I love watching movies and was dismayed that I would not get to see Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Three until I returned home. Gambling on luck, I decided to see if it was being shown in English with French subtitles anywhere in the city. I found a theater called Le Grand Rex and bought a ticket, not knowing that I was about to have the best viewing experience of my life. The theater was massive and had the capacity to seat around 3,000 people. Roman architecture and statues lined the sides of the walls and the ceiling was specked in small, reflective stars. The screen, aptly named “The massive screen” rolled down during previews and was close to sixty feet in width. The sound and imagery was pristine and served to enhance the quality of the movie. If I ever go back to France, I can’t wait to watch another movie in this theater!
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It was nice to sleep in! I am not an early riser, so at this point in the trip the exhaustion was starting to catch up to me. I took the majority of the day for myself and walked around the neighborhood to get acquainted with where everything was at. I hopped on the metro a few times to practice getting around and reading the station map. In the afternoon, my friend and I went to the Eiffel Tower and sat in the grassy field laying in front of the giant structure. Tourist traps filled the path and I can’t count on one hand how many times the street vendors tried to rope me into buying something I did not need. We sat and talked for a while, watching the diverse array of people walk around us. It was a slower paced day, though sometimes that leisure is needed.
I never thought it was possible to do so much in one day, however, this Friday proved me wrong. In the span of twelve hours, I saw some of the most iconic Paris landmarks. We started the day by visiting the infamous Notre Dame. Due to intensive reconstruction in an attempt to salvage this historic structure from the flames that once encapsulated it, we only saw the exterior. Nonetheless, Kirsten did a wonderful job retelling the history and intentional architectural choices behind the building. Even though I was not physically in the space, I felt as if I could see the inside anyway. Next, we walked in the pouring rain to see La Sainte Chapelle, yet another church. Once we walked into the king’s worship space, my mind was floored. Tall walls were decked out in elaborate, ornate stained glass depictions of the bible. Everywhere your eye wondered was yet another beautiful piece of art to look upon. Even now, I struggle to put my emotions in that room to words. I was in true awe. It is a shame that only royalty was allowed to worship in that space, as it was a room I wish all eyes could see. In close proximity to La Sainte Chapelle resided a palace that was converted into a prison during the 1700s. Inscriptions on the walls documented the horrors and tortues that prisoners were subjected to. It is bewildering that a place once reserved for the most affluent could be flipped into a chamber of death and despair. As the afternoon crept upon us, we went to the Louvre. Visiting this museum has been on my bucket list ever since I was a child. I love learning and the extensive history packed into this construction did not disappoint. I stayed until close and only went through the Ancient Egypt exhibition because I was trying to take it all in and learn as much as possible. Friday was a long day, but a long day to remember!
After an eventful week in Nice, it’s time to leave for Paris! The morning was spent by wandering through the flower market and relaxing on the beach. I am not one for souvenirs, but a small soap shop sold lavender bars that smelled too good to pass up. I bid farewell to the rocky shores one last time and took several hours to sit and read along the coastline. Then, I grabbed my suitcase and joined the group to get on the bullet train bound for Paris. It was a calming ride and gave me ample time to unwind and prepare for the big city we were about to enter. Kenzie and I watched LaLa Land (my favorite movie!) in anticipation of seeing some of the film sets. The train halted late and night and we all left in a cab headed for a hotel, excited for what was to come.
The morning was filled with more teaching. It was sad to see the kids go, but I know we helped advance their English. One gave me a painted rock, another an origami butterfly, and another made me a yellow bracelet since she discovered it was my favorite color. What I love most about teaching is the impact that you can have and it was apparent that we reached these kids. The evening ended with a boat ride through the river. It was a different way to see the landscaping!
Tuesday was our first day working with the school children. I was so excited for this given that I am an education major and spend ample time working in the classroom. It was very interesting to see the differences in our education systems and what students were learning. We were to help them learn English and improve their conversational skills in practice. It was a lot of fun, and I felt my background and what I know about teaching and learning coming into play. I got along well with the kids, and the school lunch of fish and noodles was the best tasting school lunch I’ve ever had!
Today, we hopped on a bus to see Eze and Saint-Paul, two other nearby cities. The bus ride was long and bumpy but well worth it when we arrived at Eze. Eze is an older town on the peak of a mountain with an amazing view and greenery. Saint-Paul was also an older town, though it overlooked a new neighborhood. Both were rich with history and the older architecture used for the buildings was beautiful!
Sunday was a free day, which provided time to explore the surrounding area. Myself and some friends purchased train tickets for San-Remo, Italy and spent the day in the neighboring country. I had no clue that they were so close in proximity! I tried a real Italian pizza and wandered through the city. It was located on the coastline, so we spent time collecting seashells and putting our feet in the cold ocean water. Visiting Italy is one of my favorite memories from the trip!
Saturday was busy touring the lavish city of Monaco. Located close to Nice, the city-state of Monte-Carlo is a pristine location brimming with wealth. I have never seen so many designer brand stores so close together! Just the sight made my bank account shudder. The city had a gorgeous upper peak that overlooked the rich building and landscaping.
On Friday, we kicked off the program by visiting the ancient, yet beautiful Antibes. The olden streets were long and narrow as dulled yellow stone buildings lined either side. It was a quaint town, yet full of life. In the center of the town resided a market with a wide assortment of spices, fruit, and locally caught fish. Small tourist shops dotted the streets near the ocean. We also took a train to Cannes, a city full of lavish wealth known for their annual film festival. Many screenings of anticipated films are shown here for critics and celebrities alike. They were still in the process of setting up for the event, though the city’s rich history with film could be seen in murals along the walls of buildings. For our first day, this was a wonderful taste of France!
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