Goodbye M&D, Goodbye BYU

        This morning started with saying bye to my parents at about 8AM.  It was sad to say bye, but at least I will see them three weeks from now.  I had so much fun with my parents and am so glad they came.  After all, they visited Abigail and Andrew on their missions and Study Abroad is my mission, so it’s fitting they came.  Once I said bye to them, I climbed back into bed and slept/watched some Gossip Girl until Kacey, Laura, Abby, and Annie came and met me at the hotel.  Once they arrived we stored all of our luggage and then headed to the D’Orsay.  

Outside the D'Orsay

        The D’Orsay is hands down one of my favorite museums.  I love the size of it and love the art inside.  A few of my favorites include pieces by, Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas.  We spent a few hours there seeing everything and completing our Humanities assignments and then went and got lunch crepes.  My crepe consisted of cheese, feta, and chicken.  It was SO good, but then I felt SO full once I was done.  After eating we headed to Notre Dame to climb the tower and see the church.  While we were outside Notre Dame and about to take a picture, we suddenly heard a man come up right behind us and say “You’re going to think I’m so weird.”  It turned out to be Soper sneaking into our picture, but he totally scared Kace and I.  We all got a good laugh, and picture out of it and then we headed over to Saint Chapelle.  Although I already did both of these with my parents, it was fun to go back.  

Notre Dame Gargoyle

On Top of Notre Dame

Soper in the Background

Bells of Notre Dame

Saint Chapelle

        The D’Orsay is hands down one of my favorite museums.  I love the size of it and love the art inside.  A few of my favorites include pieces by, Van Gogh, Monet, and Degas.  We spent a few hours there seeing everything and completing our Humanities assignments and then went and got lunch crepes.  My crepe consisted of cheese, feta, and chicken.  It was SO good, but then I felt SO full once I was done.  After eating we headed to Notre Dame to climb the tower and see the church.  While we were outside Notre Dame and about to take a picture, we suddenly heard a man come up right behind us and say “You’re going to think I’m so weird.”  It turned out to be Soper sneaking into our picture, but he totally scared Kace and I.  We all got a good laugh, and picture out of it and then we headed over to Saint Chapelle.  Although I already did both of these with my parents, it was fun to go back.  

Rodin Gardens

        After the windows it was time to say bye to Lauren who was leaving with BYU and time for us to go to the Rodin.  Although I had already been here as well, it was so fun to go back.  We started in the gardens and had so much fun mimicking the sculptures, making videos, and laughing.  After the Rodin, we tried to go to Napoleon’s Tomb, but were three minutes too late.  However, it wasn’t a problem because we just jumped on the Metro and headed to the L’Orangerie.  We got there 25 minutes before it closed, so our visit was short, but we managed to see everything.  

Monet

Outside the L'Orangerie

        From the L’Orangerie we walked all of the way up the Champs Ellysees.  We made a stop at the Disney store to find out about Paris Disneyland, picked up some Bonbons, and then picked up our bags before taking them to out new hotel.  The Hotel Mac Mohen turned out to be a little sketchy, but the location was great and there happened to be an extra twin bed.  After checking in, we headed over to McDonalds to use the Internet.  We then went and climbed the arc.  It turned out to be rather tiring considering I was hauling my computer in my purse, but well worth it.  The view was great and it was fun to hang out on top.  After the Arc, we went back to the hotel where we watched some Gossip Girl and fell fast asleep.  

Arc de Triomphe

My 20th Birthday in Paris

        Well, well, well, what can I say?  It isn’t everyday that one gets to spend their birthday in Paris, with their friends, AND with their parents.  Not to mention, visit Versailles, the Louvre, and go to the tope of the Eiffel Tower.  However, I was lucky enough to do all of the above and more.  

        My day actually started quite interestingly.  Gladdus knocked on my door before breakfast and gave me a darling card and necklace.  I then had a continental breakfast at the hotel and then headed with the entire group to Versailles.  The plan was to walk to the train station and then get on a train to Versailles.  However, it turned out that Soper accidently took us on a 45-minute walk of industrial Paris before finding the station.  I was amused when we passed the ghetto hotel we stayed in last year with Windy, but was even more amused when Lisa Harris (P.A.) tripped and “sprained” her ankle.  It was quite dramatic and only became more amusing/dramatic.  Once we finally got to the station, we boarded the train (yes, Brooke did get left again), and were at Versailles within 45-minutes.  Versailles itself is very beautiful, yet it is quite sickening to think about the harsh living conditions of French at the time, while Louie was busy living in such an elaborate estate.  The Hall of Mirrors was my favorite part of the estate and I also really liked the art and different wallpapers inside.  While we were walking around, we discover that P.A. had conned a few of the girls into pushing her around in a wheelchair.  I wish I could say I snapped the below picture of her, but the credit must be given to Annie.  Even Soper found the whole wheelchair act quite funny.  After touring the inside, we headed out to the gardens.  The gardens were pretty, but not as pretty as they were when I saw them last summer.  Kacey, Laura, Bev, Abby, Annie and I decided to walk down to Marie Antionette’s House.  However once we walked all of the way ther, Kacey and I were really tired and decided to wait outside for them since we had already seen it last summer.  We waited thinking they would only take about 20 minutes, but after 45 minutes of waiting, we decided to head back into the city.  However, while we were sitting there we had a lot of fun reflecting on out lives and memories we have had together.  Being at Versailles really made us miss Jeff and David, considering that the last time we were there it was with them. 

