Impressions

As I awoke from my nap on the overnight plane, I curiously opened my window shade, only to see the famed Eiffel Tower commanding the horizon. Little did I know how much the city below would offer me in the weeks to come.

We were all exhausted when we arrived, and the 100-degree weather did nothing to ease our collective jet lag. With no access to our hotel rooms until late afternoon, we wandered through the humid city, fatigued and dehydrated. Paris, at first, felt more like a trial by fire than a vacation destination. In the morning, we struggled to find somewhere to eat, and I didn’t feel comfortable until I finally collapsed on my hotel bed. That night, we ventured back out, only to find every street corner packed with drunk Parisians and booming EDM. Was this what living in Paris was like? Loud, hot, chaotic, and fast-paced?

Though the heat never left, and my first day in Paris may have been loud and chaotic, the days that followed changed that impression, revealing a city full of beauty and moments of unexpected stillness.

Experiences

Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame has become one of my favorite destinations in Paris. Its construction began in the 12th century, and it is renowned for its intricate architecture, resounding bell towers, beautiful stained glass, and its relic, the Crown of Thorns. Inside, over a thousand visitors move quietly around in awe. It is a truly humbling space to be in, and it is hard not to feel a reverence for God. I visited Notre-Dame twice; the second time, I even had the honor of kissing the Crown of Thorns.

Musée Méliès

In my opinion, the Musée Méliès is one of the most underrated museums in Paris. It guides visitors through the history of the first films, many of which were produced by French filmmaker and magician Georges Méliès. I watched every single film in the museum and learned about the revolutionary techniques Méliès introduced to the film industry: multiple exposures, stop-substitution, and time-lapse photography.

Château de Fontainebleau

Just a two-hour train ride from the city lies Château de Fontainebleau, a stunning French castle that was home to generations of monarchs. In my opinion, it was even grander than Versailles, and certainly less crowded. After exploring the castle’s lavish rooms, I found a bench next to the carp pond and quietly enjoyed a baguette in the shade. It was one of the most peaceful moments of the entire trip.

Sainte-Chapelle

Despite its smaller size, Sainte-Chapelle’s interior is somehow even more breathtaking than that of Notre-Dame. Stepping into the upper chapel, I was surrounded by fifteen magnificent stained glass windows, each about fifty feet tall, depicting over a thousand scenes from the Old and New Testaments. The more compact space makes it feel very intimate, and I gazed at all the intricate details for a long time, completely absorbed by its beauty and craftsmanship.

The Catacombs

Beneath the streets of Paris lie the catacombs, an expansive network of the remains of six to seven million Parisians. The bones were moved there in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, both to stabilize the city’s foundations and to make room in overcrowded cemeteries. I walked between the walls of stacked bones for an hour, yet only saw about 0.5% of the entire ossuary. Some might find the site creepy, but I found it to be very peaceful. As one catacombs visitor is thought to have remarked, “I have seen equality in its final form”.

Eiffel Tower

No trip to Paris would be complete without visiting the Eiffel Tower. The two-hour wait for the elevator to the summit was well worth it; from the top, I could see the entirety of Paris and beyond. Yellow street lights filled the cracks between the black buildings, and the dark gray sky stretched across the horizon, neatly halving the cityscape. I later returned alone, sat on the grass beside the pond in front of the tower, and watched it sparkle at night. It was magically peaceful.

Culture

The culture of Paris differs from that of the U.S. in many ways. For one, instead of driving, most Parisians bike or take the metro. During our trip, we all got Navigo passes, which allowed us to have unlimited access to the metro and travel like locals. Paris is also a hub for global cuisine. While we enjoyed not only French food, we also enjoyed Japanese, Italian, Vietnamese, Mexican, Korean, Greek, and Chinese dishes. Life in Paris moves at a more relaxed pace; as our professor said, they “work to live rather than live to work”. At restaurants in Paris, it is normal to stay as long as one desires, and there were a few occasions when “l’addition” did not arrive for a while. I also noticed that locals have a deep appreciation for art and history, which makes sense, as I have never been to a place where art and history thrive more.

