Wake up call was at 6:30ish. We had to split into two groups to travel today. We could only get reservations for half the group on the early train, and the rest of the group waited for a later train. I ate some breakfast and packed my lunch and then we caught an 8 o'clock train. The first train went from Verviers to Brussels. At Brussels, we got on a Thalys train. We needed the reservations for this train to Paris. When we got to Paris, we bought our metro and museum passes. We took the metro to the hotel. The hotel is right next to Notre Dame, so that was cool to exit the metro and see that. We walked to the hotel and it was pretty fancy. One of the girl's mom and grandma are traveling and they met her here. Once they hugged, we all started getting a bit emotional because it just hit us how much we all missed our homes and our moms. We were not expecting that emotion today. It was very cute though. My room wasn't ready yet, so I went to Hannah and Claire's room to change and get ready to explore Paris and meet the Eiffel Tower. We had about an hour before we were meeting back with the second group. We wanted to find the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. It took us awhile because we weren't familiar with the area yet. We finally found it but only had a few minutes to look around before we had to get back to the hotel. It was so cute though. Just a small building with wooden bookshelves to the ceiling and winding rooms. It was very quaint and adorable and filled with the cutest books. I found this Pride and Prejudice illustrated book that was just so cute! I wanted to get it, but we didn't have enough time for me to make that decision. We were coming back later anyway, so I could get it later if I wanted to. We met the rest of the group back at the hotel. The hotel was testing their fire alarms, so that was a bit annoying. We left as soon as we could. We started our walking tour of Paris. We walked down the streets and we first saw all the street vendors with their artwork. That was fun and made me excited to buy some artwork! We walked past Champs Élysées, Conciergie, Versailles, Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries, Arc de Triomphe, Obélisque de Louxor, the Siene, and finally the Eiffel Tower. We basically walked everywhere and through parks, gardens, and by every major attraction. Also over many bridges. Paris has like 30 something bridges. We were released before we reached the Eiffel Tower for dinner. We had 15 euros for dinner tonight so we looked for something nice but not over our budget. Below is always better. We settled on a little restaurant and our seats were like inside but there are no walls, so we were also outside. They had a deal for a steak dinner for about 15 euros and most of the group bought that. I went with a chicken caesar salad. It just sounded so refreshing and tasty. It was. Our waiter was very nice and helpful. He spoke some English, but not a whole lot. He tried his best despite the fact that we should have been speaking French. Thankful. He took our orders and kept calling Annah boss and saluting her. It was very funny. He was so accommodating! Not the rude Parisian we were warned about. It was a nice change to sit down for a decent dinner when we usually have to eat fast food because we are poor and always have some place to be. We had to meet the group at the Eiffel Tower, so we started walking to it. We met up with some of our group and some of them wanted gelato with macarons. They were pretty adorable. We finally made it to the park and were hit with the site of the alluring tower. The beautiful big ol' heap of metal. It is really quite amazing that metal can look that cool and beautiful. I don't know what it is about that tower, but you can't stop looking at it. We started walking through the green grass park in front of the tower and we were getting a litttttle crazy. We were just pretty happy to actually be here. Of course there were a lot of people selling things, but we just ignored them and carried on with our childlike happiness. Claire was definitely the craziest. She loves Paris. This is her life dream, and she made it. She was rolling around on the ground and laughing and taking a lot of pictures. We all took a lot of pictures, and then we had to hurry to the bottom of the tower to meet the group because we were a little late. I think we had a good excuse though. We had to go through security and then get our tickets. When we finally went made it through all those lines, we got on the elevator to the top. SO thankful we didn't have to climb the stairs. I would've died. The elevator ride probably took a few minutes to get to the top. It actually takes you to the second level, and then you have to get on a different elevator to the top. We made it to the top and dropped us in an observatory room. I thought for a second that was it and I was like super bummed because you know, windows. But there were stairs to the top. Whew. It was PACKED up there. There wasn't really any room at all to walk or get to the fence to see the skyline without having to dodge people's heads. Eventually, spots opened up and I jumped in. I took a lot of pictures, but of course, that does nothing. So I decided to just stand and stare. Looking out at the lights shine and the cars drive. I probably looked like a weirdo with this small smile and these dreamy eyes. I noticed that there were not very many sky scrapers. In fact, in the vicinity of the Eiffel tower, there were none. All the buildings were the same height and style. That made the city look super cute. Matching buildings with the roads