London, Normandy and Paris

Upon arrival in London, we meet our tour director and motor coach and drive into the city. Our activities begin with a locally guided tour of the world's most visited city. Highlighting our tour will be Big Ben and Parliament, Trafalgar Square with the Lord Nelson Column, Westminster Abbey, and of course, Piccadilly Circus. Next, we will visit the medieval masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, including the transepts, porticos, towers and domes. We will learn of its fascinating transition from the ruins of the Great Fire in 1666 to its present grandeur and the place where Diana married Prince Charles in 1981. We also take a pause in the American Memorial Chapel dedicated in 1958 (with President Eisenhower present) to those service personnel (based in Britain) that died during WWII.  We check in at our hotel in time to relax before dinner. Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, London or similar

Today we will venture a short distance to Kent county, the garden of England. The countryside is a patchwork of orchards, meadows and woodland. We will stop first at Dover Castle, perched high above the white cliffs, to discover the underground hospital and network of secret tunnels that were extensively used during WWII. After time to explore the white, chalk, Cliffs of Dover themselves we will stop for lunch and be able to keep our eye on the world's busiest shipping lanes.  En route back to London, we will stop for reflection at the Battle of Britain Memorial and at the Museum to inspect war memorabilia and artifacts from over 600 shot down planes, as well as wartime weapons and vehicles. Dinner is on our own this evening. Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, London or similar.

This morning we will first visit the magnificent Tower of London, where we will see the crown jewels and learn something about the lives of child-king Richard II and of Henry VIII. Many of Henry VIII's political opponents were jailed and then beheaded here, including two of his wives. Next, we visit the Imperial War Museum and the Churchill War Rooms. Here we discover the original Cabinet War Rooms, the wartime bunker that sheltered Churchill and his government during the Blitz. Explore the historic rooms to experience the secret history that lives on underground. The remainder of the day is open for options, a time to explore on our own. Just a few of the many possibilities are the British Museum, Docklands, Greenwich or Olympic areas, and for art lovers, the Tate Gallery. Certainly of interest would be an hour or two at Harrods, one of the finest department stores in Europe. A ride on the London Eye (ferris wheel) would be spectacular on a clear day. This evening, we enjoy an early dinner and a show in the West End. Holiday Inn Kensington Forum, London or similar.

We depart London today following in the steps of many of the allied forces to Portsmouth, where we leave by ferry for the Normandy area of France as did many of the allied forces.  Hotel Churchill, Bayeux.

This morning we visit the Caen Peace Memorial, dedicated not only to the Normandy invasion, but to the international cause of peace. After lunch, we set out to explore the sites of the D-Day invasion; and remember the events of 75 years ago. It was the greatest amphibious assault ever attempted and the beginning of the end for Hitler’s Third Reich. Our first stop will be at Juno Beach, where our guide will lead us through Juno Park, and show us the remains of the Atlantic Wall, recounting the history of the D-Day Landings via the Canadian point of view. Next, we visit the German artillery battery and observation post (used in the filming of “The Longest Day”) at Longues-sur-Mer and Arromanches, where one of the Mulberry Harbors was constructed and where its remains can still be seen today, just a few hundred yards from the shore. Hotel Churchill, Bayeux.

A busy day is on the agenda today as we continue to explore the sites of the D-Day invasion. Our first stop is the American Cemetery and Memorial situated on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach. The cemetery contains the graves of 9,387 American military, most of whom gave their lives during the landings and ensuing operations of World War II. At Pointe du Hoc, we view the German fortifications where courageous U.S. Rangers climbed the cliffs against incredible odds and overwhelmed the defenders. We also visit St Mere Eglise considered to be the first town liberated in France on the 6th of June and also depicted in the film “The Longest Day”. From there, it is on to Utah Beach, the site of the first allied beach landings on D-Day. Here, we start to understand the chaos of war and how American leadership and the GI’s initiative would help overcome it. Hotel Churchill, Bayeux.

Today, we drive to Paris, the City of Lights. En route, we stop at the medieval city of Rouen to view the square where St. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. We also visit the village of Giverny and the carefully restored gardens and home of impressionist painter, Claude Monet. Paintings of the Japanese bridge and of water lilies come to life as we stroll amid the colors which inspired Monet. Hotel Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel, Paris or similar.

Our day begins with a locally-guided panoramic tour of Paris including its renowned landmarks: the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, and the Champs-Élysées. Our tour includes an inside visit to Notre Dame Cathedral. The afternoon is free to continue our exploration of this historically and culturally rich city. The possibilities are endless. Art lovers with an interest in Impressionism will want to visit the Museums d’Orsay and de l’Orangerie des Tuileries with their works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Cezanne among others. Photographers gain a spectacular city view from the top of the Eiffel Tower. For shoppers, there are the famed department stores Lafayette and Printemps. And for people watchers, a stroll along the banks of the Seine or seated at a sidewalk café in the Latin Quarter is just the ticket. Dinner tonight is on our own. Hotel Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel, Paris or similar

We have a full day free to continue our exploration of Paris. Our tour director is available to assist in giving recommendations for those with special interests. Those wishing to see one of the world’s great collections of art, including Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Grecian Venus de Milo, can visit the Louvre. A Batobus pass allows us to “hop on-hop off” along the Seine. Tonight, we enjoy a special farewell dinner. Hotel Mercure Paris Centre Tour Eiffel, Paris or similar

Our journey draws to a close as we transfer to Charles de Gaulle Airport and board our homebound flight. We return with life-long memories of a heroic past, fascinating cities and villages, scenic landscapes, and a new appreciation for the cultures we have encountered along the way. Au revoir!