D-DAY 75TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR GUIDE BOOK

Contact Information Guides Jake Krengel: (+49)15207029209 Pete Smit: (+49) 17657881028

Hotel Information Tower Hotel Address: St Katharine's Way, St Katharine's & Wapping, London E1W 1LD, United Kingdom Telephone: (+44) 800 330 8005

Grand Hotel du Luxembourg Address: 25 Rue des Bouchers, 14400 Bayeux, Telephone: (+33) 2 31 92 00 04

Hotel Mercure Centre Tour Eiffel Address: 20 Rue Jean Rey, 75015 Paris, France Telephone: (+33) 1 45 78 50 00

Hotel Melbe Address: Avenue Mathieu 49, 6600 Bastogne, Belgium Telephone: (+32) 61 21 77 78

Hotel Bayerischer Hof Heidelberg Address: Rohrbacher Str. 2, 69115 Heidelberg Telephone: (+49) 6221 872880

Holiday Inn Munich City Centre Address: Hochstraße 3, 81669 München Telephone: (+49) 89 48030

Emergency Services United Kingdom – 999 Continental Europe -112

• Please note, the (+--) numbers are the country codes. If you are calling from a domestic line, simply replace the (+--_ with a 0. For example, when calling from Germany, your guide numbers would be 015207029209 and 017657881028. When calling from France or the 0 is dropped and replaced by the German country code; (+49). The + key can be entered by holding zero or simply entering it twice.

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Helpful Article from www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Use-the-London-Underground-aka-the-Tube/ Reading the Tube Map: London is divided up into nine Zones. Central London is covered by Zone 1. As you move outwards, you pass through Zones 2-9. The is divided into 11 different lines which are colour coded. Signs to each line will give both the line name, and it's colour, so they are easy to follow. If travelling with children, it's often easier to call a line by colour (e.g. “the yellow line” rather than using it's name i.e. the Circle Line).

Stations: When you look at a tube map you will see that stations are represented by one of two signs. Regular underground stations are represented by a line. You can't change between different lines at these stations. Interchange stations are represented by a white circle with a wide black outline. You can change between lines at these stations. The routes between lines will be signposted. Stations that interchange with National Rail stations have a red symbol next to them.

Buying Tickets: There are multiple options when it comes to buying tickets for the Underground.

Paper tickets: Tickets can either be bought from the machines available at each Underground station, from ticket offices on the station (be aware, not all stations have ticket offices, and they're not open all the time), or in advance from the Visitor Shop (https://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/) If you are making a journey to a specific station, and not stopping off anywhere else, you can get single or return to that destination. To get through the barriers, feed your ticket into the slot at the front, and collect it from the slot at the top. You cannot use paper tickets on London .

Oyster Cards are plastic smartcards that you can use instead of paper tickets. They come preloaded with some credit, plus you can add extra pay-as-you go credit at machines at every station. Oyster Cards are by far the cheapest way of travelling, as it automatically works out the cheapest rate for every journey you make. And there is a daily price cap – once you've spent up to that limit, you won't get charged any more. What is more, the credit doesn't expire, so it'll still be available the next time you visit London (although you can apply for a refund of unused credit by writing to for London's Customer Service Dept.).

You use your Oyster Card by swiping it (“touching in”) on the yellow reader at your start station (this will let you through the barriers), then again on the yellow reader at your destination station (“touching out”). As long as you remember to touch in and touch out, you'll only ever pay the cheapest rate for that journey. On buses and , you only need to touch in at the start of your journey. You can get Oyster Cards at every tube station, or via the online Visitor Shop. You can top-up with extra credit at any tube station at top-up machines. Simply touch the card to the yellow reader, pay in the money you want, then touch the reader again to finish.

Navigating: So, you've made it though the barriers – now what? Take a look at your map. There will be a big one on the wall in the entrance of every station, and on the platforms as well. Alternatively carry a pocket one.

