Today, I was crowned at my coronation—or so it felt. The morning started off a bit rough as we got confused with train lines. It took us an unforeseen hour longer to get to Versailles, but once we were on the grounds there, it was all magical. After entering through the golden gates and walking down the enchanted halls, it felt like I was a king. The immense outpouring of history continued all throughout its grounds. While walking through the hall of mirrors, I was awestruck by the immense history that has taken place in the room in which I stood. I craned my neck to look up at the ceilings to take in the gilded molding and the field of chandeliers that hung from above. It all seemed not to be real. It felt like I was walking through my history textbook. To see where Maria Teresa and King Louis XIV lived. To see where the Treaty of Versailles happened, and to be in the same room where so many monolithic political figureheads gathered before me to write the path of history. Feels overwhelming to think about. It is difficult to properly convey the feeling of being in such a special place other than to say it was magic.
After our leisurely stroll through the palace, we entered the gardens and explored all their magic. The gardens at Versailles were something I had never seen before. Perfectly pruned hedges and spring blooming flowers seemed to span miles in all directions of their lands; from being in the city of Paris, which has magnificently beautiful architecture and history all around you. To be suddenly surrounded by the most beautiful picturesque serene landscape was a refreshing change of pace. As a photographer, I had my heyday. Everywhere I turned, it seemed there was a tree catching the most beautiful lighting or an open path that sprawled for miles that caught my eye. Not one way did I turn could I escape the beauty in the magical place I was surrounded by. What made it all the more enjoyable was that I was with my friends.
Before venturing to Paris and joining the study abroad program, I did not know anyone going on the trip. However, over the past few weeks, I have become tremendously grateful for the experience and the opportunity to become close friends with everyone I have met, and they have made the trip all the more enjoyable.
After exploring a fraction of the vast land and the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles, we returned to Paris. During the hour-long train ride, I found myself already missing Versailles and eagerly planning my next visit. Once we returned, I took a quick power nap at the hotel before heading for a six-mile run around Sainte-Mandé. Although our hotel is just on the border of Paris, Sainte-Mandé boasts its own unique charm. On my run, I passed horse farms, sprawling farmland, and a towering historic castle. It’s fascinating how much history is embedded in and around Paris. As I ran around the castle and its grounds, I was surprised to see how few people were exploring this historic site.
To end the night, I headed back to Paris. I went to the Latin Quarter, where I got a burger for takeout from one of my new favorite restaurants, Le Petit Café. I then sat by the Seine, watching the sunset and boats passing by, reflecting on all I had experienced that day. After my meal, I walked along the Seine past Notre Dame and took the subway to the Louvre. Photographing the Louvre at night was a marvel. How the light emanates from the glass pyramid and illuminates the surrounding castle walls is truly mystical. Though it may sound clichéd, today genuinely felt like a dream. As I stood there, camera in hand, capturing the ethereal glow of the Louvre, I realized that this day would be etched in my memory forever. And at that moment, under the Parisian night sky, I felt a profound sense of gratitude for the adventure, the history, and the friendships that made it all so extraordinary.
