Lisieux and Cabourg, Sword and Juno beaches on Thursday

We packed in the morning to move to a different location, Marc’ brother’s home.

This morning was important to Clare, because she tried to get to Lisieux twice before, with her mom in 2003 and much later with her mom and daughter. The first was foiled by a transportation strike in France, the second because her mom got sick. She’s fine now, over 100 years old.

The Basilica du St Thérèse is magnificent, big and bright inside.

We learned about St. Thérèse and her life in Lisieux. She had four older sisters, all of whom also became nuns at this convent. Thérèse was the youngest. Although she only lived for 24 years, she was well known for writing prayers that people liked to say and distributing hope and flowers in equal measure.

The pictures don’t give the scale of the brightness inside. The colorful mosaics and stained glass added to the beauty.

Seeing this large Basilica dedicated to a woman felt right, somehow. Celebrating life is good for us all.

We were still inside when a mass started, so we stayed for a while. The mass was held on this day because it was Ascension Day, a holiday in France, of course this would affect the number of visitors at D-Day sites over the 4-day weekend.

There was an adjacent museum with dioramas depicting events in Thérèsa’s life, including figurines of many saints.

Now, we start on our exploration of the WWII history of this area. We begin in the eastern part, working our way west over the next few days. A big goal,later, is to learn more about Brian’s mom’s uncle, Brian’s Grand Uncle George A. Taylor, who participated in the D Day events of June 6, 1944.

Driving to Cabourg, on the coast, we were glad that the rain and hail occurred while we were inside the basilica and museum.

Pedestrian street for shopping in Cabourg

We now begin visiting the D-Day sites in Normandy, guided by Marc and Joëlle, as well as Marc’s brother, Jérome. Of course we will also be observing the countryside and villages. We begin in Ouistreham.