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Wednesday, Aug. 24
My journey is coming to a close. This is the last day and my last entry, and I must admit that I feel like this was the best day. Maybe because I know I’m coming back home tomorrow, or maybe because it was interesting. Who knows? But I am very excited about coming home.
Breakfast was okay this morning, but the best was in Paris. I ate some granola and yogurt, as well as some fruit with some orange juice. After that, we met our tour guide for Nice and began learning about this part of France. After driving around the city, we went to a perfume factory. To see how it was made and to actually get to buy directly from somewhere that is known as the perfume capital is something I could never do again. The prices were actually cheaper than buying them in stores. I learned something about perfume today too. You need to keep it out of the sun and in a place where the temperature is consistent, and the bathroom isn’t a good storing place. In a glass bottle, it only lasts about 2 years, but if you get it in an aluminum bottle it will last up to 6 years. Also, in an aluminum bottle they don’t have to use distilled water which means you have to use less of it and makes it last longer.
After spending lots of money at the factory, which if I may add I didn’t buy anything for myself, we left and headed on our way to Monaco. This is the second smallest country behind the Vatican and its population doubles everyday by the people who come there to work. 10 square feet of land cost about 15,000 dollars, and for a small studio it would cost over 1 million dollars. They don’t have to pay taxes, but everything is so expensive that it is how they make their money. In Monaco, we visited the church where Grace Kelly was buried as well as the palace where Prince Albert lives now. Grace Kelly, by the way, just in case you don’t know was an American actor who was married to Prince Ranier before her car accident. Speaking of that, we also saw the location of her car wreck.
After we got back to the hotel, Cammie, Charlotte, Cacie, Tiff, Sarah, and I made our way up to the pool on the top of the hotel. I hate laying out, but I did it for about 20 minutes before I got the nerve to jump in the freezing cold pool! It took Tiff a little while to build up the nerve, but she finally jumped in also! Then, we had to go eat pregame which consisted of cheeseburgers, fries, and cokes again, but it wasn’t McDonalds. I like McDonalds, but I won’t be eating there for a while when I get back.
After taking a shower and a nap, I was ready to leave for our last game. The game was about an hour away. It was ugly, but we pulled out with a win. We are now 5-0 going into practice!! Even though this doesn’t count for anything, it allowed us to come together as a team and get five great wins. This game once again was physical just like all the rest, but we pulled it out.
Guess what? I’M COMING HOME!!!! I had so much fun on the trip, but I’m ready to get back to America. Trips like this really make me appreciate where I come from and truly make me appreciate all that I have. If I had to choose my favorite country though, I would choose Switzerland. It was beautiful. Everything was amazing!
While I have this great opportunity to write to an audience, I would just like to express my gratitude on behalf of everyone on this trip that we could even have this experience. Many Lady Toppers, fans, and coaches have worked very hard to build this program up to where it is and even allow us to be here. I want to sincerely thank you all for what you have done and the time you have given. Also, I want to thank Michael Compton and Chris Glowacki for giving me the chance to write back in a journal. And most of all, I want to thank everyone who has been reading my entries. Hopefully, they have been up to par and allowed you all to feel like a part of the family we have at Western Kentucky. So, for the final time, thank you so much and may God bless each one of you!!! Have a Blessed Day. GO TOPS!!!!! See you in November in the stands!!!
KG#25
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Tuesday, Aug. 23
And the journey continues on day 8 with lots more exciting adventures. Today was more of a travel day than a sightseeing day, however, the bus ride allowed us to see lots of pretty things. We left the hotel this morning at 10:00, which was only the beginning of an 8-hour ride. Here, after 4 hours, the busses must stop for an hour. So, the first four fun filled hours consisted of the movie, “Catch Me if you Can”, beautiful snow-capped mountaintops, and lots of greenery.
Due to the weather and the cloudiness, the view of the top of the Alps has been blocked since we got to Switzerland. However, on our way today, we were able to see some of the most amazing sights. The road that we traveled was very curvy and took us up to a high altitude. Looking out the window, you could see straight down. The sight was somewhat scary, but also breath taking.
The road that we traveled took us through Italy, then onto Nice. The trip to Monte Carlo and Monaco is going to be tomorrow. I’m really excited about that also because it’s another place I can say that I’ve been.
After riding for 7 and a half hours, people started becoming antsy. Cammie had a scarf tied around her head like a headband, and was talking non-stop because she was so bored. Once we saw the ocean, we knew we had to be getting closer though because we knew our hotel was next to the water.