Beyond these cultural differences, I also enjoyed exploring the smaller cultural details of Paris. I shopped at a massive flea market, wandered through the bouquinistes along the Seine, and sat alone in quiet gardens and parks. I even attended two concerts: an organ performance at the Saint-Germain-des-Prés church and a harp performance at the Musée de la Musique. These experiences gave me glimpses into the true culture of the locals and a side of Paris beyond the tourist spots.

Final Thoughts

During my time in Paris, I would like to think that I used my time to the fullest. I visited palaces like Fontainebleau and Versailles, sumitted both the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower, explored a bunker and an ossuary underground, and reflected in churches like Notre-Dame, Saint-Chapelle, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. I visited ten museums: the Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation, the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée Méliès, the Musée National Picasso, the Musée du Louvre, the Musée de Cluny, the Musée du Napoleon I, the Musée de l’Orangerie, the Musée de la Musique, and the Musée de la Libération de Paris. I visited graveyards, bouquinistes, gardens, landmarks, bookstores, parks, boulangeries, concerts, markets, and restaurants with cuisine from all over the world.

I have come to more fully understand the importance of independence, being present, and embracing spontaneity. I have grown significantly in my ability and willingness to go explore on my own, whether that meant simply finding a place to eat to planning a two-hour train ride across the country. I have also deepened my appreciation for simply being present, whether I was watching the water from the banks of the Seine or closing my eyes to soak in the resonating sounds of an organ. And I have learned to embrace spontaneity when it arrives; more often than not, it has led to the most unforgettable experiences.

I will never forget my time in Paris; being far from home, I discovered pieces of myself I didn’t know I was missing.

I blinked, and a week in Paris flew by. Through the quiet early mornings on the metro, the sweltering sun in the afternoon, and the loud, smoke-filled brasseries of the night, the city of love never failed to amaze me! Each day felt slow, but time went by fast. Before I knew it, Dania and I were frantically running through Gare du Nord Station—toward track 12—to board the Eurostar, just minutes before its departure to Amsterdam Centraal. Finally on board, with our hearts beating fast, we were able to relax in our bright red, cushiony seats, during the 3-hour scenic train ride.

Arriving in Amsterdam was like a breath of fresh air, with its organic greenery and canal-side houses. Besides for the skinny cobblestone walkways, hundreds of pedaling bikers crowding the roads, and the intense heat, its vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere was reassuring. Our first stop on our itinerary was the Van Gogh Museum. Though miles from Paris, the museum encapsulated much of French history. It highlighted how Paris became a center of artistic inspiration for Van Gogh, much like it later inspired Hemingway, who worked and dined in its cafés. After walking through multiple rooms, I eyed one painting of his, “Boulevard de Clichy,” which is not one of his most well-known paintings, but is a genuine piece reflecting his development in impressionism. As someone who doesn’t always appreciate art, the lighter colors and muted tones of this particular piece were not the sole reason why this painting caught my eye. It captures the daily life of those living in Montmartre. This perspective shows how residents and tourists, including myself, view the casual scope of the city, not too dramatic but also beautiful.

Soon after the museum, we walked along the city’s center and grabbed a bite to eat at a local café; we couldn’t believe the bright scenery that surrounded us. I expected it to feel more like Paris, but I was pleasantly surprised by its informal, rustic buildings, relaxed social culture, and its overall intimate, laid-back atmosphere. What surprised me the most was how nice the residents were compared to the Parisians I would interact with. Could we stay here forever? Nevertheless, we continued to explore the busy streets of Amsterdam, dodging multiple trams, buses, and bikers. The uneven cobblestone roads and narrow alleyways led us to many cafes and bars with plenty of outdoor seating, as well as hidden vintage clothing stores and souvenir shops. Eventually, we found ourselves in front of the Anne Frank House, tucked between shops and overlooking the canal. The area was congested with tourists waiting to take pictures at the door. Though we couldn’t get tickets, just standing before it felt significant.  

