Spring Break: Operation Normandy

Unlike Provo students, we get a week-long spring break here in Vienna. In preparation, Lucy, Kristen, Michelle and I bought tickets to Paris before we had even left the States. Someone was positively ecstatic that yet another dream was coming true!

Michelle and I, being the responsible and seasoned travelers we are (especially on trains), made all our connections from Vienna’s Westbahnhof station to the airport, from the airport entrance to our gate, from the gate through security. Impressive.

My beautiful roommate, Michelle, on the train.

Wriggling with delight, we landed in Paris two hours later.

After learning from the Info Desk personnel that we definitely could NOT walk to the Arc de Triomphe from the airport, we snatched up some maps—four maps actually—and went to find a taxi. When he found us (literally), our eager taxi driver took us into the heart of Paris.

We were still wriggling with delight but also slightly doubtful about our driver’s skills.

How do we say, 'slow down' in French?

Stop #1. The Arc de Triomphe was there! And WE were there! How does this happen in real life?

We (very confidently) located ourselves on the map and headed down the famous Avenue des Champs Elysees.

Are we lost? Of course not! Do we look like tourists?

We all acted perfectly calm despite the crazy traffic "patterns" and the cars going far too fast on either side of the tiny median where we stood...

“the Champs street” –Kristen

Then we saw the Place de la Concorde or the Place de la Revolution, where ”the fond embrace of Madame la Guillotine” took the life of Marie Antoinette.

THEN, we saw the Eiffel Tower and a beautiful sunset. I was literally hopping up and down with happiness.

Unfortunately, it was getting too late to get up close that day.

Since the sun was riding low, and because we wanted to save ourselves a taxi fare, we began walking towards the train station. We walked for ages and ages (the tourist map was a little deceiving) before stopping at Subway for dinner. Subway?! In Paris?! But we bought real French baguettes at the bakery next door to appease our consciences.

Subway: the budget-friendly option

Baguettes in France are so fresh and SO good.

A few hours later we arrived at the little Argentan station in the northwest of France…

Operation Normandy was underway.