Take a bit of time to work out your route, including any changes you might need. To get to a specific location, you might need to get off a train earlier than your destination, and change to a different line at an interchange station. Some stations only serve one line, so you can just follow the signs to that line. For interchange stations that serve multiple lines, follow the signs for the particular line you want. Don't forget that all of the signs will show the colour of the line as well as the name, so you can always just follow the colours!

If you are unsure, you can always ask a member of staff (or a local) to point you in the right direction At most stations you will need to use the to reach the platforms. When riding the escalators, you should stand on the right, so that people in a hurry can get past on the left. Some deeper stations will have lifts () instead.

When you reach the platforms, you'll normally have to decide which direction platform you need. Again, don't worry. There are maps on the wall that will tell you where you are right now, and which stations that line will stop at. The stop you're at is the one that's highlighted. All platforms have digital signs that display what the next train is, where it is going, and how long it will be until it arrives. It will also say on the front of the train what line the train is running on. 6

Catching a Train When you're on the platform, stand behind the yellow line. There's obvious reasons of this - you don't want to fall on to the lines! Some newer stations have barriers between the platform and the trains. The doors will open when a train is in the station.

You'll often hear the announcement "Mind the Gap” as a warning for London Underground to be aware of the gap between the train door and the platform.

When getting on the train, stand to one side to let other passengers off first, rather than trying to battle your way through. Don't worry about missing the train, or not getting on – everyone else will be doing the same. If the train doors are closing, please DO NOT try and stick your arm (or anything else) in the way to prevent it. This is really dangerous. Just wait for the next one - it'll only be a few minutes! Once on the train, you'll find that sometimes it will be completely packed (for example, if you if you are travelling during the “rush hours” of 8-9:30am and 5-6:30pm), partially full so there is a good chance you will have a seat, or it will be completely empty (rare, but you sometimes get lucky). I'll be honest – if you can avoid travelling in rush hour, do so.

If you do find yourself having to stand, make sure you grab one of the poles or rails above you. You don't want to fall over if the train judders. If there are lots of people, don't lean on a pole (so that there's more spaces for hands!). And I would suggest not leaning on doors. I've seen people fall out of the train because they've opened at a platform and the person wasn't paying attention!

If it's busy, move right down inside the train, so that the area by the doors don't get too full (it also means that you have a better chance of grabbing a seat when other people get off!)

As the train moves off, an announcement will tell you the next station. If there are any places of interest at the next stop, it will tell you that as well (e.g. the museums, Buckingham Palace etc.).

The British as a nation tend to be a little reserved, and sometimes find it awkward to start conversations. This means that sometimes tube trains can resemble Cistercian monasteries – they're not being rude, just shy! But don't be afraid to aks someone if you have a question. Londoners are a friendly bunch and will be happy to help.

The easiest way to tell if you've reached your station is simply to look out the window! There are lots of signs along the platform. If you are continuing your journey, and are swapping beween lines, look for the signs directing you to your next Undergroound line. These may be in different locations from the exits. If you're leaving the station, follow the "Way Out" signs. In the station concourse you will need to pass through the barriers, by either inserting your paper ticket into the slot or by touching out with your Oyster Card, contactless card etc.

Other Ways of Getting Around River Services: As the River Thames runs through the heart of London, it has used for transport for centuries. There are 2 types of river boat service – the River Buses which operate as an alternative to the Tube and buses, or the River Tours which are more leisurely but are an excellent way of seeing London You can use your Oyster card on the River Buses, but not to pay for boat tours.

Walking: A lot of destinations are closer together than you might think. There are maps, and black and yellow street signs dotted all over the capital, giving directions around the local area. It's also a good way to discover bits of London you might not otherwise see.

Black Cabs: These are an iconic modes of transport in London. They can be hailed on the street – just look for one with a lit yellow sign. The depends on your destination and the distance travelled, but there is no extra charge for extra passengers, service dogs, or luggage, so it there are a few of you going to the same place, why not share and split the cost? You can pay for cabs by cash, or debit and credit cards.

