This post features student writing.
After a few days in the Dolomites, our group spent nearly a week in beautiful Paris, The City of Light. While some of our group had previously spent considerable time in Paris, both veterans and first-time visitors were eager for macaroons, crêpes, glacé, quiche, croissants, and more world-class French cuisine. As we soon found out, amazing food was just one of the common threads of a week filled with amazing museum tours at the Louvre, Chartres Cathedral, and the Palace of Versailles, a live classical music concert, artisan cheese tastings, and more. We also had the pleasure of celebrating our first birthday on the trip when Sophie E turned 16. Below, enjoy some great photos and the students’ reflections about their favorite moments in Paris.
– Alicia, Tim, and Jonathan
Sophie E: I spent my first birthday abroad this year. It was my 16th and my favorite birthday I’ve had. We went out to lunch in small groups, and I was surprised with a birthday cake after dinner. Having my birthday abroad was very different than anything I had experienced before because I was not able to talk to my parents or hang out with friends like I normally do. However, it felt like everyone was just as excited as me for my birthday, and I felt like my presence was appreciated by everyone. It was a great day!
Sarah H: Growing up in New York City can lead to a preconceived idea of what a city should look like and what attractions it should feature, and Paris breaks every one of those expectations. There are no skyscrapers (save one), all the buildings feature a consistency in architecture, and there are thankfully no rats in the subway. Additionally, it is a very old and storied city, and getting to see monuments and works of art going back hundreds of years was incredible in a different kind of way than the hundred-story buildings and other displays of advances that New York is known for.
Jonah S: Paris has a pretty crazy history, and I always find myself thinking about everything that has happened where I walk when I’m on the streets of this city.
Spencer C: Though the Louvre was stunning, perhaps some of its magic was lost amongst the 25,000 frenzied tourists there that day as well. It felt more draining than two hours in a fantastic museum should have. Naturally, as the group was waiting to eat lunch on the lawns outside the palace, we began to goof off. What began as a semi-joking attempt at a balancing contest developed into a solid yoga session. The impromptu nature of the whole thing really brought the group together.
Jaclyn H: It was amazing to have a specialist like Malcolm Miller showing us around. Chartres was amazing and overwhelming in its size and detail. He was so helpful in breaking down information and being able to process something so big and beautiful. I have always loved stained glass windows, but I never really knew how to read them. He was a great story teller and was able to teach us so much.
Amelia D: My favorite cheese was the Camembert, mainly because of the texture. It was quite easy to spread and consume with some bread, reminding me of a typical United States “Grab and Go” lunch. I really liked how I could test a smorgasbord of cheese without committing to one type and taking the risk of not liking it. I had never done something like that. I also learned a lot about cheese tasting since we tasted the cheese in order of intensity. I liked how I didn’t know how some cheeses were made and found out that one of my favorites was made with the use of spider larvae.
Alex P: Coming from California I had really been craving fish, so it was really nice to have the tuna. I also tried the carpaccio, and the pesto on it was really nice, but I could not bring myself to eat the capers. The duck’s consistency wasn’t amazing, but it tasted great. I have to say the dessert was the highlight of my evening: the combinations of sweet and sour fruit with dark chocolate were really nice.
Julia B: I find the Paris subway to be a sort of easy challenge. It seems very hard when you look at just the maps, but, when you actually learn about the maps and each of the stops, it’s really simple. I think that Parisian subways are way more clean and easy to maneuver.
Lindsey T: I wasn’t actually able to see Le Tour de France. The crowd was too large, so I had Fiona sit on my shoulders to take pictures/videos. However, being with such a large crowd that was so passionate about this biking race was amazing to experience. I now have a newfound interest in biking that I wouldn’t have found had I not gone.
Claire K: Paris is majestic at night because everything is still so bright. Even on colder nights, the air felt light. Because of the lack of skyscrapers, the streets felt very open. People continued their lives after dark and, on the boat tour, we got to see just how many people are still out and about at night. People here have a casual attitude — they’re not hurrying places, they’re just enjoying what is available to them.