Tuesday, April 22nd

Renting a car and driving to Monet's Garden and Omaha Beach.




What a day.





If you are going to rent a car in Paris, the following quote applies from Jerry Seinfeld when it comes to insurance, "Give me every type of coverage because I'm going to beat the hell out of this thing!" We wound up with a Toyota Prius and it was great. In Paris, drive like you don't care and there are no other cars on the road because it's a giant game of cutting everyone off because you are the center of the universe. It was so great!

Just close your eyes and hit the gas! - Sandy took this while I drove

Once we got onto the highway known as A13, it was fantastic. People here know how to drive. You stay to the right except to pass and you don't stay in the middle or left lanes. It makes for much easier and faster driving.





We went to Giverny where Monet's famous gardens are. Truly spectacular and we now have a lot of inspiration for our back yard.

Monet's Water Garden

Then another two hours to the D-Day beaches. Truly awe inspiring to see the tombstones, the pillboxes and to walk on Omaha Beach and think about the footage we have seen growing up and realize that allof it took place where you were standing.

More than 9,000 US soldiers that never made it off the beaches on D-Day are buried here

This is looking down from the hills onto Omaha Beach

We did manage to have our own "Look kids - Big Ben, Parliament!" moment. Even though we had GPS in our rental car, when we left the US Cemetary, it had us go a different way to get back to the A13. As we followed the directions, we noticed the same farm houses and walls adn eventually realized we were going in circles in the French countryside. We took matters into our own hands and after about a half hour, found our way. We kept saying "Look kids, Big Ben Parliament!" but they didn't get it. We did. Clark Griswold would have been proud.