October, 2025

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Just got back from a dream vacation in France with my daughter, a very experienced world traveler. Together, we explored Normandy and the Loire Valley. I closed my part of the trip in the “City of Lights,” while my daughter went on to Nice. See the highlights of the trip below:

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Day 1: Private tour of D-Day, starting in the French town of Sainte-Mère-Église, which is famous for being the first town liberated by American forces. Next stops included Utah Beach, Pont du Hoc, and Omaha Beach, ending at the Colleville-sur-Mer American Cemetery. It’s hard to put into words the emotions I felt upon seeing over 9,000 perfectly aligned crosses, knowing that each represents an American father, son, husband, or brother lost on foreign soil so others could be free.

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Day 2: Mont Saint-Michel—a magical tidal island off the coast of France with a historic abbey built at the summit of the rock.  ​

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Day 3: Shopping, dessert and coffee in the historic town of Bayeux. Decided to visit the local Catholic church on the spur of the moment and were stunned by the beauty of the Cathedral Notre-Dame de Bayeux. Drove to the Loire Valley, and checked into the magnificent Chateau de La Barre, a 100-acre estate with a history that dates back centuries. Marnie de Vanssay, the present Countess, shared some historical facts about the Chateau one night in front of a warm and inviting fire. Being a student of WW2 history, I found it interesting that the Germans didn’t take over the Chateau as they had others because they couldn’t find it deep in the Loire Valley! The de Vanssay family was also very active in helping the French Resistance ensure a Nazi defeat. Additionally, the regal Dining Room of the Chateau was converted into a hospital during the Great War.

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Day 4: Visited the Chateau de Chambord. During WW2, the castle was used to save thousands of works of art from Nazi bombing and greed. Sauver Un Peu de la Beauté du Monde - Chambord 1939-1945 (translated: Save a Little of the World’s Beauty) is a book I bought at the Chateau that memorializes the saving of the art. The problem is that it’s in French, so I’ll have to sharpen my translation skills!

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Day 5: Visited Chateau du Clos Luce, where Leonardo da Vinci spent his final years, as well as the Amboise Chateau Royal. Also managed to locate a patisserie in Amboise that satisfied our sweet tooth. Best tarte au chocolat I’ve ever tasted!

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Day 6: My final day was spent in Paris. Visited the newly renovated Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. It is of course stunning; however, what was more remarkable were the masses of people standing in line to see the cathedral. People from different cultures, speaking many languages, all waiting to see the most beautiful church in the world, waiting to light candles in petition of their special intention.

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It’s so gratifying to experience a place that you have written about. I’m referring specifically to Danny Sullivan, one of the main characters in A Need to Forgive, and his introduction to WW2 via the Omaha beach. Another perk of my trip is that the exploration of the Loire Valley inspired a new story. Guess where it will be set. Dans le Val de Loire, bien sûr!