The plane ride home felt so much quicker than the travel into France. My first flight was straight to New York and left Charles De Gaule around 11:00 am. The flight was smooth and I was very pleased that this plane came with free movie services. I watched Avengers: Infinity War and about half a season of Parks and Recreation by the time my plane touched down. Luckily, the airport was big enough for me to wander around during my seven hour layover. The sky turned dark and now it was time to board my final flight to Columbus, Ohio. The plane was significantly smaller but I was seated next to a kind gentleman who was eager to inform me of his trip as a missionary to Africa. I slept the entire way back, thanks to the dark lightning and gentle sounds of rain tapping against the aircraft. I stepped off happy to be back in my home state. My parents, younger sister, and boyfriend all drove out from Cincinnati to pick me up from the airport. I am so thankful for the wonderful opportunity I was blessed with during the month of May!
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Last day in Paris! While I have had an amazing time learning the culture and history of the city, I can feel my body tire. I want to go home and return to my family, dogs, and boyfriend very badly but I am excited to take everything in one last time. We started early to make the most of our last day. We saw the Arc De Triomphe and I bought a box of macaroons to take back to my family. The day ended with one of the best dinners that I have ever had. The staff was very friendly, even though I sound like a french baby when trying to order in a different language. I got garlic and herb roasted potatoes with a steak cooked to perfection. Desert was a passion fruit cheesecake that had a nice light and airy texture to compliment the heavy main course that I had just consumed. I walked back from the restaurant to finish packing and get myself ready for my long voyage home in the morning.
I am a history buff and was looking forward to seeing Normandy more than anything else on the trip. I am happy to say that our time near Omaha beach did not disappoint. I spent the entire bus ride reading about personal accounts from the battle to prepare myself going in. The museum as a whole was somber the entire way through. A small theater in the front played a short film that detailed the lives and sacrifices of three American soldiers. This served to humanize the fighters and show that they were average, typical citizens just like the viewer. Glass displays housed recovered artifacts from the scene and inscriptions detailed their significance. A charred plush stuffed animal that was owned by a child in a nearby village that was raided on the day of attack stood out to me the most. I will never forget the chilling feeling that I had walking through the exit of the museum. A long, dimly lit concrete hallway takes guests out of the museum portion and into the memorial guardians. As one walks down the corridor, the emotionless voice of a recording plays the names of all who lost their lives in the war. It was chilling in the moment and still is just to think about now in reflection.
I took Sunday as a chance to be on my own. I got lunch from a cafe near the hotel and then took the metro back to Shakespeare and Company to look more at the old books the have housed upstairs. Then, I went to the Westfield Mall to walk around and tryon clothes. I did not buy anything, but had an enjoyable time window shopping. I knew the last few days would be very busy and wanted to make sure that I built in sometime for myself before the chaos.
On Saturday, we got the privilege to visit the French Senate. Not many Americans get the honor of going into a high security, important complex in a foreign territory. Our group was given a friendly tour guide that would describe how their government model works for us. Their government operates in a way that is very similar to ours in America. The senate room is covered in red carpeting and a semi-circle, with arcs of chairs lining the rows. The tour guide mentioned that there are three different sizes of chairs, tailored to best fit the size and build of the government official!
I have always been an avid reader since childhood. Shakespeare and Company is a famous bookstore in the area and once I heard about their rare book collection, I knew I had to go. I’ve never had to previously wait in a line to get into a bookstore, but it was well worth the wait. The front portion of the store greets the customer with reprints of timeless classics, such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables. I love collecting children’s books for my future classroom and this location did not disappoint. Next door was a café that served very overpriced iced coffee that, despite how refreshing it was, put a hole in my bank account. I wish I spent less today, but my at-home library certainly grew!
On Thursday we visited the Pantheon. Prior to being in France, I had no idea that the Pantheon existed. The Pantheon is a massive memorial structure that is reserved for praised individuals who have been cited as high and effective contributors to the betterment of society. Many distinguished individuals such as Hugo Weaving, Voltaire, and Marquis Lafayette. It was incredible to see such prominent and profound individuals all laid to rest in the same honorable place.
In the morning, we went to the Orsay museum. This impressionist museum holds a wonderful collection that contains Van Goh, Monet, and some of the most recognizable sculptures such as The Gates of Hell. I usually do not care for art, but enjoy Monet’s work. The Tupplies of Holland is one of my favorite paintings of all time and seeing it in person was very exciting! In the evening, we went to the catacombs. My claustrophobia set in immediately after walking downstairs and I decided to exit. I heard wonderful things about the underground cemetery from my peers and read about them once I walked back to the hotel.
In the morning, we visited the Palace of Versailles. As silly as it sounds, I was eager to see this location given that it is heavily featured in the Pokemon games inspired by the country of France titled Pokemon X and Pokemon Y. The surrounding gardens were beautiful to walk around in. Hearing about King Louis’s crazy ego was also a nice touch to the area (he went to the bathroom outside so commoners could watch!). The inside was very crowded, which made the elaborate details difficult to fully take in and admire. If there was less of a pack, I am sure I would have found as much joy in the inside as I did the exterior. Later on that day, we went on a river ride that gave a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower at nightfall.
Monday was a day filled with learning. I enjoyed learning about the city much more than the tourism, so today was perfect for me. We went to the Louvre Carrousel, a nearby garden, and two plazas with significant ties to the French Revolution all before noon! We had a treat at Cafe Angelina, a famous cafe in the area. The hot chocolate was incredibly rich and silky going down. I had a light strawberry cake to offset the heaviness of my drink. It was amazing! With full stomachs, we then went to Saint-Easutaches Church. Much of this structure was being cleaned so it kind of took away from the ambiance, but the overall architecture was amazing! It baffles me that the builders had the technology to construct such an impressive and tall church given the time period that it was built.
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