. 3 days of driving along the coast, stopping in museums and breathing in the salt air was good for the soul. We made our home base in St Mere Eglise the same spot where the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment began their journey. Following our time on the beaches of Normandy, we went to Giverny to see Monet’s gardens and then on to Paris where we saw Monet’s water lily paintings in all their glory. We also spent time in the gardens of Versailles, the Army museum, Notre Dame and strolling along the Seine River. It’s a trip we won’t soon forget.

Want to know more about what we discovered on our Band of Brothers journey? Click here for the blog post DDay invasion and Normandy

Row boat ready for a summer’s ride on the pond

The water lilies still float in Monet’s pond

Monet’s Home in Giverny

Irises in bloom

Monet’s Garden in Giverny

Rodin’s Thinker

Rodin sculpture in garden

Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower

Great day for a boat ride on the Seine

Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower as seen from the Louvre

IM Pei’s Pyramid at the Louvre

Interior of Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral

Rose Window, Notre Dame

Versailles fountain

A quick pose for the camera during our afternoon biking in Versailles

Tim ready to create some mischief near the fountains

Palace of Versailles as seen from the very farthest reaches of the gardens…It’s one huge place

Napoleon overlooks his palace..now the Army museum

Obelisk from Egypt, Place de la Concorde

Napoleon’s tomb…not the same stone as Herod’s bathtub in Rome, but a close second

Outrageously decadent chapel for Napoleon and his Army soldiers

French Army Museum

one of the dummy parachutists used to fool the enemy during Normandy invasion

Home in St Mere Eglise decorated to show what it may have looked like when 82nd Airborne landed

many street markers are named for American soldiers

Stained glass in the small chapel in St Mere Eglise

Iron Mike sculpture, St Mere Eglise France

Famous photo of French kids watching Allies roll in

Bayeux Cathedral, France

Bayeux Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches in France

children’s clothing made from parachute silk and flags when Paris was liberated

typical bicycle used to deliver messages during French occupation

Metal obstacles placed on the shore to deter Allies during invasion

Entry to one of the German bunkers, Point du Hoc

Standing on top of a German bunker, Tim points out the direction the Allies came from

Point du Hoc

Pt du Hoc Ranger Monument

Typical WWII bunker…everything about it screams evil

The reason we took this trip

view from inside the bunker

Grave marker for Teddy Roosevelt Jr.

American Cemetery, France

The sculpture: The Spirit of American Youth Rising From the Waves

Dummy used to fool enemies during Normandy invasion

Flags of the Allies on display at American cemetery

Bridge at St Mere Eglise

Our bedroom at the Bed and Breakfast

505th PIR room at our Bed and Breakfast

Vivian Roger is a dedicated WWII enthusiast

Tank, Airborne Museum

Chaplain helmet and robe

bullets

View of the famous church in st mere Eglise

Static display of Eisenhower encouraging the airborne soldiers prior to their jump

Piano belonging to Chappy Wood.

82nd Airborne personal items

St Mere Eglise 82nd Airborne Museum

Church in St Mere Eglise with Parachute on roof

large wheel in Mont St Michel Abbey

Mont St Michel abbey courtyard

Bands of blue sky hold promise for a dry evening ahead

le Mont St Michel Abbey

Half Timbered homes in Rouen

Notre Dame Cathedral’s flying buttresses

Notre Dame Cathedral, paris

Arc de Triomphe

Paris, France

Imperial Palace, Paris

lobby, Louvre