Finally, we arrived at our hotel. Quickly, we all got our room keys and then went straight to the shops. Most of them were already closed because things close early over here, but we still wanted to sight see. After walking about a mile away from the hotel, we began looking for somewhere to eat. We just happened to end up the same place as the coaches. As soon as I looked at the menu I saw AMERICAN cheeseburger and fries. That’s what I ordered. I’m actually really tired of cheeseburgers, but it was very good.
When we all finished eating, we headed to the beach. Okay, so when you think of a beach the first thing that comes to mind is water and sand. Not this one, it is made of small pebbles and rocks. It is actually the most different thing I have ever seen in my life. I was even expecting sand, and was very surprised.
While we were walking on the beach of rocks, most of us wanted to feel the water. Well, we all had on sandals, and Cacie lost her’s for a second until I found it washed up on shore. Then, minutes later, Cammie did the exact same thing.
Now I’m back in the hotel room, Tiff’s writing a post card to her mom and I’m typing my journal to you all. We only have one more day, and looking back, I really can’t believe that I was able to experience something like this due to an ability that God blessed me with. It’s unbelievable.
But as I said earlier, tomorrow we are headed to Monte Carlo and Monaco, and will also play our last game. I know that today’s entry is kind of boring, but all we did was ride a bus all day, doesn’t get to fun. Hopefully I can make a lasting impression with my last article!! Until I write again, Good Night, Good Morning, and Have a Blessed Day!
KG#25
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Monday, Aug. 22
Okay, so breakfast was not as good as the last hotel, and can’t even be compared to the first one. Luckily, I was able to eat a bowl of cereal and a croissant to hold me over until pregame. On the itinerary for today was to leave the hotel at 9:45 and go visit a castle. This castle was right down the street and didn’t take very long at all to get there. One problem, it was still raining and the bus parked far away. Running in the rain was exciting and challenging due to the fact that it was freezing anyways and I was trying to run without falling on the cobblestone. I tend to be very clumsy most of the time.
Finally though I caught up to Coach Cowles and Coach Graves who just happened to have an umbrella. What a coincidence, the head coach and associate head coach had an umbrella. But they shared so I can’t complain. Finally, we made it to the entryway where we met our guide Stephanie. The first place we visited in the Castle de Chillon was the dungeon. Parts of this castle dates back to the 1600’s, but it has been kept in good condition. They had trap doors throughout and I would be the person to step on them. I didn’t fall through but the boards were very unstable.
There were windows with places to walk out on everywhere, and I think that Kristina Covington and I got in every picture that was taken on one. But who wouldn’t want us in their picture? I think people should pay me to be in their pictures. Ha Ha Ha. The tour was very in depth and I can’t remember all the facts but I do remember seeing their bathrooms. There was nothing but a board with 2 holes in it. Looking down the hole, you could see where it would hit the rocks below and go in the lake.
I learned today that the word Chillon means rock, and it is all throughout the castle. That’s why it’s called the Castle de Chillon. To my amazement, there are caretakers that still live in this castle. They have an apartment throughout the castle.
“Hey, where do you live?” “Oh, I live in a castle that was built hundreds of years ago.” Could you imagine telling someone that? After visiting the castle, everyone did his or her own thing. Since it was raining, and I need to save my money, I chose to stay at the hotel. I took a nap and then watched a movie with Ashley Butler.
We left the hotel for the game at 18:00. On the way, we partnered up and refreshed our memory of a play from last year. The gym was a good distance away, so we had plenty of time once again to do a bunch of nothing. Before the game I hadn’t heard much about this team. Once again, we were successful and are now 4-0 in Europe, on the road, in August.
It’s now 23:00 and we are on our way back to the hotel that’s about and hour and a half away. The word on the street is that tomorrow we are going to Monte Carlo, Italy, and Monaco. The ride is about 8 hours, but knowing we will get to see more sights makes it more pleasurable, and then we will be in our final location of Nice.
Only 2 more journal entries left which means our tour is coming to an end. Once again, until tomorrow, Have a Wonderful Day.
The World Traveler #25
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Sunday, Aug. 21
“Good morning. It is now exactly 6:15 a.m. This is your wake up call. We hope you have a great day.” This was said in an accent from a recording on the phone. Just what I wanted to hear that early in the morning after not being able to go to sleep. I was not ready to get out of bed. But, Tiff and I got up and went to breakfast, eating the same meal as yesterday.
