Well, there’s not much I can say about my experience other than that it was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life. Europe, and especially Paris, has so much to offer. Of course, it has museums, cathedrals, parks, and many other cultural attractions, but there is also so much more than that. One of my favorite things to do if I had spare time while in Paris was just wandering around. I really liked looking at all the small bistros, shops, and buildings that lined the streets. There are some really nice places simply tucked away in random streets that people might simply glance at before walking away because they’re too busy. I also really liked trying out the food, both in restaurants and in small cafes, though things can get pretty expensive, so I didn’t do it too often. Public transportation was also very nice. At first, I felt weird not being able or needing to drive to get around, but it grew on me as time went on. Being able to hop on a train or the metro, ignore traffic, and walk around the rest of the way wasn’t just more convenient but also felt way healthier and fulfilling. And although I do speak French, most establishments and people are able to speak and understand English to a decent degree. Of course, there were some bad aspects. Pickpockets and scammers are everywhere in Paris and any large, well-known cities, and it can be hard to avoid them sometimes. Paris specifically also has a problem with sanitation in certain areas, as there can be trash or weird smells occasionally. Overall, I couldn’t dream of a better experience.

As for my tips, I have a few very important ones. Firstly, everything is closed on Sundays. Food stores, pharmacies (though there are some open in case of emergency, most are closed), restaurants, and administrations are all closed on Sundays, so make sure to get everything done beforehand! Secondly, everything takes longer to happen. If you have an administrative task to take care of, expect it to take a while. Patience is required when sorting out this such as housing, communicating with teachers, etc. Next, for getting food, try and take advantage of farmers markets. I was lucky enough to have a farmers market right next to my residence, so getting cheap, good quality food was no problem. Things in regular grocery stores can be pretty expensive, especially in and around Paris, so farmers markets are a good way to get things like meat and vegetables for cheap. I would also recommend trying to live in a homestay. I chose to live in an apartment, which isn’t the worst, but most other students chose to live in a homestay, which left me kind of isolated. It also allows you to make more connections, is usually cheaper, and gives you access to more facilities such as ovens, TV, and better showers. Lastly, get a public transportation plan sorted out immediately. If you want to get around anywhere in and around Paris, you need to be able to access public transport. Of course, you can pay for each individual ride, and you can buy a rechargeable ticket in any metro station, but it’s much easier to get a plan if you’re staying for a longer period of time.

In summary, do I recommend Paris? Absolutely! However, studying abroad the way I did may not suit everyone. The school I went to, though very nice with good teachers and staff, will only give meaningful academic challenges to people in majors such as Political Science, Pre-Law, History, or Sociology. If you’re a biology major, this program might not be the best for you. That doesn’t mean you can’t go to Paris. There are other partners that Worcester State works with, so there is bound to be one with a university that is convenient for you.

Well, that’s about it for my reflection on my experience and what I learned from it. This study abroad program has been a dream come true, and I’m going to sorely miss it when I get back to the US. I hope you all enjoyed my blog, and I hope it gave an honest and exciting view of France. Thank you all for reading.

Goodbye!

The post May 8, 2025: Wrapping it up: my final thoughts appeared first on President's Office .

If you haven’t heard the news yet, Pope Francis is dead. He died on Monday the 21st, the day after I arrived. So, during my stay in Rome, the whole city was in a bit of a frenzy. However, I didn’t really feel any effect up until I decided to visit Santa Maria Maggiore and the Vatican. I visited Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major) first, since I knew it was going to close soon, as that was where the Pope wanted to be buried. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one with this idea. The church was almost completely full, with both tourists wanting to see it before it closed and faithful mourning the Pope. There was a bit of a line, but nothing too major since I had arrived early. The outside of the church was relatively unassuming. It wasn’t colorful like the Duomo in Florence, and it wasn’t engraved like those in Paris. However, the inside was a completely different story. The roof is gilded beyond belief, while paintings and sculptures line the walls. What stuck out to me the most was the altar. It was roofed, with four pillars supporting the roof. I had never seen that type of altar before, so I was very enamored by it. Santa Maria Maggiore also has a small underground museum, where it displays relics and other holy objects. My favorite was a relic in the shape of an arm holding a quill, with a saint’s arm bone being kept inside. Unfortunately, due to the period of mourning, many of the side altars were closed for prayer, so I wasn’t able to get any pictures, and it ended up being a shorter visit than I anticipated. One thing that is good about Santa Maria Maggiore is that entry to both the church and museum are free, so there’s really no reason not to go.

