Versailles

Bonjour nos amis!

 

Yesterday many of us had the chance to board the RER trains and venture out to Versailles. The group had a guided tour of the chateaux, and learned all about the history of the architecture, paintings and the French monarchy. Versailles was the summer residence for French royals, and approximately 7000 people moved out to the home each year. Today we’ll be visiting the Louvre, which served as the winter home, and should provide a nice contrast for the students.

 

A highlight of yesterday was the free time spent in the gardens, which spread over several square kilometers. Each student had the opportunity to explore various areas of the vast greenery, and they returned to me with fantastic pictures of unique finds within the grounds. The Hall of Mirrors was also stunning and a perfect opportunity for students to practice their selfies in the mirrors that extended the length of the hall. We all felt somewhat royal after our visit to this beautiful, opulent palace.

 

This was in stunning contrast to our visit to the Left Bank, which is home to many Parisian students who attend the Sorbonne, a famous university in Paris. Highlights included Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter, and our close encounters with the many pigeons (or flying rats as our tour guide, Aurore, called them) found in the city. Students were given seeds by a local man who delighted in watching the pigeons land on their hands and heads. Pictures should be posted on the blog soon (if not already) of our thrill-seeking students.

 

We’ve also learned that there are a few adventurous eaters on the trip! Six students came home last night bragging about having a typical French dinner, complete with escargot, foie gras and many other delicacies. Mrs. Young was especially pleased to know that her ban against eating McDonalds had been obeyed.

 

This afternoon after our visit to the Louvre, we will be having dinner in Montmartre and hopefully climbing the hill to watch the lights of the Eiffel Tower twinkle. We’re hoping the weather cooperates, and the sun and warm temperatures forecasted reach us a day earlier than planned.

 

Classes are going well, and students are preparing for their next assignments. English students will be embarking on their photo essay in a few days, and business students have begun preparing for their cultural presentations which will be presented later this week. Marks will be coming shortly after we leave Paris for Rome.

 

Again, apologies for the delays in updating you with stories and pictures. European wifi continues to be painfully slow. Today’s postings have been brought to you by the Starbucks near our hotel, which is only marginally better than the wifi in our hotel. Many students have been documenting their trip on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and for those who haven’t gotten in touch with you recently, know that they are safe and having an amazing time here in Paris!

 

À bientot!