The Normandy beaches

The young French owner of our first hotel expressed distain for Bush Jr. but real anger against Condoleezza Rice for being upset that France would not help arrack Iraq. He quoted her as saying "the USA should dig up all their war dead in Normandy and bring them home". We visited the Normandy beaches on our second day and remembered his passion. What an emotional experience. As Mel said, "You don't understand war 'till you see the beaches". We only had time to see the American landing places, Utah and Omaha beaches. Had no idea the cliffs were so steep!

We visited one of the many fine museums in the area that help explain the war then we visited the American cemetery where approximately 10,000 GI's are buried.

It seems to us that Europeans have a recent and more collective memory of war than do Americans.