Journal of My Experiences
The next morning we began our long bus ride to Paris. I did some journalling and sleeping during the ride.
We stopped at Vimmy Ridge along the way. The ridge was the site of a crucial battle of WWI in which the Canadians knocked the Germans off a very crucial site, which was a lookout post for miles. Once they lost this post they had to retreat quite far � far enough not to be seen. A large monument had been erected to those who had died there with no known grave. The monument was at least the size of a five story building, if not higher. Unfortunately, it was under Restoration and had been covered with tarps. This meant we were unable to see it or look at it. Instead we visited some cemeteries. Again the sheer quantity of the carnage of war was awe-inspiring.
Finally we got to our Hotel. We had supper in the hotel restaurant. Although the service was slow, and many people complained the food was undercooked, I found it a fairly decent meal. The chocolate cheesecake at the end was simply beatific. Quite delicious.
We had a meeting afterwards in which we were given instructions about our time in Paris. They warned us over and over again of pickpockets. We were not to leave anything valuable in our rooms because it would get stolen. All our passports were gathered. We were told to travel in groups of four EVERYWHERE we went, including inside the hotel (the later part of which was completely impractical). I�m not sure if they were just trying to scare the minors or if everyone was included, but it was a little bit over the top. I must say that my experience of Paris at night was not the greatest � I could see the advantage of being in a group at that time. Nevertheless the prescriptions were still slightly disproportionate.
Afterwards, since we were asked not to go out that evening, a number of us gathered at the bar inside the hotel. I tried to order a pint of beer, but began speaking in German. The bartender was not impressed, especially after I apologized in English. I was floored to learn that the drink cost almost 7 Euros!!! Ridiculous. It was much cheaper to buy the beer in a bottle. We sat and talked. Unfortunately I ended up sitting at the �Chaperone� table and began to hear all the bad stories of problems with kids. It wasn�t the most enjoyable conversation, but I wasn�t going to leave until that beer was finished!!!
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