Soon, it was already 5 PM, and we quickly hurried to check off the last stops on our loose itinerary. Amsterdam was like a maze with its uneven roads and odd-shaped turns, which made it easy to get lost. However, our mistakes turned into happy accidents when we entered the Jordaan district. The intense heat turned into warm sunlight, and I could feel a light breeze. Looking back at our photos, our phones couldn’t fully capture the vibrant flowers lining the bridges above the canal and the light reflecting off the water below us. A perfect way to end our trip. As we took the tram back to Centraal Station, I looked out the window, watching the tourists and Dutch residents fill the walkways. I admired the quirky buildings and remembered the sweet smells that wafted from the food stalls and cafes. While our time here was only temporary, we made the most of the hours we had. I wish I could go back in time to witness the modern yet historic architecture, glistening waters of the canal, and, of course, the herd of bikers that we nearly crashed into at every intersection. Traveling to Amsterdam was, without a doubt, a breath of fresh air and showed me how similar, yet incredibly different, these major cities were. 

The day began with me waking up to my alarm clock around 8:15 am. At that point I still expected our group to not be meeting at the Museum of the Liberation of Paris until 11 so imagine my surprise when I checked my phone and saw that it had been changed to 9:45. I was suddenly glad that I had gone to bed early the night before. I still had time to shower and eat breakfast but I had to do it faster than I would have liked. Will and I left the hotel for the metro a little before 9:30. It was not as hot as it had been in the days before so I did not bring my backpack with my water bottle in it. However, it was very sunny so I brought my sunglasses. As we were changing trains, we ran into Gladys, Eve and Isabel and we joined them. I remember that we joked over whether or not we would beat Jenny and Dania to the museum since in the past they had a habit of being slightly late to our group meetings. But when we emerged from the metro we saw that they had in fact arrived before us.The museum was not very impressive to look at on the outside. In fact if it had not been pointed out as the museum I probably would not have noticed it. We were a little early so we had to wait outside the door for about ten minutes while our professor secured our tickets. When we entered the museum something I noticed immediately was that there was no air conditioning so it was rather stifling. Our professor gave us our tickets and we were first led into a room where we learned about life in Paris in the aftermath of the First World War and the buildup to the second. Then we were led downstairs to an underground bunker that was used as an air raid shelter during World War Two. Because it was deep underground and made almost exclusively from concrete it was very cool, almost chilling. We saw old gas masks that people were taught to wear in the event of mustard gas being used during a bombing which added to the eerie feeling. We watched old footage of bombings and the devastation that they left behind. I was feeling claustrophobic in the cramped quarters of the bunker and was glad when we left.After touring the bunker we learned about the sordid history of the Nazi occupation of Europe in World War Two, and particularly France’s involvement in it, both good and bad. After being forced to surrender to the Nazis, many French citizens actively tried not to fight, believing that resisting would only make their situation worse. However, there were those who resisted the Nazis at all costs, the greatest example being Jean Moulin, a French civil servant who was openly defiant toward the Nazi regime at a time when doing so could mean your death. He refused to give up any resistance members even when being ruthlessly tortured by the Nazis and would end up making the ultimate sacrifice for refusing to give in to their demands.After leaving the museum, we all went together to a Vietnamese restaurant. I had never had Vietnamese food before and I was excited to try it. I had chicken and rice with a Sprite. The chicken was covered in a sweet, tangy sauce that I especially enjoyed. When we finished our lunch pur group went our separate ways. I proceeded to spend several hours visiting stands along the Seine River. I didn’t buy anything but it was interesting to see all the miscellaneous items these stands had. I also got to walk along the Seine River which I had been meaning to do and was glad to be able to.After the Seine, I returned to the hotel for several hours then went to dinner at Le Hollywood near the hotel where I had a cheeseburger and fries. After that I went to tour the Eiffel Tower and got tickets to go up to the top where I got some very good photos and was able to view the city of Paris in all its glory. as able to view the city of Paris in all its glory. Because the line was long and it was nearing closing I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to reach the top in time but I was and it was worth the wait.Finally we all met up and went to a karaoke bar where we drank and sang karaoke in French until the early morning hours. In all it was a very good day and I was sad when it ended. I have greatly enjoyed my time in Paris and I will remember it fondly.

