Bon jour from Paris! We spent 8 hours in the city today to utilize our layover and out back in the airport waiting for our flight to Johannesburg to board.
Martha and I split the group in two and each of us took ten students on a whirlwind walking tour. After going through customs and immigration, finding a place to store our luggage, and catching the train to the city we got to our starting point - Notre Dame Cathedral, 4 hours after we landed. Then we split up and Martha's group went south to the Jardin de Luxembourg and from there walked to the Eiffel Tower, stopping at a cafe to eat along the way. My group walked along the east bank of the Seine through the Louvre, Jardin de Tuiliere and on to the Eiffel Tower, getting a bite to eat at a market across from the Tower and walking back along a different route to Notre Dame where we all met up again.
Paris was bursting with spring leaves, blossoms and tulips. The weather started out cool and cloudy but turned warm and sunny enough to be comfortable. We saw Parisians going about their day running, biking, walking dogs, sitting in outdoor cafes.
Students walked a lot, tried some new foods, bought a few souvenirs and of course lots of pictures were taken. Although we were there only for a short time we got a flavor of Paris and a taste of the Parisian lifestyle (slower paced and more relaxed, what's not to like?)!
We are now ready to fall asleep on our 10.5 hour flight to Johannesburg. Au revoir from Paris!
PS - I was not able to send this before we left Paris so we are now in Johannesburg.
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