Day 116

Aug 12 2013

A man of Steel

Last night Jerome put but down a box of unsorted photographs on the table and said: " Well look at this, I have not looked inside this box for at least 15 years, perhaps we find something interesting." Amongst the many pictures we found a few from days gone by dating back to Brisbane Expo '88 –world fair. The pictures of the many pavilions and places brought back memories. While going through a folder of pictures I found a picture of Jerome and me and said ”wow, look at this !” We both laughed; boy had we changed. I leave it up to you if it is for the better or worse.

Ab and I said our goodbye’s; we had two very pleasant days with some real good friends who had now become Ab’s friends as well. Jerome’s 5 kids were amazing, not once did we hear a shout or argument. Their two middle son’s just did their own thing and the two 10 year old girls hung around us just being nice and very friendly; two little angles.

Driving the shortest route is always the best way to see things; we set course to the famous town of St Mer Eglise.

St Mere Eglise was made famous by several things. First of all, prior to the beach landing on the 6 of June 1944, the 82 nd airborne division landed right into the middle of town at about 15 min to two in the morning. At the same time a fire raged through a building near the church illumination the sky making the paratroopers easy targets for the Germans below. Many soldiers were shot and killed while descending or while hinging in trees and utility poles before they could cut themselves loose. A famous incident involved paratrooper John Steele of the 505th PIR, who’s parachute caught on the top of the town church, and could only observe the fighting going on below. He hung there for several hours, pretending to be dead, before the Germans took him prisoner.. The incident was portrayed in the movie “The Longest Day” .

The history and historical places of Normandy attract many visitors. I was getting the feeling that this is an area where they have a “museum industry” as nearly every town seems to have at least one or two museums. I don’t mind that really as it makes visiting them a bit easier, with regard to congestion. Another interesting thing I noticed was that many street corners have a pillar with a picture or pictures taken in 1944 of the same street facing the same direction; for me a excellent opportunity to take some before and after shots.

Early evening we arrived at Barfleur, a sleepy fishing village near Cherbourg; the name fishing village says it all, you guessed it: an evening in a nice restaurant eating mussels in cheese cream. Barfleur…where time has slowed down and the tide had ran out causing the entire fleet of boats and smaller ships to rest on the waterless harbour floor.

(there is around 6 meters difference between high and low tide in this area)