Paris Day 2

HOLY VACHE! (That means cow…not that other word you were thinking :^).

What a perfect ending to a darn near perfect trip (coulda been a bit warmer in France).  Since it is almost 1 am at the moment, we are going to make this one pretty brief. 

We woke up, ate breakfast, and got on the bus.

We went to Versailles, south west of Paris, to view this “home” to Louis zee 14^th, and his grandson, Louis the 16^th.  Upon entering, the students received an individual mp3 player and was assigned a character from each “status” of people at the time, allowing them to tour with the perspective of one of many “tour guides;” the peasants, the bourgeoisie, clergy, nobles, or the king and queen.  We saw all the main sites in the building open to the public including the Hall of Mirrors (one of their favorites).  Outside we were able to overlook the gardens, but with lunch quickly approaching, we didn’t have time to explore the gardens (just one more reason for the kids to return someday).  We then had the opportunity to use the knowledge we gained from their mp3 character tour guides to further our knowledge of the French Revolution in a role play performed with Gerardo, a gentleman who works for an educational historic acting academy, as we re-enacted the French revolution as the character from our tour.  It was fun to watch the kids feel comfortable enough to dress up and act for each other, all the while learning about the need for democracy in France.

Then lunch.  We had a salad for appetizer, a meal of stewed beef and rice, and a REALLY good dessert of chocolate pie with white cream glaze and caramel.

Then on the bus again to Monmartre, the bohemian artist district of Paris.  On the way there we drove by the Moulin Rouge.  Once there we climbed the steps (lots of them…practicing for the Eiffel Tower) to Sacre Coeur (a cathedral that looks like ice cream made with sugar cubes (the stones are all white).  After touring the interior of Scare Coeur, the students were able to roam Monmartre to see the local artists work, and perhaps, buy some of their work.

Then we took the Paris metro (no, I did not experience PTSD) to the Eiffel Tower.  One of the elevators is currently broken, so we walked up the steps to the second level, and rode up to the top in an elevator (talk about tiring).  We stayed on it long enough to see it light up, and then get back down and off at a distance to see the whole thing sparkle about 10pm.

Then metro,

Then hotel,

Then sleep.  

We leave tomorrow from the hotel at 945 am.  We should be landing on time as far as we know.

Sleep well, and we’ll see you tomorrow. :^)