During our first week in Paris, I was slowly getting comfortable with not speaking French, being abroad for the first time alone, and trying to enjoy my first week of summer. Personally, I was feeling very shy about the language barrier, as my four years of (basically elementary level) French in middle and high school had completely evaporated from my brain. Luckily, we had a French tour guide, Jeremy, on our travel day, who was also a college student. He eased our nerves on the ride to the hotel from the airport, and over dinner that evening. Jeremy was very helpful in giving us a crash course in French culture that set a solid foundation for the next two weeks.

While in our first week, there was simultaneously what felt like no free time and so much free time. I think the biggest cultural difference for me was time. It was not dark out until 10PM most nights in Paris, which made for later nights and later mornings. The days felt long and were filled with lots of activity, both planned through our curriculum and our own personal plans. We visited a handful of museums, such as the Louvre and Orsay Museum and participated in walking tours centered around Ernest Heminway and American revolutionaries in Paris.

We did so much walking, not just during the first week but during the whole trip. As a civil engineering major, this was fascinating to me to see the differences in transit in Paris. Being able to get anywhere within Paris from where we were staying (just outside of Paris) took no less than forty minutes total. The trains were quick, efficient, and sometimes autonomous.

The museums in Paris were incredible. It was so interesting to see the character in each museum we visited. Although both art museums, the Louvre and Orsay Museum differed so much. The Orsay Museum was my personal favorite since it focused on a short time period, 1848-1914, and a smaller number of artists. I enjoyed being able to see the visible shift in art styles over the time period, and over the course of each artists’ career. On one of my free days during week two, I visited the Curie Museum and saw Marie Curie’s office and personal chemistry lab. This museum was exceptionally moving to me because of Marie Curie’s advocacy for women in science, and I know that she is partially responsible for my equal access to an education in engineering. Visiting the Liberation Museum was moving as well, but in a different way. It was astonishing to see the perseverance of the French during World War II in their fight and the French Resistance. It also gave valuable insight into what was going on in Paris during Normandy, which we visited and learned about in week two.

In week two, I got more comfortable being in a new country and not speaking French. After a few faux pas during my first full day in Paris, I hectically researched etiquette for American tourists so that I could present myself in the best way possible and be as polite as can be to the locals around me. Surprisingly, my basic knowledge of the French language came back very quickly, and I was starting to recognize words and phrases. I was starting to know enough French to get around safely, to speak politely and confidently (albeit with a terrible American accent) to those around me, and to hear words and phrases and match them maps, signs, and storefronts. The language was still a barrier, but I felt more confident than I did when I stepped off the plane in Paris.

During week two, we visited the Luxembourg Gardens, took a day trip to Normandy, went on a walking tour centered on Black American Culture in Paris, and visited the Rodin Museum. The Luxembourg Gardens were beautiful, and it was a great experience to hear everyone’s thoughts on the trip so far, as well as the readings we did prior to the trip. Learning more about American Writers in Paris provided beneficial context to what we had seen so far and what was coming up for the next week.

Our visit to Normandy, a region nestled in the northwesternmost part of France, was truly unforgettable. After visiting the Caen Memorial, we headed over to the American Cemetary. It was a solemn experience to stand in the rain while looking out across thousands and thousands of crosses and Stars of David and think about the Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The next day, we met for a walking tour with Le Paris Noir’s Kevi Donat and learned more about Black American Culture in Paris, as well as modern Black culture in Paris. Kevi provided us with rich information and insights, tying Black history in Paris into present day experiences. This experience was vital in gaining a well-rounded and complex experience and understanding of Paris, and their ideas of what it means to be a Parisian.

In my free time in Paris, I had the opportunity to explore the city through my own lens and experience the city in a different way. When exploring Paris on my own, I discovered pockets vibrant communities sprinkled throughout the city. I had the opportunity to visit the famous Shakespeare and Company, Violette & Co. (a feminist bookshop), and Disneyland Paris. I also went on a sunset cruise down the Seine, and somehow it was timed perfectly enough that we cruised past the Eiffel Tower as it glittered and turned on. That was the moment I felt the true magic of Paris!

