May 19th: Bonjour Paris!

 This morning started off quick making sure everything was packed and ready for us to depart from London. Paris being one of our most anticipated locations on the trip even though it is sadly the shortest stay of our duration we wanted to make sure we made the most out of the stop. I waited forever to get into an elevator due to being on the 1st floor and carrying two massive bags with me so I ended up being the last one to join the group. We made our way to the bus stop where we had to get onto two different busses and trust the process that we would end up at the station together, which thankfully we accomplished! We grabbed our lunch and began to go through the passport and customs process before we were allowed to board the train. I was super excited myself because my passport got its first stamp! Gathering our bags onto the train took some team effort but we eventually made our way to our seats. The unfortunate part was that most of our seats were facing the opposite direction of the way the train was moving causing some concern of motion sickness. Nonetheless, we all used the time to either catch up on journaling or getting in the extra sleep we missed from London, personally I did both. Side note: the underwater train really isn't that cool it just goes through a tunnel but going through the countryside in both countries was very pretty.

We had officially arrived in Paris where our new WorldStrides guide met us to bring us to our hotel. By the luck of the draw we made it to the first bus right on time which would've been tragic if we had missed since we would've had to wait 20 minutes for the next one. She gave us some good recommendations for where we should eat or shop. Dropped our stuff off and took a stroll down the street to see what was around before heading back to the hotel to begin to get ready for our first day of Paris. Watched the video of the Paris Olympic pitch where the country pitches a city to the Olympic committee and makes there bid. Then we met with Dr. Kim to have a discussion on the video we watched on the Paris bid where we discussed key points such as sustainability and who goes to the bid. 

We got some free time to explore the city where we did some shopping and relaxing prior to our big event: the Seine River cruise. We dressed to the nines in dresses for the girls and the guys got dressed up as well. The cruise we took is the same route that the Olympic opening ceremony took when they cruised down the river to the venue for the rest of the ceremonies. The cruise had a multi-course meal with some true French cuisine. And they also featured live music! Some of us went adventurous with our selections for food ranging from foie gras, tartare, veal, and monkfish cheek. The food was delicious but I think the best part was the spectacular views from along the river. We had lots of pictures taken and was able to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle on the hour which was a once in a lifetime moment. We wrapped up our dinner and took the metro back to our hotel where we concluded another great day of the Olympic Odyssey.

 

5/18 Olympic Park Tour and EPL Match

 For today's trip, we visited the host of the 2012 Olympics, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and a West Ham United v Nottingham Forest match.

We started our day with a little bit of breakfast from the hotel before taking the underground to the Olympic Park, where we learned about the history of the 2012 games. The opening ceremony and closing ceremony were performed in the Olympic Stadium where the game was being held today.. During the opening ceremony, Her Majesty the Queen parachuted down into the Olympic Stadium alongside actor Daniel Craig as James Bond, creating a very iconic and memorable opening ceremony. We discussed the importance of London hosting the Olympics this year and how it helped the area have an economic boost. Creating jobs, new sites for tourist attractions to bring in money, as well as helping London gain some more popularity, are among the few positives that these games brought.

As we walked through the park, we viewed the buildings where some of the venues were held. These included the aquatics center, handball venue, and cycling areas. Along the walk, we viewed where the Olympic village was built. This village is now being utilized as apartments, showcasing another economic boost of the games. Also, seeing how the park was still being used by locals to bike, walk, exercise, and enjoy the weather was neat. We came across a monument of the Olympic rings, which we took some fun pictures for the Olympic Odyssey trip next year. Then we toured through the BMX and track cycling venue. This venue is still in use, allowing locals to bike, exercise, play pickleball, and so much more. People were all throughout these venues, utilizing them just like the athletes would in the games themselves. 

On our way back, we stopped to get some lunch in the mall before heading over to the EPL match. The mall at Olympic Park was big, contributing to the longevity that the Olympics helped to bring. Once we got to the stadium, we found our seats and got to witness the glory of sport and what the Olympics had brought.  Unfortunately, West Ham did not end up on top, but experiencing the atmosphere of a local EPL match was unforgettable. West Ham's iconic chant was performed today too, and it was cool to listen along. I was very excited to see my first European match. Also, within the stadium, we were able to see where the track and field venue was set up for the Olympics. It's cool to see how each venue is being used today.

