So today was a rough one, literally and metaphorically. After a very early (5:45am) wake up call, we left our hotel for the Port to clear customs and board our Ferry to France. We loved our private lounge that the group got to use as a home base for the six hour journey. In addition to snacks and a cafeteria onboard, there were two cinemas, so students watched movies if they chose to: Charlie’s Angels, Frozen II, Jumanji and David Copperfield. In addition, they napped. But the high seas proved very variable and many of us got either a little seasick or A LOT seasick. We left in cold windy sun, rode through torrential downpours and arrived to a sunny French coast, still very windy and chilly.
The last two hours in French waters were much better for our collective systems, but the English Channel was treacherous. (Yes, perhaps giving us some idea of the experience of the soldiers in 1944, but there are limits to “experiential education.”) We happily disembarked in Normandy at about 3pm local time (we are now nine hours ahead of Walnut Creek).
Once arrived, we met our coach driver who will be with us for the next five days, Andreus. Our first stop was the Caen Memorial and Museum and learned about the specifics of the Allied landings in Normandy, saw some short films and got into the history we will study for the next few days.
We then checked into our next hotel where we will be for the next two nights. We then went off to a very nice restaurant where we had a typical Normand French meal: cod fritters, chicken in mustard sauce with scalloped potatoes and green beans and a chocolate lava cake. Yum!
Tomorrow we are off for a full day of touring in Normandy!
Head's Up, Kathleen McNamara 