Reflecting on D-Day: Crossing the Channel

I wanted to reflect what it was like spending a night in the English Channel before the actual invasion.  How nerve racking it must have been for the soldiers.  Did they go to bed?  Did they sleep well?  How could they if they knew what would be awaiting them the next day.  

The seas were rough that night.  Many of the soldiers fell sick.  The space was jammed. Bunks were six deep and each berthing compartment held about 50 men.

We are the Champions

Neil Proposes to Jill at the Eiffel

Pretty Woman Dancing by the Eiffel

Refections from Normandy

Normandy

Gold Beach

Normandy: My 20 Years in the Navy was Nothing Compared to this

"It was a travesty to see how so many young,  boundless lives were forever lost on this bloody foreign beach.  At the American Cemetery, I could see thousands of white crosses and Stars of David facing patriotically towards their homeland."

My retirement from the Navy wouldn't be complete without paying homage to the D-Day troops in Normandy.  Americans, British, Canadians -- it didn't matter which flag they were flying -- they stood up for unity against Nazi aggression and many fell to their gravesites on these beaches.

Over Sixty-five years later, the hilly seaside bears few scars from the dark and gray day of June 6, 1944.  But on that longest day, things had turned to hell in a hurry.


I could not imagine these young soldiers jumping out of their LCAs, crossing the slippery beach and climbing the cliff face via ropes and grappling hooks in the face of nasty fire.

Family Home in Bayeux -- Great Bargain

What a wonderful bargain this was.  Convenient, Comfortable, Charming.

The only hostel in town and meets the budget.  Also historic, clean spacious.

Even the French breakfast was delicious and plenty.  We ate so much, we could skip lunch altogether.

The Louvre

Notre Dame

The Cathedral of Notre Dame, so gothic so old.
It houses the skull of John the Baptist encased in gold
Built in the 13th century to honor the Virgin the Mary
The stained glass in the North Rose window shows Mary holding the Holy Child close.

Biking the Normandy Landings

This is the land where William the Conqueror set sail in 1066 and where the Allies landed in 1944.

Biking in Normandy and visiting the D-Day landmarks and memorial is simply amazing.  The ride from Bayeux where Niki, Dillion and I rented our bikes is only about 8 miles (although it took us 45 minutes to get there since we took the circuitous route).  There were many storybook villages and the luscious of green pastures on the way, so we thoroughly enjoyed being lost.

William the Conqueror depicted in the famous Bayeux tapestry

But once along the stunning seacoast, the views were wind-swept, magnificent and momentous.  We parked our bikes and took a scenic journey along the beach for a few miles.  Running, swimming, enjoying the weather and reminiscing the past.  

Eiffel Tower -- When a Eyesore became a Icon

Built in 1889 for the World's Fair, it was also the world's most tall

Parisians called it an eyesore they were really appalled.

Eiffel begged the city to keep it for 20 long years.

Today, from every Paris rooftop, the gargantuan tower appears

I wrote this limerick because I was quite amazed by this story.  Many times in the past, an artist, an architect, an idealist creates a ingenious work of art.  No one recognizes it right away, or worst, they mock it.

It is only many years later or even until after their death, is their work recognized for being amazingly brilliant.  One recent example is "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Swedish author and journalist Stieg Larsson.

The Louvre

The Louvre means a fortified place and also an opening or window
Transformed by every monarch, it has become a world-renowned symbol
Once a medieval fortress, it was completely revitalized during the period of Renaissance by King Francis
Featured in the Da Vinchi Code, it is described as a gorgeous palace

Enticing, Breathtaking, it is a global icon that we all cherish.

Eiffel Tower

Built in 1889 for the World's Fair, it was also the world's most tall
 

Parisians called it an eyesore they were really appalled.


Eiffel begged the city to keep it for 20 long years.


Today, from every Paris rooftop, the gargantuan tower appears

Bastille Day 2010 Fireworks at Eiffel Tower

Space-A Globemaster to Germany Enroute to Frontlines

I was waiting patiently at the air terminal in Andrews Air Force Base. I had just four hours to prepare to get here.  Would I make the flight or would I have to return home hoping to catch another flight later this week?

I had the pleasure of flying a C-17 Globemaster III Medevac flight from the 172nd Guard AW out of Mississippi-Jackson.  We flew from Andrews Air Force Base to Ramstein, Germany.

Onboard the plane was none other than CNN Pentagon Correspondent, Barbara Starr.  Barbara was on the way to Afghanistan to cover a medevac story with the Air Mobility Command.

Hello Kindle, Goodbye Borders

"Books no longer, get lost on the shelf. They can be accessed even in the remote parts of the world, even that clunky textbook.  With the Kindle, once you buy a book, it's forever yours."

Reminiscing

I used to love Borders and Barnes and Nobles.  I would spend countless hours, flipping away at shelves,  relaxing in the comfy chairs, eating away at books and sipping Seattle's Best.

Those were the days. Long, and lazy with nothing in store but a good book and an open mind.  Now those long, lazy days are long gone....

Planning for my European Backpacking Trip

When I was planning my trip to Europe, I knew I would spend countless hours waiting for a plane, for a train or riding on one.  Since I was backpacking, I had to travel light.  I was convinced then that I needed to purchase a Kindle.  And since Amazon had just reduced the price on the Kindle 2 by 20%, I was off running to Target to make that storied purchase.