Loading the bus at 7:20, we were packed and ready to go. This trip was supposed to take around 3 hours, which means that we had plenty of time to look out the window and see the sights…yeah right…what I should have said was plenty of time to reflect on the game….no wait…that’s not it either. What I really meant to say was time to sleep and rest. I have issues about sleeping on moving objects when other people are driving. So, I layed there with my eyes closed. I got frustrated with that and eventually just started looking out the window. It was neat though because they had so many vineyards and apple orchards. Straight rows as far as you could see of greenery.
Once in sight of Lake Geneva, I knew that we were getting closer to our hotel and the sights became much prettier. Seeing the mountains, which by the way are the Alps, was extraordinary. We had to drive around the side of the mountain to get to the bottom by the lake which is where our hotel is located. Before we even entered the hotel, we went to have our pregame meal. I bet you can’t guess where we ate? McDonald’s…we’re lovin it? NO? So after eating McDonald’s, we walked to our hotel, rode up and antique elevator, and was given our key.
About the key. It looks like a mini-totem pole with 2 keys on it. The interesting thing about the key is that we have to turn it in every time we leave. There’s only one key so we can’t keep it. The view from our room is awesome. We have the biggest balcony and as soon as you step onto it you can see Lake Geneva and the mountains surrounding it. Have I mentioned that I love balconies? Right now the doors are open and I’m typing at the desk because it’s raining, and in the background I can hear the water moving and the ships’ horns blowing.
After departing from the hotel, we made our way to the game. The gym was up a mountain which means we were on a huge bus on a little bitty, tiny, very small road with the only thing to stop us in case of going off the edge was a little bitty, tiny, very small guard rail. So, after climbing the mountain we pulled into a place with 2 goals outside and lines drawn up. That’s where we played. Just kidding. We had to go underground to even get to the gym, but once there, we had a nice view of the Swiss mountainside. The gym was made of rubber, or something like that, and it was small.
The game once again was very physical, but we were able to adjust to the many factors against us. Charlotte and Cacie had temper flare ups, Ashley Butler fouled out, Tiff ran over the referee, who by the horrible anyway, and we still won the game. Now, we are 3-0 on the road in August, and I still don’t know what that means!! But, anytime you are undefeated, it can’t be bad.
Now, going down the mountain was worse than coming up. Especially when you see another charter bus coming straight at you on a curve. But, we made it back safely, due to Luke’s spectacular driving, and we have the night to sightsee. Our plans are to go and eat Fondue. Never had it, but I heard it’s good. With that said, another day has passed and our time away is lessened, but we are having fun and doing what we love…playing basketball and spending time with our second family. I’m going to eat now, imagine that, but before I depart I wanted to say good luck to the men’s and women’s soccer teams at WKU!! Go Tops and Lady Tops! Bye!
KG#25
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Saturday, Aug. 21
So I was able to get up this morning. I didn’t say it was easy, but I rolled out of bed ready to eat a good breakfast. I expected that since breakfast was good at the other hotel, that surely this one would be too. I was wrong. I walked up and looked at the selection, and put everything I saw on a plate just so I could taste test them all to see if I liked them. Just for a visual, the eggs looked runny with cheese covering up the water. It looked like yellow gook. (Gook isn’t a word, but it’s what came to mind) So, I didn’t like those. What I ended up eating was a bowl of Frosted Flakes and I mixed some granola with yogurt to make a parfait. By the way, I can’t remember if I’ve already mentioned this about their lifestyle and culture, but they don’t put ice in anything. You have to ask for it and some places may not even have it. And, if you want to order regular water, you have to ask for what with no gas.
Disappointed about breakfast, Tiff, Charlotte, and I all returned back to our rooms for a quick nap of about 20 minutes before we began our bus tour of Lyon. Riding around Lyon, I found it harder to focus today as the tour guide was describing things throughout the city. I’m glad I have it on tape so I can watch it again and hear what I missed, because I was really tired and just ready to play. One thing that I really enjoyed was when we got to this church on top of a hill and you could see the whole city of Lyon. Around Lyon, they also have many murals painted on the buildings. Another thing they have is a mini-replica of the Eiffel Tower. Having games at night makes the day go by so much faster, and I feel like we just finished playing the last one.
The highlight of my day was the meal we had for pregame. Coach Britt, Coach Daniels, and Kristina Covington started hyping it up on the bus tour talking about how great the lasagna was at the place we were going. Boy were they right. When I say that Tiff Porter eats slowly, I mean she eats slower than a snail crawls. She’ll get her food before everyone else, and will still be eating when everyone leaves. Since she is my roommate she rides with me, which means I always have to wait on her slowness. I promise, the only she does fast is run! Anyways, not today. She almost finished eating before me and the only thing I do fast is eat. The food was amazing, and I may not have said 2 words while I was shoveling it in. Finally, a good meal besides McDonalds!
