Poly GIP French Exchange: Encore des escaliers (More stairs)???

On Monday we had a spectacular visit to Notre Dame, and even those who tremble at the fear of heights climbed up to see the incredible views of the city from the top of this famous church. Somehow, seeing Paris over the shoulder of the gargoyles makes it an even more dramatic experience. Inside, we marveled at the celebrated Rose windows and the gothic architecture of the interior spaces, a masterpiece that allowed us to feel the tremendous accomplishment of its hundreds of years of construction.

--Mme. Hume

Gargoyle Pose in the Tour de Notre Dame!

So far this trip has been a massive cultural excursion for me. The lives the French correspondents lead is one of greater freedom than ours. Not having a parent need to take you where you want to go has given me this opportunity to explore the city of Paris with open eyes and a new sense of independence. Today, we visited the Cathedral de Notre-Dame and the Saint-Chappelle in the morning. They were beautiful and awe-inspiring to look at, but what stuck with me the most was visiting the Latin quarter. We were able to go out and buy delicious and gourmet French food from hundreds of mom-and-pop stores in groups of 3. This new sense of freedom has made this trip a whole new experience for me. --Aidan