Normandie

Last weekend we took a trip to Normandie (Normandy in English) with the rest of the ISA program. It was such a great trip! We started our journey at 7:30 am at the ISA office and headed out on a big bus packed full of 60 people's luggage. Our first stop was the War Museum, which has exhibits for commemorating WWI, WWII and the Cold War. While we were there they even had a traveling exhibit on September 11th. It was very emotional, and during our visit we were all invited to watch two movies on the history and happenings of WWII. One was on D Day and it was a great preparation for the next leg of our trip: Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery. When we first arrived there, I ran down to the beach with Colleen and Roxana. It was so amazing to smell the salty air and feel the sand on my bare feet! We looked up and down the beach in amazement and horror of what happened here so many years ago. I said a silent prayer for all of the fallen soldiers and headed up to the American Cemetary. I couldn't believe my eyes. There were rows upon rows upon rows of white crosses and stars of David. Some had names and dates on them while others simply siad, "Here rests in honored glory, A COMRAD IN ARMS, known but to God." Our next stop was just down the coast (I think it was Point du Hoc...I'll make sure) where there are still bunkers. Every single hole in the ground was one bomb that went off during the battles. We went through the bunkers, where there is still barbed-wire and bullet holes and fallen concrete from the bombs. It was a long day and emotionally draining, but a great lesson on history. At the end of the day we got to go to a local farm to taste some specialties of Normandie: Apple juice, Apple Cider, an Apple apperitif, and of course, Calvados! It was yummy! We checked into our hotel and set off to find dinner! We found a little restaurant off of the main strip that only offered dinner by the menu (not OFF the menu, but BY the menu). The menu I chose was an entree, plat, et dessert. They were all specialties of Normandie, and they were all delicious!!

The next day, we set off to Mont St. Michel. It was beautiful! Apparently, in the Christian religion there are 4 places that people make pilgrimages to: Jerusalem, Rome, a city in Spain (that I forgot), and finally, Mont St. Michel! It is an extremely old Abbey that is constructed on 4 crypts. It was beautiful!!! Afterward, we took a tour and had a tasting of local cookies...YUM! Which were, of course, specialties of Normandie! All in all, it was a GREAT weekend! Thanks, ISA!