The next day was the Vatican. In order to get in and still have time to see everything, I woke up nice and earthly and arrived at the entrance to Saint Peter’s Basilica at 8am. Despite this, I still had to wait 2 hours until I got let in. This was because it was the last day before the Vatican closed and began the Conclave to elect the new Pope. All the waiting, however, gave me ample time to admire the exterior of the basilica. It really is massive, bigger than any other church I’ve been to. The square in front of it was also massive, and the two semicircles of pillars gave it a nice vertical dimension. The real fun started once I entered the basilica. I don’t think I’ve seen as much gold before in my life. Almost everything is gilded, and there are some things made of pure gold, and whatever isn’t made of or covered in gold is perfectly white marble. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go and admire every side altar and sculpture because all visitors were restricted to a line in the middle of the basilica. Normally this isn’t the case, but this was no ordinary day. Instead, we were railroaded to the center altar where Pope Francis’s body was exposed for people to pay their respects. The altar was very similar to the one seen in Santa Maria Maggiore, except this one had spiral pillars, which gave it a really cool look. Of course, I paid my respects to the late Pope, and even attended a mass to mourn the loss (though I only understood a bit of it, since it was in Italian). The retroquire was also really beautiful. A small stained glass window depicting the holy spirit in the form of a dove is surrounded by cherubs and beams of light made of pure gold, all supported by four onyx black saints with gold robes.

After seeing the basilica, I then made my way to see the Vatican museum. I had to wait another 2:30 hours, but I finally got in. The museum is full of all kinds of art from all over time. It has Egyptian statues, Roman sculpture, medieval tapestries, and even contemporary art. At the very end of the museum is one of Italy’s most famous attractions, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Despite the no photos rule that was in place, I was still able to get a few quick photos of the ceiling. However, photos really can’t do it justice. Despite being two-dimensional paintings, Michelangelo’s work somehow makes everything look almost three-dimensional with surreal depth. He even painted fake columns to give the illusion of an even higher ceiling. The color also really struck me. Everything is so detailed and rendered in such vibrant colors that it makes every small detail shine. My only regret is that I was not able to admire the work for longer, as I got kicked out due to closing time at 8pm (Yes, I was at the Vatican for 10 hours). Unfortunately, I was not able to see the Vatican gardens, since they were closed due to the state of emergency.

In conclusion, what did I think of Rome? Well, unlike Florence, Rome is a very large and international city, like Paris. If you want to get around, you need to get a metro and bus ticket. Thankfully, you can buy them at any metro entrance, and they even have a one week unlimited use card. Food is also cheaper due to the amount of fast-food and small takeout places. One thing that really stood out to me was the greenery. Due to the ruins and archaeological sites present in Rome, there is an abundance of trees and grass around the city, as well as many parks scattered throughout. It really surprised me just how green everything is. It definitely gave a different vibe to the city than Paris.

Well, that wraps up my break. Despite how much I’ll miss being in Italy and seeing so many new things, I feel like I was able to really discover and come to understand both cities, and I’m satisfied with my vacation.

The post Apr. 26, 2025: Rome’s holy places: visiting the Vatican and more appeared first on President's Office .

Hot off my visit to the Colosseum and Forum, the next day I decided to visit another important Roman ruin, the Pantheon. This place held a very important role in ancient Rome; it was one of the largest temples to the Roman gods. The first thing I noticed upon entering was the gorgeous dome roof. Perfectly circular, it has square indentations in it which really gives it a sense of depth and gravity that other domes just don’t have. It even has a circular opening in the center that lets natural light filter through. It was really impressive to think that something like this was made 2000 years ago, and has stood the test of time until our modern day. This isn’t too surprising, though, since unlike many other Roman buildings which were abandoned after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Pantheon was converted into a church in the 7th century, which allowed it to be restored throughout time. Unlike the roof and upper walls, which are more simplistic and Roman-styled, the floor and lower walls are clearly influenced by Christian architecture. The Pantheon also serves as a burial place for many important figures, such as Popes or Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy. However, this all comes with the caveat that the Pantheon is very small. It barely even took me 2 hours to get through the entire thing. It’s also tucked away between a bunch of other buildings, so there’s not much to do around it.

