Paris Book Club

If you are anything like me (and for your sake, on most counts let's hope you're not...) you cannot stop thinking about our upcoming trip! While most thoughts involve visions of the Eiffel Tower  dancing in my head, my latest obsessive thought has revolved around the book club I will be holding in Paris.

In the summer of 2010, I invited a group of my best female students to participate in a summer book club. Our theme was women in literature - we read pieces by strong women that reflected, for better or worse, life as a woman throughout different historical times and places. At our first meeting, in jest, one of my students said, "We should have a book club at a little café in Paris next summer!" Of course, that got me to thinking (a dangerous thing indeed...) By the end of the summer, the plan was set - our next meeting: Paris, July 2011.

After reading several amazing books over the past couple of months, two things happened: 1. I learned some very cool stuff about the literary movement in Paris (esp. Interwar and WWII years), and 2. I found the perfect book for our Paris book club!

Although last summer's group was comprised of amazing young women from Lewisburg, I would love to expand our Paris club to amazing young women AND men from Lewisburg AND Selinsgrove. Let me tell you a little about the book, then about what you will need to consider before joining the book club...

Our book selection is Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (you may click on the link to Barnes and Noble to get a synopsis and reviews of the book). At this point, I would recommend asking for it for Christmas, but hold off on reading it until closer to the summer (Mr. Switala's AP Euro students would be best served reading this during your WWII unit). Many of you may be shocked to find out that the Holocaust took place throughout occupied France - and some of its most horrific scenes took place right in Paris. In addition to reading the book, I will be putting together an information packet  (mandatory reading...sorry!) as well as a list of other recommended readings about Nazi Occupied Paris (those are optional!)

The book club will be held on the morning of our last day in Paris, Monday, July 25th.  I have been working on some surprises, and at this point, those in the book club will have to divert from the already scheduled trip to the Basilique St-Denis. This is where you will have to make a tough choice. If  you participate in the book club, you will miss some of the scheduled excursions that day. In its place, we will do something absolutely amazing, so you won't lose out if you join us.

Here is the plan thus far: Mr. Switala will take the general group to St. Denis, while I will take those in the book club to some other place that shall remain a secret... If you're not sure, it may boil down to  your own personal interest. If you are interested in general French history, art, and architecture, then Mr. Switala's tour is for you (St-Denis is one of the coolest things I've ever seen and I am genuinely disappointed to miss it!) If you are interested in WWII and the Holocaust as it pertains to Paris, then you may wish to consider coming with me. Still not sure? Talk to me!

If you think you want to join the book club (or if you have questions), please email me directly to RSVP. I do need an actual head count as I cannot accommodate more than 14 students...so consider this a "first come, first serve" situation!
Until next time...à bientôt!

Great Website & Movie List

I found a fabulous website on Florence that I wanted to share. You can read all about the art and history of Florence in the 15th C. Not to mention there are links to websites where you can purchase a luxury Tuscan Villa...nothing says "Thanks for sending me to Europe, Mom and Dad!" like a villa in Tuscany, so start saving those pennies!

Be sure to check it out: The 15th C. and the Florence Renaissance

I also started to keep a running list of suggested movies (see column on the right)  that feature the cities which we will be visiting. You may click on the links for each to get a synopsis of the movie, as well as ratings, cast list, etc. If you cannot find the movie and have a strong interest in seeing it, I do own most of these films - just ask and I'd be happy to loan it to you. Some of these films are in French or Italian, but do have subtitles. Some are historic or cultural in nature, others are fluff but offer a great view of the city. With that said, please forgive "The Lizzie McGuire" movie being on the list...even though it's clearly fluff, it does a fantastic job showing many of the sights of Rome. If you know of a movie that I missed, please let me know. I will keep adding movies as I think of them or as they are suggested. I would also be happy to offer my personal recommendations upon request!
Until then..ciao/au revoir!

Latest Itinerary for Paris

Bonjour!