cutting through at different angles. I have experienced some pretty great skylines at night, but Paris. Paris is special too. What a city. It just tells you stories of the past. All the stories. All the past. I went around the sides to see different views. I spent quite a while up there. The tower sparkled while were up there and it was like strobe lights for 5 minutes. It was a party. That was fun to be up there while it sparkled and later we were going to watch that from the ground. As I was walking around, Claire made the night extra memorable. This whole trip she has been talking about her "dream." Her dream since she was six was to find the love of her life, Peter, on the top of the Eiffel tower and kiss him. Later they would get married and live happily ever after. Very adorable, very cute. Well, she didn't hold out too much hope for that, but she was determined to have a kiss on the top of the Eiffel tower. There were these two American boys up there and I was standing right next to them. I was looking at the skyline, but listening to every word. She worked up her courage and she asked them. She really asked them! She asked if either of them were willing to make her dream come true. She explained to them the situation and if they thought it too weird, they could say no. She just wanted to ask. Well they contemplated this for awhile. Pretty hesitant. She asked where they were from: Florida. They felt better that she was American, and finally one guy suggested the other do it. He agreed!!! Like what? So boom, her dream came true. It was pretty hilarious. A lot of our group were around her and so they all got a good laugh and walked away. Well, Kara and I stayed behind and pretended like we didn't know them so that we could eavesdrop on what they had to say about it. He said he was pretty embarrassed, and that he thought Claire might have been disappointed with him. (she wasn't) His friend's mom (or maybe his) came over and they filled her in on the situation. She thought it was the coolest thing ever. They just kept talking about how he made her dream come true haha. It was pretty fun hearing them talk about it. After I was ready to go down, we ended up with them in the elevator too. Again, they didn't know we knew her, so they talked about it some more. The mom just could not let it go. I think the boy was very shy and embarrassed about it haha. She just kept saying how cute of a dream and memory. After the first elevator ride down, we were back on the second level. Kara and I stopped and looked around, and again, ended up next to these boys again. Claire and some others were also on this level and I told them what I had heard. She didn't want the boy to think she was disappointed, so she went up to him and introduced herself. They talked a little and then took a picture. It was pretty funny. The mom was excited to meet her haha. There was a lot of laughter and retelling of this story during this whole Eiffel tower experience. Thanks Claire for making it memorable. We were going to watch the tower sparkle at 9, so we had to rush across the bridge to the fountain and building across from the Eiffel Tower. The fountain had been drained. A bummer because you are supposed to be able to see the reflection of the sparkle in the fountain. We ended up making it over to the fountain just in time to take pictures and watch it. Most of the group sat on the edge of the fountain and some of us in the grass. It was so nice to just sit, relax, and watch the most bedazzling site as a group. We had been going non stop all day and this was the perfect way to end our first night in Paris. Our group was just the cutest little family all sitting together, chins tilted upwards, the sparkles reflecting off our eyes and faces. The Eiffel Tower sparkles every hour on the hour for five minutes. Little twinkling flashes light up the tower up and down and all around. It is magical! It was very sad when the five minutes were over, but we still just sat and admired the work of art in front of us. I tried to just get it through my head that I was in Paris. Like PARIS. HELLO. JENCIE. PARIS! I don't think it ever really hit me. We walked to a metro station and took it back to our hotel. I am staying in a room with Samantha and Abigail. There is one bed and a pull out couch. The couch was pretty comfortable and I was happy to take it. It is always fun staying in hotels because you get a little more alone time than usual. As an introvert and being in a large city, I need alone time in my life haha. I like people, I just need to hear myself think sometimes. I hung out in Hannah, Claire, and Abby's room for a little, and then passed out after my shower and I hit that bed. I was so happy to sleep. I was pretty excited for the next day too. Paris. Wow. What a romantic and beautiful city. The fall colors and nice fall weather really makes it more beautiful than I could have imagined. Paris is already exceeding my expectations.

Fun Facts: Annah and I both said "Can it just sparkle forever" at the same time, in the same inflection. This is actually a common thing for us. We always say the same things at the same times and it's weird. This was extra crazy though because it was a full sentence and in the same way! The sparkling Eiffel Tower just has that effect on you. Paris really is the city of love. Couples everywhere, but really, you just feel like you need to be in love in this city. Its buildings, history, trees, river, birds, and beauty are all so romantic together.

Shoutout: Gustave Eiffel for building such a remarkable structure. Thank you for an experience I will never forget.