Final day comes to a close

Today was a bittersweet day as we had an excellent time in Paris and Versailles while knowing it was our last day here. We are sad to leave France, but happy to be coming home to share our incredible experiences with all of you.

Today started with some free time to further explore the Latin Quarter or the Opera District. Some of us took advantage of this time to see the inside of the Opera while others toured the Musee d'Orsay. Some of us took some time to shop for ourselves and for souvenirs. Following our free time, it was off to Versailles.

Our day finished with dinner and enjoying our last few daylight hours in Paris within the view of Notre Dame, where our trip started.

We are back at the hotel to pack and get ready for our journey home tomorrow. Please remember to stay up to date with flight information. We are currently scheduled to land at 4:10pm at Dulles. Please check flight status and if no delays, be at the airport by 4:30pm. It will take us a little while to taxi, deplane, and go through customs. Updates will be sent through Remind as we board, land, or experience any delays. Goodnight from the City of Light, and we will see you tomorrow afternoon!

A Castle, A Chateaux, and a Revolution

Bastille Day, the 14th of July, or Fench Independence Day, fete nationale; the name you use doesn't matter. This day marks the start of the French Revolution  in 1789. For us, it meant an incredible showing of national pride while visiting the many sites of today's adventure.

We started at the Chateau d'Amboise which was Taken back by the monarchy in the 15th century and was extensively rebuilt before becoming a favorite royal residence. This is also the burial place of Leonardo Da Vinci.

Our day continued at the 

"Ladies Castle", Chenonceau. This residence sits atop the river which marked the border between the "free" and occupied zones of France in WWII. Somehow, by the clever actions of its resident, the castle was spared from destruction during and after the war.

At the end of our visit, we spent some time in Amboise for lunch and shopping before returning to Paris. Following dinner here in Paris, some of us decided to go watch the fireworks. And yes, they even shoot them off from the tops and sides of the Eiffel Tower!

For now, it is 12:00am local time and we are in for the night. Good night from Paris, and happy fete nationale! 🇫🇷

Rennes/Tours

Yesterday we visited the cities of Rennes and Tours as we make our way to the Loire Valley to check out some of the castles that still exist in the French countryside. In Rennes we were able to see some of the day-before-the 14th of July festivities, including a military ceremony in the city square. 

Tours is a small city that is claimed to have "perfect French". It is said that the language skills of the locals are perfect, which makes for an excellent visit. A Ferris wheel, pre-14th party on the river, and a perfect temperature made for an amazing night.

Now it is time to load the bus and head to the Loire Valley. Bye for now.

St. Michel/St. Malo

Another beautiful day comes to an end on tour. Today we visited the medieval cities of Mont-Saint-Michel and St. Malo. Both of these walled cities were incredible. St. Michel started as a monastery in the 8th century, which was built at the top of a rocky "island" (only at high tide though, at low tide this rock is protected by the surrounding quicksand). 

After visiting the monastery, we enjoyed some sightseeing, shopping, and lunch before heading to St. Malo. Here in St. Malo, we have a hotel within the city walls. St. Malo has history in battling pirates throughout the ages, and the original fortifications are still in existence. However, most of these fortifications and the city itself have been rebuilt since the end of WWII. Due to extensive bombings  by the U.S. and British air units trying to rid the city of the German occupation, more than 90% of the city needed to be rebuilt. 

Tomorrow it is off to Rennes and the Loire Valley. Goodnight from St. Malo!

Goodnight from Caen

Today was full of the sights and history of D-Day, June 6, 1944. We were able to experience artifacts from that day on two different museums, along with visiting the German bunkers at the top of Utah beach and view the bunkers from the sands of Omaha beach. We also visited the U.S. Cemetery at Normandy where our local guide told us detailed stories of heroics and tragedies of that day. It is amazing to see the vast reaches of WWII and to have been able to see and hear what took place. A few photos from today;

It is 11:00pm local time and we are in for the night. Good night from Normandy!

