Day 7- May 25

(before we entered the Chunnel)

(Eiffel Tower!)

(Arc de Triomphe)

             (view from our room... don't get too excited, some people have Eiffel Tower views)

             Bonjour Paris! 

            We left London this morning at 7am via coach.  I managed to get a few more hours of sleep before it was time for us to cross under the English Channel by taking the Chunnel, and underground tunnel.  We stayed on our bus while it was parked and secured to a train car, the train drove us through the Chunnel. 

            We stopped for lunch once we got to France and I quickly discovered how much more difficult it was going to be to communicate not only in a foreign country, but in one that does not speak English!  Being one of the only people on the trip somewhat familiar with the French language (I took three years of French classes in high school), I tried to help everyone else decipher signs and menus.  I wish I would have brushed up on my French before I came on this trip because I have a hard time speaking the language on the spot- I need a little bit of time to process everything, which does not bode well when trying to order or ask directions!

            We made it Paris in “record time,” according to our professors.  We checked into our hotel rooms (this hotel is VERY nice), then had a short Paris orientation meeting.  After the meeting, the group learned how to use the metro system by traveling to a place across from the Eiffel tower.  Since the tower is so huge, you have to be far away from it in order to see the whole thing.  I took some great pictures and it was so fun to see such an iconic building in person.

            Then, a group of us ventured off to find dinner.  We ended up settling for a small Italian place with a manager and waiter who, thankfully, was willing to speak to us in English.  After eating, we went to the Arc de Triomphe, which was on our way home from the restaurant.  The sun was just setting (at almost 10 pm!) so we got some great pictures and also met a nice American couple who gave us advice on what to see in Paris.

            Then we headed back to our hotel on the metro to take advantage of the free wifi that is available in our hotel.  We’re all thankful to have a more reliable way to communicate with our family and friends, instead of having to search for an internet connection like we had to in London.

            I already like Paris much more than I liked London.  We only have four nights here, but I can’t wait to see as many sights as I possibly can!