After the game, we took a walk back to the underground and came back to the hotel. Soon after that, we ended the day with a delicious dinner from Din Tai Fung, which I had for the first time, and this concluded our fun for today.

5/18 - Olympic Park/EPL Match

On day four of our trip, we traveled to the East side of London to visit the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the site of multiple events in the 2012 Olympics. After hopping off the tube, we walked through the recently revitalized Stratford area of London. The area was filled with restaurants and stores that we later visited for lunch. We stopped outside of London Stadium, the site of the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the home of West Ham United, to talk about the site's history. Fun fact: the capacity of the London Stadium is 60,000, but it was actually close to 80,000 for the Olympics. After the closing ceremonies, an upper tier of seats was removed. These seats would be used if Chicago won the bid for the 2016 Olympics. We learned here that London became the first city to host the Olympics three times. When selecting London, the IOC revealed that they did this because of the tradition and experience London has had in hosting the Olympics. The Olympics before the London Games were held in Athens and Beijing, which were somewhat risky choices. Leading up to the Olympics, there were concerns that these Olympics would be successful and that there would be logistical hiccups along the way. The IOC felt this would not be the case with London.

The theme of the 2012 Olympics was “Inspire a Generation.” The IOC and Organizing Committee for London 2012 made it a priority to inspire the next generation of Olympians. This led to the Department for Education of England creating multiple initiatives to increase participation in sport in the country. After learning about the context of the 2012 London Olympics, we walked around the park. We visited the Olympic village, which is now an apartment complex. After this, we made our way over to the Olympic Rings, where Luke successfully climbed into one of the rings., Blythe had the opposite experience. 

We then walked over to the arena that held the indoor cycling events. It is now used for a similar purpose, as well as for other recreational events that are held in the center of the track. Here, we watched a nail-biting pickleball match between four random people. The term white elephant is used a lot with regard to the Olympics. It is a term that describes venues used for the Olympics that are now abandoned; It is a real problem in places like Athens, but it is the opposite in London. All the venues we walked by are still in use, and truly fit in with the theme of the 2012 Olympics. These venues are now open for the next generation to train for the Olympics. We grabbed some lunch in the mall before heading into the London Stadium to catch an English Premier League match between West Ham United and Nottingham Forest. 

Before the game, we heard the famous West Ham bubble song sung before each game. Everyone in the group loved the song and the spirit shown by the West Ham fans. Unfortunately, West Ham United came up short and lost 2-1. Despite the loss, the atmosphere in the stadium was Electric. During our time in London, I went to two EPL games, and the stadium environment is something you cannot see in the States. If you are ever in London or England, I highly recommend going to a soccer game. After the game, some of the group headed over to Din Tai Fung for dinner, where we enjoyed some soup dumplings among other things. It was a great way to end a fun day of exploring. 

5/18 - EPL Match and Olympic Park Visit

Yesterday was our last full day in London. The main event of today’s travels was going to an EPL match between West Ham and Nottingham Forest. West Ham was the home team and played their games at the Olympic Stadium in the Olympic Park, where they hosted the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games as well as many other events during that Olympics. The park itself was the hub for many of the athletes and the events across London, as the athletes' village, aquatics, and BMX events took place in the Olympic Park. As a group, we went around and spotted many of the Olympic venues and symbols that had been left up after the 2012 Olympics had taken place. We learned and talked about some important aspects of what makes the Olympics a successful event and why certain countries are hosting compared to others that are not. Some of those aspects are economic impact, social impact, and sustainability. London was one of the first cities to emphasize making sure that their venues were either existing or temporary, with a focus on not making venues that would be unused after the Olympic Games. This is one of the most important characteristics that the IOC looks for in their Olympic hosts, and will be hesitant to give the games to cities that are economically unsound with the funding they receive for the Olympics. The game itself was a fun one. Nottingham Forest ended up winning a thriller. From what I heard from fans in attendance at the stadium, the refs were less than ideal and gave Nottingham Forest all of the calls, which was an unfortunate scenario for West Ham. Either way, I enjoyed going to the game and would do that again if I came back to London in the future. To end the night, we went to dinner at Din Tai Fung. The food was good as always, and I will be going there again when I am back home. 

