Stéphane was born in Paris and his two brothers were born in Normandy (probably the reason why I am so attached to it).
The archives of Calvados concerning my Norman roots date back to the 18th century in Bayeux.
Around the age of 4, my parents moved south and I grew up in Montpellier and then in Aubagne, near Marseille in Provence, but I have always kept my origins firmly rooted deep inside me.
Even as a child, one of my aunts from Normandy used to pick me up by train for the summer holidays in the Bessin.
What a beautiful and long trip at that time (it took all day) with the crossing of Paris by bus for the change from Gare de Lyon to Gare Saint – Lazare which will remain a wonderful memory and from time to time it was my uncle train driver on the Paris – Cherbourg line who took care of the last 200 kilometers before another of my uncles came to pick us up at Lisieux station in his Renault 4 L that I have never forgotten « and there began the two most magical months of each year of my childhood ».
When I grew up, I was interested in WW2 and the Battle of Normandy, June 6, 1944 is a day on the calendar for many but for me it’s something else.
On my own, I learned a lot about the D-Day landings and Operation OVERLORD, I visited a very large part of the sites of the Second World War, I discovered the most unusual ones to the most discreet but all marked by the events of the conflict.
Much older still, I made my daughter, born at the foot of the Pagnol hills, discover not only her origins but also the places and the history that accompanies them.
Life has made her love Normandy because today she lives there and takes my grandson there to tread the sand… To play it of course, he’s still small but we’ll tell him!
An anecdote about when I was 3 years old, I was on Sword Beach at the Kieffer commando memorial, it was winter, my daughter took off her shoes and pulled up her pants « because she wanted to go walk in the water where the French landed » she replied when he asked her why she was taking off her shoes.
The covid of 2020 led me to get closer to her and what a great decision to leave the 13th for the 14th!
Today, I have been living since 2021 very close to Bayeux in a mill on the banks of the Aure and what a surprise to learn that my place of residence was home to a German garrison during WW2 which used the turbine to produce the energy of the Longues sur Mer battery (a great satisfaction to have taken back a position from the opponent…).
More personally, my grandfathers fought in 14/18 and received the Croix de Guerre, particularly for the Battle of Verdun.
In 1944, on August 18 to be precise, my maternal grandmother found herself alone with her 5 daughters following the machine-gunning of my uncle and grandfather, it was a week before the liberation of Paris and it was necessary to finish the Battle of Normandy before continuing on the path of Freedom, we can read in the accounts of the world conflict (Normandy alone paid dearly for the liberation of the France).
Fan of cars, driving and mechanics (a bit of an amateur driver) I run more often on foot and this year I participated in the first edition of the Heroes Marathon in tribute to the Allies (an object from my collection on WW2, a dog tag in the name of Donald Day… DDAY).
Finally, fate decided for me to cross the Overlord vans and buses that pass in front of my « home sweet home » for Tour 2 Full Day Omaha Utah!
So why not!! Project manager in hydraulic engineering in Marseille, car, motorcycle and boat driving licenses, I got in touch with Overlord, I passed my BUS license and here I am integrated since 2024 into a superb team of highly qualified guides (I’m learning even more, it’s great!).
Today I am delighted to take you for a long day accompanied by a passionate and experienced guide to make you live a Longest Day that I am sure will remain in your luggage for a long time.
See you soon at OVERLORDTOUR!
