Recap Day 2

We started with our bus tour. Monique was our guide and we picked her up not far from the hotel. We drove to the Bastille where the prison used to be. Now there is a Colin with an eagle in top to represent a revolution of 1830. We also saw the modern Opera built to house contemporary shows and larger audiences. Next through the Latin quarter past the Sorbonne, the oldest college in France and one of the most prestigious. From there we went up to the Pantheon which houses the tombs of many famous folks such as Louis Braille and Marie Curie. From there down the hill to the Luxembourg Gardens which is near Luxembourg palace built for Marie de Medici and which now houses the Senate of France. There's a nice pond inside for kids and a popular place for folks to spend time, like in Central Park.

Our next stop was Les Invalides where Napoleon's tomb is. The gold on the dome is replaced every 7 years at a cost of $10 million. We had a ball negotiating with the street vendors to buy some souvenirs. The kids were duly impressed with my negotiating skills and I told them that's a great reason to get really good at the language! We stopped briefly in the courtyard for a snack and restroom break , then on to the Champs de Mars to see the Eiffel Tower and Peace memorial. We didn't have time to stop for pictures there and planned to stop across the river but street closings due to a fire and the resulting gridlock changed our plans. We headed toward the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Élysées. We didn't get off because it was now snowing! A quick pass by the Opera House known from Phantom of the Opera and then to the Louvre for lunch.

The kids enjoyed the shops at the louvre including the Apple store and McDonalds :). Then we met back up to head across the Seine to the Orsay art museum home of impressionist art like Monet and Degas.  The building is beautiful with lot of light and is an old train station. It is well known for its train clock and beautiful interior.  We gave them just over an hour to explore the Impressionist art and most everyone found something they liked.

From there we hopped on the Metro up to the Opera area to do some quick shopping.  However when we got off so did two undercover police officers and a gang of gypsy girls who had tried to pickpocket Manh.  Fortunately he had followed my advice and kept his money and valuables inside his coat and they didn't get anything.  But the undercover police officers saw everything and had to interview Manh and take his information.  The kids thought it was hysterical, they were taking "selfies" in the metro trying to get pictures of the gypsies and the cops unobtrusively but of course they were very noticeable. It was a good reminder to keep hands on our bags and stay safe.

We gave them some time to shop around the Opera area.  The kids were looking for scarves and hats because it is so so so very cold here.  A few headed to Starbucks :)  Then after free time we had a 15 minute walk to dinner, near Montmartre.  We had beef bourginon and steamed potatoes with chocolate cake for dessert.  Yummy!

Then of course more walking back to the metro, to get to the boat tour.  We debated going up the Eiffel Tower instead, but it was a 2-hour wait so we decided to visit a souvenir stand first and then get on the boat.  Even though it was frigid, I made the kids go to the upper deck outside and take pictures of the city lit up and all agreed it was worth freezing for.  We waited until 9 pm so we could see the Eiffel Tower go all sparkly, which just amazed the kids.  Such a beautiful sight!

Then (of course!) more walking back to a metro station to head back to the hotel.  We have some pretty tired kids, who walked probably 10 miles today, but they just LOVED it and had a great time.  They are going to have such good stories to tell you when we get home.  Tomorrow we head to Avignon on the train, which will be a great experience for them as well.

À demain!

On the Seine River Cruise

We are very cold and very tired from walking but the students insist they are never leaving!

Fun in the metro

Story to come tonight it's a good one!

Outside the Opera

Off to shop for a while

At the Orsay

Taking clandestine photos. Oops how did that happen??

It's snowing in Paris!

Jardins de Luxembourg

Crazy Americans! This is in the grounds of the Senate and formally a Palace of Marie de Medeci

Best quote ever

So we are standing in front of the Hotel de Ville talking about the motto of France- Liberté, Egalité, fraternité - and Lotte asks us what it means. Student says, "liberty, equality and fertility" LOL!!

More pictures from Day 1

The "Locks of Love" bridge - lovers put on a lock and throw the key into the river and they are supposed to always stay together.

Waiting for the Metro

Outside Notre Dame

Mass at Notre Dame, Rose Window

Tour director Lotte explaining the history of the Latin Quarter

Mass at Notre Dame on Good Friday

Outside Dinner in the Latin Quarter

Notre Dame at Night

Ladies in front of Notre Dame

Up and at em

We are up this morning after a sound night's sleep!  Everyone was already up when we came around so that's a major bonus.

Nice breakfast spread of crepes, fruit, cereal, pastries and yogurt.  Everyone ate (and Mrs. Lawson, Troy tried and liked the crepes!).  I am taking advantage of the free wifi before we head out for the day.

On the schedule today is a bus tour of the city, time at the Orsay art museum, dinner near the Opera, boat ride on the Seine and if we can arrange a nighttime ascent of the Eiffel Tower.  Stay tuned for more pictures and updates!

