D-Day 80th anniversary official ceremony at Omaha Beach: very moving moments with the veterans and the heads of the countries!

[p6x]

There are some very touchy moments, especially with the president of Ukraine and some of the veterans.

There is no commentary on this video, it is just to be watched and imagine all these veterans 80 years younger on that day.

When I did the army, I was 20 years old, and my regiment had the opportunity to meet with some of the veterans that chose to remain in France after the war. The landing on Omaha beach was simply impossible to describe for how brutal it was for the very first waves of soldiers.

All the heads of states are being greeted by the President of France, and each of you here will recognize their own head of state. Interesting that in many cases, the French President uses the informal way to greet, but not with Prince William. Some of the discussions between the veterans and the heads of States are audible.

It is a 3 hours long video; if you get the opportunity to happen around there, on your Guzzi or not, I suggest you go to Omaha Beach, and take stock of all the souls discovering these sands for the first and last time in their lives...

 

[Gmc28]

A beautiful spot.  A favorite place to visit.  
And now that Hertz apparently rents motorcycles at CDG, love to get back over there, rent a bike, ride the few hours to get out to Bayeaux and the D-day beaches, and spend more time there in Normandy.  Lots of great, uncrowded, scenic roads, lots of great stuff for history buffs, and a lovely coastal area to just enjoy. 

[p6x]

18 hours ago, Gmc28 said:

Hertz apparently rents motorcycles at CDG

I was surprised to read this, and I verified; the actual rental place for motorcycles is shown as 27 rue St. Ferdinand. It's in the 17th arrondissement.

They have a good selection, BMW, DUCATI, MV Agusta, Honda, Moto Morini; all of them are adventure bikes all of them unlimited mileage. Sadly, no Moto Guzzi.

https://www.hertzride.com/en/locations/motorcycle-rental-paris-68

This is very good information, although my HERTZ Gold membership does not apply for "HERTZRIDE".

I read they also partnered with a tour specialist "AVENTURA":

Quote

Aventura Motorcycle Tours is the official travel partner of Hertz Ride, which offers premium motorcycle tours planned and guided by experienced and expert Tour Leaders. Aventura Motorcycle Tours is fully dedicated to motorcycle enthusiasts, specializing in planning and operating exclusive motorcycle tours worldwide, ensuring that riders have a unique touring experience.

For those who only want to enjoy the ride, without coping with the logistics, this is an excellent solution. They offer guided, self guided tours France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. If you select the guided turn key option, they carry your luggage for you too.

I know of other Motorcycle rental companies in France, unfortunately, they don't rent to non-European Foreigners, actually, Foreigners that do not have a European issued Motorcycle driver's license.

Next time I am in Paris, I may use their services. I wish they had a Guzzi available. Moto Morini X-Cape 7 days from 1st of July 518 EUR.

 

 

[Gmc28]

On 6/20/2024 at 3:28 PM, p6x said:

I was surprised to read this, and I verified; the actual rental place for motorcycles is shown as 27 rue St. Ferdinand. It's in the 17th arrondissement.

They have a good selection, BMW, DUCATI, MV Agusta, Honda, Moto Morini; all of them are adventure bikes all of them unlimited mileage. Sadly, no Moto Guzzi.

https://www.hertzride.com/en/locations/motorcycle-rental-paris-68

This is very good information, although my HERTZ Gold membership does not apply for "HERTZRIDE".

I read they also partnered with a tour specialist "AVENTURA":

For those who only want to enjoy the ride, without coping with the logistics, this is an excellent solution. They offer guided, self guided tours France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. If you select the guided turn key option, they carry your luggage for you too.

I know of other Motorcycle rental companies in France, unfortunately, they don't rent to non-European Foreigners, actually, Foreigners that do not have a European issued Motorcycle driver's license.

Next time I am in Paris, I may use their services. I wish they had a Guzzi available. Moto Morini X-Cape 7 days from 1st of July 518 EUR.

 

 

Looks like a real attractive price.  I’ve always rented in Italy, from either Agostini’s or one of the big name places (motorad, blue something or other, etc), and seems like its usually quite a bit more expensive than what you show there, so thats great. 

A self guided tour option could be interesting.  I’m a DIY travel guy, in part because of what i did for a living for years (a paid tourist… = pilot), but sometimes I’m surprised to find good or great options in the plug-and-play tour category.  Worth checking out.  In 2025 am looking at renting a bike from Paris area, shoot out to Normandy for a while, then down the Loire Valley, and circle back to Paris and head home.  Italy is unbeatable for me, but mixing it up a bit is good. 

[Pressureangle]

I always remember the consultant to the movie 'Saving Private Ryan' who made the landing- when asked, 'What if anything was wrong with the movie?" his answer was, "There were not enough bodies on the beach". 

