Paris and its charms… – Fund for Education Abroad

Bonjour chers mesdames et messieurs,

Do you guys feel it? I do, it is the Parisian air flowing in and out of my lungs, and it feels so good.

Paris has been an unexplainable and sweet experience for me. My desire to visit Paris developed as a kid after watching The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I was intrigued by the Eiffel Tower, other unique monuments, representations of this special culture and the perfect sound of the French language. Paris was a dream that came true. Being accompanied by previous strangers who are now close friends and family greatly enriched the experience!!

*Family posing at the Tuileries Gardens.*

Like coffee, our Thursday after arrival was sweetened with “art” cubes, from the unique Musee d’Orsay. This museum houses the largest exhibition of impressionist and post-Impressionist works by painters including Pissarro, Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Gauguin, and Van Gogh.

Famous painting "Water Lily Pond" by Claude Monet — *The famous painting “Water Lily Pond” by Claude Monet at Musee D’Orsay. One of the greatest exponents of the impressionism.*

*“Love Lock” bridge over the Seine river. Have you locked your LOVE in a lock and thrown the key here?*

*Inspirational text “May my success be for the success of Humanity.”*

Friday was extremely productive, and Paris was the perfect city to put my wandering skills to work. Our group started with the Louvre Museum, the world’s largest art and historic museum with the most famous masterpieces that tell and show the history of humanity.

*The beautiful and famous painting of Leonardo da Vinci. Some people say that it is a small painting, honestly, I saw its greatness and think it is HUGE.*

After we charge our batteries at a local restaurant, we kept going with Parisian crossing and sightseeing.

We walked, and walked, and walked… We got to see the narrow street, buildings, and stores with the most expensive clothes and jewelry that my eyes had ever seen before. We spent our afternoon exploring and admiring some of the most iconic places in this exotic city.

Enjoy as I did…

*Gorgeous ceiling at the Opera House, does The Phantom of the Opera sound familiar?*

*A major public square, scene of executions, decorated with fountains, statues and an Egyptian obelisk that can be observed behind.*

*Arc de Triomphe at the back. Iconic triumphal arch built to honor Napoleon’s victories. Its actual size impressed me, compare it with the small cars.*

*The Eiffel Tower, the Parisian landmark. Much more than a television antenna.*

Saturday was dedicated to visiting the fabulous palace of Versailles. It was much more than what you can see in these pictures, it was emotional, amazing, and romantic with lovely rowing along the Grand Canal.

*Front of the Palace, with the French flag waving vigorously.*

*View of the back of the palace from its gardens.*

*Perfect gardens, going big was the style at that moment.*

Sunday was scary with the skulls and bones of the Catacombs and the gargoyles of Notre Dame Cathedral.

*There are bones of approximately six million people from cemeteries of Paris.*

*Curiously arranged depending on the part of the body, and sometimes forming shapes.*

*Gargoyles of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, do you see the Hunchback?*

I agree, we needed more time to see everything. It was sad to say good-bye, but we also were happy since once again we would be together, but next week in Scotland…

Au revoir, à bientôt. [Good bye, see you soon]