Day 3 in Paris

Today we spent some time exploring the Louvre. With some 10 miles of corridors inside, it took some time to get to the amazing and famous works scattered throughout the busing. Most of us got a chance to see the Mona Lisa and some other cool pieces including Greek and Roman sculptures, the Winged Victory, and the ruins of the ancient moat surrounding the fortress of early Paris.

After the Louvre, most of us spent some time (and money) inside the Galleries Laffayete. This large department store is similar to Macy's or Bloomingdales in New York City. However, with a unique interior and rooftop observation deck, this Paris landmark was a great place to do some shopping.

An enjoyable dinner rounded out our evening and now it is time for some rest back at the hotel as we leave early tomorrow for Normandy (8:00 am local). Goodnight again from Paris, and we will keep you updated as we travel by bus tomorrow.

What a superb day!

It has been a great day on tour! We were able to enjoy the day with sunny skies and nice temperatures, cooler than it has bee in Virginia. An absolutely perfect weather day for the amazing sights we encountered today.

Our day started with a bus tour of the major sights of the city, including some nice photo opportunities:

Next, lunch and shopping along the Champ-Élysées with a chance to check out the Arc de Triomphe.

A metro ride to the Love wall and time for exploring the artists of Mont Marte before a nice crepe dinner.

Our day just finished with s trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower and a sunset cruise along the Seine.

It is about 1:00 am local time and our travelers are in for the night. Luckily, we get to sleep in a bit tomorrow! Goodnight from Paris!

Long, exciting day one comes to a close

It has been a long but enjoyable day in Paris. After arriving we dropped our bags at the hotel and went exploring. We had the chance to see Notre Dame and do some sightseeing and shopping in the Latin Quarter. Dinner was near the cathedral, and we have since taken the Metro back to the hotel to get some rest. Here are a few pictures of Notre Dame as  a preview to our adventure.

A familiar sight...

At least we are not alone in traffic woes. Heading to the hotel for a quick refresh, then off to the Champs-de-Élysées! 

Away we go!

Pushing back and preparing for takeoff. We will let you know when we arrive!

Time to board!

It's Finally Here!

Today is the day, trip day #1! Please be at the Air France counter at Dulles International Airport by 6:00pm tonight and don't forget to wear your red trip t-shirts. If you have any last minute questions or concerns, please make sure to email us by 2:00 this afternoon so we have time to get back to you before we leave for the airport. Parking is available at an hourly rate at the airport, just follow the signs if you plan on accompanying your student into the airport. For directions to the airport, click here.

A few last minute reminders:

• Have your passport, U.S. residency card / green card (if applicable), and other important documentation ON YOUR BODY AT ALL TIMES once you arrive at the airport, throughout our flight, and for the entire trip.
• Make sure you have called the number on the back of your credit/debit car to inform them of your travel plans.
• Don't forget to pack your camera/phone/iPod/etc. chargers. You might want these in your carry-on bag/backpack.
• It is a good idea to also have your travel charger or converter in your carry-on.
• Wear your red trip shirt to the airport. You may want to pack a change of clothes in your carry-on to change into once we have cleared French Customs.
• It's a good idea to pack your contacts, solution, glasses, toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant in your carry-on. We are heading out to explore the city once we leave the airport in Paris.
• Pack a sweatshirt/jacket/long sleeve in your carry-on in case you get cold on the plane.

We look forward to seeing you tonight! Let's have an awesome trip!

Blog Updated for 2015 Trip

Welcome to the Blog! Here you will find all of the important information regarding our trip to France. We will be continuously updating this blog with any changes or other information that you may need. Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the information provided here. Above this post, you will see pages for our itinerary and hotel contact information, to the right our flight information, our Remind feed, and a handy time converter are displayed. If you have questions or concerns, please email us. Also, we will make every effort to convey messages to your students if you leave them on the blog, but please understand, this may not be possible in every scenario.

We hope that you enjoy following us on our journey! We will be posting updates as often as time and internet access allow. Thanks again, and here's to an amazing trip!