However, the Pantheon is positioned in a very convenient place. It is right next to the Fontana Trevi, as well as the Altare della Patria, both of which are free to visit. The Fontana Trevi is a huge fountain made of marble depicting many Roman gods built during the 18th century. What struck me about it was how clean the water was. Most fountains I’ve seen in Paris have murky waters full of algae, but the water here (and in other fountains I saw in Rome) was crystal clear. The Altare della Patria (also known as the Victor Emmanuel II monument) is right down the road from the fountain, too. This monument, dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II, commemorates the unification of Italy. The scale of it is seriously impressive, and it is full of statues and engravings. It even has a small museum section on the Risorgimento (Italian Unification) as well as Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of the radio. Finally, it has an elevator at the back that allows you to go to the top of the monument. You do need to pay for a ticket to access the museums and elevator, which you can do at the entrance to the sections.

The next day, I went to see the Castel Sant’Angelo. This old fort is a prime example of Rome’s layered history. Originally built as a mausoleum for the Roman Emperor Hadrian, it was later converted into a fortress in the 5th century. Then, it was transformed into a castle for the Pope during the 14th century, before being repurposed as a prison later on. Now, it is a museum. It was really crazy to see a place that has been through so much. You can even make out based on the age and quality of the walls what time period they are from. The castle had a bit of everything to offer: old roman sculptures, medieval armor, renaissance paintings, and more modern cannons and guns. It also is located right next to the Tiber, as well as the Vatican, which gives it a great vue. A definite must-visit.

That’s about it for this post! Make sure to stay tuned for the next one, cause it’s going to be big! Until next time!

The post Apr. 24, 2025: Rome’s monuments to history: the Pantheon, Castel Sant’Angelo, and more appeared first on President's Office .

I’ve always been fascinated by Rome. It was the center of one of the most powerful and long-lasting empires in history, houses the holiest place in the world, and was an important centerpiece in the Unification of Italy. Rome has an insane amount of history, all layered on top of one another. And my first impression of the city upon arriving was just that. Modern buildings lay right next to medieval-era churches, which are right down the road from ancient Roman ruins. It was really shocking to see how commonplace and normalized ancient ruins are in Rome.

Obviously, my first course of action upon arriving was to go to the most important and well-preserved ruins of all: the Colosseum and Roman Forum. I started off with the Colosseum. My first observation was just how old the stone looked. It was rough and cracked, and was uneven in its deterioration. It really gave off its age. Going inside, the tour started off in the interior pathways. It was cool, and there were some exhibitions on the history of the Colosseum. For example, during its time, the Colosseum was the largest amphitheatre ever built, and it was able to seat over 30,000 people! The real magic started when I got into the stands, however. Here, it really opens up and allows you to see the whole interior of the building. It almost made me feel like a spectator watching during the times of the Romans. The tour takes you around the entire circumference of the stands, before you go back down and get a view of the pit. However, that is about how far the visit goes. You can buy special tickets that allow you to go into the pit and see the underground mechanisms, or up into the third stage of the stands, but they are pretty expensive for those without EU citizenship and sell out fast. Unlike what many of you may be thinking, the Colosseum isn’t that big. For me, it took me about 2:30 hours to see the whole thing (with a basic ticket), and I took my sweet time. This makes sense, since much of the Colosseum is now lost to time (only a small fragment of the highest floor remains) and apart from the building itself, there isn’t much else to see. It’s still a must-visit, despite my criticisms.

