Can't resit posting this--I found it on one of the web sites about Coutances:

Village Grouchy B&B

Now, that's probably one NOT to recommend!

Well, underhill, I wouldn't stay in Condom because I'm Catholic.

What have we started???

Underhill, I saw your review of b and B Cottun --I just e-mailed them to ask if they had avail room for 4 nights in early OCT. I am interested in D-day beaches museums and maybe Caen and Rouen, is that long enough time I may skip Rouen or make it 5 days, how fare is the B and B from these sights. we will prob take train from Paris and rent a car in there since i dont want to drive from Paris
thanks e-mail me at [email protected]

I can't really tell you whether that's enough time, as our first trip to Normandy is in September. But others will know, especially about the D-Day sights.

Dog: I'd skip Caen and spend the time in Bayeux.

I was in Normandy for the 60th anniversary and spent 4 days in Paris (3 at the beginning and the final night before our lfight), 2 in Rouen, 2 in Bayeux and 5 in Ste Marie du Mont (was with the 4th ID who came ashore at Utah so stayed closer to their monuments and followed their movements to Cherbourg and the breakout at St Lo).

I suggest time in some of the smaller musuems as well. Example, the ones in Ste Marie du Mont and Sainteny were so small but felt so personal. Townspeople were milling around the photos pointing to their parents, themseleves or neighbors in the pictures and stories. Magical...

tmh, I went to Bayeux for the first time three years ago. God bless you for you contribution to that effort. I don't know how anyone got off those beaches alive after seeing the German defenses at Omaha Beach. We are returning to Bayeux this November to see Utah, St Mere Eglise, etc. We stayed with Col Chilcott the first time and are planning to do the same again. On that visit we met a gentleman from California who landed with the first wave just below the American Cemetery on D Day. He hadn't been back since that day and told us he wanted to return to close that chapter in his life. Truly moving.

Underhill, condom is in SW France.

My DH and I were in Bayeux last year for 4 days. I could have stayed longer. We also stayed at Co. Chilcots B&B. I didn't care much for him, but his wife was wonderful and so interesting. I would stay there again. Don't miss the tapestry in Bayeaux.

rlbplf: Sorry the way I wrote that - I am not a vet. I was a member of the official delegation of the 4th ID's tour which included 7 vets (out of 37 people) who landed at Utah and jumped with the 101st.

Quite amazing: Utah was less horrible because they made a mistake and landed a mile south of where they should have! Brig. General Teddy Roosevelt, Jr earned a Medal of Honor by making the decision not to correct their error. (Henry Ford in The Longest Day?). I could make your eyes glaze with all the stories I heard and what I learned.

duncmom: An alternative to the Col is Philippe Cornil in Ste Marie du MOnt. He arranged the tour for our group and it was awesome. His site is www.lamaisondeshotes.com

Mimi,

I did know that, honest! Sometime I'll send you a cute little joke on the subject.