Day 1, Sunday, March 12: Exploration of Paris

Our First Day in Paris 

Sunday, March 12, 2017
By Jennifer Blandeburgo and Arsie Rombotis


To begin our day, we arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport located in France at around 11:30 a.m. We went through customs and then were greeted by our tour guide, Catherine who was both knowledgeable and friendly. We took a bus ride to the hotel where Catherine told us about the various sites we passed, as well as the rich history.  It was amazing to see beautiful architecture and history that Paris has to offer. We settled into the hotel and then enjoyed a nice lunch across the street at Royal Cambronne, located in the 15th Arrondissement of Paris. We both started off with a salad with delicious fried mozzarella balls which could be compared to a French version of mozzarella sticks.  For our main course, we both enjoyed beef served with yummy French Fries.  Dining is very important in the French culture.  It was interesting to see how the Parisians really savor their lunch time and use it as a social gathering rather than just to eat and continue with their day.

 Notre Dame Cathedral

Following our lunch, we took the metro to The Notre Dame Cathedral.  The metro is very similar to the New York City subway although we actually preferred the metro.  The trains run very quickly, and it does not take as much time waiting for the next train to arrive. It was easy to navigate and seemed fairly clean. Paris in general seems like a very clean city, and we even witnessed some sidewalks being cleaned as we were walking.

Our group in front of The Notre Dame Cathedral

When we arrived at The Notre Dame Cathedral it was breathtaking to see the unique architecture, as well as the beautiful stained glass windows. During our visit, a mass was being held and it was a unique experience to see a Catholic mass being held in the French language. It was interesting to learn that they no longer perform weddings, baptisms, or funerals at Notre Dame Cathedral, but they do hold masses and reconciliation daily.

Jardin du Luxembourg

Following our visit, we walked along the beautiful River Seine and took a bus to the Jardin du Luxembourg.  The bus system in Paris was very unique because they use the door nearest to the driver strictly as an entrance, and a door near the end of the bus strictly to exit.  This system helped to make stops quicker and more efficient.  The Garden of Luxembourg was breathtaking.  We walked around and saw the whimsical vibe Paris has to offer. We spent some time watching the Parisians while in the garden and it was interesting to see how they interact with one another.  They are very focused on the time that they are in, and don't seem as preoccupied.  When we arrived the garden it was about 5 pm and there were so many people just sitting and enjoying each others company.  You did not see people looking at their phones, they were just sitting and enjoying the beautiful day. Many people were reading books, or newspapers, and enjoying some espresso while savoring the moment that they were in.

Delicious French Pastries 

We ended the night off with a visit to a local pastry shop right outside the hotel where we enjoyed raspberry and lemon meringue tarts as well as croissants. We sat outside of the bakery and admired what a beautiful city that Paris is.  It was interesting that in almost every restaurant with outdoor seating, the chairs are set up next to each other, rather than across from each other.  This was a great touch and it allowed us to enjoy the fresh desserts and reflect on our busy day we had with a breathtaking view.

It was intriguing to see the lifestyle the Parisians live and how different it is from life in New York. People just sit and enjoy the moment, they are not in a rush, they are not distracted by their phones, and they spend their time enjoying the here and now rather than rushing to what is next. Through our first day, we really were able to notice cultural differences between Paris and the United States and are excited to see what more there is to learn and explore.