Article Source: www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Use-the-London-Underground-aka-the-Tube/

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London Free Time Activities

Tower of London One of the most convenient free time activities is a visit to the historic Tower of London located just across the street from our hotel. See the crown jewels consisting of over 23,578 gemstones, some of which are still used in royal ceremonies today. Take a guided tour with a Yeoman Wander (beefeaters) and learn the intriguing history of her majesties fortress. A tour with the Yeoman Warder tour is included Tower of London ticket. Tours meet at the signposted spot near the entrance. Be sure to visit the famous Tower of London ravens during your stay.

Open: Tuesday-Saturday: 09:00-17:30 / Sunday-Monday: 10:00-17:30 Entry: Adult: £24.70

Tower Bridge

Another easy excursion just around the corner from our hotel is the Tower Bridge. From the high-level walkways take in stunning panoramic views and experience the thrill of seeing London life through the Glass Floor. Discover the stories behind the engineering, the people, the architecture and the city that built Tower Bridge.

Opening Times: 09:30 – 17:00 Entry: £ 8.80

HMS Belfast Explore all nine decks of HMS Belfast to discover what life was like on board for the crew at war and at sea. The most significant surviving Second World War Royal Navy warship. Please note, parts of the ship are not easily accessible and can only be reached via latter.

Opening hours: 10:00 – 18:00 every day, last admission is at 17:00. Entry: £18 plus an optional donation

Getting there: Walk across the Tower Bridge. After arriving on the southern shore go down the stairs on the right- hand side. Continue along the river bank until you reach the ship.

British Museum Visit one of the largest and most significant cultural museums in the world. Discover artifacts from around the globe and explore the history of humankind. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon Marbles, Egyptian mummies, and so much more.

Open: Open daily from 10:00 – 17:30 Entry: Free

Getting there: Take the Circle Line to Euston Square. Exit the station and walk south down Gower Street for 15 to 20 minutes and you’ll see the museum on the left-hand side. For less walking, take the Circle or District Line to Embankment where you will transfer to the Northern Line (black) towards Tottenham Court. Here you’ll exit the station heading north on Tottenham Court then taking a right on Great Russel road making for a 10-15 minute stroll. Taxi: upwards of £25 – Walking: around 1 hour

St Paul’s Cathedral Visit one of the most famous in Britain and an iconic feature of the London skyline. St Paul’s Cathedral is just a few stops away from the Tower Hotel. Opening Times: Sightseeing 8:30 – 16:15 Galleries: 9:30 – 16:30

Getting There: Circle or District Line from Tower Hill to Mansion House. Head west on Cannon Street. Taxi: Upwards of £12 - Walking: around 30 minutes. Westminster Visit the house of Parliament and Big Ben. A variety of tours are offered at Westminster which may be booked ahead of time online of directly at the tours ticket office. Prices vary depending on the activity booked. General Opening Times: Monday-Friday: 9:30-15:30/Wednesday late: 16:30-18:00/Saturday:9:00-15:00 Getting there: take the District or Circle Line to the Westminster Station. There is also a river taxi stop in the area. Taxi: upwards of £20 – Walk around 1.5 hours 8

Shopping, Experience Dinning, and other activities.

Sky Garden

A unique public space that spans three stores and offers 360 degree uninterrupted views across the City of London. Visitors can wander around the exquisitely landscaped gardens, observation decks and an open-air terrace of what is London’s highest public garden. While most tickets must be booked well in advance, free-visitor walk-in spaces are offered between 10.00-11.30 and 14.00-16.30 Monday-Friday. Alternatively, the Sky Pod Bar welcomes walk-in guests to the bar every weekday between 7am-10am and from 6:15pm onwards.

Address: Sky Garden, 1 Sky Garden Walk, London, EC3M 8AF

Getting there: 10 minute walk or £15 taxi ride

Carnaby Street & SOHO

At the core of London’s West End, Carnaby brings you over 100 international and British heritage labels, independent boutiques, one-off concepts, beauty emporiums, grooming salons and bespoke jewelry specialists, and over 60 restaurants, bars and cafés offering over 30 global cuisines. Not far away is the 1940’s WWII themed bar Cahoots at 13 Kingly Court. Here guests are transported back in time and will find dazzling cocktail and delicious “rations”.

