2004  June 18 Friday            map reference    1 .

At the airport is waiting our luxurious coach that will be with us during the tour.		This is waiting for you: a spacious and     well-equipped coach for a very comfortable tour.

Arrival in Brussels, Belgium. This Kingdom is divided in two communities each with a different language. The western part speaks Dutch like its neighboring country in the north. And the eastern part is French speaking. The tour remains in the western part, Flanders, a region where many towns rich of cultural and historic heritage are only a stone's throw away from each other.
 

Fort Breendonk, our first stop, is close to Antwerp, the Belgian Sea Harbor. Built and used during the First World War, it was modified by the Germans and used as a cruel interrogation center and also as a transit camp during the Second World War. This place has been kept in the state it was found in 1944, when its inmates were prisoners of the Nazi's. Only the rooms without historical interest have been transformed into documentation and meditation spaces. This former Gestapo prison is a symbol of Nazi Terror. We will see the "Bunker" , a special torture chamber used for interrogating political prisoners.	Breendonk memorial A walk around the fort will give an idea of the immense excavation works carried out by the prisoners. Among many things at Fort Breendonk is also a 'quiet area' where a number of urns are kept. After the Breendonk visit and lunch we depart to Rouen for our first night in Europe. After the check in the Hotel there is an optional coach to Rouen town center. Return to hotel at own discretion.	Novotel Rouen Our first and second night in Europe will be in the Rouen Novotel with rooms that provide modern comfort, a unique feeling of spaciousness and contemporary decor. Rooms have 220/40 V AC, air conditioning, radio, satellite TV, RJ 45 Plug . Bathroom fittings: bath tub, hair dryer and a radio
After the visit to the Breendonk Fort we will have lunch here.	Group lunch.

 

2004  June 19 Saturday                 map reference 2 .

Coast of Arromanches where we visit the landing museum and have group lunch Coast view with the museum. Below the artificial harbour, prefabricated in Great Brittain and used to bring the equipment ashore. In total 500.000 Tons.  Museum Arromanches with a 3D screen, where you can relive the GOLD site invasion.	2004 The artificial harbor Arromanches on GOLD beach was the key to the victory in Normandy. D-Day coast map with Rouen and the  museum of Arromanches. D-Day, June 6th, started with a paratroop mission (Merville, CAEN, Bayeux). In one night 135.000 men and 20.000 vehicles were brought in on 5 landing beaches.  We visit the bloody OMAHA, the ill-fated beach scene of a terrible battle, UTAH BEACH, the prime objective of the U.S. troops, to capture the port of Cherbourg, more to the west on maps above. The British troops, landed at GOLD beach, needed untill July 9th to liberate Caen. We not only visit SWORD and  JUNO beach but also The American Cemetry at Colleville will be honored by our presence. A view on the Arromanches coast. The Arromanches museum pepetuates the grateful remembrance toward the Allies who gave so many young lives to free Europe from the yoke of oppressing. Movie of the World War II invasion, D-Day can be found on our links page.	At the end of the day we come by the church of Sainte Mere Eglise, the first liberated village! Who doesn't remember the para hanging on the Churchclock. He is still hanging there, replaced by a doll.
		Second night  HOTEL Rouen Novotel

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In total there are 5 group dinners and three group lunches. 2004

The videos shown on the bus partly pertain to the Holocaust sites shortly before we visit them. For the other part, they contain information regarding the cities we are approaching. One video concerns the life of Miep Gies, Anne Frank's helper.

Please take note that the background of the Hotel information differs slightly in color.

Pictures are merely way to give an impression; they may not represent the exact view we will meet. Hotels in particular always show pictures of their most beautiful rooms.

EUROPEAN   CONTEMPORARY   HISTORY   TOURS  2004

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office in the USA: 
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New York, NY 10011-4213 

2004 tours overview index :
Central pages - intro - 1 - 2 - 3  / Southern pages - intro - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4  /  close 2004 window