Yuku free message boards

Thanks!

I get the sense that few will be within hand-shaking distance let alone photo taking distance. In fact, they disallow large cameras (whatever "large" means - is an SLR large?).

At any rate, this is great news and Dad is really excited.

Hi everyone

Back from France. Quick update: We didn't go to the ceremonies after all. I left the final decision up to my Dad and that was his choice, as much as we both wanted to go.

The ceremony at the American Cemetery was set to be from 1500 to 1630.

But, they wanted the attendees to be at the central meeting point (Caen expo center) before 9 AM. It was not permitted to just drive to the Cemetery, what's more, the main road (N13) was blocked off as well as a few side roads. The shuttle was to pick everyone up and at some point in the morning drive to the Cemetery. We were there Friday and saw the many, many chairs that were set up. Very little shade.

There is no food or drink allowed on Cemetery grounds, which is perfectly understandable. Whatever food the attendess may have packed for the day must be consumed beforehand - they stated it was an all day event and "please plan accordingly". (my question is, how? If you can't leave without the shuttle and there is no food/water provided nor allowed, what can you do?)

My own 68 yr old Dad is diabetic and has to eat regularly and if his sugar happens to drop he needs to eat something NOW. What about the 85+ year old vets who probably have other health issues?

Had we been in Normandy even a few more days longer we may have considered it, but we arrived on Thursday after lunch and then had the full day Friday to sightsee, with Sunday AM finding us on the road to Paris. Reluctantly we decided it may be more enjoyable to just spend Saturday sightseeing. I found out later that Tom Hanks was there (I figured he would be there actually) and Prince Charles attended as well.

A few people at the Chilcotts did go, but they were spending 2 full weeks there - they had their doubts about the whole thing but did enjoy it despite the 12 hour day (left before 830 AM, back after 8 PM). It also started to rain (the first of the trip!) about 5 PM or so. They stood in the rain for 2 hours apparently.

Overall the weather was perfect the whole time. Saturday night it rained, Sunday was perfect again until about 5 PM and then it rained again briefly. Monday dawned with sun and blue skies. Two evenings of rain on an entire trip - not bad!

CC, the trip was just great.

Dad and I had a great week. Our time in Normandy (3 nights) saw us up and down the coast, visiting different towns and beaches and memorials and cemeteries and meeting some vets too. He really enjoyed Paris and in our three days there we walked about 20 miles (even with a metro carnet!) and he really enjoyed Fougeres castle - and especially Mont St Michel - he couldn't get over it.

We ate a lot of good food and I was really glad to spend the time with my Dad. I'll have a report (promise! I even have much of it written) and will sort photos this week/wkd. In fact I will put one up shortly, hang on...

I thought the whole thing was strange! This is supposed to be about the veterans and look how they treated them.

I was told (at the B&B) by a vet who visits each year (he is British) that at the 60th two entire busloads of veterans were detained due to traffic issues for two hours and missed the entire ceremony. How sad - to think they came so far for that, too.