The 2005 Trip to France


 
Day 1-2: Arrive in France
Board on the overnight fight to Paris.  Arrive on Day 2 and meet the bilingual EF Tour Director for an EF walking tour of this vibrant city.  Pass the elegant haute couture boutiques that make Paris the most fashionable city in Europe.  Practice your French phrases as you stroll through the Jardin de Tuileries on your way to the Louvre, where I.M. Pei’s outdoor glass pyramid welcomes you to the grand home of the Mona Lisa.
 
Day 3: Paris
Your local guide brings renowned symbols of Paris into focus including the Champs-Elysees, the Conciergerie, the Arc de Triomphe, les Invalides, the Ecole Militarie, and the Eiffel Tower.  You’ll also walk beneath the graceful beauty of Notre Dame’s vaulted ceiling.  Later, opt to visit the Royal Apartments, historic Hall of Mirrors, and elegant gardens of Versailles. 
 
Day 4: Rouen
Follow the meandering Seine to Normandy after stopping in Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake during the Hundred Years’ War.
 
Day 5: Etretat - Honfleur
Make a full-day excursion to the often photographed seaside town of Etretat, where you’ll enjoy incredible seaside views, and the fishing village of Honfleur.  Later you’ll have a taste of traditional French cheese at a local cheese factory.
 
Day 6: Normandy
Journey to the beaches of Normandy, the site of the Allied landing on D-Day, June 6, 1944, which became the largest seaborne invasion in history.  Pay tribute to the troops who fought there during WWII at the Caen Memorial.  Continue on to St. Malo.
 
Day 7: St. Malo
On your guided tour of St. Malo, hear stories of how local seamen fought Barbary pirates and plundered English, Dutch, and Spanish merchants.  Discover the breathtaking islet monastery of Mont-St-Michel, perched high on a granite rock and guarded by quicksands and changing tides.
 
Day 8: Chartres
Stop in Chartres and see one of Europe’s finest Gothic Cathedrals.  In Paris, take an evening cruise on the Seine.
 
Day 9: Depart for Home
Depart for the United States!