Right now I am laying snuggled up in bed with my amazingly warm bed socks on telling you about how at 1:40pm yesterday I touched down in France. One of the best things about the flight to Paris besides all the fun I had with the other exchange students was having the window seat. It was the most amazing experience glimpsing France for the first time. Noticing all the cute little villages surrounded by forests and paddocks. One thing that really surprised me about the Charles de Gaulle airport was that there were no customs. We got off the plane, got our passports stamped, collected our luggage and left the airport. I'm actually not quite sure there wasn't supposed to be customs and that we somehow managed to miss them altogether. Anyway, once I said goodbye to some of the other exchange students I headed off to the airport station to catch a train to the Paris Metro with some other exchange students called Chloe, Holly, Callum and Georgia. In books and movies you hear about the hectic Paris metro, well I can confirm that it lives up to everything said about it. There were people rushing everywhere with staircase after escalator after ticket barrier. What shocked me most was that apparently it wasn't rush hour in Paris and that the Metro was really quiet. The best way to explain it is that the rush hour for Melbourne or Sydney train stations is called quiet in Paris. I must have pulled my extremely heavy suitcase up and down 6 flights of stairs and 8 escalators. Luckily nice french men kept stopping to wordlessly pick up the end of my suitcase and help me up or down the stairs. We caught another train from the Metro to the TGV station. From there we wondered briefly around Paris, going past several creperies and patisseries. Unfortunately I did not have time to stop in and say hello to any crepes or croissants. We returned to the station from which Callum, Georgia and I caught the TGV to Rennes (Chloe and Holly were catching a different train together). I arrived in Rennes at 7:16pm were I met my host family on the platform. Lisa and Chloe straight away grabbed hold of my hands and didn't let go until we reached the car outside. My host family is wonderful and I am so excited to see what else awaits me. As promised here are some photos from all my flights including ones of Paris.
My dinner on the plane from Sydney to Abu Dhabi. The best parts were the extremely cold but metal cutlery and the salted caramel mousse
Waiting to board the Plane to Paris with all the free ice-cream the air-hostesses gave us
Almost in France
Me in Paris
In Abu Dhabi airport there were real palm trees
The plane that flew me to Paris
Saying goodbye to all the other exchange students at Paris airport
Hi Gigi, I'll tell Marie that the socks are keeping you warm already - she'll be delighted! Hope you get back to Paris for a poke around and a crepe before you come home. If not, there is always summer 2017. Have fun exploring Le Verger before school starts and keep the news and the pics coming - I am clicking on your page 27 times a day! Enjoy every single moment. Love you, Mum
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Mausie
9/11/2014 03:09:44 am
All sounds fantastic Ginny! I too am checking your blog lots so keep the info and photos coming! I'm so glad you got such a warm welcome and know there are many fun times ahead - loads of love Mausie, Nick and Blade (& Sadie!) xxxxx
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Fiona
9/11/2014 04:14:27 am
Hi Georgie, I'm so excited you've arrived safe and well. The blog is fantastic and I'm checking it regularly so keep up the great work! LOTS of love to you, have fun! Love Fiona xxxxx
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Georgie
9/11/2014 04:55:08 am
I should have another blog post up soon :). I have done a little exploring but not much Say hi to everyone for me. Love you,
Georgie xx
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Georgie
9/11/2014 04:59:00 am
Hi Fifi and Mausie,
I am so happy you like my blog! I can't thank you enough for my carry on suitcase it was fantastic! I am having heaps of fun and I should have a new blog post up soon. Give my love to the rest of the Melbourne gang,
Georgie xx