France & London
Two words: Study Abroad. If you have the opportunity then I would definitely say study abroad! I was fortunate enough to be able to go to France and London in my undergrad. I know what you are thinking- its too expensive! However, it can be a good deal if you can knock out several classes in a month's time. It is up to you if you ever want to try it- but now I will be gushing about the experience I had.
Disclaimer- I took this trip a few years ago, so I will be summarizing this post since I can't remember every detail.
Although this trip was a study abroad for me, you can go there without being in school of course! It just depends on what you want to do and how you would like to do it. For my trip we began in France, in a small town called Bayeux. We were there for several days so we could explore the town. The Notre-Dame de Bayeux (Cathedral) and the Bayeux Tapestry Museum there are incredible. If you have the time and are familiar with the area, I would highly recommend visiting! We also had an extra day where we visited the Normandy beaches, museum, and memorial cemetery. If you are a history buff in any way shape or form, the Normandy area is a must on your list. You are able to walk around the actual beaches and battle areas once you go through the museum on site. Warning, the area is incredible yet sad, knowing what occurred there so long ago.
Our next stop on our trip was London, England. This was my favorite part of the entire trip! If I had the ability I would move there in an instant. The city, the transportation, and the markets are all so delightful, unlike the weather. Although there was no humidity, there was cold rain for the majority of our visit. Other than that however I have no complaints. We visited the British Museum, the British Library, as well as Buckingham Palace (the grounds). All and all this city was fantastic. I would recommend it if you are planning a trip to London to buy your tickets ahead of time. Each museum we went to was very crowded so it helped that we had everything before showing up.
Our next and final stop on our trip was Paris, France. I will go ahead and admit, Paris was my least favorite place. The food was spectacular and the architecture was superb, but some of the people... Let's just say overall I did not have the greatest experience. But anyways, other than some attitude we ran into, we did have a great time. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe are must stops if you have the time. I don’t want to rant too much, but the Louvre is probably the most incredible art museum I have ever visited. As an art major of course I am being biased here, but I cannot say this enough- its just so amazing! On our first visit to the Louvre, my friend Toree and I spent maybe six hours roaming the halls only to realize that we had missed one of the main sections (thank you random lady who told us about it). On our second visit, we probably spent another two hours roaming and still felt like it wasn’t enough.
**Pro Tip**- Yes, the Mona Lisa Painting is at the Louvre, yes it is teeny tiny, and yes it is probably the most crowded viewing room in the entire museum. Here is my advice, arrive stupid early. I mean like right when the museum opens, early. It was so crowded on day one (midday) that we barely got a glimpse of the tiny painting. However, on day two we made a mad dash straight to it just to be safe and we were pleasantly surprised that it was just us and a security guard in there.
We also had time to visit the Palace of Versailles which was magnificent! If you have to narrow down places to see in France, the Palace of Versailles needs to be near the top. From the golden architecture to the sculpted gardens, the Palace of Versailles is an elaborate landmark that needs to be explored. I will say that the interior of the Palace while extravagant and beautiful is also extremely crowded and can become overwhelming. Honestly speaking here the interior of the Palace was actually my least favorite part of the estate. Don’t get me wrong it was a sight to see, however just due to the overcrowding alone I could physically feel my shoulders tensing. As soon as you get to step away from the main halls however, almost immediately you are met with the never ending views of the gardens that stretch on literally for miles on the estate. I would recommend that if you are planning on visiting the Palace of Versailles, then I would make it an all day visit or at least an open ended one. If I had to ballpark our visit time frame I believe we were there for four to six hours and still didn’t tour every section. Plus while we were there, it had begun to rain so we spent quite a bit of time waiting for it to pass before exploring the gardens further. Lastly to end my rant on the Palace of Versailles, do not, I repeat, do not skip out on the Queen’s Hamlet, aka Marie-Antoinette’s cottages. This area of the entire estate was actually my favorite section. I can’t put my finger on it, but it was just so peaceful and removed from the main estate house that it just felt… right. Which I am assuming was Marie-Antoinette’s original idea when she ordered the construction of the gardens (just me thinking out loud). Take your time walking through this estate, you won’t regret it.
We also went to a bunch of other museums, shops, and cathedrals but unfortunately I cannot remember all of the names. If you are planning on going to France, specifically Paris, then I would recommend a few things. One, take a secure purse or backpack that you can either lock or keep an eye on. The pickpocket-er scene is very present. Two, wear comfortable shoes since you will be walking everywhere! Three, learn some French to help you get around and ask for help if needed. People there are willing to help, depending on the person, so don't be afraid to ask.
Overall the trip was an amazing experience! Whether you are traveling for school or for yourself, I would research ahead of time. Some other tips I would advise you to do prior to traveling: plan for the weather, buy ahead, and study the culture. I am telling you now, if you plan to go to a country that doesn't speak your native tongue, you should study up. Just by learning a few phrases to navigate and communicate a little bit will go a long way. I learned enough to get around and I cannot tell you how much it helped. My only regret from my trip is that I wish I had learned more French before I traveled.
