Although I am interested in history and travel to historic places in the USA, I knew and had traveled to more American Revolutionary and Civil War sites than the European World War sites. So, this tour showed me places and addressed topics that I had never experienced before. It was also more diverse in the types of places we went and subjects we heard about: Places in London related to the founding of the Ghost Army, Bletchley Park’s fascinating subject of code breaking, the actual place where the Ghost Army bivouacked while training in Britain during the buildup to D-Day, …
After crossing of the English Channel spent two and a half days traveling around Normandy in the most emotional part of the tour where you will get a thorough experience in the D-Day operations, the basics of the equipment (tanks and guns) used during the war, as well as famous Beaches of the Invasion and cemeteries where the English, Germans and Americans are buried.
In Rick Beyer, you not only have a guide who is knowledgeable in his subject, but is also the author of several fascinating books about the Ghost Army. As a historian, Rick is a natural storyteller and you will not be disappointed in his engaging way to telling you about what you are seeing. Rick’s wife Marilyn provides another point of view using her own dramatic storytelling talents.
The trip to Paris and subsequent day there gives you a small break from the grim reality of war — you have a day to explore Paris and all that it offers. If prior to Paris was action filled invasion, after Paris is where the Ghost Army got down to business of deception. As an amateur artist I particularly enjoyed a walking tour through the Grund in Luxembourg where Rick showed us paintings by members of the Ghost Army at the actual scenes painted.
Finally we toured a number of sites and museums relating to the end of WWII — as well as some famous sites of WWI battles.
In summary, this is an excellent tour that will educate, entertain and expand your interest in the European World War sites, battles and stories. The focus on the Ghost Army gives it a unique perspective and keeps you focused on a central theme while still understanding what else was going on from the D-Day invasion to the end of the war.
