Paris Day 3, 2/18

Today was our last full day in France, and we spent the day exploring Paris. After a delicious pastry breakfast at the hotel, we took the metro to l'Arc de triomphe. Though it was lightly drizzling and cloudy, we had a stunning view of the iconic monument. Then we walked down les Champs d'Élysées, observing the luxury stores and beautiful blend of modern and iconic Haussmann architecture.

After a short lunch at a small cafe, we ventured further to the Louvre. During our tour with our excellent guide Dina, we viewed both classic pieces like Venus de Milo, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, and The Raft of Medusa, in addition to countless other paintings hanging in the esteemed halls. My personal favorite was the sculpture of Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss, featured below. Then we were given some time to explore the boutiques in the mall under the museum. There's cafes with scrumptious macarons, vintage stores, and museum gift shops with everything from jewelry to a stuffed animal duck with a beret.




Leaving the museum, we took a short walk around the seventh arrondissement, viewing a Russian Orthodox church and the garden outside of the African art museum- of in addition to the picturesque Parisian streets. Then we boarded a boat which took us along the Seine, heading towards la Tour Eiffel. We had an excellent view, as we docked right in front of the classic landmark, pausing to take photos.


We made our way to a small side street, less filled with other tourists, before climbing the tower itself. As the day approached evening, we had a view of the entire city. From above, one can truly see how Paris manages to incorporate modern life into the centuries old architecture in such a gorgeous way. In the distance, Sacre Coeur rises, and we are reminded of the beginning of  our adventures into the city. After climbing down, we stepped away from the building and waited for one minute- suddenly, the tower was brilliantly shining, yellow and sparkling against the dark night. It's a wonderful moment in our last night in Paris.


Finally, around 7:15, we reached our dining destination, a quaint Italian restaurant called Su Misura. We were served charcuterie boards, lasagna, citron tarts, and lemon pie, but the highlight was certainly the mouthwatering tiramisu. As we walked to the subway, laughing amongst ourselves, we once again saw la Tour Eiffel light up on the hour. After riding the metro and taking our final walk through the tenth arrondissement back to the hotel, we gathered in the lobby. Sharing our favorite memories and appreciation for our amazing teachers and guides, Ilias and Christophe, solidified the sense of connection we fostered over the course of the trip. I feel so lucky not only to have been able to experience all of these amazing opportunities, but also to do so with such a supportive, fun group. Thank you to every student, teacher, guide, and parent who made this trip such an incredible time.

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