Paris!

We arrived in Paris with no problem. The train was very quiet and I think it is fair to say the napped a lot as we were all exhausted from our London Stay.

We went straight from the train station to dinner. We had dinner at Flamme which served is regional cuisine from Alsace. It was sort of a pizza in a tortilla type bread and the desert was on the same bread but was served with baked apples. After dinner we made the trek to our hotel to get a good night of sleep as Friday was going to be jammed packed.

On Wenesday our day started at 7am, breakfast at 7:45 and on the bus by 8:30!  We started the day with a city bus tour. 

The bus took us all through Paris and we saw Chamos d'Élycée, the Arch de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, Place de la Concorde and much more! 

It was still early when I took this photo, we could see Paris as she awoke. 

But even early we were smiling!

We went to the Latin Quarter where we saw the Notre Dame cathedral. 

Such a great place for a selfie!

And of course we found the love locks!

We also found the famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore. 

The group was given free time to wander the area, shops for souvenirs and find some lunch. 

After lunch we hopped on the Métro (your kids are becoming experts!) and we headed up to Monmartre. Along the way we saw the Paris University and the Sorbonne.

This statue is believed to give luck to students for their studies!

 We saw many historical markers, statues, buildings and monuments. We also saw many of Paris' beautiful gardens, squares, and park benches; places you could go to relax, rest, and rejuvenate.

The walk in Monmartre was a challenge! It is the highest area of Paris so it is a steep climb and we saw many, many stairs! 

Students were able to see the old windmills, go to the artists square; some even sat for portraits! They shopped for more souvenirs and it was reported back to me that many crèpes were eaten and a few brave souls even tried the escargots and frog legs! Eventually the winding streets led us to the Sacré Coeur bascilica and we were treated to a stunning view of Paris! 

Our amazing group at Sacré Coeur!

A great picture of Taylor and it gives you a perspective of how many stairs there were to get to the top! How many? Too many!

It was a cold windy day but as you can see our chaperones and tour director helped to keep everyone in good spirits! 

After our visit to Sacré Coeur we hiked our way down to our dinner restaurant, Là Canne à Sucre. 

Our dinner was a creole dish served with rice. I wish I could tell you it was delicious... But I cannot tell a lie! It was not. But the kids took it in stride and vowed to find another crèpe before the night ended! 

The next part of the adventure took us back to the Métro and we headed across town to catch the river boat cruise. They cruised the river Seine and were able to see why Paris is called the city of lights! It is truly awe inspiring!

After the boat cruise the group waited in line to ascend the Eiffel Tower! 

Here is a view from the top!

You will have to ask your child about it but by the glow on their faces it is safe to say they checked off another item on their life bucket list...and it was awesome!

As we walked to catch the Métro home we found those crèpes! Nothing like seeing a group of teenagers enjoying life!

Let me tell you, these are amazing people! It was a heck of a long day and when we got to our last Métro stop we had a "20 minute" walk (a European walk is quick! So the 20 minutes was at least a mile, maybe more) and they did it beautifully with little complaint even though it was cold, late (after midnight) and we'd been up and running since 7am! 

The next morning we got to sleep in just a little bit and after breakfast we loaded our luggage and headed for the Louvre! 

The Louvre is so emmense that our tour director gave the group a guide to find some of the most famous pieces.

 After the museum visit we had time for a bit more shopping, lunch, and then we loaded up the bus for our next destination: Belgium!