Dear Family and Friends,
I apologize in advance for not posting sooner. Needless to say we've been wrapped up in the magic that is Paris. Our flights were smooth as silk, everyone's bags made the trip, and our bus and tour guide were prompt with getting us from the airport.
Yesterday we immediately immersed ourselves with the tour de Paris. Despite some minor jet lag, we enjoyed seeing the magnificent Notre Dame, as well as some other sites around the city center. We thought it best to call it an early night so the girls could be well rested.
Today, we saw EVERYTHING Paris has to offer from a fabulous bus tour. Your girls were able to take plenty of pictures and learn about the famous monuments. I think they were most excited about getting to pose with the Eiffel Tower!
Shortly after our tour, we ventured to the palace of Versailles. Before our tour began, we grabbed some lunch. I took a group of about 10 to eat our sandwiches in the Versailles gardens. The pictures are spectacular. We then toured the palace, and your girls got to see where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, and they saw how luxurious of a life the French monarchy once had.
Once our tour wrapped, we went to the north side of Paris, Montmartre. This district is known as the artist district. Some of your girls will be bringing home wonderful souvenirs of this art. It was the perfect afternoon to enjoy the sites and view. Montmartre is a big hill that overlooks all of Paris. They really got to see just how big of a city Paris is from that view.
After dinner, we took a boat ride along the Seine River. The weather was a breezy 65 degrees and the skies were so clear. Once the boat docked, the Eiffel Tower began it's sparking light show. It was truly magical and a perfect way to end the Paris portion of our trip.
Parents and friends, we have a slight change in our schedule tomorrow. It is very common for various workers and companies to go on strike in France. This is normally due to workers wanting better pay, hours, etc. It just so happens the trains in France are going on strike tomorrow, the day we are to leave by train to Provence. Don't worry, because we have secured a bus to take us to the South of France tomorrow. The bus will make our trip longer than a train trip. Unfortunately, we had to forgo our tour of the Louvre in the morning because of this. I know this is disappointing, but hopefully everyone sees it as one reason of many to come back to this beautiful city.
We are now tucked in bed for our last Parisian sleep. Mrs. Melandri, Mrs. Pineda and I ask you to kindly please remember the big time difference between France and Little Rock of 7 hours. With tonight's boat ride and metro trip back to the hotel, we did not make it here until after midnight. I understand everyone wants to hear from their girls, but it is so late (currently 1:35 am) that we need them rested for our daily journeys.
Thank you again for sending your girls on this tour with us. Each are such a delight and I cannot begin to describe their excitement and poise. You truly have raised fabulous young ladies.
That wraps our first leg of the trip. Stay tuned from the land of sunflowers and lavender fields!
All the best,
Marly Jeffries
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