How many scallop shells does it take to make a beach? This was my first thought on our return to Port En Bessin in the day-light. I have no idea how deep the beach of shells is, but I can guess it takes a lot of scallops to generate such an impressive and captivating mound of washed up white and orange shells on the shoreline.
We slowly browsed the market stalls that had been set up for the Christmas fair, enjoying the various French versions of Christmas songs we know so well, like ‘White Christmas’, and ‘It’s cold outside’.
We purchased some fruit, and returned to the car for a drive along to a couple of sites that created their own part of history on D-Day.
We first visited the Longues-sur-Mer battery, just above Arromanches-les-Basin. The battery is notable for the role it played on the day, but also the sight of one of the 150mm artillery pieces having been blown apart by a direct hit.
It is hard not to visit these sights and ponder about the waste – as Annabel quickly said.
From Longues-sur-Mer battery, we headed down to Arromanches-les-Basin and the always overwhelming sight of what is left of the Mulberry harbour. I have visited this site a few times, and every time I feel I am exaggerating when I describe the size of just what still stands of this impressive feet of wartime engineering. The colossal nature of the harbour, when it was in use, (for barely six months) can only be imagined. We both enjoyed the museum, which is rich in displays and historical descriptions of the how the harbour was built, used and disposed of.
A final trip of the day was to Omaha, and the Normandy American Cemetery. A worthwhile place to visit, though obviously a sombre one to finish the day on.
Our evening has been spent relaxing, working and preparing for our next destination tomorrow….