One neighborhood that stuck out to me was Montmartre. I stumbled into this neighborhood when seeking out the Moulin Rouge. First, I visited the Moulin Rouge since I had seen the musical when it was in Boston back in January. Then, I had some time before we had to meet for our walking tour. I wandered around a little and decided to visit Sacre Coeur. When I started my journey, I ran into a neighborhood church and entered. It was absolutely beautiful, and I spent some time appreciating the windows and pointed arches. Across from this church was the Wall of Love. I went into the garden, and admired it and enjoyed the greenery. Then I continued on my way to my original destination, Sacre Coeur.

I got very close, and then saw the large flight of stars I had to go up and over to continue my route. I gave up and turned around. Right next to me was a vintage shop with curated pieces with styles from the 1970s and 1980s. I wandered in and mindlessly browsed. I did find a vintage New England Patriots sweater! On my original route, I had passed a silver-by-the-pound shop. I browsed through this shop and ducked into another vintage shop to wait out the rain. Eventually it was time to head back towards the meeting point for our walking tour, and I passed a cute brunch cafe, which I saved and visited the next morning.

Our farewell dinner was quite the opposite of our welcome dinner. At this point, we had all gotten to know each other and eagerly listened as we shared stories about our days in Paris, and what we were looking forward to once we got home. It was a pleasant way to wrap up such a memorable and life-changing experience together.

I could feel the fresh Paris air dwindle as I approached my twelfth day in the city. Every day felt like a new adventure set in a whole different reality. A sense of urgency flooded my mind as I realized this would end my feverish dream.

After experiencing Parisian nightlife only five hours before, I swiftly woke up and went to the Rodin Museum. It wasn’t an indoor museum with walls covered in tapestries or World War II informatics. Instead, the building led to a beautiful garden with a long pool of water and countless sculptures by the famous Rodin, the first modern sculptor.

After we walked through the garden, stopping by and discussing Rodin’s work and its celebration of the individual, we found a place to sit and discuss the trip and class. Most shared the same love for the city: the architecture, people, work-life balance, greenery, and overall lifestyle, especially compared to the United States.

We discussed last-minute plans for the day to enjoy the last few hours we had on the clock, and the program itself. Self-reflecting on the trip, there’s a huge culture shock.

On our museum walk, one piece caught my eye: Dante’s Gates of Hell. Recently, I’ve been learning about the Catholic religion and was fascinated with Dante’s Inferno. I recognized the sculpture when I saw it and was surprised that it was created by a French sculptor given its Italian roots. Seeing this sculpture was surreal, reminding me how old the artworks are. Lots of the sights in Paris are older than the country I was born (the United States).

After the museum, a friend and I separated from the group to find a place to eat. I had a reservation for the catacombs soon, which gave us only two hours to find somewhere to eat and travel halfway across the city. We settled for an Italian place in the center of Paris, a fairly small and local spot. I had heard from social media that trying black truffle rigatoni was imperative in France, so I had to order that. To absolutely no surprise, I fell in love with the food.

I met up with two other friends to enter the catacombs. I had some knowledge about them from previous museum visits and was interested to see how they would look. I learned about the growth of Paris and the necessity to move graves from four major graveyards to the catacombs, an area originally dug for limestone, much of which was used for buildings. I knew that many of these tunnels stretched across the entire city, so I was ecstatic to see how much we’d be able to travel through and what I’d see.

One of the days prior, we walked through an FFI resistance bunker against the Nazis during World War 2. There were several warnings about the bunker feeling claustrophobic or small. To my surprise, the bunker did not feel this way at all. Comparatively, when I entered the catacombs, my expectations of what the bunker would have been like were what the tunnels were. The walls were close together, especially with the depth of the walls of bones. If I stuck my arms out to my side, I was sure I could touch both sides of the walls. However, I did not try this as I didn’t want to get too close to the remains.

The tunnels stretched for quite a while. The museum allowed us to walk for 20 minutes straight through the tunnels, following a singular path to prevent tourists from getting lost. We saw wells going far down, Egyptian hieroglyphs and writings on the walls, as the catacombs were inspired by those architectural designs, and walls coated in bones and skulls. Many human remains were stacked in an unsorted pattern; however, there were occasional breaks in the mountains of bones with patterns (see the image above) or graves of famous individuals.

The ceilings were low. I’m 5’7″, which is fairly average for a male, and my head was touching the top of the tunnel. The entire experience felt surreal, seeing many graves in one place, out in the open. My brain couldn’t fathom the work it must have taken to move and place these graves along the walls of these mines.