I have been hard at work on our Paris itinerary and am eager to share. It is different than the one posted on the Passports website, so for Paris, this is where you can check for exactly what we will be doing. It may change over the course of the next few months as I gather new information, but in general, this is what you can expect:

Day 1: Thursday, July 21, 2011

Travel day - overnight flight from JFK to Charles de Gaulle airport in PARIS FRANCE!!!

Day 2: Friday, July 22, 2011

Arrive in Paris 

After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we will hop on the Métro and make our way to Place de la Bastille. Although the actual structure is no longer there, we will check out the monument and the lines painted on the road around the perimeter of the former prison. Then, it's a short walk through the lively Marais District to the Place des Vosges, where we will grab some lunch and eat in the lovely Louis XIII park. After lunch you can stroll to 6 Place des Vosges and tour the Maison de Victor Hugo. After that, we will make our way to the Musée Carnavalet - the museum of the history of Paris - which is in Madame de Sévigné's former mansion. It houses amazing Parisian artifacts and for my fellow French Revolution junkies, there is an entire floor dedicated to the French Revolution!

Late afternoon we will head back to the hotel, check in and freshen up a bit before we head to the heart of Paris - the Louvre! Once a palace to the kings and queens of France, the Louvre is probably the most famous art museum in the world. All the great artists are represented here - and you can even see what all the fuss is about over Da Vinci's Mona Lisa as hers is the most renowned smile that resides here.

In true European fashion, we will eat a later dinner near the Place des Victoires, then head back to our hotel to rest our weary heads and get ready for another day in Paris.

Day 3: Saturday, July 23, 2011

Tour Paris & Montmartre

After enjoying a traditional French breakfast (croissants anyone?) we will board a private motor-coach to take a tour of Paris. We will not only see grand sights like the Arc de Triomphe and the Tour de Eiffel, but a certified Paris tour guide will explain to us exactly what it is we are seeing (and  yes, the tour guide speaks English!!) We will also make brief stops at the gorgeous Jardin du Luxembourg which surrounds the old Medici palace (and now houses the French Senate) and Pont Neuf where you can admire the equestrian statue of Le Bon Roi Henry IV.

We will then bid adieu to our motor coach and guide as we exit near St-Etienne du Mont. In addition to some amazing architecture and stained glass, this church is the resting place of Saint-Geneviève, patron saint of Paris. Next, we will walk about one block to the Panthéon where one of the first things you will notice is the inscription on the front of the building: Aux grands hommes la patrie reconnaissante (For great men the grateful homeland). Here we will explore from crypt where we will pay homage to Voltaire, Dumas, Hugo, and many other French heroes (and Marie Curie - the only woman to be buried here!) - to the dome where we will see the single most amazing view of Paris.

After lunch, it's off to the Opéra! Don't worry...we won't actually see an opera. However, we will get a guided tour (again, in English!) of the Opéra Garnier - the National Opera House. This building is renowned for its amazing architecture, not to mention it's Phantom...

After the opera, we will enjoy a little free time before we head to Montmartre. Coincidentally, for those of us who like to shop, we will be by the Galeries Lafayette, which is THE place to shop in Paris. Even if you're not into shopping, it's worth going in just to see the spectacular stained glass ceiling!

Next, it's off for dinner and an evening in Montmartre, beginning at the Sacré Cœur which sits atop the highest point in Paris. After a delicious dinner, grab une boule de crème glacée and stroll down rue Lepic where the Impressionists lived and worked. Of course, a trip to Montmartre wouldn't be complete without a stop by the Moulin Rouge. Although we won't be going in, this historic landmark is a must see.