But onto the game. I have now been informed that this team plays in the best league in France? Oh well, a game is a game, and as long as we play hard the rest will come. (Sounds like something our coaches would say huh?) We’ve been brainwashed. NO, but seriously, it really is true. Playing hard makes up for many of the mistakes that we tend to make. So, the game begins. It was still a physical game, but not anything like yesterday. It’s amazing how one day can help you get back into game shape. I’m defiantly not in the best shape possible, but my teammates and I all agreed that we felt much better tonight playing.
We’re 2-0 in France in August. Not really sure what that means, but I like the idea of being 2-0 anytime. Losing is not something I accept, and I really feel like this team is special. And it’s my senior year, so I’m really trying to make it my best year yet. It’s also great to think that when we get back and start real practice, we have 3 freshmen that will fit right into the system. Which, by the way, I haven’t said anything to since we’ve been here. Taylor, Brianne, and Dominique; we haven’t forgotten about you at all! We really wish that you could be here with us, but know that when we get back, we’ll get to spend plenty of time together! Miss you guys!
Tomorrows schedule is going to be tiring. We have to eat breakfast at 6:30 because the bus is leaving for Switzerland at 7:20. We have a game at 15:00 (by the way I realized after sending my other journal that I don’t have to distinguish between A.M. and P.M.) and that will be our 3rd game in a row. It is now time for me to go and take a shower and be lazy while watching a television that I don’t understand. Thank you all for reading my journal and I hope that you enjoy it and feel as involved and I try and make you! Will write again tomorrow!
KG#25
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Friday, Aug. 19
Leaving off yesterday, we were heading into our last night in Paris! To cap off our tour, we took a boat ride that took us by all the major historical points one last time. Cruising by the locations already spoken about in earlier journal entries, such as the famous Catholic Church, Notre Dame, the world’s famous art collection at the Lourve, and the Eiffel Tower. We did get to see all these sights at night, and the Eiffel Tower really lit up the sky. Right past the Eiffel Tower was a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Seeing those sights were so surreal, and even though my team and I are still young, we still understand what a great opportunity we have been given through Western Kentucky Women’s Basketball. One of the most amazing sights of the night actually occurred when we got off of the boat. Once every hour the Eiffel Tower sparkles for 10 minutes, and to all of our surprises, it began sparkling. It was so beautiful. It’s hard to understand and explain these things through writing, but when I say sparkling, it looked like all kinds of white Christmas lights going off at the same time.
Back at the hotel, we all headed back to our rooms for the last night, because we had a big game that we needed rest for as well as a long bus ride and early rising. I packed all of my things before I headed to bed, and sat out in my chair on the balcony one last time. Waking up this morning, I looked out the window and found that it was raining. Paris must have been sad we were leaving!!
Everyone loaded the bus at 9:00 and we were off the Lyon, France. The bus ride was going to take about five hours, so we had lots of time to stare out the window, watch a movie, and for most of the team, sleep. After the movie went off, I looked at the countryside. To my surprise, it made me feel like I was back in Kentucky. It was nothing but farmland upon more farmland. Fields of green pasture and lots of cows. Even the tractors looked very similar. Something unusual though was the many patches of sunflowers. Everywhere you looked, there was a huge sunflower patch. The interstate, at least that’s what I called it, looked just like our interstate. A normal three-lane road, with lots of trees and land on either side.
And on this five-hour bus ride, I started thinking back to the vehicles I had seen. I realized that I had only seen tiny cars, no trucks. Finally arriving to the hotel, we made our way to McDonalds for our pregame meal. This is a meal that we eat about five hours before game time that consists usually of chicken, pasta, salad, and breads. Not today, McDonalds was the right fit, and I had a big mac, fries, and a sprite. Here, if you get a large extra value meal, they give you a free coca cola glass. There large meals are like our regular meals in Bowling Green.
But, it is now time for us to do what allowed us to even make this trip at all. Play basketball. Over here, they just call it basket. However, they use lots of our terminology. The game was against the best team in this division of France, and we played at a gymnasium called Maison Des Sports. They were 22-6 last season. What that means in English, I just found out from Liz our translator, who actually plays overseas, is House of Sports.
