Monday May 19th-Made it to Paris!
Today kicked off our long-awaited visit to the City of Light, and even though it’s our shortest stop of the trip, we were all determined to make the most of every minute here. I’ve been looking forward to this part of the journey the most—Paris has always felt like a dream destination to me. As someone who absolutely idolizes fashion, the chance to walk through the same streets that inspired so many of the world’s most iconic designers felt surreal. I’ve imagined this moment for years, and it was finally happening.
We packed up early this morning and said goodbye to London as we made our way to the train station, ready for the next adventure. Our group had to split onto two different buses to get there, which was slightly chaotic, but everything worked out and we all managed to regroup before heading through customs and passport control. I was especially excited because I finally got my first passport stamp—such a small thing, but it made everything feel so official and memorable.
We boarded the train to Paris and got settled into our seats. It took a little teamwork to get everyone’s luggage stowed away, but we managed it. Some people used the ride to journal or catch up on sleep—personally, I did both. While the train itself was more of a standard ride than I expected, watching the countryside fly by in both England and France was peaceful and beautiful. Even though the famous underwater tunnel is basically just a regular tunnel in the dark, it was still fun to say we traveled under the English Channel.
Once we arrived in Paris, we met our new WorldStrides guide, who quickly helped us find our way to the hotel. We lucked out and caught the first shuttle bus just in time, which saved us from having to wait another 20 minutes for the next one. As soon as we stepped outside into the city streets, I felt right at home. The style, the energy, the architecture—everything about it matched the vision I had in my head.
After dropping our things off, we took a short walk around the neighborhood to get our bearings and take in the Parisian atmosphere before diving into our evening itinerary. Back at the hotel, we gathered to watch a video about the Paris bid for the Olympic Games. It was fascinating to learn about how cities pitch themselves to the Olympic committee. Paris emphasized sustainability, inclusivity, and lasting impact, and it sparked some really interesting conversation. Dr. Kim led a thoughtful discussion afterward where we broke down who actually participates in these bids and why they matter.
Later, we had some free time to explore the area and do a bit of shopping before our big event of the night: a dinner cruise on the Seine River. Everyone got dressed up for the occasion, and I finally got to wear this lavender dress I bought last year but never had a reason to wear—until tonight. It was the perfect fit for the evening, and I felt so happy getting to wear it in such a beautiful setting.
The cruise followed the same route as the Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremony, which made the experience even more special. The multi-course French meal featured everything from foie gras to veal, monkfish cheek, and tartare. The food was delicious, but the highlight for me was watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle as we cruised along the river—a true once-in-a-lifetime moment.
We wrapped up the evening with a ride back on the metro and returned to the hotel full, content, and in awe of Paris. Even in just a few hours, this city has already left its mark.
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