Day 01
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CANADA - PARIS
Departure for Europe |
Day 02
|
ARRIVE PARIS - REIMS
After arrival in Paris we travel east to Reims - check
in and dinner |
Day 03
|
REIMS - VERDUN - REIMS
Morning drive to Verdun, site of WWI's lengthiest battle
with 700,000 casualties - we visit the museum, Fort Douaumont
and the trench of the Bayonets - then we return to Reims
|
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Day 04
|
REIMS -VIMY - YPRES
In the morning we visit the marvelous Cathedral with
Marc Chagall's stained glass windows and have a bit of
time before we leave the Champagne region and travel
to Vimy, to see Canada's largest War memorial - and we
end the day in Ypres, just across the border in Belgium. |
Day 05
|
YPRES
Today we visit the battle scares area of the surroundings
of Ypres, site of WWI's first gas attacks - you cannot
turn your head in the Ypres area without seeing a war
cemetery somewhere on the horizon, tribute to the horrors
these parts saw - we visit Hill 62 Monument, Tyne Cot
Cemetery ( with 45,000 graves ) as well as the German
cemetery at Langemark with its 44,000 greaves, St.Julian
Canadian Monument with Vancouver Corner and John McCrae's
grave round of our visits before returning to Ypres where
we participate at the daily Last Post Ceremony at the
Menin Gate |
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Day 06
|
YPRES - BEAUMONT-HAMEL -
DIEPPE
We return to France and stop at Beaumont Hamel for a
visit of the Canadian Memorial Park - then we continue
to Dieppe where we arrive later in the afternoon - check
in and dinner |
|
Day 07
|
DIEPPE
Today we take a close look at the town and its surrounding
areas that hold so many sad memories for Canadians -
we visit the cemetery, Pourville ( South Saskatchewan
Regiment ) and Puys (Royal Canadian Regiment ) - we also
have time to enjoy the town of Dieppe in the afternoon
|
Day 08
|
DIEPPE - HONFLEUR - CAEN
We head south and stop in Honfleur, the picturesque harbor
which attracted famous painters like Cézanne and
Renoir- after time for lunch there we continue to Normandy,
stopping en route at Pegasus Bridge Memorial |
Day 09
|
CAEN/NORMANDY
We start the day with a drive to Verrieres Ridge before
our ceremony at Cintheaux/Bretteville sur Mer Cemetery
- driving down the Falaise Gap we head to the town of
William the Conqueror (Falaise ) - there is time for
lunch there before returning via Trun and St.Lambert
( Major Currie, VC ) to the Caen area and we visit Ardenne
Abbey before returning to our hotel |
|
Day 10
|
CAEN/NORMANDY
Morning visit to the Bayeux Memorial Museum - then on
to Arromanches and the Landing Beaches where one can
still see parts of the Mulberry Harbor - there will be
time for lunch in scenic Courseulles - the above program
will be arranged according to the official ceremonies
which we will participate in - afterwards we visit the
beaches at Bernieres and St.Aubin |
|
Day 11
|
CAEN/NORMANDY
This morning we visit the impressive Caen Peace Memorial,
the greatest museum in Normandy and then there is time
for lunch in Caen itself before we take a drive through
the surrounding areas with Audrieu, Putot and the Carpiquet
Airfield and we might head out to Omaha Beach as well
- before heading for Beny-Sur Mer /Reviers Cemetery for
a ceremony - then we return to the hotel |
Day 12
|
CAEN/NORMANDY - PARIS
This morning we still spend in Normandy and visit the
Canadian Juno beach Memorial - we leave for Paris after
lunch - there check in and dinner |
Day 13
|
PARIS
Today we enjoy a city tour of the city of lights as well
as a short cruise on the Seine River - then there is
a bit of time at leisure and for relaxation this afternoon
to reflect on a busy but eventful 2 weeks |
Day 14
|
PARIS - CANADA
Transfer to the airport for our flight home to Canada |
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