Hall of Mirrors

Versailles Gardens

        Kace and I grabbed a DC and some potato wedges as a little snack (they are so good in Europe) and then jumped on the train.  We got off near the Louvre and got a pizza/bread type of thing at a little bakery before heading over to meet the other girls at the Louvre.  When we got to the Louvre, Abby informed us that she has been “coat-picked” by one of the keychain guys at Versailles.  It was sad, but we couldn’t help but laugh.  We then headed inside and attempted to find our way around.  The Louvre is so big, but we managed to find our favorites as well as complete out Humanities assignments.  My very favorite piece was “The Winged Victory of Samothrace.”  I don’t know what it is about this piece, but it is breathtaking.  

Enjoying the Louvre in every way

Outside the Louvre

Mona Lisa

Coldplay Painting

        After touring the Louvre we were all exhausted, and some a little grumpy, but Kacey and I headed to my hotel to freshen up before dinner.  It had only been about 24 hours since I had seen my parents, but it was so good to see them again.  As I mentioned, I felt as though I was experiencing separation anxiety from both my parents and the girls.  

        For my birthday dinner, Kacey, my parents, and I went to a delicious French restaurant with a view overlooking the Eiffel Tower.  I had some French Onion Soup and delicious salmon (2 of my favorites).  It was so fun to be with three of my favorite people and have the chance to talk with my parents all about our experience on Study Abroad.  

Outside the Restaurant 

        After dinner the four of us headed down to the Eiffel Tower to meet Abby, Annie, Bev, and Laura.  We lucked out because there was no line and we headed right up to the tope.  We first stopped on the first level and then worked our way up all the way to the 3^rd level.  It was very windy on top, but the view was incredible.  We had a fun time taking pictures, finding the flags of other countries, and looking at the entire city.  This moment on top of the Eiffel Tower with my friends and parents was one I will never forget.  As we were heading down, everyone decided to sing “Happy Birthday” to me.  This was extremely embarrassing, as I hate attention being drawn to me in public.  However, all of my friends did get a kick out of “Fried Ham, Fried Ham” when my parents sang it to me.

Platform Views of the Eiffel Tower

Atop the Eiffel Tower with my Dad

With the Parentals on the Eiffel Tower

Love Bayles

Chateau Bass Residence

        After the Eiffel Tower we stopped for delicious dessert crepes.  I had a banana and Nutella crepe and boy was it good.  Once we all had our crepes, we walked up to the viewing platform and towards the hotel.  It was then time for the girls to get back to the BYU hotel, so we said bye and then headed back to our hotel.  When we got back to the hotel my mom and I decided to watch You’ve Got Mail.  My dad was sweet and swapped me beds, so my mom and I could have a sleepover/watch our movie.  I may be getting old, but I will never be too old for a sleepover with my mom.  I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better day and am so thankful for such amazing friends and parents.  Thanks to everyone who made it such a wonderful day.

A Tuesday in Paris

        Today was a busy day and started with a slight drizzle.  We have actually been really lucky with the weather considering the forecast was rain everyday and this was the first we needed our umbrellas.  The first thing we did was walk to the Rodin Museum (I must say that the location of out hotel is perfect because it is within walking distance of so much, plus it is right by the Eiffel Tower…perfect for picture stops).  Once to the Rodin, we toured the inside first and then the gardens.  I couldn’t believe how large the collection was and how talented Rodin was.  The museum, which was also his house, was so beautiful as were the gardens.  We had a lot of fun reading about each of the pieces and reenacting some of them.  

"The Kiss"

Inside the Rodin

"The Gates of Hell"

In the Rodin Gardens 

Walking through the gardens

        By about noon, it was time to leave the Rodin and go meet BYU.  We had to get on the Metro and go to the slums of Paris, but it was so fun to see everyone.  I ran straight to my friends and Kacey ran straight to my mom and dad.  It’s weird because when you live with people 24/7, 4 days away from them feels like 4 weeks.  I introduced my parents to everyone and then we grabbed some lunch before meeting everyone at the Sacrecouer.  Once to the Sacrecouer, we ate our lunch and then went inside the church.  I hesitantly (due to separation anxiety) said bye to the parentals for the day and headed off with the girls.  It was fun to be with everyone again and in Paris.  

Sacrecouer

       We decided to head over to the Champs Ellysees to shop, see the Arc, and get some bonbons…naturally.  After shopping, we decided to go on a dusk river cruise.  It was really cold on the river, but the views of the city were beautiful.  After the cruise, we went and got Happy Meals at McDonalds.  Yes, we had American food for our first night in Paris (just one of the slight differences from traveling with students vs. parents).  After dinner, Kacey and I walked back to my parents hotel to get my sleepover stuff.  On the way we stopped at Hagen’ daz and shared some delicious ice cream.  After grabbing my stuff, we jumped on the Metro and headed to our BYU hotel.  Despite the remote location of the hotel, it was actually pretty nice.  I was also happy because I got Abby as a roommate, which meant laughs, talking until 2AM, me falling off of the counter, and doorbell ditching.  Once again…another wonderful day in magical Paris.  Oh and I can’t forget…HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!  I think this is the first time we have spent our birthdays apart, but I hope she has/had a wonderful day!

The Arc with the Crew

A delicious Mcdonalds dinner