The annual Paris trip was nothing short of amazing! Not only did we see beautiful monuments, but we truly lived the Parisian culture on a daily basis.
We visited a multitude of churches such as Sacré-Cœur, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Sulpice and even Notre-Dame which is in its final stages of reconstruction. Each of the churches was unique, having a different but equally impressive character. We visited the Orsay Museum, where we admired the famous paintings by the Impressionists and other equally important works. We saw the Arc De Triomphe which led us to the well-known avenue of Champs-Élysées where we enjoyed some shopping. We walked through Montmartre where artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Modigliani lived.
We experienced the true meaning of Parisian autumn through the Jardin du Luxembourg where the fallen leaves coloured the ground red and brown. We visited sights carrying significant historical value such as the beautiful Conciergerie, where we saw the cell Marie Antoinette was held captive in. We had the opportunity to sit in a variety of coffee shops like the Deux Magots where we enjoyed some hot chocolate and delicious baked goods. One of the most memorable experiences were the Bateau Mouche. They gave us the chance to see Paris by night and to therefore understand why it is called ‘The City of Lights’. Seeing the Eiffel Tower in real life, especially for the first time, does not compare to any picture and the sparkles at the beginning of each nighttime hour left us speechless every time. To finish off the trip, on our last day we went to the Parc Asterix which was full of exhilarating rides and immersed us in the world of Asterix and Obelix. On our last night we had the chance to go to a café for a final drink because, in the words of Ms Christopoulou, “This is how people here live”.
This trip was unforgettable. In our limited time there we managed to see almost the entirety of Paris and to experience every aspect of its culture. A huge thank you from all twenty-four of us to Ms Christopoulou, Ms Tambaki, and Mr Michelis for making the trip all the more enjoyable. I know that next year’s trip will be equally amazing!
Leia Angelakou
Year 12
