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  • TravelerEUROPE
    Day 38–41

    Day 35 and 36

    September 25, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Day 35 - we did a walking tour of Rouen where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. We visited the Joan of Arc church. At La Couronne restaurant, the oldest restaurant in France they serve "pressed duck" where they squeeze the duck blood and make it into a sauce. Yuk. This restaurant has a Michelin star rating.

    Video 1 - view from boat on the river Seine
    Photo 1 - commemorative plaque where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake
    Photo 2 - stained glass in Joan of Arc church
    Photo 3 - La Couronne restaurant
    Photos 4 and 5 - Rouen

    Day 36 - we started by visiting the Tapestry in Bayeux. The tapestry is an embroidered cloth nearly 70 metres long and 50 cm tall that depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England led by William the Conquerer challenging Harold II, King of England.

    Photo 6 - Bayeux Museum
    Photo 7 - the Tapestry (no photos allowed inside)
    Photo 8 - Viking boat replica

    From there we went to Juno Beach where the Canadian contingent of the D Day landing came ashore on 6 June, 1944.

    Photo 9 - German gun bunker that were placed every 500 metres along the Normandy Beach
    Photo 10 - concrete obstacles made by the Germans and placed in the water to prevent the landing boats coming ashore
    Video 2 - Juno Beach, Normandy

    Next stop was the Pegasus Bridge Museum. The original bridge was removed and put in the museum grounds and a replica bridge was constructed in the original location. The taking of this bridge is still regarded as one of most daring and successful aviation missions of World War 2. The gliders carrying 25 soldiers each were used at night so that they could land undectected as the bridge needed to be taken in tact.

    Photo 11 - original Pegasus Bridge
    Photo 12 - replica glider

    Our final stop was at the Ranville War Cemetery where John and I placed a wreath provided by Viking Cruises at the foot of the only two Australian airmen buried there. The Australian National Anthem was then played and a minute's silence observed.

    Photo 13 - wreath laid in Ranville War Cemetery    Read more