#triparis

It was the best when I took unexpected adventures; riding a carousel, taking off during free time to walk a quiet street, just being open to the possibilities!

     We were told what would happen -- off the plane, on a bus. It’s never really real until it happens, but when you’re in the middle of it it’s all you can to stay afloat. That was probably the longest period of time I had ever stayed awake, although when I stayed up for Battlestations there was a lot more physical activity involved. Still, my military experience helped me through what was a very uncomfortable beginning; I love taking naps.       At the beginning of the first day in Paris we all tried to play along, and it was worth it as the sights were amazing. By the end of the day however, most of us couldn’t stay awake on the bus. We soldiered through it and were rewarded with a hot shower and soft bed at the end.       The whole time we spent in France was both so short and yet so long. The days were jam-packed with activities and things to see and do. The structured events were educational-- I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go to the Louvre again, although who knows? Maybe I will one day: there’s so much to see there I could spend days just wandering around (if only there weren’t so many people).      The free time is where the trip really shone, because wandering around the streets of Paris with Mitch and Amanda was probably the most fun I had. Being able to sit outside in one of the many outdoor cafes and eat lunch (I do love eating), or travel down the little side-streets with the small shoppes and look at the local products was something that I enjoyed very much.       Being part of the group lessened my anxiety and both Mitch and Amanda were so fun and funny that I felt that they took all the attention and I didn’t even feel worried at all.       Other than that, Paris is just old, and therefore has a rich history with everything from kings to dictators having walked its streets. The city rivals the major metropolises of our own country, which helped acclimate me-- I just pretended I was in Chicago for some of it. Yet it never truly felt real until about the end, perhaps when the German students met up with us. However that could just because a few days had passed and things had begun to sink in.      I think Matt said the goal is to have it be something like, “Paris will always be remembered, but Germany will always be loved.” I think that’s a fair assessment. The cityscape made Paris memorable, but the people made Germany unforgettable. 

The next day was spent exploring Napoleons castle, Fontainebleau.  That was another gorgeous site and something that I was glad to have been able to see.  The night was capped off beautifully by meeting with a few of the German students and seeing the Eiffel tower light show.

Today we leave Paris and France behind and travel to Germany. There may not be much to report until we arrive in Marburg tomorrow.

Chilling at a truck stop (or equivalent) in France. Looking forward to the game today between Eintracht and Bayer.

Hokey title, but apropos. Today we visited Montmartre, followed by most of the afternoon at the Louvre. Some images may be considered inappropriate for children:

This is something that I can see myself recommending to anyone if they get the opportunity to take the trip.