Day 5 & 6

I wasn't able to post this our last night in Paris because there was no WIFI in the hotel and no more host mom's computer.

We left our host families around 8am.  I think the students really enjoyed staying with the families - albeit at times it might have had it's challenges around communication and around food.  The students were so respectful and the families were very happy with hosting them.

We took a bus ride to Versailles where we met our guide Dominique-Florentyn LeGros - who was quite the frenchman.  He was old school - classic french.  Every 5 minutes he asked "do you understand?  do you ALL understand" and then followed it up with "have you any questions?".  I think he would have preferred to live during the time when there was a French court in Versailles.  He showed us the private apartments and the private small theater in Versailles - all of which is closed to the public.  Then we went through the rest of Versailles - Hall of Mirrors on our own.

We headed back into Paris by bus and checked into the Hotel Andre Latin in the Latin Quarter.  Then we were supposed to get a tour of Saint Chapelle but the group reservation didn't work out - so instead of spending 2 hours on line we continued our tour.  We took the metro to the Bastille and then walked to the Marais district - the oldest area of Paris.  We saw Hotel de Sully and the building where the national archives are - it was a great day to stroll around and visit that area of Paris.  Then we went to Place des Vosges where Victor Hugo had an apartment - and went into the apartment which was pretty nice.  Then we walked over to the Centre Pompidou area and had our last free time - to get some last minute souvenirs and shopping in.

We walked to our last dinner in Paris - which wasn't the best food - but it was nice to sit in a restaurant all together.  Then the plan was to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle - which sparkles for the first 10 minutes of every hour.  We missed the 9pm sparkle - so we walked around the Champs Elysees for a while before seeing the sparkle at 10pm.

Last day - Kate and I got up early to go for a run along the Seine.  Despite being exhausted - how could you not go for a job around Notre Dame - then proceed down the Seine and then back up to the Latin Quarter.  It was a nice morning - quiet and just amazing!
We got to the airport by around 10:30 am - to find out our flight had been delayed until 4pm from 1:30pm.  So we got through security and hung out in the airport all day - before our 7h 50 minute flight home.  Flight was a little bumpy - but we all made it back.

I can't say enough that the students were great - and that it was a wonderful trip.

Enjoy the last set of group photos - the last with our guide Fabien!

In the front of Versailles

In back of Versailles

Hotel de Sully in the Marais district

Last dinner in Paris 

Day 4

We met the students at our train station at 8am. Mike and Adams family were celebrating one of their kids and the french Dad’s birthday yesterday - so they had cake for them and also to celebrate Mike’s birthday. It was funny I asked Mike how great it was to be spending his birthday in Paris - and he said he just wished he were home to get his senior license. (then said he was kidding - but there is always a piece of truth in a joke, right?)

So we were off to the Louvre this morning. We had a guided tour and really saw a little bit of the Louvre - the main attractions: Mona Lisa, the winged victory, venus de milo, a bunch of Eugene de la Croix paintings. 

And we were able to meet up with Sarah Blumenstock who is studying in England - she joined us for the day.  It was so nice that we were able to catch up with her!!

After the tour we walked through the Jardin de Tuileries to Place de la Concorde and then up to the Opera, Galeries LaFayette area. The students were able to get in some more shopping. Then off to the Bateaux Mouches tour - where from the boat you can see the main buildings of Paris.

The students have been so well behaved. It is a challenge sometimes to get 19 people on and off metros and trains. But they have been alert, attentive and keep up with our guide Fabien.

It is our last night with our French families - tomorrow we leave the houses to take the bus to Versailles. Then we bus back to Paris to check into our hotel. In the afternoon we will visit Saint Chapelle and Le Marais district. Then have dinner at 7pm as a large group. Then I think the plan is to go and see the Tour Eiffel sparkle at night and find a cafe somewhere to enjoy our last evening in Paris.  We may not have internet tomorrow bc we will be at a hotel.  But I hope to be able to post on our last day.  If not - I will fill in the blanks upon our arrival.

Day 3

Met the students at the train station at 8am to get to the Musee D’Orsay for our guided tour. Our tour guide was just coming back from 2 weeks vacation (oh, the french work life) and was very energetic and thorough. She was a fantastic guide. Showed the students how the Impressionists revolutionized modern art. We saw Manet, Monet, Cezanne, Toulouse-Lautrec (my favorite). Just such a beautiful building - being in the former train station surrounded by all this amazing artwork.

Then we were off to Notre Dame to hear the select chorus from Ardsley sing! We made it and sat down in the front row just as they were coming out decked in their black floor length dresses and their black suits. They were fantastic! Really great. And how amazing was it to be sitting in Notre Dame listening to select choir?? And to see the Parisians and tourists stop to listen as they toured Notre Dame. We waited for the singers to come back out after the concert and the students were able to lunch with their AHS friends. Mr. Morgano, Mrs Nunes, Kate, Sydney and I headed over to the Arab Institute where they serve tea on the top floor with an incredible view of Paris. The tea service had not yet begun so we enjoyed some tea on the bottom floor cafe. Nonetheless it was great to catch up with Mrs Nunes.