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2429903/Peace-Day-Reminder-millions-lives-lost-war-artists-stencil-9-000-bodies-Normandy-beach.html

[p6x]

On 6/22/2024 at 11:12 AM, Gmc28 said:

Looks like a real attractive price.  I’ve always rented in Italy, from either Agostini’s or one of the big name places (motorad, blue something or other, etc), and seems like its usually quite a bit more expensive than what you show there, so thats great. 

A self guided tour option could be interesting.  I’m a DIY travel guy, in part because of what i did for a living for years (a paid tourist… = pilot), but sometimes I’m surprised to find good or great options in the plug-and-play tour category.  Worth checking out.  In 2025 am looking at renting a bike from Paris area, shoot out to Normandy for a while, then down the Loire Valley, and circle back to Paris and head home.  Italy is unbeatable for me, but mixing it up a bit is good. 

I was myself very surprised, because I used to rent bikes in Paris when I was still living there, in between jobs. It was a lot more expensive, and mileage was never unlimited. This is a wonderful way for renters to make it impossible to really budget your trip.

I have an American friend of Italian descent, and she makes her living taking US tourists to Italy in a turnkey deal. She asked me if I would be interested to do the same, but in France. I declined as I know I would not be able to cope with the amount of complaints she has to shoulder off. Not about her service, but everything around it.

I do not know how acquainted you are with France, but if you have not already, I suggest you consider the Pyrenees.

As for the castles on the Loire valley, this is top. If you have not heard about it, because it is one of them not very well known, I suggest the Château de Cheverny. It is not far from Chambord, and the main difference is that it kept all of its original furniture. As you know, during the French Revolution, all the castles were attacked and vandalized. So except a few, all the furniture you see is not original. Cheverny is still lived by descendants and was used by Hergé for the Château de Moulinsard in Tintin et Milou.

Not so far from Paris, I recommend you visit the Château de Vaulx le Vicomte. This is a typical example of never show how rich you became to the guy that made you. Nicolas Fouquet was Louis XIV (14) Finance Superintendent, and he made a few jealous people along the way. One of them Colbert who turned the Louis against Fouquet.... If you go there, it is just incredible to picture parties in there...

Another of my favorite is the Portalet Fort, to guard access from Spain; this one is not much known by anybody...

https://www.tourisme64.com/activites/urdos/PCUAQU064FS000L6-le-fort-du-portalet/ (toggle the language to English).

[Gmc28]

16 hours ago, p6x said:

I was myself very surprised, because I used to rent bikes in Paris when I was still living there, in between jobs. It was a lot more expensive, and mileage was never unlimited. This is a wonderful way for renters to make it impossible to really budget your trip.

I have an American friend of Italian descent, and she makes her living taking US tourists to Italy in a turnkey deal. She asked me if I would be interested to do the same, but in France. I declined as I know I would not be able to cope with the amount of complaints she has to shoulder off. Not about her service, but everything around it.

I do not know how acquainted you are with France, but if you have not already, I suggest you consider the Pyrenees.

As for the castles on the Loire valley, this is top. If you have not heard about it, because it is one of them not very well known, I suggest the Château de Cheverny. It is not far from Chambord, and the main difference is that it kept all of its original furniture. As you know, during the French Revolution, all the castles were attacked and vandalized. So except a few, all the furniture you see is not original. Cheverny is still lived by descendants and was used by Hergé for the Château de Moulinsard in Tintin et Milou.

Not so far from Paris, I recommend you visit the Château de Vaulx le Vicomte. This is a typical example of never show how rich you became to the guy that made you. Nicolas Fouquet was Louis XIV (14) Finance Superintendent, and he made a few jealous people along the way. One of them Colbert who turned the Louis against Fouquet.... If you go there, it is just incredible to picture parties in there...

Another of my favorite is the Portalet Fort, to guard access from Spain; this one is not much known by anybody...

https://www.tourisme64.com/activites/urdos/PCUAQU064FS000L6-le-fort-du-portalet/ (toggle the language to English).

Excellent.  You’ve helped confirm my urge for the Loire!

I lived for a year in France a long time ago, but spent the vast majority of the time in the Alps (Grenoble), some in Paris and Normandy, and never set foot near Champagne area or Bordeaux.  Just got back last month from Champagne and Bordeaux (cliche, but was fun).  I’ve ventured “across” the Loire Valley a number of times, spending a night at the Chambord Relais, and poked around there for a day which was enough to see I want to go back and hit places like you’ve suggested.  And the Pyrenees…. Yes, that would be great, and maybe mix that in as part of a trip down into Rioja.

But, getting back to Normandy, per your original post, is sort of an anchor item.  Have a couple good friends who haven’t been, one of whom is a rider, who I’ve been talking about getting there in the next year or two.  Linking the Loire valley was my thought, meandering down from Normandy (and starting in paris)