Day FOUR: Paris

The second day in Paris was the most eventful day of the trip so far, from seeing local historical buildings to seeing how Parisians live their daily lives. First, we woke up and had an amazing breakfast, including croissants, baguettes and pan au chocolat at the hotel. Then, we went straight to pick up our tour guide Stephanie from the Arc de Triomphe, which is in a crazy intersection, and contains a memorial to forgotten soldiers, and has a flame that burns infinitely. 



After picking Stephanie up we started on our bus tour, seeing the streets of Paris and hearing about all the old buildings, what they used to be, and what they are now. As we were going past one of the colleges (the Sorbonne), we witnessed a student protest about climate change first hand, which was ironic considering the fact that Stephanie wanted to say this is a very lively street where everything happens. 




We stopped at the Luxembourg Garden where we were able to walk around or stop to get coffee. The garden was kept clean and green, and they allowed us to walk on the grass, which rarely happens in most gardens. 








After that first stop we went straight to the Palace of Versailles, which is a palace where Louis the XIV-XVI lived. This palace had two sections, which we got the chance to see both. Inside the palace we saw the church that was used by kings during the time. Each room has an interesting backstory of what those rooms where used for, especially the Hall of Mirrors, which is where the Treaty of Versailles was signed. 







We also walked around the expansive Gardens of Versailles, which had acres of fields filled with statues, flowers, fountains, and other decorations. The Palace of Versailles was truly an incredible experience showcasing both the history and beauty of France. 








Our next stop was one of the most iconic symbols of Paris, the Eiffel Tower. Last, we took a boat cruise down the Seine River, and saw many of the landmarks of Paris. Although this was a little chilly, the amazing views of Paris were worth it! We ended the cruise and our time in Paris with an incredible view of the lit-up Eiffel Tower.






- Kaylie, Dan, Lia, Olivia


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