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Normandy, France


Dr. travel best helps women travel solo.

In this episode: FAQ is: What is the best phone to get for a traveler? I’m not sure which will suit me for the price and the needs?

Today’s Destination is: Normandy, France

Today’s Mistake- Bringing too many heavy books

Travel Advice:  Don’t eat the airport food if possible



FAQ: What is the best phone to get for a traveler? I’m not sure which will suit me for the price and the needs?

 

Answer:

I’ve owned nearly every kind of phone over the years. Samsung, HTC, Apple and others. They all have advantages and some disadvantages. Your carrier (like T-Mobile, Verizon or other) may have an offer for you to purchase or upgrade your current device. That’s the first place to check. 

Many carriers now offer unlimited global phone calling, with some restrictions. You may switch carriers and get a free phone, too. Consider your options. A low cost alternative may cost you more in the long run. travelers should consider a second phone when they are in a Step 5 foreign country, so you don’t mix pleasure with your work. Burner phones are cheap and convenient if you need one.

Today’s destination: Normandy, France

Unless you have a car, the D-Day beaches in Northern France are best to be seen from a tour from a nearby town such as Bayeax. There are public buses, but they don’t run on Sundays. From Bayeax (pronounced Bai-oo), I took a taxi to Omaha Beach and the American cemetery in the summer. I also stayed in an airbnb in Caen. The trains there were easy to navigate. The city of “KAH” spelled C a e n  is modern and commercialized. The Caen Memorial is a good place to see WW2  D Day history from the French perspective without going to the beaches. In town you will see the ruins of the chateau, which was William the Conqueror’s fortress, built in 1060 and restored. The Memorial was a must see for many visitors to the Normandy region. You may like to mix with locals at the flea market that I found in town, so check it out.  Omaha Beach is where you will find the Monument to the Normandy Landings, and the Memorial d’Omaha Beach. It looks like a shed, big tanks and photography from the war. The outdoor hilltop at Omaha Beach, and yes, it is a beach, has the American Cemetery and Memorial. It is a stunning reminder of the price paid in human lives only decades ago. 

Omaha Beach is a breathtaking experience.

The cemetery is huge and filled with dead soldiers.

This part of France belongs to the USA

 

If you have time and interest, you may also want to see Utah Beach and Gold Beach, plus Juno Beach, all along the English Channel. Another part of Normandy you may see is Mont-St Michel, a tidal island and commune. I did not get to visit and I want to arrive at high tide, when the water races across the sand. I hope to see that  spectacular abbey on my next visit to Normandy.

 

The D-Day military invasion that helped to end World War II was one the most ambitious and consequential military campaigns in human history. In its strategy and scope—and its enormous stakes for the future of the free world—historians regard it among the greatest military achievements ever.



Today’s Mistake- Bringing too many heavy books

Today’s Travel Advice-Skip the airport food if possible.

 

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