Paris, France ... The city of lights ... of new and old friends

Paris is a beautiful and amazing city! It's definitely on my list of favorite cities in the world! My buddy Dom and I found good deals on train tickets from Holland to Paris, so we decided to check out the "City of Lights."



While in Paris, we ventured to see the main tourist sites. We saw the Champs-Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, and the list continues. We definitely were not able to hit everything, and even my Parisian friends say that they haven't seen everything. So that means another trip to Paris is coming up in the future.





While in Paris, I was able to visit the Rotary Club of Paris. The Rotarians were very hospitable and I enjoyed my lunch at Le Pavilion Dauphine. I happened to sit next to a Rotarian who spent time in the States for his university, graduate school, and first working years. I was even able to practice some of my French as well.





My trip to Paris was also a highlight because I was able to meet up with old friends. Xavier and his wife, Magali, lived in Indianapolis from 2004-06, and Xavier was studying for his LL.M. while I was in my 2nd year of law school. We spent much time together in Indianapolis, and it was nice to see each other again to remember the old times.




Besides meeting up with old friends, Dom and I also met up with one of our friends from school in Holland. Madeleine also goes to university with us at Leiden, but is Parisian. We were able to meet up with her and her French friends where I further practiced my "broken" French. It's my goal to work on my French so that I am at least semi-fluent by the end of the year.



Paris ... definitely a city to visit ... and could definitely be a livable city.

New Years in Prague

After Christmas, my friends from the States, David and Andy, visited me in Holland. After a few days in Holland, we went to Prague for New Years. As true as everyone claims, it is the jewel of eastern Europe. Untouched by war or natural disaster, the city is lined beautifully with ancient architecture and cobblestone streets. Although still on the Czech Crown, it isn't as cheap as it used to be. A very touristy city, especially during New Years, many people are enjoying the views and sites that Prague has to offer.





The New Years celebration was something I have never seen before. The Czech government has not yet regulated the use of fireworks, so citizens were shooting off fireworks from the streets. These were the same fireworks that are shot off from high skyscrapers in other cities. Although dangerous, it was definitely a site to see.





After seeing the city, I went out to Terezin, the location of a Jewish Ghetto and detention camp during World War II. There just aren't any words to describe what I saw and what I was feeling. However, it's something that we all won't forget.