Down by the Bay

Once again, long morning of classes today, then some time at home to work a little and check email. Alice and I went for a walk to the bay, and figured out that it's probably somewhere between 4 and 5 miles to get there and back. Especially after all the food I've had this week, it's nice to feel like I'm getting enough exercise!

I picked up some seashells while we were down at the bay:




There was another really pretty one that I liked, but the crab was still living in it...I almost put it in my pocket, but then realized that having a little crab crawling around in there would be a bad plan. He's happily chilling back on the sand now.

We had an API meeting tonight to talk about Paris and about some other stuff. We're going to get the itinerary and Paris handbook Friday before leaving for the airport, but they did email us a copy. Here's what is scheduled for tours and such so far:

PARIS EXCURSION ITINERARY

Day 1	Friday, February 19. SHANNON – PARÍS
10:20	Meet at Menlo apartments reception DO NOT FORGET YOUR PASSPORT OR YOUR STUDENT ID AND €20 CASH FOR DAMAGE DEPOSIT AT HOTEL. Remember to only take hand (carry-on) luggage weighing less than 10 k.g. If you insist on checking on luggage it will cost you €30+ per case.
10.30	Bus departure. We will depart punctually!! Wearing seat belt in buses is required by law.
13.10	Arrival to airport
13.10 15.10 Boarding gate closes	Check in with the group Boarding: Please go to your boarding gate punctually!! Check possible boarding gate changes on the airport screens. Our flight
15.40	Departure to Paris
18.20	Arrival to Paris airport (Beauvais). Travel by bus to the hotel.
	We are an hour ahead of Paris. You will need to change your watches & clocks; don’t forget to change the time on your mobile phone.
20.00 ETA	Arrival to the hotel to check in: CARLTON'S HOTEL 55 Boulevard Rochechouart 75009 PARIS. Tel: +33 (0)1.42.81.91.00
	Check into hotel
	There is a restaurant in the hotel but there are also places around the hotel where you will be able to get something to eat. Be aware that operating hours might be different than Ireland.
Day 2	Saturday 20th February. BUS PANORAMIC TOUR & LOUVRE MUSEUM & FREE TIME
07:30-10:00	Breakfast
10.15	Optional: You must inform your director if you are not attending. We will meet at the hotel lobby to go on bus tour.
10:30	Panoramic Bus Tour: 3 hours (2.30 hours by bus, about a 30 min. walking tour)
	We will see: Les Invalides, Eiffel Tower, Trocadero, Arc of Triumph, Place Concordia, Place Vendome, Marais, Luxemburg gardens etc.
13:45	1hr 30 min Guided Tour of the Louvre Museum. You are free after the guided tour, you can spend more time wandering around the museum on your own if you want to see more. See suggestions on what to do during your free time. You will have enough time to visit Versailles (pg 18 in this handout)

DAY 3	Sunday 22nd February Free Day
06:30-10:00	Breakfast
	Check out. We will leave our luggage at a designated place in reception. Students will pay for any telephone or mini bar fees incurred.
	MIND YOUR PASSPORT!! YOU NEED IT TO COME BACK TO IRELAND.
	Free Time to visit what you like.
13.00	Meet at the hotel lobby with your suitcases. Check you have your passport!!!!!!!!!!!!
13.15	We will depart by bus to airport (Beauvais) We will depart punctually!!
	If for any reason you cannot be at the hotel on time to take the bus to the airport, please let us know immediately. The group cannot wait, so please take a cab to Airport Beauvais and meet us there (flight info below).
14.45	Arrival to airport
14.45 16.20 Boarding Gate Closes	Check in with the group Please go to your boarding gate punctually!! Check possible boarding gate changes on the airport screens. Our flight is
16.50	Flight departure to Shannon.
17.30	Arrive to Shannon Airport and travel to Gort na Corribe and Menlo apartment

It's probably bad to have all that information up here, but I won't be able to use my cell phone outside of Ireland (never got the Europe SIM card I guess), so at least the hotel's number is there. We're staying in the Moulin Rouge district...lovely. At least the guys in the program are quite excited about that.

Finn, the director, also passed out shamrock pins that she bought for us on the last API outing. Apparently Irish people try to wear either shamrocks or the colors of their flag when traveling abroad; it shows their pride and it makes it easy for other Irish citizens or people with Irish ancestors to talk to them.

My week in school is mostly done, although I still have two classes tomorrow and rock climbing. I need to work on my midterm tomorrow, since I won't be able to do it over the weekend and I'd really like to not leave it until the last moment.

Not much else exciting today. I finally got to watch a little bit of the Olympics, but they really don't show it much over here. I talked to Gabe a little too, since today was officially two years, but otherwise took it easy. Just need to get my laundry out and then bedtime. So good night!