Walking into this game, we really didn’t know what to except. We all just knew that we had to play hard. The game consisted of four-ten minute quarters. Starting this game was Crystal Kelly, Tiffany Porter, Ashley Butler, Tifany Zaragoza, and myself. (Krystal Gardner) This game was the most physical game I have ever played in all my life. Seriously! This is no exaggeration. But we responded and adjusted to the play of this game and came out victorious. Everyone played so hard the whole game, which gave us the chance to get our conditioning back. And speaking of that, going 6 days without do anything conditioning wise is a killer. My chest was on fire after the first 3 minutes of the game! I just kept telling the coaches that I have 2 good minutes! (Ha ha) (But one time in the fourth quarter I only made it a minute and 10 seconds!) But at least they were tired too, because during one point in the first half, Mike Hunt yelled out to one of their players, not knowing she was Canadian, something about take it at her. We were on the free throw line, and she yelled back, “It’s because I’m tired!” It was funny but I looked at Coach Cowles to see if she was laughing before I did! Thank goodness we have 10 people on the team because we were all in a rotation that allowed us to not get too fatigued.
Anyways, did I mention the game was physical? I now know what it’s like to play football, only without pads or a helmet…just ask Ashley Butler because she split open her chin diving after a loose ball. She probably needed stitches, but we are kind of out of luck. I feel like I got ran over by a semi-truck about five times. My chin hurts, I caught an elbow to the eye, and my overall body aches. So, with that said, I’m going to take a shower, and go to bed. Hopefully, since I’m so old and my body doesn’t recover like it use too, I will be able to move in the morning. But, we are 1-0 in August, and on the road….that’s a pretty good start. Talk to you again tomorrow!
KG #25
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Thursday, Aug. 18
And I’m back again today to continue telling all of you my journey through Paris, France. After I finished writing yesterday, I had just enough time to run to my room, get my roommate, and head downstairs so that we could walk across the crazy highway. By the way, they have no lanes on their roads, and pedestrians better watch out because they are going to take off as soon as they can.
The place where we ate as I have already told you was Italian and named Pizza Pina`. A set menu was already arranged and the choices included spaghetti and pizza. I ordered a cheese pizza, some of my teammates and coaches ordered a sausage pizza that came out with a surprise in the middle. All of their pizzas had what I would consider a raw egg in the middle? Wow! I’m glad I ordered cheese! And according to one of the fans that made the trip, Kenny Ralston, he said that the coffee keeps you awake all night.
Also, just for the record, Coach Britt has been giving me a hard time because she hasn’t been mentioned in my journal entries. So there, I said her name. I told her in order to make my journal, you have to spend time with me, which she has done since I mentioned that, and has made sure to get in a picture with me!
Back to France…today we all made a trip to the Palace of Versailles. This is where Louis XIV lived that started out as a summer hunting lodge but eventually turned into a huge home when he moved from the Lourve, which as you will remember, we visited yesterday. This place was absolutely amazing. Every room, which they called apartments, was huge and fully decorated. To live in a place like this is ridiculous because no inch was left untouched, even the ceilings were fully decorated.
And not to mention, the gardens were huge! No short cuts were taken; every inch is detailed fully as you will see in some of the pictures! And that brings me to where I am at the moment. Sitting in front of this computer awaiting our boat ride in the Sienne River, which will take us by all the famous sights.
Since I can’t think of anything else interesting to say, I guess I will end my journal by saying that tonight is our last night in Paris and we all plan to have as much fun as possible before we have to eat breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and leave the hotel by 8:00! Oh yeah, we have a basketball game tomorrow!!!! Until tomorrow night after our game, I hope everyone is having a great day and can’t wait to write again!
P.S. Bonjour to Corbin Cowles’ class at Foundation Christian Academy, and Caroline and Catherine Cowles, and Isabelle Graves who all have French class at FCA.
Krystal #25
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Wednesday, Aug. 17
Bonjour! I told you I was going to learn some French words before I came back! And, I also forgot to mention that they are on a 24-hour clock system. So not only do I have to count of my fingers 7 hours ahead, but I also have to start using my toes just to see what time it is here. Like, for example, it’s 16:06 P.M. Now that I’ve finally caught up on sleep, about 15 hours to be exact, I’m ready to begin a new day.
Getting up at 8:30 a.m., (1:30 a.m. in Bowling Green), we were getting our wake up call and heading downstairs for breakfast. To ride an elevator is a hassle because it fits only Tiff and I. (That means its small!) We get to breakfast, and to our surprise, it looked American. I got to enjoy lots of fruits, pancakes, and an omelet. Lots, meaning LOTS because the portions are MUCH smaller here!