Getting there: To get to Carnaby Street you’ll need to make your way to the underground to Oxford Circus. There are a few ways to do this with only one transfer. We suggest taking the Circle or District line to Embarkment where you can change to the brown Bakerloo line towards Oxford Circus. From there it’s a 5-minute walk south along Argyll St.

Chinatown

Explore the authentic restaurants and shops of London's Chinatown neighborhood. Once home to Huguenot and Maltese immigrants, the area of Chinatown as we know it today started to form in the 1950s, when a handful of Chinese restaurants opened. With other businesses and services moving in, by the 1960s and 1970s the neighborhood had become a hub for Chinese culture.

Getting there: Take the District of Circle Line from Tower Hill to Embarkment where you will transfer to the Northern Line (black) and travel 2 stops to Leicester Square Station. Exit the station and make your way down Newport Rd. At the opposite end you’ll find the Chinatown Gate. The trip should take around ½ hour.

Borough Market

Getting there: The easiest way to get to the Borough Market from our hotel is by foot. Just walk across the Tower Bridge and go right along the river bank. You’ll walk past the HMS Belfast and London Bridge Pier. Continue along the river bank until you reach the London Bridge road. Cross the street leading onto the bridge making your way to Montague Cl road. Follow the road as it curves left and you will arrive at the market. A taxi from the hotel to the market will cost around £10-15

London Eye The London Eye is the tallest Ferris Wheel in Europe with a total height of 135 meters. The wheel has 32 ovoid capsules, one for each Borough in London. The ride is remarkably steady with the wheel rotating once every 30 minutes and provides exceptional views over London. Wait times at the London Eye can be extremely long at time.

Opening times: daily from 10:00 - 20:30 Cost: £ 27 Getting there: after our visit to the Imperial War Rooms, guests will have the opportunity to be dropped-off at the London Eye. Return trips to the hotel may be made by crossing the bridge and traveling from the Embarkment Underground station to Tower Hill. River taxis also travel from the London Eye to Tower Bridge right in front of our hotel.

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Easy Guide to The Paris Metro – How To Go Deep In Paris – Source: www.parisinsidersguide.com/paris-metro

Where Can the Paris Metro Take You? With all those stations, the Metro can get you pretty much any place you want to go in the Paris city limits. The Metro is one reason why it's so easy to see a lot of Paris in a short time. Line 1, for instance, traverses the city from east to west (at a small angle) so you can hop on at the and zip over the Bastille on the other side of Paris. With the spider's web of lines, it's fairly easy to get from one place to another with only one transfer. Most of the time. (By the way, you can transfer as many times as you want once you enter the Metro system. Until you get out, that is.)

The standard Metro ticket or Metro pass covers the entire city. (That's zones 1, 2 & 3.) That's all you're ever going to need as a visitor, so don't worry about the other zones.

How Do You Ride the Paris Metro? Here's the most important point of this whole article — riding the Metro is simplicity itself. You can buy your tickets at an automated machine found in almost all stations. (The machines take credits cards with chips, many even take cash.) Then, when you approach the gate, simply slide your ticket into the slot, take it out of the other end of the slot, and walk through. You're in.

Then look for the easy-to-use signs that direct you to your platform. If you're in a station with multiple lines, simply follow the signs with the number of the line you are looking for. (For instance, at the Arc de Triomphe station — called "Charles de Gaulle-Etoile" — look for signs for lines 1, 2, or 6.)

The only tricky thing is that you need to know which direction you are heading in. Trains on each line run both ways, of course, so you need to know whether you're going north or south, or east or west, etc. The directions are named for the last station on that line on either end. Looking at Line 1 again, the directions are La Defense in the west and Chateau de Vincennes in the east. Those are easy to remember, but we can get confused on Line 7, for instance, where the directions are La Courneuve-8 May 1945 and Villejuif Louis Aragon.