Day 4: Sunday, July 24, 2011

Versailles and Paris

This morning, we will travel via the RER (train) to Versailles. Be prepared to stand in awe at the Sun King's residence and magnificent gardens of Le Château de Versailles.   Since it is Sunday, we will be treated to Les Grandes Eaux Musicales (the spectacular fountains at Versailles set to classical music) as we make our way to the Grand Trianon. Here we will explore the king's apartments before we leave to enter Marie Antoinette's estate. Perhaps even more entertaining than the palace is Marie Antoinette's Hamlet. Here you will explore her "peasant village" and see where she spent her happiest hours.

Once we return to Paris, you will choose an activity: the Musée d'Orsay where you can admire the works of the Impressionists; Pére Lachaise Cemetery where you can visit the graves of hundreds of famous people such as Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison; the Shoah Memorial    (Holocaust Museum); or shopping. 

After a brief trip back to the hotel to freshen up, we will make our way toward the Champs de Mars for dinner near the Eiffel Tower. At 9 PM we will board the Bateaux Parisiens and cruise the Seine River. As we watch the sun set over the Seine, we will end our cruise just in time to see the Eiffel Tower light up and sparkle like Edward - the perfect ending to another magnificent day in Paris!

 

Day 5: Monday, July 25, 2011

Final day in Paris

Savor that breakfast croissant as it is our last day in the City of Light. First on today's agenda: an appointment with royalty.  We will see all but three French monarchs on our excursion to Basilique St-Denis. Okay, so they're all dead, but this burial site of the French monarchy (including Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette!) is simply amazing. 

After lunch in Paris, we will tour the Invalides. Originally commissioned by Louis XIV as a veteran's hospital, today it is the Museum of the Army, both World Wars, and the French Liberation. But perhaps it is best known as the final resting place of none other than Napoleon Bonaparte. Here you can admire his tomb and ponder why a man of renowned short stature needs such large sarcophagi...

Next, there will be another choice in activities: the Towers of Notre Dame (warning: they frown on Quasimodo reenactments...don't ask how I know...) or the Conciergerie (Marie Antoinette's prison). Both groups can meet up again to visit Saint-Chapelle which is known worldwide for its incredible stained glass.

You will enjoy a little free time to grab any last minute gifts or souvenirs before we begin our trek down the Champs-Élysées. We will start at the Place de la Concorde and see where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette (among others!) lost their heads, do a little shopping and eat dinner as we head toward the Arc de Triomphe, our last Parisian monument. 

Day 6: Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Morning flight to Pisa

Au Revoir Paris...Buongiorno Italia! 

Let the Countdown Begin!

31,536,000 seconds. 525,600 minutes. 8,760 hours. 365 days. 12 months. 1 year. It might sound like a lot - especially when you're waiting for something completely amazing. But in one year from today, we will be leaving for our next trip to Europe!  Yes, in one year, we will bid "au revoir" to our loved ones, hop on a charter bus to JFK Airport, and take off across the Atlantic to begin the adventure of a lifetime - 10 days in Paris, Florence, and Rome! 

This summer (2010) is the first in four years that I have not been able to go to Paris (merci global recession & trucker dude who hit my poor Mini and left me to do physical therapy all summer instead of strolling along the Champs-Élysées). To say that I am excited for next year's trip is a gross understatement! However, since I am in charge of our time in Paris next year, I have been able to pacify myself by planning an absolutely amazing trip! 

I haven't been to Italy since 2007 and am very much looking forward to going back. I absolutely love Florence and am eager to seeing a lot of things we missed in 2007. We  arrived in Florence on a Sunday and found that not much is open! So, this time, we made sure we won't be there on a Sunday! The summer of 2007 was also the hottest that Italy had in 25 years, so anything below 100 degrees would be fine by me! Perhaps what I am most looking forward to (besides the amazing sites) is the gelato. The gelato in Italy alone is worth the trip! Yum...

Periodically over the next year, I will post some thoughts, links, suggestions of books or articles to read and movies to watch to prepare for our trip. And if you come across anything you think we might all enjoy, please post it (or email it to me or Mr. Switala and I'll make sure it gets posted). Until then enjoy the rest of your summer and have a great school year! Ciao!