What is really big, however, is the Forum and Palatine Hill. Located right next to the Colosseum and utilizing the same ticket as the Colosseum, there’s basically no reason to not go and see it, and it’s chock-full of ruins of many different types. This is because during the time of the Romans, the Forum was one of the central marketplaces of the city, and the Palatine Hill served as the dwelling place for many Roman Emperors. What stood out to me the most, however, was the amount of greenery there. Trees, bushes, and other plants are spread around the place, and vines, weeds, and grass are free to grow around the ruins. It all really gave the place a natural and claiming atmosphere, while also providing shade from the hot sun. Coming from Paris, a notoriously grey city (especially during winter) where what gardens there are are meticulously trimmed and orderly, and having just left Florence, where almost all attractions are museums or other manmade things, this amount of natural, untamed plant life was a breath of fresh air. I even got to see a mock Roman Legion procession! The ruins were just as impressive as the Colosseum, too. Columns still standing after 2000 years and old, weathered sculptures litter the area, along with the outlines of old buildings and squares. It was a very weird feeling to know that, 2000 years ago, citizens of Rome were walking, shopping, and going about their day in the same place I was. I was honestly caught off guard with how large the forum was. I finished seeing the Colosseum around 1:00, and was there till closing time at 7:00. One tip for anyone who plans to go here is to find another entrance than the main one. Right from the exit of the Colosseum is the main entrance to the Forum, which predictably gets quite backed up. It’s much quicker to go to a side entrance to enter.

Well, that’s enough writing out of me! I swear, each entry ends up being longer than the last. I atleast hope that you all don’t get bored from reading too much. Anyway, stay tuned, as I’ve got much more in store for you!

The post Apr. 22, 2025: Rome: the heart of the ancient world appeared first on President's Office .

The premier stop for all art in Florence is the famous Uffizi Galleries. It is absolutely chock-full of almost all time periods of art, from old Roman era busts to medieval panel paintings to Renaissance canvases and even baroque sculptures. The gallery starts out at the beginning, showcasing a chronological timeline of roman sculpture, and more specifically of busts of Roman emperors. All the way from Julius Caesar (though he was not an emperor) all the way to figures such as Septimus Severus or Caracalla, the gallery hosts an impressive collection of Roman statues. Unfortunately, however, not many of them are completely antique. Many have had restoration done during the Renaissance or after, often quite extensive. Afterwards, the gallery leads into the medieval section which is dominated by panel paintings such as triptychs. The contrast between the snow-white, extremely lifelike roman statues to the gilded, more simplistic medieval paintings was a very interesting contrast. Then, the Renaissance happened, and paintings slowly evolved to become more and more realistic, both in backdrop and anatomy. A great example of this is the Birth of Venus. Though it has not yet reached the level of expressiveness and likeness of later paintings, it still shows the increased focus on natural settings, the human form, and the movement of the subjects. Lastly, the baroque style took hold, with the utmost detail given to the dynamic movement of subjects, both in painting and sculpture, and anatomical accuracy reaching its peak. Seeing the slow evolution of art over time was a very cool experience.

Right next to the Uffizi Galleries is another big art museum: the Palazzo Vecchio. This castle, once belonging to the Medici family, the rulers of Florence, is full of all kinds of art. The most impressive type that it boasts is its vast amount of ceiling and wall art. Almost every room has some kind of painting on the ceiling, most often inspired by Greek mythology. My favorite had got to be the central chamber, as it was absolutely colossal, boasting 6 massive wall paintings as well as countless smaller works on the ceiling. The wall paintings all represent different important battles in the history of Florence, often against different Italian city states. Lastly, there is the Galleria dell’Accademia. This last one had a bit of everything in it: medieval triptychs, baroque sculptures made of plaster, and of course, many Renaissance sculptures including Michaelangelo’s David. Speaking of the David, it has got to be not only the largest sculpture I’ve ever laid eyes on, but also the most beautifully detailed too. The posing, musculature, and gaze of the statue all render it almost more than lifelike, as if it is even more realistic than reality itself. The monumental size only serves to accentuate the extra-realness of the sculpture.