After the catacombs, I had enough time to return to the hotel, get changed, and depart for the farewell dinner. This would unfortunately wrap up my time in Paris, experiencing everything the city had to offer: the people, culture, foods, city life, and history. Although this was my first time in Europe, I felt I could see myself living the lifestyle I experienced. I hadn’t even left, and I was already planning the next time I would be coming back.

For our second free day, some friends and I decided to go to Disneyland Paris. I’ve been to Disney World a few times in my life, so I was excited to get to see a park that was new to me. Originally, we were thinking about only going to Disneyland Park, but then we saw that if we did both parks together, it would only be 20 euros more. So, we decided to go to both. Disneyland Paris, originally known as Euro Disney Resort, opened in 1992. After two not-so-successful years, they rebranded as Disneyland Paris in 1994. Later in 2002, they expanded the park with the addition of Walt Disney Studios, a new park that has more recently had a Marvel-themed area. Now, Disneyland Paris is a very popular European tourist destination where people of all ages go to have fun. 

We started our adventure at Walt Disney Studios. But before we could do that, we had to start our day by getting some Mickey ears at a gift shop. Then, we got to the entrance right at 9:30 for when the park opened. As we first walked in, I immediately got more of a modern feel to it than the parks in Florida. We headed straight to the Tower of Terror, which is one of my favorites, so I was very excited. We only waited for a few minutes, which was great considering the ride’s popularity. Boarding the elevator, we all braced ourselves as it ascended. Then came the first thrilling drop and we all screamed. The adrenaline of the first ride of the day at Disneyland Paris is something I’ll never forget. After this ride, we continued to go on more rides in this park including the RC Racer and Avengers Assemble.

Ratatouille: The Adventure in Walt Disney Studios was undoubtedly my favorite part of day. I have been on the one in Epcot, newly added in 2021, but this one was added to Walt Disney Studios in 2014. I already knew I was going to love it, but I was excited to see the original ride. The last time I went to Epcot, I was on a mission to find the Remy shoulder pet, but it was nowhere to be found. So I made it my number one goal to find it here. When we got there the line was over an hour, so we were decided to go to the single rider line to get on quicker. We ended up only waited fifteen minutes, and Crystal and I even wound up being in the same car. While I typically gravitate towards intense rollercoasters, which this wasn’t, but something about this ride holds a special place in my heart. Ratatouille is one of my favorite Disney movies, so riding through Gusteau’s Kitchen the size of a mouse felt extremely nostalgic. And I found my shoulder pet in the gift shop!

After a few hours at Walt Disney Studios, we headed over to Disneyland Park. We planned to spend most of the day at this park, since it’s much bigger and likely to be more crowded, especially since it was a holiday. Feeling hungry, we got some egg rolls in Frontierland before going on Phantom Manor, Paris’s take on the Haunted Mansion. We went on more rides, then paused for an ice cream break. Our day was interrupted by heavy rain, but luckily we were under a roof. After it cleared up, we went to Discoveryland, which had a Star Wars version of Space Mountain, which was one of my top rides of the day. We ventured to the last part of the park, my favorite, Fantasyland. Everything was so cute and charming, and it felt like I was a kid again. We enjoyed the rides there and then made our way to the gift shops to pick up souvenirs for family and friends.

Visiting both Walt Disney Studios and Disneyland Park in one day was a lot, but was definitely worth it. Exploring the parks in Paris, especially since it was brand new to me, was an incredible adventure. It was amazing to feel the magical and nostalgic atmosphere it holds and experience this with friends. I 100% recommend going to Disneyland Paris if you’re nearby, it was truly unforgettable.

Leaving the City

On day eight of our twelve days, we ventured out of the city of Paris and travelled north-west to the providence of Normandy. To reach our destination, travel time was expected to take a little over two hours; however, due to the upcoming Olympic games it took us over four hours. The further we got from the city the masses of buildings and people turned into lush fields and grazing cows. Although this course is titled “American Writers in Paris”, we were able to visit this providence due to its rich history based in World War II. The history in Normandy works to enhance our understanding of the novel Agent Josephine by Damien Lewis, which is the story of Josephine Baker in World War II.

Memorial De Caen

After our four hour bus ride our first destination was the Memorial De Caen. This is a memorial as well as a museum. It demonstrates how easily peace can be disrupted as well as educate about some of the wars. Although the museum covers many different wars, I spent the majority of my time learning about the World Wars as well as the battle of Caen. When we exited the bus we were immediately greeted with flags being flown to commemorate some of the nations that were involved in World War II.