This morning began with sunlight streaming through the windows of our Parisian hotel, accompanied by a gentle breeze that carried the promise of a memorable day. At 10:00 a.m., a soft knock at the door revealed a woman bearing a tray of warm pastries, eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, yogurt, and English tea, a breakfast that felt both indulgent and quintessentially European. After savoring the meal with as much haste as delight, I stepped into the rhythm of the city, weaving through the crowd toward the metro station. My destination: the Château de Versailles, the architectural embodiment of Louis XIV’s absolutist vision.

Journey to Versailles

The train ride to Versailles offered a moment of calm reflection, a fitting interlude after a week spent exploring Paris’s iconic landmarks: Sacré-Cœur, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower. Upon arrival, we passed a boulangerie reputed to serve the best baguette in the region. Inside, the display of pastries was mesmerizing: delicate macarons, glossy éclairs, and towering, pastel-colored meringues. The boys in our group opted for the minimalist French approach of warm baguettes, unadorned and wrapped in paper.

Inside the Palace

The grandeur of Versailles is difficult to overstate. Though the line to enter was long, we were fortunate to be near the front, watching the crowd stretch far beyond the palace gates. Inside, we wandered through opulent rooms adorned with gilded moldings, intricate tapestries, and masterful paintings. One chamber, once belonging to Marie Antoinette, stood out for its understated elegance: a tall bed flanked by ornate stools, surrounded by echoes of a bygone era. The Hall of Mirrors, with its marble statues, chandeliers, and ceiling frescoes, was a visual crescendo, an architectural symphony of power and spectacle.

The Gardens and the Fountain Show

The palace gardens were equally enchanting. Sculptures lined the paths, and towering hedges created a labyrinthine effect that nearly led me astray. But following the sound of baroque music, I arrived at the fountain to see a choreographed display of water and melody. Sitting on the grass, eyes closed, I let the breeze and music wash over me. The moment was meditative, almost surreal. The fountains danced, the lake shimmered, and for a brief time, the world felt suspended in harmony.

Dinner with Teddy Bears

Back in Paris, I dined at Le Choupinet, a whimsical restaurant known for seating solo diners with oversized teddy bears. Though I wasn’t alone, I still enjoyed the playful ambiance and a delicious Caesar salad with roasted chicken and slices of crusty baguette

Reflections on a Transformative Week

As I mark the halfway point of this journey, I’m struck by how much I’ve learned, not just about French history and culture, but about myself. Walking the same streets once frequented by Ernest Hemingway, discovering hidden passageways, and lingering in cafés has given me a sense of liberation I hadn’t anticipated. I feel more present, more curious, and more open to growth.

Hemingway once described Paris as a moveable feast, and I now understand what he meant. This city nourishes the soul. I’ve practiced my French, embraced spontaneity, and immersed myself in a culture that feels both foreign and familiar. As Professor Julian aptly put it, “Travel stretches time.” Here, the days feel longer, fuller and each moment is an opportunity to absorb, reflect, and transform.

I know I won’t return home to the same person who arrived. Paris has become more than a destination; it has become a part of me.

City of Paris

Thursday June 26, 2025. Day 6 with the Honors College in Paris, France. With the temperature of the day reaching a high of 79° making it a great day temperature wise. It was decided to go on an adventure and make the most of our time and the weather.

