After our return from London, Chris and the kids had Friday off, so we spent the day in Bastogne. Chris has toured the Bastogne region before and was excited to show us around. If you have seen Band of Brothers, Bastogne is the place for you to visit!
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| It is really something to visit a town in Belgium and see American flags around the community. Tugs at the heart strings for sure! |
The new Bastogne War Museum is fantastic! For friends living here, please put this on your summer list. You follow the perspective of four people throughout the tour...a boy living in Bastogne, a school teacher, a German soldier, and an American soldier. Wow! There are three rooms with videos that are outstanding. I really can't recommend it enough.
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| Visiting the monument just outside. This has been on my "must see" list since we moved here! |
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| ILLINOIS! |
Another stop on our day in Bastogne was the forest where the 101st Airborne Division held the German lines near the town of Foy. Chris had been to the forest with a guide. Otherwise, I'm not sure we would have found it. Because it isn't well marked and full of tourists, it has remained much the same as it was in December 1944.
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| Wondering what it must have been like.... |
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| The view of Foy from the foxholes |
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| If you find the memorial to the 101st Airborne Division, then you know you are close. |
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| Finally, a stop at the grave of Renee Lemaire. She was a Belgian nurse who was stationed at an American aid station and killed in Bastogne during a German air raid on Christmas Eve 1944. |
Sunday afternoon, Thomas was off to Florence, Italy for his 6th grade field trip!
And then, M&M and I were off to Normandy, France!
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| The awesome rapeseed fields in France! Canola oil is made from these plants. |
Our bed and breakfast just outside of Bayeux was phenomenal. And, the owners were absolutely terrific. We highly recommend Le Manoir de Herouville Calvados Normandie!!
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| Camembert pizza! Yum! I must find these knives. Best pizza knives ever! |
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| A walk around Bayeux after dinner. |
On Monday, we toured the beaches of Normandy.
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| This woman was visiting the beaches with her grown children and grandchildren. She approached our guide and asked if we were Americans. After a brief chat in French and with tears in her eyes, she proceeded to shake my mom's hand and thank us over and over again. TEARS for all of us! She was six years old during WWII. Her home was destroyed, and she remembered how kind and helpful the Americans were to the French people. Oh my word. That was quite a moment that I will never forget! |
The American Cemetery
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| Overlooking Omaha Beach |
Point du Hoc
The German Cemetery
Even the church windows reflect the war.
After our return from Normandy, we took a quick day trip to Holland to see the tulips!
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| Van Gogh in flowers |
Flat Sophie and Flat Sawyer had a great time!
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| So happy I should show my mom the tulips! |
Because it was late in the season, the fields were nearly empty, but we found a few.
Next up! Allison's theatrical debut! Stay tuned!
Until next time,
Wendy
