Sunday/Monday Recap from Maggie

Sunday

The plane ride was hard this time around! Personally, I was only able to sleep about 2 hours at most. However! The hilarious, fun, and very French flight attendants gave us an amazing pastry on the plane and that was a great way to begin our adventure! We stepped off the plane in Paris extremely excited but also exhausted. I realized that I had basically pulled an all nighter in American terms because it was 8:00 am in Paris. We got all of our luggage then loaded on the bus to go straight to the Louvre. We went into the museum under a huge parking building and were assigned a tour guide. She quickly lead us through a couple halls pointing out the most famous works within the museum (the nîke, Venus, Mona Lisa, and a few others). I took pictures of the paintings I was most taken aback by. 

This one in particular was so beautiful and unique, and I believe it was by Costa. We went through the Greek/Roman area and then the area that was influenced by this era ( i.e. Michelangelo). We then went through the Renaissance period very quickly and later saw paintings done during Napoleon's time. Let me just say, the Mona Lisa was stunning. It was disappointing that the enormous crowd was just taking pictures of Mona Lisa instead of looking at her. I think a bunch of the people in Select realized this and just tried to enjoy seeing history. Leonardo da Vinci's other paintings were definitely one of my favorite parts of the Louvre. This one specifically (the painting, not Mr. Angel haha!) was just so different and beautiful at the same time. 

Even if you are not an art junkie I think it was easy to appreciate or at least realize the history we were seeing.

The Louvre in general was enormous and the pyramids were beautiful. We saw them from the bottom and will thoroughly visit them later this week.  

We then waited for the second half of the group to finish their tour through the louvre and we hopped on the bus to take a panoramic tour of the city where we came face to face with the Eiffel Tower. You don't realize how abrupt and enormous it is in the pictures. I think being in the middle of a grassy, friendly park area definitely contributed to its enormity. 

We passed by it all these enormous buildings engraved with gold or plated gold, including the Arc de Triumph...wow, that Paris has a particular style; it is outstanding and prominent but also has an air of elegance. Even the modern buildings are designed like the old European buildings around it. It really is as if the walls and ceilings of Versailles had been scattered throughout the city. 

We were then dropped off to go to lunch on our own through the huge shopping strip. Oh my goodness, I passed by a macaroon shop with neon and brightly colored macaroons and was dying inside to have one! However, I ate at a small fast food type place where I got a baguette with cheese and tomato and tried a great pastry filled with Nutella. It wasn't a crazy lunch but just something small to wake me up! 

The culture in Paris at least is very diverse. You hardly ever see two people who appear the same, which is so fun! 

We were about to leave for our two hour drive to Caen when there were suddenly a bunch of people who began to perform on the street. We were pretty sure that it was a scam because it looked like a bunch of pickpocketers were going through the huge crowd while they were clapping and distracted by the performers. Don't worry though, we are all very aware of our surroundings and safe! 

The two hour drive to Caen was slow and confusing because the time change screws you up incredibly when you wake up from your nap.  However, it was awesome to see the little towns scattered throughout the sides of the tiny mountains. 

We walked around the city a little before fully settling into our hotels and saw old castle ruins and the church of Caen. The dinner was incredible! Never have I ever had such amazing Beef Dish, Dad! Let's learn how to make it once I'm home! 

As I write this we are in the bus on the way to Normandy. I know this is going to be an incredible experience. Thank you so much to all the parents and families for giving us the opportunity to experience this. 

Family, I'm warm, safe, and having so much fun now that I'm clean and showered! 

Much love, Maggie Herring!