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