Day 1 Recap

What a day it has been!  We left Thursday after school for the airport for our 6:30 pm flight.  We had no problems at the airport other than a pat down for one student. We grabbed some snacks caught up with some family flying in as we were flying out and boarded on time.  No problems on the plane other than getting comfortable. A few kids slept but I would say they were in the minority!  We landed in Munich about 8:30 am and cleared customs no problem.  Then more snacks free wifi and ready for connection to Paris. At this airport we had to take a bus from the building out to the Tarmac to get on the smaller regional plane. But after we got out there they turned us around and next us back to the terminal because they had to repair a wheel.  So back in we went, then back onto the bus again to finally board the plane. Short flight to Paris and most everyone slept on this one!

Waiting for the metro

We landed in Paris after noon, went to claim out bags and met Lotte our tour guide. She is from Belgium but lives in Germany and speaks 8 languages!  From the airport to the hotel took almost 90 minutes due to traffic. We are staying on the south side of the city. We checked in gave the kids 15 minutes to change and then back out again. After a 10-minute walk to the metro station, we taught the kids how to read the map and headed into the City center.

Tea and macarons at La Durée

Our first stop was La Duree, one of the most famous pastry shopping all of Paris. It is also a tea room, very sophisticated!  They are known for macarons, which are sweet flaky cookies with cream in the middle in many favors. Most kids sampled the macaroons, all agreed they were delicious!  Several also tried coffee and or tea.  From there a short walk into the Latin Quarter to head toward dinner. We talked about how is quarter got its name from Paris' first university, the Sorbonne. Students spoke Latin and that's how the area around the university got its name.

We had dinner at a cute little place in the Latin Quarter. We had turkey breast in a mushroom sauce with real French fries with apple tart for dessert. Kids all agreed it was tasty and also enjoyed the baguette bread on the table. From there we walked through the quarter to Ile de la Cite where the city of Paris first started. As Notre Dame came into view kids went crazy :).  Millions of pictures later we headed inside where we were delighted to find a Good Friday mass going on. what an experience!  The towers just turned 850 years old this year and they have just replaced the bells as well. We
also saw the huge viewing platform and tvs, which I think are set up for Easter service.

Outside Notre Dame

After a quick tour inside we decided to brave the cold a little longer and walk over to the Ile St Louis, the other island in the center of Pmaris. This is a very rich district, where real estate can go for $20,000 a square foot!  Along the way we saw the typical French street art, homeless people, stray dogs and young lovers.  Just across into the island we found a cafe selling famous Berthillon ice cream, known throughout Paris. So a few of us stopped and tried it, many enjoying a sample of my salted caramel ice cream.  As night fell we walked back alongside Notre Dame, now litup, to take the Metro back to the hotel.  We have just finished checking on everyone and are all set for a full day tomorrow!

Walking back past Notre Dame at night

I have to say how impressed I am with this group- I know they were tired and cold and they were super troopers game for anything!  Even our tour director commented on how good they were and brave to forge on despite tiredness and cold. I know they will sleep well to it and be ready for more adventures tomorrow. And just FYI moms and dads, several kids have decided to pool their euros and go in on an apartment - they say they never want to leave :) I see some study abroad in their futures!

Thanks all for reading - 500 visits to the blog since we left on Thursday!  This trip is going to break records!

Btw pictures comings soon we are havingr some technical difficulties transferring photos with the wifi :)  In the meantime check out Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracey.m.waid and click on photos, albums, France and Spain 2013.

Afternoon snack at La Duree

Tea and macarons at one of the most famous tea houses in Paris. Having a ball!

All present

On our way to get bags!

On the ground in Paris!

Slight delay

We are running a few mins late. They took us on the bus out to the plane then brought us back to the terminal. Now we are back on board and ready to get to Paris!

On the ground in Munich

Blogging from the plane...We have some tired kids but some very excited ones. One more short hop to go to Paris landing about lunchtime local time.

Big excitement was seeing snow on the ground as we landed!

Next up will be a photo of the kids once we deplane.

At the gate

All present and accounted for

All through security

Only one pat down! At the gate waiting to board.

All through security

On the way!

On our way to the airport!

Counting down the days!

48 Hours to Go!

We are just two days away from our departure.  The cameras are all charging, the kids are starting to pack and I'm finishing up the last minute details.  I'll be live blogging the trip here again so you'll be able to follow our adventures throughout France and Spain.  Sign up for email updates and get all the posts sent direct to you!

Last week my husband and I hosted the students and parents at our house for a Bon Voyage dinner.  One of the students who traveled with us last year is doing her Senior Project on French cooking, so she handled the French portion of the dinner and my dad and I did the Spanish menu.  We decided to eat through the day, so we started with traditional breakfasts in France and Spain, and then lunch, dinner and dessert.  The kids had a good time trying new foods so they will be more familiar once we arrive on tour.

Take a look at this quick slideshow I created - some look a little less certain about the options but I'm sure once they experience it live in Europe they will find it delicious!