This summer I went to Paris, France. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew I was determined to make the best of my trip.

In the early weeks of June I left for my trip with my family and my cousin Carlos� (also a fellow IB senior) family. It didn�t seem as though I was really going anywhere. I had waited so long for my trip to come that by the time it did I had no enthusiasm. The moment that I entered the city of Paris that all changed.

As IB seniors in HL Photography with Mrs. Stemple, this vacation was like a dream come true for Carlos and I. I discovered that Paris is a city bustling with life, jam-packed with cars, people, noise, and invaded with a culture and character all of its own.

Even though we visited tons of museums, many cathedrals, and walked through countless Parisian neighborhoods snapping away on our cameras hoping for the perfect pictures, several of the key moments and highlight photographic opportunities were the riots and demonstrations.

We were able to document a demonstration against the strikes, where enthusiastic Parisians mistook Carlos for a newspaper photographer and invited him onstage to take pictures of their movement. We snapped away through a riot for motorcyclists� rights and another for dog owner�s rights. During our visit in Paris we must have encountered a riot or demonstration every day. It was a fantastic photographic experience.

An alternative highlight was visiting Versailles, the larger-than-life palace of Louis XIV, which we had read and learned about in Mrs. Green�s AP European history class. Visiting Versailles made me appreciate the countless hours of studying about French history, and I felt as though history was coming alive through my knowledge and the palace.

All in all, the experience of Paris was surreal, and the only thing I truly regret was not being able to speak French (although I must point out that nearly every French person spoke more than one language). I feel that being able to communicate in their language would have enhanced the trip. I loved Paris and everything about it. Not only did I have an awesome vacation, I got to do some photography assignments, apply my knowledge about European history, and get my very first stamp in my passport.

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