Today was one of the most tiring fun days I have ever had. It might be because I had two hours of sleep, or that I have no appetite and haven’t eaten, but towards the end, I actually had to think about putting one foot in front of the other to keep moving. It’s been said that it is impossible to see Paris in one day, but I think we got pretty close.

But first, Adam made it! He rode a sleeper train from Spain to Paris, and took the stop right where the Lyle’s apartment is at in St. Paul. At first the metro system was really confusing but not I think it is the easiest way to get around. I feel so proud of myself when I know when transfer stations and all that jazz are located and which metros go where!

So we said our goodbyes and goodlucks to the Lyles, grabbed a baguette and hit the cobblestone streets. First on the list: Notre Dame. As I was walking around, a youth choir started singing in the middle of the chapel, and the hymns echoed across the walls, it was so beautiful. The stained glass was so detailed and colorful, I wish my pictures could really capture their intricate designs. Walking around there were candles burning and I kept picturing a priest walking around with the incense burning, just like on the movie “hunchback of notre dame.”



Off to the arc de Triomphe! In the center of a HUGE roundabout, this structure stood representing the tomb of the unknown soldier, like that of the tomb in Washington DC. I read about all the different events that had happened there, including the WW1 march, French winning the world cup and other celebrations. We decided to pay a ticket to take the elevator to the top, to save our legs for the Eiffel Tower. Turns out there isn’t an elevator…I don’t even know where we got the idea that there was…so we took the millions (aka 282) of itty bitty stairs to the very top. I the view wasbreathtaking!



On the way to the Tower I ate the best pizza ive ever had. Mmmmmm

It’s crazy to now say that I have been to the top of the Eiffle Tower, every last stair. (1650 steps..no i didnt count but looked it up) And by the top I mean the highest you can go by taking stairs. Slowly but surely we made it, the whole experience was kind of surreal. I have seen that icon in so many movies and heard about it so many times, it was hard to believe I was really there.

You would think this would be a full days agenda, but you are very wrong.

Next, Statue of Liberty! The twin sister! It was in a really random part of town and we got lost a couple times. It was overlooking a quaint little channel and wasn’t as big as I thought it would be. On the way to the metro, we got lost again for another half hour and by this point it was getting late, I was starving and my legs were numb. Oh and my shoulders were bruised from my backpack. Bruised!





So we finally get to a metro in a hidden little area and make several exchanges but finally make it to the sacred heart church, or the basilique de Sacre Coeur. My French is actually coming along quite nicely even after two days! Just kidding, I can’t say much and to guess I just tweak Spanish a little bit. Its pretty funny.

Wow so this is a pretty long post! I will wrap it up since I am pretty much falling asleep after every sentence. Oh but one last thing, we made it to the hostel and it is super ghetto. But awesome! The receptionist, Karim, is the coolest guy every and the rooms are tiny but after today, it will probably be the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in ☺


PS. I think we walked over 4 miles around the city and close to 2500 stairs counting train stations. I treated myself to some delicious chocolate gelatos to make up for my hard work!!

And the adventure begins!

I would like to start out by giving one basic (yet, in my case, overlooked) suggestion before starting your trip overseas - check your flights dates and times. So simple right?? Not exactly. When the stress of buying tickets gets to you, mistakes come easy.

I had started packing about a week before my trip, getting things together little by little because I wanted to have the most organized, carefree, easygoing trip. Ten minutes before my first flight left from Medford to Salt Lake City, I asked if I could just get checked in on my last connecting flight from Paris to Bilbao, Spain just for good measure, you know, since I am so organized...surprise! To my shock and horror, that flight was scheduled for the perfect time, but for the absolute WRONG day. It felt like I literally swallowed panic, it burned all the way down until my face flushed white. My dear mother knew I was going to be late for my first flight so she said "don't worry, I'll take care of it!!" So, dad took me to the airport and I was off.

*Sidenote* I would like to clear up some confusion. The only way my parents were going to let me go on this study abroad was if someone from the group would fly out with me. Luckily Adam Young, a fellow huntsman scholar, spanish ambassador and china traveler, was flying out but was planning on stopping through France and Germany on the way down to La Universidad de La Rioja that I am attending in Spain. So we are getting hostels, (not Hotelllllls Anna), which are large rooms of bunkbeds, a way for students to travel cheaper. I can see people thinking in their minds...oh wow, she is traveling alone with a boy for a week that looks horrible...but to be fair, he has been a wonderful, trusted friend for a long time and come on guys, I have a boyfriend!

I called home upon arriving to Salt Lake and was relieved to hear my mom had successfully found me the same flight from Paris to Bilbao and everything was to be fine. Sadly...there is more to this story.

Adam and I realized there was an hour and a half to get me through customs, to get my luggage, get checked in and make it to the gate a million miles away. This was no medford airport people. Things were looking promising when the stewardess let us sit in business class for the last portion of the flight so we could get off the plane fast, but as my dad would say, at airports you "hurry up and wait." We were the first on the bus to be shuttled to customs and got stuck in airport shuttle traffic; I didn't even know that was possible! One hour left. We got in line for customs. 50 minutes left. I found an agent who took me the front of the fast track. Yes! I walk up to the window...then red lights flashed at me. Closed. WHAAATTTTT???? Yes, I might possibly have the worst luck in the world. They had closed all the passport check windows due to an unattended bag in the luggage pickup area. France was so on top of things that they even brought out all their police to herd everyone back in a mass, mad mess. 30 minutes left. Mom calls, tells me I have five minutes to cancel my ticket and she had called dear Lorie Frodsham to come get me at the aiport. After what seemed like an eternity, they reopened the passport checks. I ran to find my luggage while Adam barely caught his connecting flight to Bilbao. My luggage was lost. Mom thankfully cancelled my ticket successfully and I saw Lorie off in the distance. After 30 more minutes of searching, crying, running...I found my beloved duffle. Lorie and I bought metrotrain tickets and made our way to the Louvre to meet up with the Lyles, who thankfully were visiting Paris the same week as me.

Wow. I was tired, starving and emotionally drained, but I had never been so happy to see those jacksonvillers in my life. We dropped off my luggage at their awesome hippie apartment in the center of Paris, and spent the next three hours walking through the Louvre. It was incredible. Pictures and words don't do it justice, so everyone at some point in their life needs to come experience all the history and artwork. Also, be sure to use the bathroom there that costs 1 euro, you will be pleasantly surprised...

I ate the best baguette everrrrrr, rich cheese and extra sticky honey. Had a banana/nutella crepe and ratatouille for dinner. I was told to take every opportunity to try the delicious food so, I am going to make the most of that suggestion :) I am going running tomorrow morning with Lorie mom, don't worry. We all went out tonight and saw all the little bands on the corners of the streets and took a few pictures and fun videos!

All in all, I just love being here. I am glad I made it and thankful for mom for spending two days with no sleep to make sure everything worked out, Becca for helping her, Lorie for being patient at the airport and for the lyles for making my first day in Paris an unforgettable one.


ps. for those of you who are wondering about poor long lost adam, he made it safely to Bilbao and is currently on a sleeper train back to Paris.