Monday, our original plan was to go to Versailles palace. Unfortunately, the palace is closed every Monday, so our plan did not work out. Instead we decided to do something on Jamie's "must-see" list: go to the D-Day beaches. We drove from Versailles to the Juno Beach Centre, which is a museum created on the beach where Canadian soldiers landed during WWII.

We walked right up to the beach, on the English Channel. The sky was grey, the wind was blowing and the waves were huge - seeing the harsh weather conditions really showed the many obstacles that the soldiers had to overcome to get onto the beach… not to mention facing enemy fire.

The museum was also very well done. There were many exhibits that showed the technology, and equipment used during the war… but there were also many emotional sections showing the sacrifice that many soldiers made for our freedom.

I was really glad I that went to see this historical beach. During my trip I have visited historical sites such as the Juno beach centre and Auschwitz concentration camp. These places are not the glitzy tourist attractions that I usually frequent while travelling, but they are so important to visit. Seeing the struggles of those in the past makes me appreciate all that I have and all that I've been able to do that much more.

After the museum, we found a tiny family owned restaurant. We all had great service and food... with the exception of Jamie who - because of the language barrier - accidentally ordered Veal kidney. Luckily, Mom is adventurous with food and happily traded dishes with him, so all was not lost.

We took the back roads back to Versailles and enjoyed the scenic French country side.