Upcoming Departure

Tomorrow morning a bit on the early side we will meet at Charles de Gaulle airport to head back to the states. We will travel to Cedar Rapids via Atlanta. Here are a few parting comments from our student travelers:

Libby: "2 weeks go very fast! This trip has been an amazing experience! We've seen the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, the Centre Pompidou, the Chateau Vaux le Vicomte, Versailles, Marie Antoinette's gardens, everything you could think of! I also got to see Julie - it was awesome! It will be sad to leave but I'm looking forward to my big bathroom. =)"

Michael: "2 weeks are gone it seems. I miss home a little but if possible I'd like to stay longer. The best thing I did here would probably be going up the Eiffel Tower or going to the WWII museum. If it's possible I will return to Paris in my future."

Megan: "As our trip comes to an end, I realize what a short time we've had here and how much more we have to see in the world. I have lived where Princess Diana died; I have touched what Renoir painted, and I have danced under the Eiffel Tower. Au revoir, la France!"

Ryan: "France was fun and I am going to miss it so much. Thank you Mme Z for this wonderful opporunity. I love ya Mme."

Mme Z: "I am very proud of these four students. It is always fun to get to know students more personally while traveling and to watch them discover things about the French language and France for the first time. It is always my hope that students leave with an appreciation for diversity and a larger vision of our world."

Au revoir, la France!! Sniff.....

See you in Cedar Rapids Thursday at 8:36 PM or at school on Friday. We will be armed with photos and stories!

Lyon Highlights

Bonjour all! We are in Lyon today visiting the stadium of the Olympique Lyonnais soccer team, the Fourviere Basilica, and Place Bellecour, a huge modern town square. The weather is beautiful and we're enjoying a bit of free time to buy souvenirs and get a snack. See added pics from Lyon.

Off to Lyon!

Early tomorrow we will <> our tickets and get on the TGV. We'll take a glance at the professional soccer stadium and then head to the center of France's second largest city. We'll take a funicular to the top of a hill where the Romans founded the city centuries ago. Lyon is known for the quality of its food, so I'll bet we'll try some! Miam miam!

Pâques

It's Easter in France! It's sunny and pleasant outside. The French take a 3 day weekend (with Monday included)for Easter to do excursions, visits, etc. I'm going to a flea market with my hosts today. The students and I will meet early Tuesday to take the TGV to Lyon.

Soaking Wet!

It's pouring today (Friday), so good thing the plan is to go to school!

"Il pleut, il mouille, c'est la fete a la grenouille..."

Thursday in Paris

We had a great daytrip in Paris today. We began with a boatride called Bateau Mouche, which gives a tour on the River Seine of all of the sites that border the river. It was nice enough to sit on the top of the boat out in the open for most of the tour and we got some nice pics.

After the boat, we took the RER to the Latin Quarter/St. Michel area where we got something to eat and bought some souvenirs. Right across the street from there is Notre Dame Cathedral. We walked through it and took some nice shots. It was very calm.

Then we walked across the Seine the other direction and took the metro near the Hotel de Ville to the Champs-Elysees. We visited the foot of the Arc de Triomphe. We had intended on going up on top of the Arc de Triomphe for photos, but there was a strike (yes, leave it to the French to go on strike again!) so it was closed.

Here are quotes from the students:

MICHAEL: "Having fun here. We walk a lot but it's ok. The RER was like a can of sardines: lots and lots of people."

MEGAN: "My family is wonderful. We just got back from Paris and I'm happy to say that no one got lost. The crepes truly are amazing!"

RYAN: "Everything's good in France. I am enjoying all of it, especially the football."

LIBBY: "Hey guys! We went to Paris today! It was a little cold but that didn't stop us. =) We went inside Notre Dame and my pictures turned out great. I can't wait to show them to you guys. Saturday I'm going back to Paris with Julie so we'll visit some other places. I can't wait! Love you!"

MME Z: "I am making an official culinary tour of all of the goat cheese salads I can find. Today I may have had the best one yet in the Latin Quarter."

Scroll down to check out our new pictures at the bottom.

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray! We love France! Oh la la!

Paris Bound

There is a chill in the air, but the sun is out. Here we go -- to Paris! Hooray!