France Top Five: #2 Omaha Beach Memorial

#2 on my list is Omaha Beach and the American Memorial Cemetery
As an American, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride when stepping foot on this soil. Emotions began to take over when imagining the amount of courage and honor it took for the troops, from all walks of life, to come together and fight so hard for what they believed in. This picture shows it all: crosses stand as headstones for the graves and in the background you can see the ocean at Omaha beach where the soldiers invaded Normandy. What I found to be interesting is that this strip of land was given to the United States after the war was won. I was actually in Europe, standing on US soil, which I thought to be pretty cool. Before visiting Omaha beach, we toured the WWII museum that housed authentic relics and hundreds of photographs of the events leading up to WWII as well as photos taken during the war. After leaving the museum, our bus driver made a special stop at a cemetery dedicated to the German soldiers whose lives were lost during the war. The atmosphere at that cemetery was much different than that of the US soldiers. Although the actions of the German Army and what they stood for were considered deplorable, lest not forget that in some cases, many cases, they were being forced to do so.
While at the US soldiers’ cemetery I had the opportunity to watch a ceremony take place honoring a fallen soldier. I stopped in my tracks and watched as former soldiers silently placed flowers on the grave of a brave comrade as family members stood by and watched. Pretty amazing!!

France Top Five: #3 Mont St. Michel

I chose to include Mont St. Michel as one of my favorite places because... well, LOOK AT IT!! This hauntingly beautiful abbey is surrounded by farmland for most of the day. However, when the tide comes in it transforms into an isle, reached only by boat. The abbey can be seen from miles away as you drive through the French countryside. Once you maneuver through the narrow, crowded streets of the small town that lies on this part time island, you are faced with an overpowering set of 14th century stairs. Try to muster up the strength to tackle the staircase because it leads to a view that feels like heaven. Although Mont St. Michel is busy with tourists, it’s easy to see why it is one of the ‘must-see’ attractions of France. From the solid stone materials used to build it centuries ago to the intricate details of each room, I was rendered speechless upon touring the abbey. If you go at the right time, you can see the monks who inhabit the abbey walking around. Perhaps you’ll catch them having quiet time in the meditation garden that lies in the middle of the abbey.

FranceTop Five: #4 Monet's Garden

Monet’s Garden is on my list at #4. Not only is Claude Monet’s house beautiful, but the property hosts a lavish garden that spreads for as far as the eye can see. This picture was taken from a small bridge built to get from one side of the pond to the other. I remember as I stood there, I was almost in disbelief of the sheer magnitude of what I was witnessing first hand. Claude Monet, THE Claude Monet stood in this very spot (or close to it) and painted his famous Waterlillies series. I looked at what he used as his subject. I stood where he once stood. Amazing. What was even more riveting was seeing his floor to ceiling paintings of the garden later on at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris.

France Top Five: #5 Bayeux Cathedral

Bayeux, France is a cozy, quaint, medieval town built around the Bayeux Cathedral (pictured). This cathedral is the center of town and visitors are in and out throughout the day. While there, we were able to catch the last 30 or so minutes of mass- although I am not Catholic, it was a neat experience especially since it was all in French! Just inside the doors of this sanctuary, my eyes were met with gothic architecture from the 13th and 14th centuries. Wow- detailing and craftsmanship you thought only existed in stories. We were able to do a ‘behind the scenes’ tour that included the meeting room used centuries ago by religious leaders of the church and a tower hosting preserved relics from earlier times in the church. A must see for those wanting to experience the 'countryside' of France that is start in contrast to the busy streets of Paris!