Omaha Beach

St.-Laurent-sur-Mer and Colleville-sur-Mer (week 2)

Having learned from our trip to Gold Beach, we arrived at Omaha at low tide.  The tides here are close to the highest in Europe, and the beaches slope gently, so the effect is dramatic.  As the tide turned, you could see the water coming in - the waves (mere lapping compared to Summerville!) never receded, just sort of petered out and the next wave came in and went a little further, and so on.


Also true to form: the American beach had ample free parking and wide streets, unlike the British Gold site.  As you can see from the picture above, it very simply adorned (the museum is off the beachfront up the street, and there is a second museum further towards the American Cemetery).  The Cemetery was considerably busier, and quite impressive.... and looks exactly as it does in Saving Private Ryan.