Sacré-Cœur

Our first adventure of the day started with going to the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre. Taken away by the breath taking architecture, the second it is spotted in the distance. As you go up the 292 steps, every step is worth the view you get to take in as you reach the top. Once you reach the top seeing the Sacré-Cœur up close and taking it all in as well as being able to see the city of Paris from above is an indescribable feeling. The Sacré-Cœur is unique because of the Romano-Byzantine style as well as the symbolism it holds for both politics and cultural purposes. Til this day the Sacré-Cœur is in full use as a Catholic Church open everyday at different times for mass.

Arc de Triomphe

The next stop of the day was the Arc de Triomphe, this experience was better than the first time we visited because instead of just seeing it from a far we got to experience being on top of the Arc de Triomphe.

The view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe was breath taking. Being able to see Paris from a different standpoint was a surreal moment, as if we were on top of the world. Getting to look down and see the streets crowded making their way towards the Arc de Triomphe. The Eiffel Tower will never get old seeing it from different locations is amazing. One of the highlights of the day.

The Louvre

Our last adventure of the day was visiting the louvre. One of the most visited museums in the world. Holding famous paintings and its breath taking architecture. Creating an amazing experience where you see so much but then end up feeling like you barely got to see anything. As a class we got to see the Mona Lisa, Napoleon’s coronation when become an emperor. Another painting by Jacques Louis David called The oath of the Horatii where it is said that is where the Nazi got their salut from. All the paintings in the Louvre are stunning from huge painting to small ones. To hand made Pottery and sculptures with all different touches and symbolism.

Paris will always be a fascinating city with all the history and culture that is intriguing. With so little time in Paris we are trying to immersive ourselves in any part we can. Including the cuisine where there are many choices to choose from street to street. To end the adventurous day we took a chance with our dinner meal and chose to try Thai food a completely new food experience for me. Paris will always be an adventure.

At 8:30 in the morning, I woke up for my third full day in Paris. It feels like I have already been here for so much longer from everything our group has done as a group over the past few days. I had already seen the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame de Paris. However, there are still lots of great places in Paris I haven’t been to yet. Today, I got to experience a couple of those.

Our group was not scheduled to meet together until 2, so I had plenty of time to do some exploring in the morning. By now, I have gotten more familiar with the area surrounding our hotel and the cafés, bistros, and subway stations are all more familiar than before. Walking around in the morning is the best because it is quiet and there aren’t any crowds. I walked through Montmartre and I made the 222-step climb up to the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur. There was almost no line and upon entering, I was amazed by its beauty. The Sacre-Coeur has done Eucharistic adoration 24-7 for over 100 years, even throughout World War II. I went into the pews to pray and prayed for a little while. Then, the daily Mass started. Attending Mass in a different country was so cool because I got to see how the same event is different when performed in a different culture with a different language.

After Mass, I was hungry, so I stopped at a pastry shop to get some macarons. Then, a little while later, I stopped at a bakery to get a baguette to eat. Both the macarons and the baguette were delicious. It is so cool being able to walk around the city and go to shops, cafés, churches, gardens, or anything else. One of the things I have enjoyed most about Paris is how walkable it is. There are so many places I can go by just walking and there is even more I have access to with just my metro card.

At 2:00, our group met up and took the metro to the Musee d’Orsay. We met up with our professor and went inside the museum. The first thing I noticed about the museum was the shape of the building itself. The building was originally a train station, and the designs and windows on the walls and ceiling are impressive. However, what makes the Orsay special is its art. There were so many different works that reflected the different styles of art that were competing at the time. From sculptures of famous saints to paintings depicting everyday French life, there are works that fit so many different artistic tastes. My personal favorite kind of art is those which tell a story and evoke an emotion from the viewer. One painting from Orsay that did this really well was The Last Day of Corinth by Tony Robert-Fleury. However, there is also lots of value and emotion that can be expressed in simpler paintings. Another painting I really enjoyed was Jerusalem by Jean-Léon Gérôme. It depicts the famous scene of Jesus’s crucifixion, but from a completely different point of view than what is expected. I love how I got to experience both the old and the new, the traditional and the experimental. After hours of exploring artwork independently, I met up with our group and saw Van Gogh’s famous self-portrait, which was very cool. Finally, we walked out of the museum and back into the Paris sunlight.