Well, that just about sums up my experience in Florence! In total, I stayed for a week. What was my experience, you may ask? Well, first off, Florence is very walkable. Everything is within a 30 minute walk of each other, meaning it’s very easy to get around. The flip-side of this is that Florence also has almost no public transportation, except for a few buses, but those are often slower than walking due to the narrow roads and traffic. Florence is also super dense, even for a European city. Some roads are so small cars can barely fit through them. However, the denseness also had its advantages. Florence is full of small shops and restaurants, all of which are really fun to stop by and admire. Do be warned, however, that unlike Paris or other big metropolitan cities, there is little fast food or cheap dining options in Florence. Most restaurants are within the 20-30 euro range, so be prepared to spend quite a bit if you plan on eating out. Florence is in Tuscany, however,which is famed for its cuisine, so that money is almost always worth it.

Well, now it’s off to somewhere different! I still have one more week of vacation till final exams, and I intend to make the most out of it. Now, as for where I am going next, I will let you know in my next post!

The post Apr. 19, 2025: Florence and its art: from medieval to renaissance appeared first on President's Office .

I started off with the biggest one, the Duomo. This visit had a lot of attractions. There is a large bell tower, a baptistry, an archaeological site beneath the cathedral, access to the top of the cathedral’s dome, and even a pretty extensive museum next to it. All in all, this singular visit took me the whole day. The first thing I noticed was the color. Unlike most churches I have seen in France (and especially in Paris) whose exteriors, though decorated with lots of accents and engravings, are relatively colorless and grey. The Duomo, however, was full of bright whites, striking cyans, and accents of red. It really shocked me when I first arrived. 

First up, I went to the bell tower. This was a much more interesting experience. It loomed high and mighty over the surroundings only being matched in height by the top of the dome. Unfortunately, in order to actually get to the top, you have to walk up over 400 steps, in a very, very narrow staircase. However, once you get to the top, you are met with an incredible view of both Florence and the Duomo itself. Next was the archeological dig. See, the duomo is not the only cathedral to have been constructed in its location. Back in the time of the Romans, they had built a temple dedicated to their gods. After the fall of the western Roman empire, the temple resumed use as an early christian church, before being enlarged over the course of the centuries. Eventually, it was demolished in order to make room for the modern-day duomo in the 13th century. The actual cathedral, however, is unfortunately a repeat of SacrĂ©-Coeur. The outside is stunning while the inside is very bland and empty. It does score extra points though, since it has what is probably the largest piece of ceiling art I have ever seen. It’s seriously impressive how they were able to not only build a massive dome, but paint the entire thing in immaculate detail, all in the 13th-14th century. Despite the relatively empty interior, I still highly rate the visit. However, if any of you are interested in going in the future, make sure to book your tickets in advance! Access to the cathedral itself is free, but to access the tower, dome, etc. requires a special ticket, which goes out of stock very quickly.

The next day was my visit to the Basilica of Santa Croce. Unlike the Duomo, this one had a really special interior, since it hosted countless graves and tombs on its walls and floor. Most notably, it houses the graves of Michaelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, among many others. The tombs were all sumptuously decorated, and even the smaller graves on the floor were ornate, though heavily worn down by people walking over them. It was an interesting feeling to be walking in the same space as hundreds of entombed people, especially those of such high historical standing. The back of the basilica is decorated with majestic gothic paintings, as well as multiple large stained-glass windows. Additionally, there is also a monastery attached to the side of the basilica. The weather was also looking up that day, so it was very nice to walk around in and appreciate the scenery.

Well, I’ve certainly gone on a rather long rant about churches! I hope I haven’t put you all to sleep. In the meantime, stay tuned for my next post! Florence still has so much to offer!

The post Apr. 17, 2025: Discovering Florence’s churches: a colorful new experience appeared first on President's Office .

I arrived on the 13th, after a 9 hour train ride that forced me to get up at 4am. Arriving in Florence in the late afternoon, I was met with the beautiful and awe-inspiring scene of grey skies and torrential downpour. A wonderful start! Despite my sarcasm, I quite enjoyed the train ride. This was my second time on a train, and the feeling of seeing the landscape fly by and slowly change was still a fresh and fun experience. I even recognized some places I passed by! After walking through the rain to my hostel, I promptly unpacked my things and fell asleep. So ended my first day in Florence.

