It’s amazing how much your surroundings can change in just a three hour train ride. Travelling from our small town of Aix-en-Provence to the bustling city of Paris was a drastic change of scenery.

It seemed as though we were brought to a completely different world after we had just gotten used to the one in Aix. Routine issomething that I value, but jumping into a week of new experiences and surprises was exhilarating.

There were so many things that we did and tried that I could have never imagined myself doing. For example, I was fortunate enough to stand in front of one of Cézanne’s paintings of Mt. Ste. Victoire, something I could have only imagined to be able to see.

Venus de Milo - Louvre

(Emma in front of Cézanne)

I stood directly in front of the Mona Lisa surrounded by tourists, and sketched The Slaves by Michelangelo.

Our last night in Paris we tried foie gras and escargot. It was definitely an interesting experience, and something that I wouldn’t have tried if I wasn’t in France. This past week in Paris has been surreal.

Paris is a magical city, and one that is romanticized in books and films.

It was incredible to be able to go to some of the most famous museums and places, like the Eiffel Tower.

We did so much that it seemed we were always on the move. I had some of the best food I have ever tasted, and got to experience one of the most beautiful cities in the world, all in one week.