Once inside we began our visit by watching a film on the D-day invasion as well as the Battle of Normandy. Watching this film, you could feel the intensity of everyones gazed locked on the screen. You could feel the air still as people were held their breaths. Its very challenging to separate that the film shows real lives being lost, not simply actors on a screen. The aftermath of this battle left the city unrecognizable, you could never tell that days prior to the invasion people were living their day-to-day lives. After this film, we walked through the museum. Although all the exhibitions were very fascinating the one that stuck out to me the most was featured exhibit titled, “L’aube Du Siecle Americain 1919-1944” which translates to “The Dawn of the American Century 1919-1944”.

This exhibition was created in honor of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and the Battle of Normandy. This exhibition shows the culture in America through the Great Depression up until the Normandy landing. It gave a timeline of the American soldier up until the invasion. Since the United States stayed out of World War II for as long as possible, it was interesting to see an exhibition that focused on the American perspective, as most of this history is taught from the European perspective. After viewing this exhibition it was time to go to our next stop. Although the land outside this memorial did not change, my perception of it did and I found it nearly impossible to fathom that eighty years ago the entire city of Caen was nothing but rubble.

We travelled another hour to the Normandy American Cemetery. This is the final resting place of over 9,300 American soldiers who lost their lives in the D-Day invasion and following operation. The vastness of this cemetery brought me a heavy-heart. It is hard to envision that all of these graves are representative of lives loss. The most challenging part of this day was humanizing the rows and rows of graves. Within the information center they showed a helmet balanced on the top of a rifle, set immediately after the operation as a memorial for the sacrifices made, their sacrifices never went unnoticed.

Omaha Beach

Our final stop before returning to the city of Paris was Omaha Beach, this was one of the five beaches that the D-Day invasion began on. Much like the cemetery it was so hard to comprehend that this coastline was home to the largest invasion in military history, where so many lives were lost. What stood out to me the most was the weather. The dark clouds and rainy weather enhanced the mood, demonstrating that this is a very solemn place. The difference of 80 years was really put into perspective when our biggest concern was being wet and cold, whereas in this very location people sacrificed the one thing they could never get back.

Conclusion

Coming into this day trip, I had a solid understanding of World War II as a whole; however I knew very little about the D-Day invasion or the lasting affects of it. This trip was very educational, and I would recommend that anyone who is able should visit at least one of these sites in their lifetime.

After more than ten years, my friends and I decided to visit Disneyland Paris. My last memory of the park was buying a Barney toy, so I was excited to go back. We bought tickets for both parks, really excited to experience everything. Disneyland Paris opened in 1992, originally known as Euro Disney Resort. The park faced several challenges in its early years, including financial difficulties and cultural differences between American Disney traditions and European expectations. However, it gradually overcame these hurdles and rebranded to Disneyland Paris in 1994. Today, it has become a beloved destination for millions of visitors, blending the magical world of Disney with the enchanting atmosphere of Paris. The resort includes two theme parks: Disneyland Park, with its classic Disney attractions and Sleeping Beauty Castle, and Walt Disney Studios Park, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at movie magic.

Food played a big part in our day. I started with some gummies and a bottle of water to keep my energy up. As the day went on, I got hungry again and decided to try three pork egg rolls, which were delicious and filled with pork and vegetables. I also treated myself to a classic Mickey-shaped ice cream, which was a sweet and nostalgic treat. For dinner, we chose the Rainforest Cafe, a restaurant with a cool jungle theme complete with animatronic animals and tropical decor. I had a juicy burger, crispy fries, and a refreshing pina colada. The lively atmosphere of the cafe, with its rainforest sounds and occasional thunderstorms, made our meal even more enjoyable.

After spending a week in the most beautiful city in the world, viewing the architectural style, looking at the Eiffel Tower, visiting places like the Louver, Picasso Museum, and Orsay Museum, Visiting the Cathedral and Sacred Heart in Montmorie, learning about American writers while walking through the city, walking along the senie, enjoying pastries and food, and spending quality time in Cafes and restaurants, it feels like a dream.

The Luxembourg Garden has a rich history. Anyone can relax, play games, listen to music, enjoy cuisine and pastries, and enjoy the scenery and fresh air. You can sit and spend hours admiring the view, not notice as time passes, and never get tired of it. It is a place where families spend time, politicians relax, couples go on dates, and kids play. It contains The Medici Fountain, The Orangery, The Statues, The Bandstand, and the Remarkable Trees.