By the way - the weather couldn’t have been better. It was warm - clear and sunny. Absolutely beautiful day to roam around Paris. So from the Notre Dame area we went over to the Opera Garnier - where we had another amazing tour. This Opera house is I think my favorite site of Paris. It is just so beautiful and elegant. A temple of music and theater. And the history - Napolean 3rd commissioned the Opera - but since it took 14 years to finish - he was never was able to go in the opera. It was finished two years after he died. Then the history of the ceiling and the 8 ton chandelier! Because they used gas lanterns to light the 8 ton chandelier - the ceiling turned all black from the smoke. So Chagall painted another ceiling over it - but the style of the opera house and the style of Chagalls painting don’t mesh well and that has created some controversy. The tour guide said the French have protested about the ceiling - of course - how french!

Then from the Opera house we went to Montmartre - and to the Sacre Coeur. That church is so amazing. And the view from the top of those steps is absolutely divine. The students were able to walk around Montmartre a little and get some souvenirs and some more snacks - Vive les crepes!

Then finally we battled rush hour metro traffic to get home to our families by 7pm. It was a jam packed day. But the students have been so great. They are attentive and polite with their tour guides. They keep together as a group. And they are becoming much more comfortable with their host families after night #2. They are speaking more french becoming accustomed to their french life.

Tomorrow is the Louvre, I think Le Marais, Galaries LaFayette and the bateaux mouches tour!  And Mikes birthday

Inside the Opera

AHS in Notre Dame

Day 2

We met the students at the Gare Evry Courcouronnes at 8:30am. They had all survived their first night with their French families. We shared our first night stories as we took the train into Paris. Isabel and Aimee were talking about their 6 year old brother who was so hyper - ready to get to know his American sisters. (It’s the same family that Kristian and Ian had last year where that same 6 year old cried when they left). The students said they enjoyed the french food and really liked staying with a family. The other GREAT part of staying with a family is that most students were asleep by 10pm or latest 11pm. They were able to get rest before day numero 2.

So we headed to Ile St Louis and Ile de la Cite. On our way we walked by the Town Hall of Paris - where they have an ice rink there in the winter. It was beautiful out - sunny, clear - a gorgeous day to walk around Paris. We continued to the Iles - where we sampled some famous Berthillon ice cream. The students remembered Mme Ambrose raving about that since 7th grade. We walked around Notre Dame area and then took a break of lunch. On the lunch break - some of the students went back to ice rink to skate - others explored the bookstores near the Latin Quarter - others enjoyed the French cafe or crepes. In the afternoon we headed to Hotel des Invalides where we saw Napoleons tomb and went to the Army Museum - where they have a war museum which chronicles wars in France since the 1900 through WW2. They have everything from uniforms to posters used during the wartime.

Then we headed back to the Latin Quarter for some more exploring time. And then back home to Lisses. We did a LOT of walking - the students were exhausted by the time we got on the train. But it was a great 2nd day in Paris. Time seems to be flying by!

Morgano and I just had a 4 hours conversation with our French Mom about France - the US - we discussed politics, immigrants, schools - basically all the taboo topics you probably aren’t supposed to talk about - over of course an amazing meal!

Time for some sleep!!

Tomorrow we go to the Musee D’Orsay, the Select Choir concert at 11am at Notre Dame. the Opera House and then a little Galeries LaFayette shopping time.

In Front of the Hotel de Ville 

Day 1 Pics

Day 1

Day one is finally over! It was a great day - but man was it a long day.  We arrived at JFK at 3pm for our 6pm flight that didn’t leave until 7pm.  We arrived at Charles de Gaulle at 8am.  All ready to meet our tour guide Fabien. He was our tour guide from last year so it was great to see a familiar face.   Most students didn’t get more than 2 hours of sleep if they were lucky.  But we ready to take on Paris!  We took the bus to Paris - gray and a little rainy today - but not too terribly cold. We took the elevator up to the 2nd floor of the Eiffel tower - where Sarah, Danielle and I stopped - while the rest of the brave souls went up to the top of the tower. We then made our way to the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees where we saw a little history - had some great lunch and then spent the afternoon  strolling along the Elysees.  By 7pm we were in the salle municipal parking lot waiting for the french families to arrive. !0 minutes before our arrival I heard the nervous chatter in the back of the bus “ oh - how do you say “....” again in French?  Don’t you use “...” when talking about food?  So I went back and gave a little pep talk and they were on their way. If we could have filmed the meeting - Morgano and I would have - it was just such a precious moment to see the students meet their french families. We made it through the first day!!  It will be interesting to hear the stories of the first night chez les français!  A demain tout le monde!
Feel free to post a comment!

We have arrived

Only place with free wifi! But we are on the Champs Élysées. Everyone survived the flight. At this point most are slap happy we are so tired. We meet in an hour to head to lisses to meet our host families! Hopefully I will be able to blog more later tonight at host mom's house

Location:Toyota wifi car expo

For Susan and Cathy

Lisa and Nicole wanted to say hi to their moms.



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Leaving for paris

Everyone made it safely through security check. Will be boarding plane shortly.



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