The next day was quite an adventure. Eliza had a test that day, so we had planned to visit Versaille, as it was included in our Museum Pass and what would make it all worthwhile, as Versaille costs around 25 Euros to visit. So Eliza told us how to get there using the metro and RER, and we headed out bright and early.

Well, we ran into our first struggles at the La Defense station. We couldn't figure out how to buy a ticket to Versaille using the machines, so we finally just hopped on the metro to go to the station we would have to catch the RER at, anyway. So we find a ticket booth there and ask to buy tickets to Versaille, and - "Oh, it's closed today. The garden is open, though." It's snowing outside and the garden is free (so we wouldn't be helping 'pay' for our Museum Pass), so that was a no go. We opened up our Museum Pass books to see if there were any interesting museums that we could go to. A Cinema Museum in a building designed by Frank Gehry ("starchitect" who also designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles) - that sounded cool. So instead of using up another Metro pass, we decided to walk from there (Abby's idea) which was cool at first because we got to see the city, rather than underground tunnels.


And then it was just too freakin cold, so we had to go into another cafe. We did get wonderful omelets for brunch and more overpriced cappuccinos. I suppose we're spoiled by 2.50 Euro Italian cappuccinos, but the 5-6 Euro ones in Paris were really getting old.

We woke up bright and early to visit the Pompidou.


I actually really enjoyed staying in the business district. The buildings were new refreshing after being surrounded by Italian architecture on a daily basis, and the escalators weren't bad, either.

In the 2013 spring semester, I studied abroad with the Clemson Architecture program in Genoa, Italy where I lived and studied in the Charles E. Daniel Center, also known as "The Villa".  The program is actually quite a rigorous study abroad program, but we were allowed a week of travel at the end of February to go wherever we liked.  So naturally, I chose to visit Paris and Disneyland Paris.  Of course, when I was imagining Paris, I was thinking of warm spring afternoons and beautiful flowers..... in February, Paris was anything but.

I traveled the Paris portion of the trip with my friends Abby and Alex.  Alex's friend, Eliza, was studying abroad in Paris and so kindly invited us to stay with her at her apartment in La Defense.

Overnight Train to Paris

One of the awesome things about Europe is how advanced their transportation system by rail is.  The three of us booked a private room on an overnight train to Paris, which was more for the experience than to save time or money.  We traveled from Genoa to Milan on the regional train and took the overnight train to Paris from Milano Centrale.  Our train departed at 11:30 PM and arrived in Paris at 9:30 AM the next morning.

We booked a private cabin for three people. Alex was first to the room and says, "I call the bottom bunk." Then Abby poked her head in and quickly says, "I call the middle bunk.' I poke my head in and.... top bunk?

It was actually a pretty nice set-up. They gave us nice toiletry kits with slippers, toothpaste/toothbrush, soap, etc. We also each got water bottles (hey - that's a 2 Euro value!). And, we were given vouchers for a free drink and free breakfast. We were just one train car away from the bar/restaurant, so we headed right down to use our drink vouchers. They offered us champagne or orange juice... is that even a question??

I actually slept surprisingly well on the train. I only woke up a few times and it was because it was hot, so I kept reaching over and turning down the thermostat. I feel like I had to have been the hottest, being in the top bunk. But besides that, I really didn't mind sleeping up there.

La Defense

Alex's friend, Eliza, is studying abroad in Paris, and she so kindly invited us to stay with her at her apartment in La Defense. Our train arrived at Gare Lyon, and Eliza told us how to take the metro to La Defense. We exited the metro, and she was there waiting for us!

The metro is right by the Grand Arch -