specifically to see the D-Day beaches, memorials, etc.

what did you find was the best way to go about getting to them?

I'm going to be in Europe for a week in August and have a couple days with nothing planned, so I thought I might visit them as a day trip. I'll be based out of Brussels, but I could easily do a night in Paris if it meant it was easier to get to them the following morning by train. I don't want to presume that one can just arrive in Caen and find an easy way there. From what I understand about the region, but having never previously visited, it's fairly rural, right? So it's not like you can just show up and there are a multitude of options to get to any points of interest.

Anyone have any advice or suggestions?

6/5/2012 11:25:26 AM

The Lounge needs funny too!

6/5/2012 11:29:50 AM

I would recommend renting a car. There's no mass transit system, and the beaches are spread out all along the coast. Only other option would be a tourist bus.

6/5/2012 12:43:28 PM

yeah. my friend in brussels whom i am staying with says it's doable strictly by train, but she has yet to explain the execution. i dont necessarily want to visit all of them. i just want to get a sense for the magnitude of the place. so a day-trip from Paris would be great, plus it's like a 5-6 hour drive from Brussels.

it appears that there are both public buses and guided bus tours from Caen. maybe i'll check in to those too.

6/5/2012 1:14:23 PM

I was there three years ago. I definitely recommend renting a car. We programmed a gps with french maps, and it was so easy driving about.

The people in France are already some of the nicest I have ever met, but those in the Normandy and Brittany regions are incredibly kind. Even after all these years, they still seem to have a strong affection towards Americans, Canadians, British, etc..

The gravesites are all more moving than I honestly thought they would be....

If you get the chance, Mount Saint Michelle is a badass place to visit btw.

6/5/2012 9:55:15 PM

get a salty crepe (called a galette) while you're there, too. I also second the St. Michel recommendation.

[Edited on June 6, 2012 at 3:28 PM. Reason : d]

6/6/2012 3:27:19 PM

i'm not sure about other frenchies, but my family (lived in france 15 yrs) used "galette" for galette de rois (king cake), which are puff-pastry cakes with almond filling

oh and they're good as hell



[Edited on June 6, 2012 at 4:39 PM. Reason : ]

6/6/2012 4:38:53 PM

Normandy is the only piece of land I would ever care to visit in that country.

6/6/2012 5:11:40 PM

Quote :

"those in the Normandy and Brittany regions are incredibly kind"

I agree. Parisians aren't the friendliest people but I had a good experience in that region. The tourist bus would be the most cost effective and you'll hear history going and coming back. a car would be ideal though, but probably much more expensive.

6/6/2012 8:35:48 PM

if you judge the french by parisians, you're doing it wrong. the french are generally pretty pleasant. parisians just get sick of obnoxious tourists.

6/6/2012 9:58:17 PM

Quote :

"i'm not sure about other frenchies, but my family (lived in france 15 yrs) used "galette" for galette de rois (king cake), which are puff-pastry cakes with almond filling oh and they're good as hell"

where'd you live? Toulouse, here. Galette is only used in this capacity in the Normandy/Bretagne region. I also primarily knew it as the 'king' cake.

Quote :

"a car would be ideal though, but probably much more expensive."

I paid ~$200 for a 14 day rental through eurocar (i think) last summer, with different pick-up/dropoff cities. Just a data point.

Quote :

"Normandy is the only piece of land I would ever care to visit in that country."

Ignorance is bliss!


[Edited on June 7, 2012 at 4:58 PM. Reason : d]

6/7/2012 4:54:20 PM

^^totally agree. I think anyone would get sick of people interrupting them at all times of the day to be like HI WHERE IS THE LOUVRE or DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH WHERE ARE THE BEST CREPES??? people don't normally even have the decency to address them in their native language before asking if they speak English and if they'll help them with directions/advice. Even the Parisians were pretty patient all things considered.

6/7/2012 4:57:32 PM

^A big part of it is just cultural difference. French people (especially in the bigger cities) don't go out of their way to be fake-nice (Hi, how are you??!?) to everyone they come across.

I think Americans tend to view this as 'rude'. It doesn't bother me, personally. I remember being very put-off by everyone's exuberance when I first moved back to the States.


[Edited on June 7, 2012 at 5:00 PM. Reason : w]

6/7/2012 4:59:34 PM

I found Parisians to be very polite...more so than Londoners, on the whole

6/11/2012 12:38:15 AM