Luckily, the Paris Metro signage solves that problem. Before you take the stairs to your platform, you'll see a sign listing the stations in that direction. So, if we're taking Line 7 to Gare de l'Est, we simply scan the list of stops to make sure we're heading in the right direction.

What Is the train? (Formerly the RER) In some Metro stations you'll also see signs for Line A or B or C or D. Those are lines of the RER, which is now being called simply train. Compared to the Metro, the RER/train is deeper and faster, with fewer stations and a greater reach. The RER/train is the Paris regional high-speed urban train system. In the city, the RER/trains runs underneath the Metro, so you're often taking a long ride even deeper underground.

We use the RER/train to get places fast. If we're going from the Arc de Triomphe to the zoo at Vincennes, we don't take Metro Line 1, we take RER line A and get there in 15 minutes flat. That's fast, and all at the cost of only one Metro ticket.

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Paris Taxis – from www.parislogue.com How to Tell if a Taxi in Paris is Licensed Taxis in Paris aren’t uniformly one color, so it won’t do to turn away any taxi that isn’t the same color as the first one you rode in. You do need to make sure the taxi you’re about to get in is licensed, however, because un-licensed taxis are illegal and therefore unregulated – and that means they’re not only more likely to rip you off, you’re also not going to get any sympathy from the authorities if you do get ripped off.

So, how do you know if a taxi is licensed and official? An official Paris taxi must have all of the following things:

A sign on top that says “Taxi Parisian,” that can be lit up, and that has three small lights underneath to denote fares A working meter on prominent display, showing the cost of the trip as you go

How to Hail a Taxi in Paris Technically, you can hail a taxi in Paris, just as you can on the streets of New York. But in Paris, you’re much more likely to get frustrated by trying to hail a cab – either because every taxi that passes is already full, or because they just won’t stop for you. Why aren’t they stopping? It could be a couple of things.

First, there are official taxi stands throughout Paris – sometimes known as “taxi ranks.” If you’re within roughly 50 meters of a taxi stand, a taxi driving by isn’t legally allowed to stop for you – instead, you have to go to the taxi stand and wait in line (if there is one) to get in the first available cab there. As a visitor, you may not realize there’s a taxi stand nearby, but if taxis are driving by without stopping and their taxi signs are lit up, you may want to start looking around for a taxi stand.

Calling for a Taxi in Paris Since attempting to hail a taxi on the street or finding a taxi stand (where, it has to be said, there are often no taxis waiting!) offer inconsistent results, the best way to get a taxi in Paris is to call one. You can call an individual company, or use the all-purpose number: 01 45 30 30 30.

The major taxi companies in Paris are: Alpha Taxi – 01 45 85 85 85 Artaxi – 01 42 41 50 50 Taxi G7 – 01 47 39 47 39 (English: 01 41 27 66 99) Taxi Bleus – 01 49 36 10 10 (English)

One thing that’s important to know is that when you call a taxi, the meter starts running from the moment they set off to pick you up – not from the moment you get in the taxi. So when you get in the cab, the meter will already be ticking away and is likely to have a nice sum already on it. Don’t assume the driver’s trying to rip you off – this is standard operating procedure in Paris. The fact that the fare seems ridiculously high for a trip that took 10 minutes or less is perhaps irritating, but it’s unfortunately normal.

How to Pay for a Taxi in Paris The vast majority of the time, you’ll pay for your taxi ride in Paris with cash. If you know in advance that you’ll need to use a credit card to pay for your taxi, you need to make sure before you get in the cab that it’s equipped to accept credit cards. Additionally, the total amount of the fare has to be €15 or more. So for a short trip in the city, make sure you have enough cash on you – or take the Metro.