Marie de Medici, the widow of King Henry IV, had the Medici Fountain, initially called the Luxembourg Grotto, built in 1630, supposedly by Thomas Francine, as an homage to the Italian gardens. The fountain underwent reparations and moved 30 meters from the palace. The Tragic Story Behind the Statues consists of Polyhemus surprising Acis and Galatea, where Galatea chooses Acis over the Cyclops Polyhemus because of his appearance and, driven by jealousy, Polyhemus kills the mortal Acis; in the end, the Nymph Galatea turns Acis into a waterful living for all eternity. The story portrays jealousy, transformation, and acceptance of one’s beauty.

The Orangey is a building located west of the Luxembourg Garden. It contains 180 plants, such as oranges, palms, and pomegranates, exhibited from May to October every year. The species’ age is estimated to be between 250 and 300 years old. Parisians ensure that they take great care of all plant species in the Orangey. Since Marie de Medici created it to protect the citrus trees from winter, it is also used as a venue for concerts and exhibitions. Parisians make sure to maintain the structure of the building and plant. By replanting adults every 12-15 years and reducing the side of the plum trees so they grow healthy, they care for the plants, which have become a valuable part of Parisian history.

The Luxembourg Garden is home to 102 statues, most of which were created in the 19th century. These statues allow visitors to time travel and admire the artists of that era. They include statues representing the liberation of slaves, queens, kings, artists, singers, and writers. The garden also has a smaller version of the Statue of Liberty, which was created for an international exposition to demonstrate the relationship between France and the United States. The image of the statue above is of a Greek actor sculpted by Barn Charles Auther in 1868 for an exhibition. In 1873, the French state bought the statue for 7000 francs. 

The bandstand was built in 1888. The Senate allows anyone and everyone to play for free. They can have concerts, and people in the community can enjoy their time while listening to music for free. There are chairs all over the park where anyone can sit and relax while listening to music and eating lunch since there are multiple cafes and restaurants throughout the Luxembourg Garden.

Overall, my experience in the Luxembourg Graden was memorable, and I will never forget it. While walking through the Garden, I witnessed the art and history Paris has to offer and its beauty. The Garden possesses many games, such as basketball, racket ball, selling small boats, chess, and sandboxes. Watching people interact with one another and spend time with their families is fantastic. I could sit down and enjoy the scenery before me, and it was breathtaking, as if time had stopped. I felt the breeze in my hair, an unforgettable moment that will stay with me like many others. Every day in this city, I make unforgettable memories that will stay with me forever. Like Hemingway liked to say, Paris is a moveable feast.

After a few informative days, today promised to be even more fun, with a walking tour about American Revolutionaries in Paris and a museum visit on the agenda. We started the day early in the morning, next to the Danton statue, where we met our tour guide. I was excited to find out that the tour would cover a lot about the French Revolution and its history too, especially since the French and American Revolutions were interconnected.

Our first stop was a small street packed with historical significance. We stood near a shop that used to be a printing press, a crucial player in the revolutions. Printing presses were vital as they educated the public and allowed publishers to disseminate their revolutionary ideas. Another key element in both revolutions was the cafe culture. We visited the site of the first cafe in Paris, which opened around 1650 and still operates today. Our tour guide told us how this cafe specifically got famous because of its two entrances. As the majority of people gathering in there were middle-class men, this allowed them to easily escape, if their debtors came to look for them. Cafes provided a space for people to gather, discuss, and debate their ideas. Even back then, people with similar political views would gather at the same cafes. Eventually, each political group had its preferred spot.

Another captivating stop was near the Senate building. It was interesting to discover that the origins of the terms “left-wing” and “right-wing” trace back to the French Senate. In the past, the conservative party occupied the right side of the Senate chamber, while the liberal party sat on the left. This arrangement led to the adoption of these terms to describe political ideologies. Even today, the French Senate keeps this tradition.

Before the French Revolution, France didn’t have a standardized system of measurement. Various units, such as the King’s Feet, were used. However, after the revolution, French people wanted to remove all symbols associated with the monarchy. The meter was defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian through Paris. To promote the new metric system, several meter standards were placed in public places. These were physical representations of the meter to help familiarize the population with the new measurement.

