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Each corner of France has its own distinct character. If you only see Paris you are missing a huge part of what makes France special. Being a proud Canadian and a bit of a history buff, one of my priorities in France was to visit a few sites from World War I and II. Visiting the D-Day beaches outside Bayeux and the Vimy Ridge Memorial near Arras were two highlights of my trip. I've never felt so proud to be Canadian and it was fun to share that feeling with strangers from across the country who had also made the trip to these towns which lie a little off the beaten backpacker path.
When I arrived in Arras looking for the Hostelling International hostel on the main square, I was entertained to find a big beach volleyball tournament had taken over the Grand Place. The memorial on the site of the Battle of Vimy Ridge marks the spot where on April 9, 1918 some 3598 Canadians gave their lives and where people say that Canada became a nation. A group of Canadian University students work at the site each summer and are happy to take visitors on a tour through the trenches and tunnels and provide background on this famous battle. I visited on my last day in France and on the bus ride back to town the bus driver refused payment. It's one of those moments that reminded me why I wear the Canadian flag on my backpack when traveling. The next morning I caught a direct TGV train from Arras to Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris and arrived in almost the time it would have taken to get there from Paris itself. Those trains are fast!
Rosey
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