Uncle Leon ~ June 23, 2016

  • Thursday, June 23, 2016
  • Day 54
  • Angoville-au-Plain and Saint-Côme-du-Mont, Normandy
  • Weather: 60-68 degrees overcast and rain

My Uncle Leon proudly served in the 506th Parachute Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division and landed in Normandy on D-Day. Without more information, the local French services could not be more specific about where my uncle landed. The 506th Division parachuted into Landing Zone D, Angoville-au-Plain and Saint-Côme-du-Mont.

Uncle Leon survived D-Day and later fought the Battle of the Bulge. He safely returned to North Carolina after the World War II.

Christine and I drove to Landing Zone D.

  1. Landing Zone D
  2. Landing Zone D
  3. Landing Zone D

Christian…Amazing ~ June 23, 2016

  • Thursday, June 23, 2016
  • Day 54
  • Tourlaville, Normandy
  • Weather: 60-68 degrees overcast and rain

Amazing…the joy of being with Christian’s family. Dining on local oysters and Christian’s Strawberry Tarte with local berries. Sitting by an evening fire with my shoes drying.

  1. Tourlaville
  2. Tourlaville
  3. Tourlaville

Camino Friends ~ June 23, 2016

  • Thursday, June 23, 2016
  • Day 54
  • Cherbourg
  • Weather: 60-68 degrees overcast and rain

A big part of walking the Camino is the people you meet along The Way. Christian and his brother were a special part of my first Camino in 2014.

Christian and his family kindly hosted Christine and me while we were in Normandy.  How wonderful it was to be in his home and meet his family.

  1. Cherbourg – Christian, linda, Elizabeth
  2. Cherbourg – Elizabeth, Christine, Christian
  3. Cherbourg – Christian who loves to cook for the family

Sainte-Mère-Èglise ~ June 22, 2016

  • Wednesday, June 22, 2016
  • Day 53
  • SSainte-Mère-Èglise, Normandy
  • Weather: 60-68 degrees overcast and rain

On D-Day many, many parachuters of the USA 82nd Airborne Divisions unfortunately landed beside this church, Sainte-Mère-Èglise. They suffered direct gun fire from the German soldiers.  It is said the church saved the life of the 82nd parachuter whose shoot got caught by the church’s steeple.

  1. Sainte-Mère-Èglise
  2. Sainte-Mère-Èglise
  3. Sainte-Mère-Èglise

Parisian Pigrims ~ June 21, 2016

  • Tuesday, June 21, 2016
  • Day 52
  • Orsay (14 miles from Paris)
  • Weather: 60-68 degrees overcast

Is it any surprise my first stop in Paris is the premiere cooking equipment shop, E. Dehillerin.

We saw a woman walking down the street with a shell swinging from her backpack. All the markings of a pilgrim. We introduced ourselves as two former pilgrims. To her great relief, the South African asked directions to the metro station. Being a pilgrim it’s like being in a sorority or a fraternity. We share a bond. We walked the woman to the metro stop and help her purchase her ticket. Camino magic.

  1. Paris – E. Dehillerin
  2. Paris – Pont des Arts with the Eiffel Tower
  3. Paris – Pantheon on Rue Soufflot