While at breakfast, everyone asked Charlotte, Tiff, and I what we did last night. Answering simultaneously, we all said sleep. No walking or eating out for us, after I wrote my journal yesterday I went straight to sleep and didn’t wake up until 10:00 P.M. I then called Charlotte to see what she was doing and she asked me what time it was. She thought it was morning and time to leave! I got a good laugh out of that, and eventually I told her it was night. A few minutes later, she was in our room and we were debating on what to eat. Ordering room service, we paid 12 francs for a club sandwich! In American money, that turns out to be about 15 dollars! On the sandwich this time was hard boiled eggs, (again), and spinach greens. I must admit however that it was well worth the money! The fries were great and so was the sandwich.
I don’t know how many of you all care, but even the bathrooms are different. The tubs are really tall and narrow. Cammie Campbell said she felt like one of those cartoon characters trying to stand up because her legs were sliding so fast and Sarah Shouse was happy because the water actually hit her in the forehead! Also, where we have knobs on our toilets, they have buttons.
The best part of my room, because all of those are small except mine and Tiff’s, is the fact that we have a window that opens completely to make a balcony. For part of the hour I was actually awake last night, I pulled my chair up there and sat, trying to take in all that I had done that day and that I was looking down an alley in Paris, France!
Back to today. I learned… no, was told the French words for hello, what’s up, thank you, yes, and no. I forgot how to say what’s up, but hello is bonjour, thank you is merci, yes is oui, and no is non!
Entering the Louvre, which is one of the most important and largest art collections in the world, there were tons of people. As soon as we got our ticket, we ran to try to find the Mona Lisa. Find it we did as well as a crowd of people around it. Wow, did I just say I saw the Mona Lisa? I think I did! After that, we took our time around the museum, seeing many amazing things from Egyptian art to a variety of Greek sculptures.
Now about lunch, I’m about to go eat right now before we got to the Latin Quarter to eat an Italian supper in France. Your guess is as good as mine, but I guess everybody likes spaghetti.
But, everyone would like their families and friends to know that we miss you all very much and that we are all okay, and that we love McDonalds! And that if your mad about paying $3.99 for a 12 pack of coca cola, just ask Coach Graves about paying $6.25 for one 12 ounce bottle! By the way, hi mom, I love you. Until tomorrow, Au Revoir! That means Goodbye.
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Tuesday, Aug. 16
Hello Lady Topper Fans!
After 26 hours of being awake, 2 bus rides, 2 airplane rides, and a 7-hour time change, we have finally arrived at the Holiday Inn Republique, our hotel in Paris, France. Here, it is 2:43 p.m. Where you are, that’s 7:43 a.m. Since I’m here now and rather tired I may add, let’s backtrack on the travel that occurred during the past day.
At 10:42 a.m. Monday, August 15 our luggage was packed and we were off to a new country for an experience of a lifetime. By 2:30, we were in the air on our way to Atlanta, so that we could board our last plane to get to Paris. Running from terminal to terminal, we made it in the knick of time, just as they were about to shut the gates. While on the plane, I had the joy of sitting beside Coach Daniels and Coach Cowles, whom I might add informed me that I should feel privileged that I got to share such a LONG plane ride beside them! I stayed awake the entire time enjoying two movies, two dinners, Coach Graves and Petey (Greg Petersen) behind me laughing way too loud, and finally a breakfast. Then, I just happened to glance out the window and realized that there was a beautiful sunrise! That’s when I knew that this trip was going to be an amazing one. As soon as we got off the plane, we headed straight to the bus to begin our sightseeing. No rest for us, our tour guides, Brooke, Liz, and Frederique already had the day planned.
What we did today was a tour by bus, stopping frequently to take pictures and look at the incredible architecture. The first stop was the Arc de Triumphe, then on to the Eiffel Tower, and lastly Notre Dame. None of these places were anything like what I have seen before in person or in pictures. We also got to experience the cuisine of France for the first time…so much for first impressions. I ordered a Club Sandwich, and it came back to me with two hard-boiled eggs on it! Also, to order water, you have to ask for it without gas and on ice. Your guess is as good as mine? But, I’m willing to try new things because I know that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Anyways, here I am, about to take a nap…no wait…go to sleep! Until tomorrow when I have fully recovered, and have more to talk about, goodbye. I plan to learn the French word by the next time I write in my journal.
Krystal
