My first experience traveling outside of the United States was in 1997 when I went on a school trip to France and Switzerland. It almost did not happen, as the TWA Flight 800 incident happened about a year prior to my trip, and my mother was reluctant to let me go. In the end, though, I ended up going and having the time of my life. I was a freshman in High School and was forever changed by my visit. I got to see another way of life and cities I had only ever seen in photos or learned about in history classes.
From a riverboat cruise on the Seine, to the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, the flying buttresses of Notre Dame to the sidewalk cafés of Paris – France was everything I had imagined. I’d been learning French for two years prior to my trip, and thought I had a pretty good handle on things. While I had more than your average American, I still had no clue what people were saying to me half the time. Though, at Galeries Lafayette, I served as an interpreter for the group of students I was with, while we were shopping. They were looking for Doc Martens, and, when I asked the salesman in French where they were, he seemed stunned and pleased that I was able to speak French to him. I’d always heard that is was insulting to assume a French person would speak English to me growing up, so, before I went…I studied hard to make sure I could attempt French first if I needed help. In the end, it paid off.
Of all the places I traveled in France, two places stick out in my mind: St. Malo and Nice. These cities are on opposite ends of the country; St. Malo in the North on the coast of the English Channel and Nice in the South on the French Riviera. Both are unique and charming in their own ways. St. Malo was calming and serene with an old and charming fortress complete with old French text on the signs. Nice was very suave and posh with its beaches and sun kissed hills.
Not much time was spent in Switzerland. I stayed in a small town called Annemasse, which was actually in France, but very close to Geneva. To get there, we traveled from Nice through the Alps in a large bus. The drive was absolutely gorgeous! Though, it was scary at times considering how narrow the edges are in the Alps. We did go into Geneva, which impressed me with the quaint architecture and the kind people. Someday, I’d like to go back for a more intense visit.
Places I recommend, other than the above mentioned cities, are:
• Palace Versailles
• Tours
• Chartres Cathedral
• Fragonard, a perfumery near Nice
Photos from the Trip:
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