Normandy: D-Day Beaches & UNESCO’s Finest Tapestry

Jacob Here

Our next adventure brought us to the wonderful city of Caen, in Normandy France. We traveled via high speed train to Paris then walked across Paris to get to the next station to head to Caen. That evening we walked around the city to get acquainted with the city and stumbled across a castle which turned out to be free to go and explore, which Josh and I climbed all around looking at the beautiful city. While Josh mostly was stunned by the amount of churches, I was busy day dreaming of the castle being stormed while I pretended to launch arrows from the ramparts onto random people down on the street. I won the battle against the invading pedestrians, and came down victorious in my own mind celebrated the victory with the finest chicken feast I could afford. (KFC and yes I was surprised to find one here)

The next day we woke up and went to the Caen D Day Museum which is housed on top of the Nazi Bunker of the general in charge of defending the beaches. This was an incredible museum which began by showing you the descent of Europe into war and into the red pits of hell which were flanked by luggage left by those fleeing. We then went down to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, after being guided by a very helpful bus driver we made our way down first to the Cemetery where it began to rain a fine mist. Nothing can really prepare you for the Cemetery they have a very nice museum which tells the stories of D Day but its the rows of crosses that are perfectly lined up with one another that truly is haunting when you look closer to the ground it looks like a single cross but as you look back it begins to morph into more and more until it spreads across like a crop of white flowers each a reminder of the soul that rest there. 

Then we moved onto the German defenses and onto the beach which had been retaken by nature full of flowers and thick vegetation. Plaques prided tribute to the brave men who landed on that cursed beach and people kite boarded down further in a way that felt surreal for me that this place was once a killing field, I walked to the ocean than walked back up the hill and as I made my way back something made me smile. Someone had spray painted on the nazi bunker the words “Game Over Krauts” right above the entrance. I don’t know who sprayed it but I like to think that whoever did it will be happy knowing that one day nature will finish the job those brave souls started and swallow the bunker this time without the loss and death they suffered.

Josh Here!

Have you ever held your eyes only inches away from a nearly 1000 year old tapestry? We have! In the town of Bayeux, an embroidered tapestry tells the story of the Battle of Hastings—the result of which secured William the Conqueror’s ascendancy as King of England. At nearly 70 meters long and composed of ten colors of wool thread derived from three main plant dye sources a deeply descriptive and story unfolds before the eyes of its viewer. Main scenes include precursory negotiations between the French Normans and the then King of England Edward the Confessor, the death and burial of King Edward, ship building, preparatory meals before the battle, Sailing the English Channel, and the Battle of Hastings. Bordering the main story another series of smaller images including the first known reference of donkey pulling a plow and several references to Aesops Fables, all providing an idea of the day-to-day life of people in the 11th century. You can view the entire digitized tapestry online Here: Bayeux Tapestry Online. I also discovered that a lovely lady runs an embroidery shop quite near the museum. She sells embroidery packets teaching the Bayeux stitch. Designs include those from the tapestry as well as other patterns implementing the traditional colors and materials on new designs.