To end the tour, we went to the Pantheon. Originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, the Pantheon was later repurposed as a mausoleum for France’s most distinguished citizens. As an Armenian, I was proud to see a big poster of Missak Manouchian hanging in front of the Pantheon, whose reburial there took place just a few months ago. He was a resistance leader during World War II, leading the famous Manouchian Group, a French Resistance network in Nazi-occupied France. He was captured by the Nazis and executed in 1944. As we continued to explore, our tour guide told us about other luminaries, including Voltaire, Marie Curie, and Victor Hugo, who found their final resting place in the Pantheon. The stories of these great minds and their contributions to society were truly inspiring.

The second half of the day was in the Musée Orsay. When we entered the museum, even the building itself amazed me already. It was originally built to be a railway station in the 1900s to accommodate the high demand of people traveling in Paris. Later it became one of the city’s most iconic cultural landmarks. Our tour focused on the transition to Impressionism which brought a new perspective to the art world. As we explored the galleries, our guide told us about Impressionist artists such as Monet, Renoir, and Degas. Their paintings captured the essence of the everyday life of ordinary people. The highlights of our visit for me were the iconic works of Van Gogh and learning about his unique painting style. His bold colors and dramatic brushwork left a lasting impression on me.

After getting some rest from all the walking we did throughout the day, my roommate and I decided to head to the Republique metro station for dinner. We found a cozy little bistro with outdoor seating. As we enjoyed our meal french meal, we couldn’t help but soak in the vibrant atmosphere of the area. Even late into the evening, the streets were alive with Parisians and tourists alike, all enjoying the warm night. The distant sound of street musicians added a nice touch to our evening. This experience made it the perfect end to my day.

After spending a few days in Paris with a little bit of rain, waking up to sunshine could only mean good things. The main focus of today was American Revolutionaries in Paris, and we were lucky enough to receive a guided walking tour throughout the streets of Paris from our lovely tour guide, Brad. We started the tour at Cour du Commerce Saint-Andre, which is the same street where Danton lived. Danton was a prominent figure in the French Revolution, as he was influential in the early days of the revolution and a leader in the revolutionary government. Unfortunately, he was eventually executed via the guillotine in April 1974. Interestingly enough, the first guillotine was also used on the same street we started on and Danton lived on.

The street we started on is also important for many other reasons. One of the first shopping malls was on this street, and this was very new because around 90% of citizens used to be poor, so they wouldn’t do much shopping. Also on this street was the printing press Marat ran during the 17 and 1800s, and the purpose of this shop was to aid citizens in becoming more literate and spread more revolutionary information, as a greater part of the population was able to read. Lastly, this street is home to the oldest cafe still in Paris. This cafe is notable for multiple reasons. First, the cafe contains Napoleon’s beak hat because, before he became rich, he pawned his hat in order to pay for food after being released from the military after Robespierre fell. Second, it has a front and back door. While having a front and back door may not seem special, it was important because if people came looking for someone, the cafe workers would help the person escape through the back. This fact is also a great example of why cafes were so important during the French Revolution. While each faction had their own cafe in order to confer with each other, everyone drank coffee because it gave much more assurance that it would be safe to drink than water did.

Afterwards, we learned about Benjamin Franklin’s achievements in France during the American Revolution. As most of you know, Franklin convinced France to help America against Britain. Franklin was able to convince Louis the XIV, one because he was charming, two because Louis’ father was a major general whose mission was to help France, and three because France had the Seven Year War with Britain. We also stumbled upon a bookstore, and Brad informed us of a French law where new books can’t be discounted more than 5% in order to keep local bookstores afloat. Later, we reached the Senate Building and Luxembourg Gardens. The Senate Building was one of the last buildings the Germans held, and there was a lot of fighting around the Luxembourg Gardens.

To end the tour, we went to the Pantheon. The Pantheon is named after the Rome Pantheon and is the location where French heroes are buried. Some people include Voltaire, Marceau, Simone Veil, Rousseau, and Josephine Baker. Baker is also the first American and one of 6 women buried in the Pantheon.

After the tour concluded, we had time to kill and bellies to feed, so a big group of us stopped at a cafe near the pantheon for brunch/lunch. I got a classic, delicious French omelette, which came with a side salad along with a fresh hot chocolate. Other orders consisted of chicken and mashed potatoes, avocado toast, and some pasta. The cafe encompasses a lot of what I’ve pictured about Paris: sitting outside on a nice, warm, sunny day along the side of cobblestone roads, sipping coffee, and eating some food.

