Day 10 - Nice: Monaco ~ Fragonard Parfumeur ~ Confiserie Florian

 

 

 

 

 

Day 9 - Nice: Russian Orthodox Church ~ Roman Ruins ~ Old Nice

Mrs. Harvey and our tour guide, Libby, warned us of the great horrors of the train station and the overnight train. However, when faced with this challenge, most of the people in our group described the train ride as "not that bad," an anticlimactic relief. Our group stumbled off the train in a daze at 8:45 this morning and we were whisked away on an exceptionally classy tour bus to view the remains of a Roman arena and bathhouse. The ruins were surrounded by olive trees, the same trees that the Romans used to make olive oil in order to bathe themselves. The ruins were absolutely incredible, and the thought of all the historic events they and the trees have and continue to endure was both inspiring and astounding. From the ruins we were led around the labyrinth that is the Old Town in Nice, a section of the city dedicated to markets and small shops. We spent a short time there before we went to our hotel and long awaited showers. We spit up at the hotel.  My mother and I returned to the Old Town in search of souvenirs for everyone back at home, but we ended up shopping for clothes in Galleries Lafayette (a store like Macy's.) Overall, the day, like the entire trip, was exhausting but rewarding and the beauty of the coast of France, the Mediterranean, and the Roman ruins was awe-inspiring.

-Kaitlyn Oakley

 

 

 

 

 

Day 8 - Loire Valley: Chartres Cathedral ~ Versailles ~ Return to Paris ~ Overnight Train

We learn a lot in Mrs. Harvey's class. We learn about art, food, fashion, and of course, the French language. However, recently we learned about the Chartres Cathedral and the miracle of its rebirths. So when I discovered that we were going to visit the Cathedral I was very excited. I was thinking of all the cool facts I knew about the place and how I could keep up with the tour guide...I didn't, however, expect our tour guide to be The Malcolm Miller. Yeah, the guy The Davinci Code is more or less based off of. But you need to multiply Tom Hanks by 100 to get Malcolm. He an an elderly, very British gentleman with a very dry sense of humor that surpasses Mrs. Soloman's. Needless to say I was in awe. Maybe I just have a thing for older British men, but I'm pretty sure I was just impressed by him. He would just tell us to take a seat and would go into an extensive lesson about the stained glass windows adorning the cathedral. Apparently, there are double meanings in each window and it is necessary to read bottom to top, left to right to at least understand one. He was a wealth of knowledge and I was so happy to be in his presence. I felt like a little school girl. I would try to sit as close to him as possible even though it made no difference because we were listening to him by earphones. When the tour ended, I rushed to meet him and tell him how much I enjoyed his tour and how I just thought he was amazing. He just gave me a British smile (which looks like a frown) and signed his book for me. I am now the proud owner of one Chartres Cathedral by Malcom Miller addressed to Alex. School girl doesn't even begin to describe me right now.

-Alex Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"For Ava"

 

Ever since the first time I read about Versailles and its lavish gold decorations, I have wanted to see it myself.  I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I saw.  It was hard to imagine the "Sun King" and his royal court parading around the rooms of Versailles when all you can see around you are people snapping pictures and holding little speakers up to their ears while speaking in nameless languages.  I guess it was more realistic than you would think because of the lack of air conditioning and, I should put this lightly, fresh air.  My favorite part of Versailles, however, were the vast grounds.  It was so beautiful to see how the "Sun King" spent his sunny afternoons with his family in the backyard.

- Sarah Albritton

 

 

Day 7 - Loire Valley Chateaux: Amboise ~ Chenonceau ~ Chambord

Not every American girl can say they have walked where princesses walked. Imagining myself as a lighthearted royal lady, I tiptoed through the marble archways waving to my subjects far below the castle and beyond the moat. I even took a picture of myself waving below from the castle's 6th story! But the more I pranced through the castle of Chambord, the more I was surprised to find no elaborate rugs, carefully carved wardrobes, or even any traces of life. The only scraps of any existence were the few bed chambers and small horse stable in the courtyard. Disappointed as I first was when I came to the castle of Chambord, I realized that it doesn't take the fanciest of decorations and finest of jewels to make a princess. All it takes is the right mindset, a little imagination, and maybe a tiara souvenir from the giftshop.

-Cissi Denton