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"The
Longest Day " Normandy & Paris
65th
Anniversary of D-Day
2-10
June 2009
Tour
Director: LtCol Gary Andrejak
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 - June 2- Departure
Evening departure from Newark International Airport aboard Continental Airlines
for Paris. Dinner, beverages and a continental breakfast served aboard.
Day
2 - June 3- Arrival in France
Following a morning arrival, we transfer
to our motor coach and proceed to Normandy. En route we stop for a tour and visit
at Monet's Home and Gardens at Giverny. Following our tour, we proceed to the
nearby Moulin des Fourges Restaurant for lunch. Before continuing to Caen, we
visit the HQ of FM Erwin Rommel at the La Roche Guyon, followed by arrival in
Caen with hotel check in and evening at leisure. Meals: B (in flight)/L/- Hotel:
Mercure Honfleur
Day
3 - June 4- Normandy: British Beaches and the Left Flank
We begin our
exploration of the Normandy landings with a tour of the Allied Left Flank. We
start with the Merville Battery and Pegasus Bridge, and its memorial museum, site
of the earliest landings and combat against the German defenders as British and
Canadian Airborne Forces execute some of the most difficult and challenging missions
of D-Day. We then proceed to Ouistreham, where the French commandos captured the
fortified Casino, an action depicted in the film, "The Longest Day." We continue
our drive along the Canadian and British beaches stopping for lunch at the picturesque
little fishing village of Arromanches. The remains of one of the two artificial
"Mulberry" harbors erected in the landing operation may still be seen. Before
returning to Honfleur, we'll tour the German coastal defense battery at Longues-sur-Mer,
probably the best remaining example of such a battery in Normandy.. Upon return
to our hotel, dinner and the evening are at leisure. Meals: B/-/-
Day
4 - June 5-Normandy Utah Beach-Ste Mere Eglise-Pointe du Hoc-Caen
Today,
we will bus to the right flank of the American sector and visit Utah Beach and
its very interesting little museum at La Madeleine. On our way to Ste Mere Eglise
we'll stop for a photo op at the German Crisbecq Battery at St Marcouf. The quaint
little town of Ste Mere Eglise was made famous by the movie, "The Longest Day."
We'll look around the town square and visit the small church where a mannequin
of a paratrooper hangs from a spire to recall Private John Steele, of the 82nd
Airborne Division whose parachute became fouled there very early on the morning
of D-Day. Then will come a visit to the Airborne Forces Museum where a C-47 troop
transport aircraft that flew in the invasion is on display and where you'll have
an opportunity to walk through a rare WACO glider. We'll drive by several of the
drop- and landing-zones of both the 82nd and 101st Airborne, most recently heralded
in the TV series, "Band of Brothers." After lunch on our own, we'll tour Pointe
du Hoc and examine the German gun positions that stood on this 100-foot-high bluff
seized by troops of the 2nd Ranger Battalion in an incredible feat of bravery.
Our last stop before returning to our hotel will be a short visit to the somber
German military cemetery at La Cambe where 21,500 German troops are buried, including
Tiger Tank "Ace" Michael Wittmann, one of Germany's highest decorated tank commanders
of the war. Meals: B/-/-
Day
5 - June 6-Normandy: 65th ANNIVERSARY at Omaha Beach-Normandy Cemetery-Arromanches-Bayeux
This morning, we'll depart the hotel early and head to Omaha Beach, with arrival
at 0630 - the exact moment that the ramps came down and troops began storming
the beaches 65 YEARS AGO. You will witness the same tidal conditions and walk
the sands where the liberation of France began. Our tour will include the seawall,
bunkers, and other German defenses along the beach, Vierville Draw near which
the 29th Infantry Division landed and which was featured in both "The Longest
Day " and "Saving Private Ryan," the St Laurent Draw and many of the monuments
in the area. We'll drive along part of the beach where the 1st Division landed
and then go up the draw to the top of the bluff to visit the beautiful Normandy
American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, where we will participate in the official
Anniversary ceremonies. It overlooks the landing beaches of the 1st Division and
is the resting place of 9,387 Americans, including Brigadier General Theodore
Roosevelt, Jr, who won the Medal of Honor for his leadership on Utah Beach. Following
the ceremony, we visit the newly opened American Interpretative Center located
next to the cemetery.
After the ceremony, we will stop in the ancient town of Bayeux, to enjoy the world-class Battle of Normandy Museum. Our last stop of the day will be to view the incomparable Bayeux Tapestry, which commemorates William the Conqueror's victory at the battle of Hastings in 1066 and is nearly 1000 years old. Back in Honfleur, dinner and evening are at leisure. Meals: B/-/D
Day
6 - June 7-Normandy to Paris
After breakfast, we'll head for Paris, stopping
for a tour of the historic city of Rouen. Here we will visit the site of Joan
of Arc's martyrdom, as well as the world famous Cathedral. Continuing to Paris,
we check into our hotel, the Mercure Tour Eiffel, with the evening will be at
leisure. Meals: B/-/- Hotel: Mercure Tour Eiffel Suffren
Day
7 - June 8- Paris
In the morning we will take a driving tour of Paris,
arguably the most beautiful city in the world, stopping to walk through Notre
Dame and visiting Napoleon's Tomb and the World War II Gallery at the national
Army Museum, both in "Les Invalides ". Among the places we'll drive by and discuss
will be the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysees, the Louvre,
Place de la Concorde, and the Opera. The afternoon will be free to explore Paris,
shop in some of the fine stores such as Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, Hermes
and countless others or stroll the grand boulevards or walk along the Quays lining
the River Seine and browse at the bookstalls or admire the many artists' works.This
evening, we will have a farewell group dinner on one of the Bateaux Parisiens
as we leisurely cruise the Seine and view the illuminated famous landmarks from
the water. Meals: B/-/D
Day
8 - June 9- Paris
Day at leisure to explore Paris. This evening is at
leisure to complete your packing and prepare for our departure tomorrow AM for
the airport. Meals: B/-/-
Day
9 - June 10- Departure
We depart this morning for the airport for the
return flight to the USA, arriving the same day.
Tour Price: $ 3,895 Based on double Occupancy
Single
Supplement $ 595
Business / First Class upgrade available upon request (price
subject to confirmation at time of booking)
Tour
Price Includes:
* Round-trip economy class airfare
from Newark to Paris
* Deluxe Hotel Accommodations
* Air-conditioned
deluxe motorcoach with onboard restroom
* Meals as indicated in itinerary
* Historical Trip information packet,containing maps and other information pertaining
to our tour.
* Admission fees to all sites, museums and special attractions
listed
* Services of experienced Tour Directors and English-speaking local
guides.