We woke up to opera music...I don't like opera music...
At 4:45 a.m. this lady started singing opera...and it got louder...and louder...and louder...and the more you pressed the STOP button, well, she kept on singing. I tried to adjust the volume...didn't make any difference, she just kept singing louder. I understand that most of the delegation was in the same boat as I was...not a great opera lover...especially at 4:45 a.m.
After about 10 minutes...seemed like 20...I guess she got tired of singing...because she just stopped. Whew!
That's the ships way of saying GET UP...
We arrived at 5:30 a.m. and disembarked about 5:45. We met our new bus driver, Bjorn, who is from the Netherlands. He'll be our coach driver for the rest of our journey. Great guy! We first had breakfast at the terminal. Croissants, bread, hot cocoa or caffe...oh yeah, and butter and jam. We all kept waiting for the rest to come...
"Ah, that's a typical French breakfast!" was the reply from our delegation manager, Jeannette.
We took off in the bus and headed toward the Normandy American Cemetary, which overlooks Omaha Beach...the site of the worst D-Day battle.
We first viewed a video about D-Day...then wandered into the cemetary where there are over 9000 white crosses perfectly aligned...overwhelming! Most of us walked a good ways down a trail, downhill, to the beach below. Many were lost in their thoughts...I know I was. When we came back up, we walked around for awhile and Steve had brought little American flags. We put these by some of the crosses. 
We then drove into the town and met the mayor of Saint Laurent-sur-Mer. They had drawn a line in the sand where we stood, facing the beach. Then she spoke to us of the respect, the honor, the deep thanks they feel for us as Americans, for the part we played on that day. After she spoke, an 81 year old gentleman who was 15 on that dreaded day talked to us. His home faced the beach...and he remembers so well the day he looked out and saw the Americans coming toward shore. He and his family fled 4 miles inland, but he gave such a heartfelt thanks and told us of how special Americans are to him...I cannot remember the words...I heard them through tears. At that point, we had 16 students (2 to a flag) go stand next to the 8 flags which were tied down. One by one, each countries national anthem was played and our students raised that countries flags. It was so extremely moving...so emotional for many.
When this part of the ceremony was concluded, they had prepared and gave us each a little bottle with Normandy, Omaho Beach labeled on...and at that point, we went down on the beach and collected a bottle of sand to take home.
As we were wrapping up, the gentleman who financed the memorial on Omaha Beach was there. Jean-Paul and Rosie...(can't remember their last name right now)...they came up and talked with me, knowing that my father had been there on D-Day...Karen's, one of our other leaders, father was also there during that time. We had our photos made together...it was special!
After a typical French box lunch while sitting on a wall facing the ocean, we took off for Caen. There we went to the Memorial Museum. This phenomenal museum covers the causes of the 1939-1945 conflict and its multiple consequences.
After our D-Day experiences...we were off to Paris! A 3 hour bus ride and here we are...
The London Eye... We arrived to ride the London Eye on a crystal clear and warm day...
We had to wait a little while for Jeanette to get our tickets...
Our delegation was divided in half...about 25 people can fit in each 'pod' of the Eye...and there are 33 pods...
You can see who was in my pod....
The views of London are breathtaking as you go up and around. It takes 30 minutes to make a revolution...
The Gherkin...
St. Paul's Cathedral...You can see the dome...and then on the left side, between the two spires, you can see the columns to the entrance. It's here that Mary Poppins fed the birds in the movie.
Parliament...Big Ben...the Thames River...
We rode the London Eye today...actually riding it before meeting with the MP. All loved it, even a couple who have a fear of heights. It was a beautiful day, clear skies...and you could see so far! One of the jokesters in the group told some of our delegates that you could see the Eiffel Tower if it was clear...and there were a couple of towers in the far distance...and some were excited to see the Eiffel Tower. I told our jokester that this information needed to be corrected! 
Our group with Patrick Nichols...
We met with Patrick Nichols today - a former member of Parliament. He spoke enthusiastically about the USA and the relationship between our 2 countries. The delegate had some great questions for him...and, as I told them beforehand that he would do, he initiated a picture session with the group. 
Covent Gardens...
From this meeting, we headed to Covent Gardens. This is an area with many unique shops...some known shops (Disney Store, Adidas, etc)...and some individuals selling their wares. Plus, there are street performers. Quite a few of our delegation were excited to see a Starbucks! 
London traffic...
We then drove to the town of Portsmouth, about 80 miles away, where we caught our overnight ferry to France. We had to arrive at the dock two hours ahead of time, just like an airport... We set sail around 11 p.m. The students were 4 to a cabin..."Cabin" makes it sound a lot ... let me repeat, LOT larger than it actually was! 
We said good-bye to our coach driver...the coach wasn't going across the English Channel with us!
Another new experience for our delegates!
