Honoring the Past by Living for Today

This has been an unreal weekend! After another fun night on the town, Friday was a day I will never forget; trip to Normandy!

Point de Hoc!

At the American Cemetery!

Peek-a-boo!! In an actual bunker!

Omaha Beach, with the Point de Hoc in the background!

American Cemetery; Words can't even describe.

The four hour bus ride flew by (mostly because I was asleep most of the time!) and we arrived to Omaha Beach where the D-Day attack took place on June 12, 1944. The beach was absolutely stunning; just being in a place with so much history it's hard to wrap your head around it all. We walked along the beach and Mike our "tour guide" told us a little bit more about the history and geographics of where we were. Then out of no where it began to pour. French weather is crazy, it can never make up it's mind! But as soon as we climbed back up the steps and began walking towards the American Cemetery the sun began to shine. It was unreal; everything was glistening and it looked like the gates of heaven had opened up. Kimm and I walked towards the cemetery and as soon as we turned the corner we stopped mid-sentence. It was unbelievable. There really are no words to describe the experience. I've never been into history, at all really. I can't tell you much of what I learned in high school or even in my history class from my first semester at St. John's. But being there and seeing everything itself makes me appreciate it so much more, and understand! (If only I went on all these trips when I was actually taking tests on them!) There's six thousand graves for those who died in the battle. We walked through the Garden; their the names are all listed, and by the names of the bodies they found there is a Rosetta. It's so sad to see how few flowers there are but so many names. Then we went back on the bus and headed to Pointe du Hoc, a battlefield full of bunkers and fox holes at the top of a cliff just four miles away from Omaha Beach. Mike told us how they would shoot canons from Pointe du Hoc to the beach. Pictures do even do this amazing place justice. Bren and I climbed through the bunkers; It was so weird to think that this is where thousands of men died for our country. We had fun exploring the eery underground rooms. I swear I saw a ghost!! But that's a whole other story. Then it was back on the bus to head home! I couldn't be happier with my experience in Normandy. It is something I will never forget.

Through the tunnels of the Catacombs!

Behind a jail cell!

There were walls and walls like this!

Yesterday was another amazing experience! We woke up and headed right to the Catacombs! WOW! Six million bodies there! It's basically a burial area for people who died innocently, like by the plague. It was scary walking down all the stairs, knowing I'm 20 meters under the ground.. with a bunch of skeletons... through tunnels... Ahh!! But it was so cool! And I had my first French cappuccino while waiting in line! Almost as good as Starbucks ;) 

Then we had a girls' night out! We went to dinner (Yummy spaghetti!! And the best chocolate moose!) and then out for a drink out by the Pantheon! I wore my sparkly heels out in honor of France's Fashion Week starting! But they're not lying when they say heels and cobble stone don't mix!! I have lots of homework to do, but first we're going to go out to get some falafel in Marais!