Our Last Full Day!

Today, we headed into Paris for a boat and bus tour with a side of shopping. Some of our French buddies accompanied us.  When we first arrived, it was pouring buckets and we had to wait a little in a cafe (Cafe Indiana).  Which gave us all a chance to get a cafe, jus, or snack.  The rain was lighter as we headed on foot to the river to catch the boat.

While we waited along the Seine, we were joined by two other school groups of elementary students.  They were pretty cute and excited to talk to our students.  On the boat tour, it was difficult to see things due to the rain, but it was enjoyable on the way back and we were able to see the school of fine arts in Paris.

Next, we met the bus and drove around the city.  We saw the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the governmental buildings, including the UN location of the signing of the Declaration of Human Rights in 1945.  We ended our bus tour at the Grand Opera House and headed to the Lafayette Galleries for some shopping.

Tomorrow, we will be meeting the students at 9am at the school.  We will take a walking tour of Senlis and then have a pique-nique before heading to the airport.  Once we are at Charles de Gaulle, I am sure there will be more shopping to be done while we wait for our flight.

Reminder-
Delta Flight 197
Departure- 4:15pm
Arrival to Philadelphia - 6:45pm

I would suggest parking and coming into the international arrivals hall.  It is really nice to get off the plane and see your family.  I know some of the kids have already said that they will probably cry tears of happiness to see their parents.

Sports Day

Today, we all met at the school for a school wide sports competition. The day was divided into half hour sections for each sport- basketball, volleyball, badminton, ping pong, petanque (the French bocce ball), a 4x1000, a 4X100, ultimate frisbee, orientering, and soccer. Each class was a team. We had our own American team. We lost on a technicality, but we had the most fun, I think.

Back to Senlis!

This morning we awoke to a lovely breakfast buffet.  Then we boarded the bus for about 1.5 hours to St. Michel.  St. Michel is an abbey that was originally constructed in the 8^th century and is located on a rock surrounded by a causeway.  During the Hundred Years War, the abbey became a bit of a fortress and took on the appearance of a medieval castle.  It was claimed by the government during the French Revolution in 1789 and was used as a prison.  It was handed back to the people in the 19^th century and later became a UNESCO World Heritage site.  I read somewhere that a portion has been opened again to the monks for use again.  We did see one monk on our way into the city.  Personally, I felt a little like I was trapped in an Escher staircase drawing. 

Unfortunately, the tour guides in this little city were apparently on strike and we were not able to go inside of the abbey.  The people were striking due to the new roads being constructed which will change the city.  We explored the little town, had lunch, shopped, and then headed to Claude Monet’s House. 

Claude Monet's house and gardens were beautiful, just like his pictures.  Although, we did notice a not nice smell inside the house.  

Our last stop on the way home was at an in-use watermill/hotel.  It was beautiful.

St. Michel slaying the dragon.  

World's smallest street?  I feel bad for the postman.

Monet's House

Our Watermill stop.

Normandy! Witte

Today was a very long day.  We woke up very early and headed to the Senlis bus station to catch our bus for Normandy.  It was a long drive, but watching the fields of red poppies and white cows zoom by helped to make it seem shorter.  Once we arrived in Normandy, our first stop was the Pointe du Hoc. This area seized from the Germans on June 6, 1944 in order to prepare for the landings on Omaha and Utah beaches.  We were able to climb into the bunkers and see where the Germans kept their artillery.  It was also very moving to see the landscape dotted with craters from the shell explosions.

Our next stop was at the American Cemetery and Memorial.  It was very moving to walk quietly among the rows of Latin crosses and Stars of David.  Most of the headstone had the name of the fallen as well as their home state, while others were for the unknown soldiers.

We had a quick lunch near Omaha beach and then head to a wonderful museum about the damage that the city of Caen sustained during WWII.  The amount of artifacts was truly amazing and the set up of the museum provided a vivid interpretation of what it might have felt like to have lived through that period in history.

We just finished a walking tour of the Caen.  It is a quiet, college town with a medieval castle and many gothic churches.  I am sure the students are excited to rest for their day tomorrow at St. Michel.  Anna Baxter was once again attack by a bird.  This time it pooped on her arm.  We keep telling her to stop provoking them.

Our Guide Alex.

Into the German bunker

Interior of a bunker.  I am guessing the marks on the wall are ricochet marks from bullets. But I have seen all the Band of Brothers series, so it might just be me making it up.

This man's shirt reads wounded war vet program.  I thought it was sweet to watch him with his little son.

Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach

American Memorial

A non-violence statue outside the great museum in Caen.

No Bags allowed in the museum.  Guess who gets to carry them?  I might start charging for this sherpa service.

Caen

Almost finished on the Witte death march. oops,  I mean walking tour of the city.

Top of the World

Day #7 Normandy