on the adventure of our lives. Headed to Paris, France, along with French teacher Geraldine Booth we were in great anticipation of the wonderful experience that was merely twelve hours away.

After arriving in Paris, we checked into the hotel and ventured out into the city to get our first real taste of the French culture -- literally, (yum, yum). The overwhelming feeling of being foreign hung over everyone's heads, but with time we found it impossible not to pick up on the lingo. Whether ordering our meals or attempting to have a conversation with the vendors on the streets, our use of the language became increasingly better.

Not only did our speaking skills improve, but also our understanding of the French culture, which proved itself to be vastly different from the slow moving pace of Bermuda.

Immersing ourselves in the "real'' Paris we travelled on the crowded Metro (subway system), ate at the local cafes, and even wore some of the `native' headgear. Seeing some of the most amazing sites we had ever imagined was an eye opening experience.

Be it marching up and down all 671 steps to the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower, seeing the grandeur of Notre Dame Cathedral, eyeing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre or listening to street performers outside of the Sacre Coeur, each day was filled with something new and amazing.

Leaving such a beautiful place was rather difficult, but to end the trip on just the right note we braved the chilly weather and took an open bus tour around the city seeing the breathtaking gardens, quaint side streets and cafes, and driving right up to Napolean's Arc de Triomphe before having a fabulous authentic French dinner.

Getting on the plane the next morning was hard to do. There seemed to be a certain "je ne sais quoi'' that had drawn us in and that would ultimately impact upon our cultural understanding.

Paris, the city of love, had proven itself to Lauren Purvey, Sarah Lusher and Kim Thornhill. For once it was easy to judge this book by its cover.

The sights of Paris: These Mount Saint Agnes Academy students Lauren Purvey, Kim Thornhill, Sarah Lusher, Cullen O'Hara, and Heidi Baptiste, spent time in Paris, France polishing their French skills. They climbed the Eifel Tower and saw the Sein River.