Overall, the group and I had a great time in London and look forward to our next individual trips there. It is not every day that these amazing opportunities come around to learn about the Olympics and experience European culture at the same time. I, for one, have never been to Europe before, so this is a new experience for me that I will forever cherish. Getting to go on this trip with great people was something I hoped for but was hesitant about while signing up. I was nervous that I wouldn’t find a way to connect with the other students on the trip. Luckily, my fears have been blown out of the water. The people on this trip are amazing, and I hope that one day we will all meet up again in one of the 4 countries that we visited to rekindle that Olympic flame. 

Saturday May 17th- Fun day of sightseeing

 Saturday, May 17

Today was a full Saturday of sightseeing around one of the most iconic cities in the world—London! After a busy first few days filled with lectures and orientation activities, it was such a treat to have a day purely dedicated to exploring the city’s most historic and picturesque landmarks.

We started the morning bright and early with a walking tour, and our first major stop was Buckingham Palace. The black-and-gold gates gleamed in the morning light, and there was such a strong sense of royal tradition in the air. Although we didn’t catch the Changing of the Guard, it was still such a cool moment to stand outside the home of the British monarchy. Definitely one of those classic “you’re really in London” moments.

After that, we made our way to Big Ben, which was equally impressive in a completely different way. Even though I’ve seen it in a million photos, standing beneath it in person felt completely different. The clock tower’s detail and sheer presence made it feel surreal. You always know it’s iconic, but being there in real life made me realize just how grand it really is.

But my favorite stop of the day—by far—was the Tower of London. I’ve read about it in textbooks, but actually getting to walk through its grounds and hear the stories in person was another level. We went on a guided tour that dove into its dramatic, eerie, and fascinating history. From royal executions to stolen jewels and betrayals, every corner seemed to hold a secret. Our tour guide was hilarious—he had the perfect mix of humor and spooky energy to make the stories come alive. I couldn’t stop imagining what it must have been like centuries ago to be locked inside those ancient walls. It was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had on this trip so far.

After the Tower, my friends and I took the Tube over to Borough Market for lunch. The market was packed with locals and tourists, and the smell of different cuisines filled the air. There were so many great options, but we all ended up getting mushroom risotto from a vendor that someone in our group had read about—and it was incredible. Creamy, warm, and full of flavor—definitely one of the best meals I’ve had since arriving. We found a bench nearby and ate while soaking up some rare London sunshine, just taking in the vibe of the day.

From royal palaces to historic towers and delicious food, today had a little bit of everything. It was such a fun and full day, and I feel like I got to know the heart of London a bit better. So grateful for every moment here!

5/17 - Sightseeing on the Olympic Trail

Yesterday was one of the most interesting days of the trip because we learned a lot of about the city of London and some of its most historic sights. As a group we went around the city and visited Big-Ben, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, The London Tower, and Buckingham Palace. 

During our time at each of these sights we were able to learn something new and interesting about them that deepened our understanding of the diverse culture that London has to offer. My personal favorite place to visit was the Tower of London. At which we were given a tour by a Yeomen Warder who is one of the famed protesters of the Tower of London. Which have vast knowledge on how the Tower of London came to be the way it is today. One of the biggest points of conversation on the tour was about the famous executions to take place on the grounds of the Tower of London which included Queens such as Cathrine Howard, Anne Boleyn, and Lady Jane Gray each with their own intriguing story. 

On a happier note, the Yeomen Warder who gave us our tour, Gary told us an interesting story about how Sir Issac Newton helped the coin makers who lived in the caste during the Middle Ages stop people living outside the castle from cutting the edges of the coins to create their own currency. By putting grooves in on the edged of the coins the British government was able to instantly recognize if someone had cut the coins which owed make it instantly worthless. 

The tour itself touched on every aspect of the Tower of London but because of the strict time restraints we were not able to see everything that the tower had to offer. So my friends and I stayed back and expired even more of what the tower had to offer which included the Crown Jewels which were stored their, which were sadly not able to take pictures of, and the tower prison which was famed for its inability to hold prisoners as the keys to the doors were located on the inside of the doors. Which served the purpose of keeping people out of the Tower Fortress but was lacking in the ability to keep people in. Some of the most famous people to be held in the tower of London Prison were Sir Walter Raleigh, Guy Fawkes, and the Kray Twins. We were not able to hear the stories of each of these individuals but after doing some online research after the tour they all had an interesting story to how they ended up in the Tower of London Prison.  

After that the group split up and went on their separate ways to the esteemed Borough Market where we indulged ourselves in different cuisines from around the world.