Next, we made our way over to a Mexican restaurant where I enjoyed a beef quesadilla. Don’t get me wrong, I love French food, but there is such an amazing variety of offerings when it comes to food in Paris that I love trying them all. We took the metro back to the hotel, but before going back to my room I got a delicious raspberry pastry from the bakery.

In the end, I am very happy with what I was able to do today. Paris is such a wonderful city because it is so steeped in history and beauty, while at the same time it is always changing. Having the freedom to venture out into the city gives me a sense of freedom and the abundance of history and culture all around me gives me so many things to do. I am happy with my experience so far, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of this amazing trip unfolds.

     The UMass Lowell Honors College study abroad program gave students the opportunity to voyage far and wide to immerse themselves in the teachings and culture of another country. Each and every day, my classmates and I saw and learned many things as we traveled across Paris. Monday, June 23rd was no different. After meeting up and exchanging pleasantries we visited bookstores and cafes that Ernest Hemingway, author of our assigned readings, frequented. During periods of extreme cold or conditions that were difficult to focus in, Hemingway would often find himself putting pen to paper in a cafe rather than his own apartment, and we found ourselves in those same cafes! It was almost surreal, being able to walk through the same locations this extremely famous writer had, decades before. The fact that this happened internationally, thousands of miles away from home only added to our collective astonishment. 

     While reading his novels, I, as the reader, sometimes had a hard time connecting to Hemingway. He felt faraway, a narrator I could only sense through echos of the stories he created. Walking through areas where he very well may have written those same stories tethered me to him, allowing myself and my classmates to be there with him all these years in the future. I left these locations with the idea that you must put yourself in the shoes, or places of someone to truly understand their intentions and very being. Visiting these places that an author as great as Ernest Hemingway inspired me to review his writing with a clearer lens, as I could see the conditions in which he wrote. 

     During our venture across Hemingway’s typical route, my group and I visited statues, pausing to let our professor give context and overall explain their significance. Typically, I would have walked by these figures without giving them a second thought. These illustrations, however, gave me the chance to really think about what exists around me. I wanted to challenge myself to find meaning in everyday objects I would have otherwise walked right past. It’s incredibly common for large cities such as Paris to be populated with a plethora of trees, large ones that you can see from miles away. I enjoyed looking at trees from away as I walked around the city, up and down and around many different avenues. What I found interesting after staring at a certain group of trees is how clear the outline of one looks from far away. As you move closer to a tree however, you see the jagged disarray of leaves, branches, and stems. This stuck out to me, as I expected to come closer and find everything perfectly trimmed, as I saw from further away. This is where I began to solidify the claim that one has to really zoom in and put themself in a situation before coming to any conclusions and understanding context. Even a city as well loved as Paris has craggy, irregular tree branches, no matter how far you zoom out.

     Our last group observation was located in the Montparnasse Cemetery, where philosophical writers Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir were buried. Their tomb was the most decorated by far, every inch covered in kiss marks, pink writing, and flowers. I had never previously been to a cemetery with intentions of visiting someone I hadn’t known personally so this was an entirely new experience. As our professor contextualized the lives these two led, I though of how melancholy a place centuries were to me. Masses of graves surrounded us, some having been there for over a century. There’s a certain sting of melancholy drifting around every tombstone, resulting in a real sobering effect on anyone who enters. 

     Despite this feeling, learning more about the couple granted me the ability to find strength in the inherent solemnity, as the writing and ideas of these great philosophers is still celebrated and taught today. The outstanding amount of kisses and flowers on their grave instilled hope, as not even death could deny these people of greatness. In the beginning of this sight, I found myself walking into a cemetery and expecting the experience to be sorrowful, as we review the lives of two forgotten, buried souls. Upon zooming in however, really learning about the changemakers they became and ideas they contributed to existentialism and feminism, I found myself at peace, even in a setting as somber as a cemetery. Once again, I am reminded that a keen eye and a willingness to understand can have a powerful impact on the interpretation and overall understanding of a person, or experience.

