From the very moment we crossed the French border on the ICE train, there was a certain savoir-vivre in the air. Our class trip to Paris, the city of love and the city of light, was more than just a school outing \u2013 it became a cultural journey of discovery, full of history, art, architecture, music, and of course, French cuisine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n Our accommodation, the charming and stylish designer hostel Generator, was centrally located in the vibrant 10th arrondissement of Paris. On the first evening, we explored the surroundings. In the afternoon, the first highlight of the attractive program was already on the agenda: Of course, a visit to the world-famous Louvre was a must. The sight of the glass pyramid at the entrance was already impressive. Inside, we explored the countless exhibitions \u2013 from the “Mona Lisa” (La Joconde) to the Greek statue of Venus de Milo. Although it was quite crowded, there was an almost reverent atmosphere. Dinner tempted with typical French cuisine at “La Fourmi Ail\u00e9e.”<\/p>\n\n A day trip took us the next morning to the Palace of Versailles, the baroque masterpiece of Louis XIV. The sheer size of the Hall of Mirrors (Galerie des Glaces), the magnificent gardens, and the countless fountains left us in awe. Here history was made, and while strolling through the magnificent rooms, one could practically see the court ladies and nobles before them in their wigs and hoop skirts. We spent the early evening on a special kind of musical tour: the songs of \u00c9dith Piaf and Dalida accompanied our walk from Place Pigalle up to the Basilique du Sacr\u00e9-C\u0153ur, which sits high atop the Butte Montmartre hill. The view over Paris in the golden light of the setting sun was breathtaking. Some classmates even tried to speak in French with the vendors in front of the basilica: “Combien \u00e7a co\u00fbte?” \u2013 “How much does it cost?” became a popular phrase (“5 Eiffel Tower keychains for one euro!”). We would love to be swept away by the charm of this neighborhood, which was once home to artists like Picasso and Dal\u00ed. Small caf\u00e9s, art stalls, street musicians (Charlie gave us an exclusive “serenade”!) \u2013 it was like stepping into a postcard.<\/p>\n\n The next morning, the slightly smaller but no less impressive Mus\u00e9e Rodin was worth a visit. The competent leadership of an art professor, who originally came from Hamburg and has been teaching in Paris for 40 years, brought us closer to the famous sculptures (“The Kiss”). The sculpture garden with “The Thinker” (Le Penseur) invited visitors to linger, and many classmates tried to mimic the famous pose. One of the most beautiful ways to discover Paris is undoubtedly from the water. Our charming boat ride in the afternoon on the Seine took us through a system of locks, and from the water, we were able to view many landmarks from a new perspective \u2013 Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Mus\u00e9e d’Orsay. The journey was accompanied by French music, which perfectly highlighted the romantic atmosphere. The evening was available for the free exploration of the city, and at night, many of us and numerous people were drawn to the brightly lit Eiffel Tower (La Tour Eiffel). The sight of the tower sparkling was simply magical.<\/p>\n\n The following day was dedicated to the Mus\u00e9e d’Orsay \u2013 a former train station that now houses some of the most beautiful works of the Impressionists. We were particularly fascinated by the works of Monet, Degas, Renoir, and Van Gogh. Many were surprised by how much the atmosphere and color scheme of these images touched them \u2013 art class comes to life!<\/p>\n\n The exact opposite was experienced at the Catacombs of Paris \u2013 an underground labyrinth of corridors filled with the bones of millions of people. The entrance is through an inconspicuous door, but as soon as you have maneuvered the steep spiral staircase, you find yourself in a completely different world. The atmosphere was calm, almost meditative \u2013 a place that encourages reflection: Carpe Diem, Vanitas, and Memento Mori!<\/p>\n\n Our tried and true, reliably punctual mode of transport was of course the M\u00e9tro, which we soon mastered in our sleep (“Sortie” means “exit,” by the way).<\/p>\n\n Of course, the physical well-being was not neglected either. Already at breakfast, we learned that a real French croissant or a cr\u00eape is in a completely different league than anything we’ve encountered in German bakeries. We tried Quiche Lorraine or sweet macarons in all colors and flavors: pistachio, lemon, raspberry \u2013 a dream!<\/p>\n\n Despite all the French delights, fast food could not be missed. Thus ended an evening in a restaurant that creatively combined French and American cuisine. The Parisian Burger with Camembert and caramelized onions was a complete success.<\/p>\n\n We were especially excited the evening before our departure by the visit to a live concert at Le Hasard Ludique, a club next to a railway track that has been converted into a restaurant. French bands performed there, oscillating stylistically between indie jazz, electro-rock, and chanson. Even though many of us did not fully understand the text, the spark was ignited. “Music is universal!” \u2013 Music is simply universal.<\/p>\n\n Our week in Paris was unforgettable. The city is not just an accumulation of sights, but a way of life. Whether it was gazing over Paris from Sacr\u00e9-C\u0153ur, marveling at the Louvre, enjoying macarons, or dancing to French pop music \u2013 we experienced Paris with all our senses.<\/p>\n\n We have learned how diverse culture can be, how exciting history is when it comes alive, and how important it is to be open to new impressions \u2013 even when you don’t always feel comfortable in a hostel or have to save yourself from an embarrassing situation with a “Je ne parle pas fran\u00e7ais.”<\/p>\n\n This school trip not only opened up new perspectives for us but also strengthened the class cohesion \u2013 thank you, Paris!<\/p>\n\n (Report created by D. Blum, teacher)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Kurpfalz boarding school on the go: K1 in Paris From the very moment we crossed the French border on the ICE train, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24245,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Our class trip to Paris turned into a cultural exploration full of history, art, music, and French cuisine.","excerpt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-47776","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-kurpfalz-news"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nArrival and first impression \u2013 Hello, Paris!<\/h2>\n\n
Our conclusion – An unforgettable week<\/h2>\n\n