To finish up the day, we took a guided tour of the Musée d’Orsay. D’Orsay used to be a railway station in the early 1900s because a lot of people were coming to Paris, and eventually, in 1986, the museum opened. D’Orsay contains many paintings from a multitude of French artists, like Manet, Bonhuer, the most famous woman painter of the 19th century, and Renoir. Additionally, our tour focused on the change from conventional art based on 3D to more modern impressionist paintings, which focus on the fleeting moment. At the end of the museum tour, we learned about Van Gogh, who painted for only 10 years: 6 years in the darker Dutch style, and then 4 years in a brighter style after moving to Paris.

The Musée de la Libération de Paris was the main focus of our Saturday schedule in Paris. To begin the morning and take in as much of Paris as we could get, we left early to enjoy a cafe near the museum. The weather started out beautiful with sunny skies and warm temperatures making us grateful to have awoken with the day to not miss out on any of its beauty. The cafe was right next to the museum and fueled us with delicious chocolate tart before heading over to begin the tour. 

After a fun two days filled with traveling and tours, we were given a free day with no set plans to do whatever we please. I had a few ideas on how I wanted to spend this free day, but ultimately woke up with no set plans and found myself wasting a beautiful day. I planned to just hop on the metro and see where I would end up. I happened to end up at the front gates of Disneyland Paris. Disneyland, being one of the most iconic theme parks to me and many kids growing up, was somewhere I always wanted to go, but unfortunately, I was never able to go as a kid. So, as you can assume, this was a big deal for the kid in me. As I made my way towards the gates, I was informed the entry ticket would be $115. Yes, that should be a euro sign; I just don’t know how to insert it. This price I honestly was not mad at, as it is more expensive at Disneyland in Florida, but I was told by the clerk that the third-party ticket on Trip Advisor can be trusted, so I went with that route.

After I went through security and scanned my entry ticket, I was wide-eyed as I was greeted with the Sleeping Beauty Castle, something I always saw pictures of online, right in front of my face. Even with me just recently graduating from college and being an adult, the kid in me was still excited to finally come to such a desired destination, but even better in Paris. Though I was surrounded by many kids and families, I still knew it was going to be an enjoyable experience. For reference, I am not the biggest fan of roller coasters, but I will go on them for the experience. Quickly, I noticed that because this was created more for children, the rides, which I would say are not roller coasters, were very mellow and tame, not including any big drops that would make your stomach turn. This was not a problem for me and probably got me to try out a lot of rides I would have been skeptical about if I wasn’t able to see the track route before getting in line. Even with arriving around 11 a.m, I was still able to get on every single “roller coaster” that was listed as “cannot miss” on their website, incentivizing that these were some of the best and most popular rides you must get on within your time at Disneyland.

For some of the rides, I did have to wait in line, but that was not a problem for me as the longest I had to wait was 30 minutes for Big Thunder Mountain, which was one of my favorite rides as there was a point in the ride where you would get splashed with water. It would have been the Tower of Terror, but unfortunately, I did not want to pay extra to go to the second park, as it only included a few more rides that weren’t all that interesting to me. After going on a few rides, I was stopped in my tracks as a live show included every Disney character imaginable.

This was not something I was expecting, as they basically stopped everything going on to do this performance. It was very enjoyable seeing all of the younger kids get excited to see some of their favorite movie characters wave to them and put on a show singing some of their favorite songs. After the show ended, I decided that it was becoming late. I decided to pick up a souvenir, as this was a big memory for me. I decided to go with a crew neck, as it’s something I would actually wear and not a souvenir that would sit on a desk collecting dust. To end the night, I decided to pop into the movie theater they have right outside of Disney World and see if there were any movies playing in English, as one in French would be very hard to keep up with even if they had subtitles. There was only one showing of Planet of the Apes, and I decided to go with that. This being an English showing in a predominantly French-speaking place caused there to only be 10 seats reserved in an IMAX theater with over 250 seats.

After the movie finished, I had to rush back to the train stop as it was the last one going in the direction I needed, causing it to be extremely packed throughout the whole ride. This gave me a lot of time to reflect and be grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given at Umass Lowell, especially with their study abroad program. To all of my Paris Session 1 and 2 classmates, I encourage you to also go to DisneyLand Paris even if you’ve been back home as it is a great experience and something you can do alone if necessary.