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Typical Paris Taxi Fares There are some basic charges associated with a taxi ride in Paris, but there isn’t one base fare because the rate you’ll be charged depends partly on where you are in the city and when you’re taking the taxi ride. But here are some of the basic charges: Starting charge – €2.20, Minimum charge – €6.10, Extra charge for every passenger after 3 – €2.95

Free Time Activities The - The Palace of Versailles has been listed as a World Heritage Site for 30 years and is one of the greatest achievements in French 17th century art. Louis XIII's old hunting pavilion was transformed and extended by his son, Louis XIV, when he installed the Court and government there in 1682. A succession of kings continued to embellish the Palace up until the .

Open- 0900 to 1730. Closed on Mondays Entry- 20€ - it is best to book tickets online at chateauversailles.fr How to get there- Public transportation- 5 minute walk to Station - Line - RERC - 26 minutes (9 stops) to Gare de Versailles - 12 minute walk to Palace of Versailles.

Musee du - Visit the world's largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine. Open- 0900 to 1800 closed on Tuesdays - Entry- €17

How to get back to hotel - If guests would like to visit it will only be possible on Monday afternoon. We recommend getting off at the Louvre at the end of our sightseeing tour. To get back to the hotel you may take the to the stop, catch a cab or take public transportation. Public Transportation - Walk to the Palais Royal Musée du Louvre Metro Stop (inside museum) - get on La Defense Line #1 (8 stops) get off at Charles de Gaulle Stop - switch to the Nation Line #6 (7 stops) - Get off at the Bir Hakeim Stop - walk back to hotel.

Eiffel Tower- Constructed from 1887 to 1889 as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair, it was initially criticized by some of France's leading artists and intellectuals for its design, but it has become a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

Open- 0900 - midnight Entry- €25.50 How to get there- Walk out of hotel and head straight (5 min walk).

The shops of the Champs Elysees- shop the Champs Elysees in Paris, is one of the most celebrated shopping districts in the world. With over a miles of sleek shops, cafes, and restaraunts, there is something for everyone. Here you will also find the Arc de Triomphe, which honors those who fought and died for France during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.

Getting there: Make your way to the Bir-Hakeim and catch the line 6 (turquoise) to the Charles de Gaulle Étoile station 5 stops away. Above you is the Arc de Triomphe. Transfer to the Metro line 1 (yellow) and get off one stop later at George V or 2 stops later at Franklin D. Roosevelt station.

Picnic at the Eiffel Tower- If you don’t have a desire to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, a great alternative is to have a picnic and take in the beauty of this impressive structure. Stop by a local supermarket and get a baguette, cheese, meats and a bottle of wine. Directly in front of the world-famous Eiffel tower is a beautiful park space to enjoy the views and people watch. This activity is especially fun in the evening when you can witness the Eiffel Tower Light Show.

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Open- Everyday 0900 - midnight Entry- Free to visit the park in front of the Eiffel Tower How to get there- Walk out of the hotel lobby and head straight. Take a right once you reach the tower to get to the park. Only a five-minute walk from our hotel. This activity is a must during your stay in Paris.

Catacombs of Paris- In the final decades of the 18th century Paris was in dire need of extra space. The city looked to a network of limestone mines dating back to medieval times. The catacombs are 20 meters below street level where the temperature is a steady 57 degrees. Some six million bones were moved here. At first these were stacked randomly, but the city decided to make the catacombs a visitable mausoleum, and had the bones arranged in jaunty, decorative patterns.

Open- 1000 to 1830 Entry- €29 How to get there- Public Transportation (20 min) - Walk 5 min to Bir Hakeim Metro stop - Get on Line 6 “Nation” (9 stops) - Get off at Denfert-Rochereau stop - walk 2 min to Catacombs of Paris.

Museum d’Orsay- The museum is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. It houses the largest collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world, by painters including Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, and Van Gogh.

Open- 0930 - 1800 Closed on Mondays Entry- €14 How to get there- Public Transportation (14 min) - Walk 5 min to the Champ de Mars Stop - get on going to RER Gare De Juvisy (2 stops) - Get off at Gare Musee d’Orsay - 1 min walk

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