We started Day 6 with a trip to the Louvre Museum. The delegates were able to split into smaller groups with a leader and explore those exhibition halls that interested them the most. Many of our students chose to visit the Mona Lisa, Venus di Milo, Winged Victory, and the Last Summer depiction. After exploring the museum, the students earned some free shopping time in the Louvre carousel before lunch time.
That afternoon we found ourselves at the top of the world - at the Eiffel Tower! Lines were short and we made it up to the viewing platform in remarkable time. The delegates were greeted with a 360 degree view of Paris - a view of a lifetime! This was what many of our delegates were waiting for since embarking on the trip.
Day 7 brought us to Versailles! Again, delegates were split up into smaller groups and had the opportunity to explore the grounds with a leader. Last year on program, my group explored Marie Antoinette's children's apartments...and not much else because if the time constraints. This year, I was able to explore Marie and Louie's apartments and bedrooms, along with the famed Hall of Mirrors. The delegates also got a chance to view the palatial grounds and see the gardens.
After Versailles and lunch, we headed to our coach and picked up our French guide for our afternoon bus tour. Our guide took us around the city and brought our tour to an end at Montmartre. After a long day of walking, our delegates were challenged to climb the 300 some steps up to the Sacre Coeur and artists' quarter at the top of the hill. We made it to the top though! Our delegates had the opportunity to explore the Basilica and walk around in small groups and shop.
The next day signified the end of our time in France. (As much as I love the great places we visited, I was happy to leave the Parisians behind...and our hotel!) We were then off to Belgium! We arrived in the town of Ypres and visited the In Flanders Museum and learned how World War I ravaged the town of Ypres and how Belgium fought in WWI.
After our visit to the museum, we split into two smaller groups and received an introduction to Belgian chocolate making and Belgian waffle recipes! (I'm pretty sure the students had their fill of both before the afternoon was over!)
When were full on chocolate, waffles, and gelato, we loaded back onto the bus and were off to Bruges! Once we were arrived, we were herded onto three waiting carriages and had a wonderful horse-drawn carriage around the city center. The locals were all too excited to say hello to our delegates as we paraded around the city.
Day 9 brought our journey into the Netherlands and The Hague. We started our day with a bicycling tour through a 17th century Dutch heritage windmill park. We rode for a bit before stopping for a picnic lunch and a game of soccer with some Dutch locals. The delegates loved puttingall their energy to good use!
After our bike ride, we headed back to the city and to the Peace Palace. We didn't make it inside, though, because - as we found out that day - it is closed on Sundays. However, the delegates still enjoyed viewing the establishment from the front gates and took plenty of pictures with their new friends!
Stay tuned for the next installment of our adventure...
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