Ok, but let’s be real: that wasn’t really my first day. Monday was the true start of my time in Florence. My original plan was to visit the Galleria dell’Accademia, where Michaelangelo’s David is located, but it was unfortunately closed. Instead, I ended up going to the Hospital of the Innocents. This old hospital/orphanage turned museum had some really interesting things despite its relatively concealed state (there were not very many visitors there). Of particular note was a reliquary stashed deep inside cells of the hospital that contained an entire human skeleton. It was my first time seeing such a display, so it really stood out to me. There was also a church right next to the hospital, which was extremely gorgeous. The amount of detail on the walls puts even the cathedrals of Paris to shame.

Afterwards, I went to the Leonardo Da Vinci museum. This was a smaller museum dedicated to, you guessed it, Leonardo Da Vinci and his many inventions. This ended up being one of my favorite visits, since up to this point most of the things I had seen were art such as sculptures, paintings, etc. Da Vinci’s inventions offered a different kind of beauty that I was not yet familiar with. I also found it so interesting how many of his inventions were almost very early prototypes of modern inventions. For example, he created a moving, armored vehicle armed with cannons very similar to a tank, yet still not quite a full tank. The museum also had sections that allowed you to interact with some of his inventions (recreations, of course). My favorite one was a gym machine composed of handles and pulleys.

Despite the ongoing weather conditions, my first day in Florence was a blast! The city is so vibrant and full of life! As always, there will be plenty more on my trip to come, so be prepared! Until next time!

The post Apr. 15, 2025: Florence: the city of the Renaissance appeared first on President's Office .

My first impression of it when I got there was… certainly not what I expected. Unlike many other museums I’ve gone to while in Paris, who have elaborate exhibits that lead from room to room, the Musée d’Orsay is much more open, with a large glass ceiling that lets natural light filter through and hit many of the sculptures displayed in the center. This is due to the museum’s unique past. See, it wasn’t always a museum. Originally, it was a train station built for the purpose of serving the Exposition Universelle in 1900. Eventually, it fell into disuse, and right before it was set to be demolished, it was saved and converted into a museum in the 1980s.

The rich and fascinating history behind the museum is only matched by the beauty of its exhibits. I tackled the central hall first, which was dedicated to sculptures. Funnily enough, the first statue I laid my eyes on after I entered was the original, smaller version of the Statue of Liberty (before it was scaled up in the US). It almost felt like destiny at that moment. Another sculpture I enjoyed was the “Quatre Parties du Monde Soutenant la Sphère” (The Four Corners of the World Holding up the Sphere). It showcases the four major parts of the world, from Europe and Asia to Aftrica and the Americas all holding up a large sphere, symbolizing the world, on their shoulders. It was a very evocative piece that really struck a chord with me. On the sides of the main hall are also a bunch of paintings. My favorite was definitely La Divina Tragedia. It is an absolutely colossal painting, which depicts the Greek/Roman pantheon fighting against the forces of the Catholic faith. It symbolizes the end of polytheistic religion in Europe and the victory of Christianity over the dominant faiths of the ancient era.

The Musée d’Orsay was way bigger and had much more to offer than I expected. In about 5 hours, I estimate I only was able to see about half of the total exhibits. I didn’t even get the chance to see the Van Gogh exhibit! I will definitely be coming back for a second round, mark my words! In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this post. Stay tuned for the next ones, since I’ve got something special planned!

The post Apr. 12, 2025: The Musée d’Orsay: from Train Station to Museum appeared first on President's Office .

Welcome back! Final projects and exams are still on the horizon, and I’ve been getting some good work done on them, but at the end of the day, I’m studying abroad to see Paris and experience life in another country. I can’t be taking my studies too seriously, now. So, during one of my days off, I decided to go and visit somewhere I’ve been itching to see for a while: Montmartre and its centerpiece, the basilica of Sacré-Coeur.