As far as the start of a trip to a brand new country, I’d say this was a near perfect start! There’s always an adjustment period when going somewhere for the first time or meeting new people, let alone both, and we definitely experienced that. From some of us running late and having to meet up with the group after we’d started to misadventures on the metro.

Our trip opened with the Toot Bus, a fun name for sure, which took us to all the major locations in Paris. Starting at Notre Dame, we saw the amazing historical cathedral from the outside. It was definitely a sight to behold. Afterwards, to buy time for the rest of the group to catch up, we went to the museum dedicated to the people deported from Paris during it’s Nazi occupation in World War II. I never knew what role France played in sending Jews and political prisoners to camps, so it was great to learn something new about France, even if it was more sobering than the rest. It’s important not to ignore the darker parts of history just because of the prettier, more interesting features.

This trip allowed the group to catch up with each other, and our first day in Paris officially began with everyone together. Before hopping back on the Toot Bus we tried taking a peak at Shakespeare and Co., and while I was disappointed it is not Sylvia Beach’s original store, due to her closing it during WWII and never reopening it, that didn’t seem to stop other people. The line stretched far beyond the door, and not wanting to wait in the line only to be in the cramped walkways of the actual store, we decided to move on.

Next, we went to the Eiffel tower. According to the information shared by the Toot Bus, the most photographed and most visited monument in the world, despite it’s less than stellar with the Parisians when it was first put up. If only they could see it now. We stayed to take some pictures and overheard a man busking and playing the harmonica. He was very good and it really helped the atmosphere.

The Arch de Triomphe was an impressive sight to see, and the history behind it definitely peaked our interest. Me and two other students spent our lunch period trying to find out how much of it had been built before Napoleon’s. From our research, we found it had been constructed up to the second tier, the one which completes the arched entrance. This slightly disappointed me, as I thought it would be funny if Napoleon died before his arch was even an arch.

Our final destination for the day was a river cruise on the Seine. While the blazing sun made it uncomfortable, and I came out of it with a nasty sun burn, this was beautiful. Seeing all the monuments of Paris from the water gave an entirely different perspective of the city. Afterwards, we returned to our hotel for a little while before heading out for dinner.

Now here’s where the day got interesting. A classmate had spotted a restaurant earlier in the day while we were out, so we took a 30 minute metro ride over there. This is when we learned that, when travelling in a group of 8, it’s a good idea to make a reservation ahead of time. Shocker, I know. We waited an hour to be seated and have food, spending some of the time in a park close to the restaurant. Afterwards, on the metro ride back, we learned something new about the Paris Metro. Some of the trains, you have to open yourself, and after a certain time of day they must change how long the doors stay open, as this time it was about a five second period before the doors closed. This change, which we didn’t know about, led to one of us almost getting stuck in the door and two of us getting left behind by the metro. To reunite, the rest of us ended up getting off the metro at the next stop and getting back on when the next train, which our remaining two friends had gotten on. We got back to the hotel at midnight, exhausted from the day and our metro adventure, but overjoyed to be in Paris and excited for what’s to come.

Going to all the major monuments, even if just outside them, was a great start to the trip, letting us marvel at the sights everyone goes to Paris for before we really begin focusing on the purpose of our study abroad trip. And our nighttime activities really helped break the ice between the group and brought us closer together. I can’t wait for what comes next, Paris!

In this study abroad course, UMass Lowell Honors College students will explore the city of Paris through the American writers – their work and their lives – that have called the City of Lights home.

Looking for more information? Please feel free to contact us.
Please email: Julian_Zabalbeascoa@uml.edu.

For information about UMass Lowell’s Study Abroad program, please visit the International Experiences and Study Abroad website or contact Fern MacKinnon by email: Fern_MacKinnon@uml.edu.