Saturday 7JUL07
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower being an epic monument to
industrialization in France stands tall above Paris. Tourists scour the
three available lines for tickets to the top waiting for hours on end
for this once in a lifetime among French soldiers in fatigues
with high-powered automatis rifles. It is much different to have an
armed military presence in the civilian sector on patrol. I did not
however feel the urge to climb hundreds of stairs to the elevator to
the top, instead I spent an hour taking novelty pictures with the tower
using pictures of me touching the top and straddling the side show
that my friends are quite savvy with a camera. In front of the tower
roam dozens of men all with tons and tons of merchandise involving the
Eiffel Tower called "panhandlers." They sell cheap key chain replicas
of
the tower in gold and silver, small neon light up models that they
designate as "bling-bling" when trying to catch a walker's attention,
and lighters that do everything from light up to play music. One
panhandler even sold model birds that even flew in concentric circles
around the user but demonstration bird struck a bystander. One of these
panhandlers was selling a key chain to my friend for one Euro a piece
but he was bargaining him down, like most people due, to three
key chains for a Euro or some reasonable offer that he was accept. It
turns out that being caught in the act of selling this merchandise in
front of the Eiffel Tower is illegal because none of them had a
business license. The man who was selling us key chains quickly stopped
his transaction and dodged through our group and began to run across
the street with no concern with his own safety when he was almost
struck by a car. It turns out that directly behind our group of friends
was a bicycle police officer who was yelling "STOP" to the perpetrator
who was soon being followed by the officer and backup on a motorcycle.
The whole ordeal was very interesting and much different than anybody
else in our group had experienced, it showed the real side of tourism
business in Paris. After purchasing some key chains, we all returned
home to Hotel Ibis after taking the number four Metro and getting
off at the Alesia station where it was still light as ten o'clock.
Goodnites were said and all went to sleep.
-Tim Woo
Arc' de Triomphe
The visits to the Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower were magnificent
experiences. However, the trip to the Arc de Triomphe surpassed both
experiences entirely. As Mr. J let us free to explore the
Champs-Elysee, I decided to instead check out the wonderful monument.
My exploration began when Mr. Neeley acted as a professor for thirty
Etiwanda students so that we could go to the top for just one euro. The
twisting and twining stairs was a tiresome trip. Step after step,
'round and 'round, huff and puff, boy oh boy - was it a trip!
Eventually, after taking a rest and reaching the top, we were met by
the joyous white clouds of the blue sky. Immediately I exclaimed, "I'M
SO CLOSE TO GOD!" After a quick chuckle by Mr. J, I began to gawk at
the mesmerizing city. First, it was the Eiffel Tower. Seeing it from
afar was just as good as viewing it from up close. Then, it was the
sunbeam resembling streets that encombed the centered structure. I
could have stayed up there for years. It was an escape. With one deep
breath, I felt all that one could spiritually. Finally, I returned
inside and just before traveling back down those treacherous stairs -
even more daunting going down - I noticed an engraved statement on the
wall. Although it was in French, I could understand the message clear
as day. The monument had been built in commemoration of all the
soldiers who fought in the French army. Knowing this gave me chills.
Having seen the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (a representation of lost
soldiers gone unknown or unidentified) and all of the names engraved
everywhere on the building, I felt feelings of great sympathy and
tremendous appreciation for the soldiers who gave their lives. I almost
began to shed tears ... but I had to make my call time - so the tears
had to wait.
- Erikan Obotetukudo
Being in Europe right now seems almost unreal. For over a year we've
been looking forward to the 2007 summer Europe trip and now, we're
finally here ... experiencing it! I remember getting on the plane to
Detroit, no one "feeling" it yet. The word "feel" had become a term we
all used for the excitement and amazement we thought we'd FEEL when we
finally realized that this trip we had been anticipating had finally
come. At the band room call time: "Do you feel it yet?" "No ... not
really." On the plane to Detroit: "Do you feel it yet?" "No, in a
couple of hours I'm probably going to wake up in my bed and realize
that I've been dreaming." On the plane to Paris: "Do you feel it ...
yet?" "What? Paris? We're going to Paris? No we're not, I don't believe
it." But once we had arrived in the city, there was no denying it - we
were in Paris, in a city so beautiful and so filled with culture, in
one of the most amazing places in the world. Our first real sightseeing
destination in Paris was the Notre Dame. What can I say? It was
phenomenal. Standing in front of the famous Notre Dame, I could feel my
jaw drop. A thousand thoughts of past movies and books and articles I
had read about this place passed through my mind. But yet, at the same
time, I couldn't feel a thing. I stood there awestruck and numb
wondering how fortunate I must be to be able to come to Paris, France
and to see the Notre Dame. The next day we took the Metro to the Arc de
Triomphe. I remember coming out of the uncomfortable hot Metro to be
greeted by a fresh of cool air ... and the giant arc. There were three
things that I was told I had to see when I came to Paris, two of which
being the Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe. I admit I wasn't very
knowledgeable on either of these structures but standing in front of
them, in person, I knew exactly why I had to see these without actually
knowing the history of how it was built or the history of the structure
itself. There was just this air of majesty surrounding these structures
that just makes one ... "Wow." The third thing everyone has to see is,
of course, the world renowned Eiffel Tower. A couple of friends and I
bought tickets to climb up the six hundred or so stairs leading to only
the middle of the gigantic tower. From just the middle of the tower, I
felt like I could see all of France. I can only think of one word to
describe the view: breathtaking. The sun was setting right at the time
we were walking around the middle of the tower and as I looked out at
the beautiful sunset glowing in the horizon, outlining every single
building and tower so different from our own, I truly felt that it was
the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my life. The "feeling"
really does not get more real than what one feels standing at Paris's
Eiffel Tower. But of course, France is not the only country we're
seeing! I can't wait to experience more of these moments in Switzerland
and Spain! Until then ...
- Tiffany Wong
Today, we headed off to Lyon for a
jazz
performance with Jazz II at the Lyon City Band Shell. We enjoyed
a great crowd and a wonderful reception. Jazz I shared a concert
with the "Jazz Band of
the
West" of the City of Lyon. It is billed as the "Battle of the
Bands." Fantastic!! Below are a few shots of our day...
Jazz II Performance in Lyon!
Jazz I Performance with Special Guests!