The first thing that hit me about the whole thing was the nature. Paris, like most large metropolitan cities, is not home to much plantlife. Of course, they have trees planted around the sides of roads, but little more. Montmartre, however, is a veritable garden, with lawns, trees, bushes, vines, and much more dotted around it. The plantlife is also arranged in a natural manner, which gives it a very relaxing feel for a place like Paris, where everything is ordered to fit the style. In conjunction with this natural setting, the colossal SacrĂ©-Coeur stands. The outside of the basilica is gorgeous, with large domes and roman arches being common. It stands in contrast to the more gothic style of most Parisian churches, with their spires and gothic arches. I was filled with anticipation as I waited to enter, and when I entered, I was met with… well, I don’t quite know. The interior is amazing, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t hold a candle to any other church that I’ve been to, and it totally doesn’t keep the level of beauty from the outside. There just isn’t as much detail as other churches. Many walls are smooth, bare stone, without any decoration or ornamentation. There is some really good ceiling art, but most other pieces of art can’t compete with the other churches. This was kind of to be expected, however: SacrĂ©-Coeur’s construction only started in 1875, and it was finished in 1914. Other churches have existed multiple times longer than SacrĂ©-Coeur, and so have had time to accrue large amounts of art and details over successive remodelings.

Sacré-Coeur isn’t the only thing Montmartre has to offer. The place is full of shops (tourist traps included), bistros, restaurants, and parks. The roads are extremely narrow, and the houses and shops are very small, which gives it a very dense and rich atmosphere. My favorite part, however, has to be the high concentration of artists and musicians who are there. Artists sit around ready to draw people’s portraits in their own unique styles, and musicians sit outside of shops and busy areas with their accordions. On top of all that, Montmartre is located on a hill, which allows one to see the majority of Paris. All those things combined really make it a picturesque and cozy place to simply walk around in. Just do be prepared to walk up and down a lot of stairs.

All in all, Montmartre is a must visit! I was a bit disappointed by the interior of SacrĂ©-Coeur, but I couldn’t stay like that for long when I looked at the exterior and saw everything else in Montmartre. Well, that’s about it for this post! I hope you’ll stay tuned for my future ones, since there isn’t much semester left to go!

The post Apr. 6, 2025: Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur: An idyllic slice of Paris appeared first on President's Office .

As you may remember, early into the semester I visited the Galeries Lafayette, which is right next to the opera. Back then, I was only able to see the outside, since it was too late to go in. The exterior was still very pretty, so being able to visit the interior was a satisfying experience. Upon entering, you are greeted with a majestic grand staircase, decked out with gorgeous columns and extravagant light poles. The staircase then leads to an absolutely stunning hall, on par (or even better, in some aspects) with the hall of mirrors in Versailles. The entire hall is golden, with symbols of the arts, such as harps, happy/sad masks, and the muses and Apollo from Greek mythology being represented frequently. After this, I went and saw one of the amphitheaters. It was enormous, with finely detailed wood columns and banisters surrounding a large stage. The display really allowed me to imagine what it was like to sit and watch a performance in the 1800s.

However, one of my favourite parts of the visit was seeing the collection of stage props and costumes. The feathered dresses, jeweled crowns, and artistic style of all the objects gave a really cool look into the culture and entertainment of the time. The attention to detail and craftsmanship behind each of the props was really something to behold, and it was so cool to know that, at one point in time, these were worn and used by actors.

All things considered, however, if any of you will end up visiting the opera, there are some things to take into consideration. Firstly, OpĂ©ra Garnier, unlike other museums and tourist attractions, charges a fee for students. Though it is a reduced fee of 10 euros, down from the original 15, you must still pay to enter as a student. Secondly, it is not that large. Compared to Versailles, the Louvre, Notre Dame, etc, where one could spend upwards of 5 hours visiting them, the opera only takes about 2-3 hours to see (and this is coming from someone who likes to take their sweet time). Lastly, the opera still puts on shows and performances, but tickets can be pretty expensive, especially if you don’t book them early.

Overall, however, I greatly enjoyed my visit. The opera aesthetic was new to me, and my expectations were not disappointed.

The post Mar. 31, 2025: Opéra Garnier: An insight into the history of french theater appeared first on President's Office .