This morning, I visited three unforgettable places — Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, and the Normandy American Cemetery — where American soldiers bravely gave their lives to stop the spread of fascism in Europe. It was powerful, emotional, and impossible to shake. What struck me most was how eerily familiar it felt: how fascism once rose slowly, and how it was only defeated because people were willing to stand up and fight.
As I walked those beaches and stood among the rows of white crosses, I couldn’t help but feel concerned about the direction our own country is heading. The unchecked rise of trump, with his attacks on the press, the courts, and truth itself, feels uncomfortably close to the way hitler rose to power. I say that not to shock, but because history has taught us that silence is dangerous — and remembering the past is the only way to avoid repeating it.
After such a sobering morning, the rest of the day offered a chance to exhale and find some joy in the little things.
We made our way to the seaside town of Arromanches, where I had a perfectly toasty croque monsieur — a classic French sandwich made with ham, cheese, and béchamel sauce. (Its name, which translates to “Mister Crunch,” feels oddly charming.) It was comfort food at its best — warm, simple, and deeply satisfying. I also had a cider that was so local, the apple orchard was a mere 18 kilometers from the restaurant!
Remy, ever the explorer, emerged from my backpack to stretch his paws and take in the town. He tried convincing me we needed more Normandy caramel, but I held my ground. For now.
We wandered into a few little shops where I found a French word search puzzle book — a fun way to grow my vocabulary —
— and sampled a bit of Calvados, the apple brandy this region is famous for. A little strong, but smooth and warming. Just a taste was enough.
Later in the afternoon, we arrived back in Deauville, where our hotel for the night, Hôtel Barrière Le Royal Deauville, looks like something out of a Wes Anderson film — stately, grand, and full of charm.
I changed clothes and headed out for a leisurely stroll. Remy, of course, wanted to check out the casino (which looked surprisingly similar to the ones back home), so we stepped inside just to take a look around.
Then we walked a bit through the stylish town center, admiring beautiful shop windows — definitely more window shopping than actual shopping!
Dinner tonight was at our hotel, and it was included as part of our tour. We started with fresh French bread and incredible butter — honestly, I’m not sure I’ll ever recover from how good the butter is in France.
Our main course was veal confit with mushrooms and gravy, served alongside a mushroom and candied shallot tartlet that was the highlight of the entire meal. The veal was melt-in-your-mouth tender, but the tartlet? Absolutely unforgettable.
Dessert was a Norman apple tart with vanilla bean ice cream — a perfect, simple way to end the day.
After dinner, some of my fellow travelers went for a walk along the beach. I chose to return to my room for a quiet night. Tomorrow we head to Mont-Saint-Michel — one of the most iconic places in all of France — and I want to be rested and ready for that magical view.
Cleared For Take-Off! 