"Although France was always a country on our "must see" list, we never were in any big rush to visit there. So, after traveling to Italy with Monograms a year earlier, in 2006, we decided to try a Globus fully escorted tour of "Normandy, Brittany & Chateaux Country." Consider taking this tour if you are a history buff (both U.S. and European). A lot of credit goes out to our tour guide Marie Clare. Traveling with her for seven days was like an escorted tour through history—she was awesome. In addition to her in-depth narration, the absolutely beautiful French countryside set the scene for one unforgettable vacation.

"After our introduction to the city and time well spent on our own, on day three we booked an optional excursion through Globus to Versailles Palace. This gorgeous baroque palace built by King Louis XIV is unbelievable. Despite the pouring rain, the palace and gardens with their spectacular fountains and statues were simply breathtaking. On day five, we drove to the Normandy Beaches, the scene of the Allied Forces' landing on D-Day. The bunkers still exist and you can still walk into the fox holes. As I sit here writing this review, I still can recall the range of emotions I felt; both overwhelming sadness, as well as pride for those who lost their lives defending our country. Traveling with us were two WWII veterans, as well as a man who lost his older brother in the war. This gentleman was able to locate his brother's grave, as our Tour Director and bus driver brought us to the Brittany American Cemetery which was not part of our tour's itinerary. What a wonderful thing they did for him that day, and what an amazing experience for the rest of us.

"The evening turned more joyous as we celebrated several birthdays (mine included), as well as one couple who became engaged to each other during our cocktail hour! Other highlights included an unscheduled stop in Château Briant, as our tour guide knew it was a market day in this charming little village. We were able to meander through the winding streets lined with vendors selling everything imaginable: livestock, flowers, candy, produce, meats, cheeses, wine, clothing, etc.

"As we headed back to Paris, our morning ended with a visit to the Louvre Museum. Later that evening a bunch of us headed to the Moulin Rouge for an unforgettable evening of Parisian cabaret. This was a real fun way to cap off a fantastic vacation with our wonderful traveling companions!