Parlez-Vous Français?

One of the first places that sparked my love for traveling was France. Roaming around the boulevards of Paris and taking in the history of Normandy made me realize that this is something that I want to do for the rest of my life.

I went on this trip with a group of my friends during a spring break trip from high school. There were many planned group activities, however, each day we were allowed roughly three hours to explore the city that we were in that day.

We first arrived in Paris, deemed one of the most magical cities, which I can now fully agree upon. Paris has a certain vibe that gives you a deeper appreciation for life and love. The combination of the incredible cuisine, architecture, culture, and mindset truly make this city like no other.

Eiffel Tower, Paris

One of my fondest memories from Paris was running throughout the alleyways with my friends to see the Eiffel Tower have its light show at night. The massive tower glistening against the starry night sky was enchanting and reinforced my love for the city.

I have been learning French for seven years so I was beyond excited to be submerged into the culture and test my knowledge. I can proudly say that I successfully ordered all my meals in French and even assisted a friend ordering “glace au chocolat.”

Streets of Honfleur

One of the most memorable excursions was soaking up the history of Normandy. We traveled to the small fishing village of Honfleur before paying our respects at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. We placed carnations over the tombstones and visited the beaches that were stormed on the infamous D-Day attack.

Normandy beaches

We finished off the trip in the waterside town of Saint-Malo, which happened to be one of the oldest cities still standing enclosed by tall stone walls. Right outside of the city walls was Mont-Saint-Michel, an extraordinary island that holds a medieval monastery on top. There was a certain serenity I had from wandering and climbing the ancient corridors by foot, taking me back to a simpler time in life.

Mont-Saint-Michel

France will continue to be at the top of places on my list I want to visit. Regardless of where you go in the country, your experience will truly be like no other and I cannot wait to return.