Graland France 2025
March 22, 2025
Bonjour from France! Day one was completely full of fun and surprises. As soon as we landed, we weaved through security and got lost a couple of times, we finally found and took a bus to our first hostel, MIJE. After settling in, we headed out for lunch. For lunch we went to a little restaurant that served falafel. While others got falafel and other great dishes, some got chicken and fries. We took our food to go and ate in a little park, enjoying EVERY bite! After finishing our food, we walked through some of the city to the park. There, we had orientation and then headed to Notre Dame!! We had lots of fun while touring and then we decided to go back to the hostel. Earlier, we planned to go shopping, but as a few of us hit the streets for some nice afternoon shopping rain started to pour!! We walked around in the light rain, went to a thrift and book store, and then sprinted back to the hostel! As the rain cleared slightly, we all headed out for dinner at a small crepe restaurant. Met with savory and sweet crepes, we enjoyed our last meal of the day and headed back for the evening. See you tomorrow!
-Veronica and Polly
March 23, 2025
Today, we started with breakfast in the hostel. When we were all ready to go, we headed to the metro and boarded the train to the Eiffel tower. Once there, we gazed up in awe and then climbed the stairs to the second floor. As we walked around the balcony overlooking the city, we took pictures and reveled in the city of Paris. After experiencing the Eiffel Tower, we then headed to Le Jardin de Tuileries where we sat outdoors amongst the trees and ate a delicious lunch of baguettes, salad, and pasta at Le Terrasse de Pomone. After indulging in a satisfying lunch, we then made our way to the Louvre where we experienced stunning art including the iconic Mona Lisa as well as well as the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory. We also enjoyed walking amongst Egyptian artifacts along with French crown jewels and Roman art. After a day of delicious food and glorious artwork and artifacts, the group met back at the hostel and headed for dinner. We then headed to the River Seine where we took a boat ride and relished a view of the Eiffel Tower as it lit up and sparkled. We also enjoyed floating amongst beautifully built bridges, including that of Mascarons de Pont Neuf, which is the oldest bridge in Paris. The Mascarons de Pont Neuf features carved faces with frighting expressions that leered at us passengers as we drifted by. We then headed back to the hostel and slept well.
Bentley & Cat
March 24, 2025
Today, we woke up and packed for the train to Avignon. After breakfast at the hotel, we took a bus to the train station. At the train station, we bought a variety of French food for lunch at a grocery store and sandwich shops. We were also able to do some clothing and trinket shopping. We then boarded the train where we ate lunch and gazed out the windows at the lush countryside of Southern France. After three hours, we arrived at Avignon where we took a bus to the Hotel Regina where we checked into our rooms and dropped off our bags. We then gathered together in the hotel lobby and walked to Palais de Papes (The Pope’s Palace), one of the largest gothic structures built in the 14th Century. We wandered through all of the rooms inside the palace, using tablets to see recreations of what each room would have looked like in the Middle Ages. After basking in ornate frescos, sculptures, tapestries, and paintings, we exited the Palace and strolled to the iconic Pont d’Avignon, a famous medieval bridge that only makes it halfway across the Rhone. We then split up and walked either to an ice cream shop or a bakery and ate delicious sugary treats. Afterward, we strolled around Avignon peering into shops and then rode on the iconic double decker Carrousel Belle Epoque that is down the street from our hotel. We then went back to the hotel, got ready for dinner, and headed to Le Vintage where we ate a hearty three-course meal. After dinner, we returned to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.
By Alex & Hazel
March 25, 2025
We woke up Tuesday morning to a hearty breakfast of pastries, bread, jam, cheese, and eggs. We then headed to the local market, Les Halles where we had a scavenger hunt for ingredients needed for our picnic lunch. After buying a variety of delicious lunch items, we hopped on the bus to the iconic Pont du Gard, which was originally a Roman Aqueduct and three-level bridge built in the first century. As we enjoyed our picnic lunch on the Gardon River, we indulged in conversation and relished our view of the Pont du Gard. After lunch, we made our way to the Pont du Gard where we hiked to the very top of the aqueduct. We then boarded the bus for a two-hour ride to Carcassonne where we met our homestay families, who welcomed us with open arms. We then had a welcome potluck and played two truths and a lie. Afterward, we settled in with our homestay families, had dinner, indulged in conversation, and went to bed.
-Eleanor & Riley
March 26, 2025
3/26/25
Bonjour! Today was a busy day for us.
We woke up at the crack of dawn, preparing for the day ahead. Then after having a quick breakfast at our homestay families’ houses, we met up and departed on a bus to the countryside. We got together in groups of two and planted trees to liven up the landscape on a hiking trail. After all of our hard work, we headed off on a long walk to a small park to eat our lunches packed by our homestay families. Our wonderful leader, Bernard, introduced us to the game “Pétanque” and hosted us to a lively game. We then walked back to the bus and drove all the way to “La Cité Médiévale,” a neighborhood in Carcassonne. We had a guided tour through “Château Comtal,” a medieval castle built around the beginning of the 12th century. After the tour, we finally went back to our home stays, had a delicious dinner, and went to bed, preparing for the day ahead.
Au revoir et à demain!
~ Alex et Veronica
March 27, 2025
After waking up and having a delicious breakfast with our homestay families, we headed to Cuxac-Cabardès where we spent the day at a French school. At school, we gathered together as a group with French students and played a variety of games and engaged in a scavenger hunt. Afterward, we switched classes and met even more students, who hung out with us at recess. During recess, we got to know our new French friends; it was on the playground that we were able to practice our French, and the French students practiced their English. As a group, we discovered that we all shared the same sense of humor. We then headed to the cafeteria for lunch where we indulged in the world’s best school cafeteria food: couscous, salad, soup, pineapple, and chicken. After enjoying a delicious lunch, we spent two hours on the playground with our new French friends where we were able to brush up on our French skills, learn about French culture, and crack funny jokes. We also did a scavenger hunt throughout the school in order to find specific markers. We ended the day in a classroom where we said farewell to our French friends and then drove back to our homestay families where we had yet another delicious dinner.
-Eleanor & Riley
March 28, 2025
We woke up at our homestay families Friday morning and had a delicious breakfast. Our host families then dropped us off at a French school where we all convened and boarded the bus for Collioure, a charming town that rests right on the Mediterranean Sea. Once we arrived, we strolled along the beach, had a scavenger hunt for local landmarks, and indulged in a delicious lunch by the sea. We then changed into our bathing suits and plunged into the frigid ocean. Afterward, we basked in the warmth of the Mediterranean sun. Once we dried off, we indulged in ice cream and then split into three groups. The first group hiked up to an ancient windmill set on a hill overlooking the sea. The second group stayed at the beach, and third group explored the town. After exploring Collioure, we boarded the bus and returned to Carcassonne where we were picked up by our host families, and spent our final evening with them.
By Hazel & McKenna
