Saturday, June 25th (Day One): Brussels/Paris
After arriving in Paris, we met up with Denis, our homestay host, at his beautiful flat in the 7th Arrondisement. Taking advantage of the amazing location, I decided to explore the neighborhood with Elio and Mattheus. The three of us grabbed dinner at an amazing brasserie (according to the menus, Ernest Hemingway once frequented the restaurant). Following dinner, we explored downtown Paris. We saw Ile de la Cité, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and stopped for crepes (of course). We arrived back to the flat tired after a long day.
Sunday, June 26th (Day Two): Paris
We started the morning early with a trip to the Louvre. Just a ten-minute walk from Denis’ apartment, the Louvre was hands-down the best museum I’ve visited. Knowing that we could not possibly see the entire thing, we decided to prioritize just a few exhibits. I spent quite a bit of time in the Ancient Egypt gallery and the Michelangelo statue hall. I never swung around to see the Mona Lisa or Venus de Milo—I suppose that means I’ll have to return!
Next, we hurried off to our first concert in Paris. There is an annual choral festival known as Voix sur Berges at which the Dins have long performed. This time, however, we got a special treat: the Dins were highlighted as the featured act of the whole festival. This was a great compliment, and it meant that a massive crowd gathered to hear us sing. It was a tremendously fun gig because the audience was lively, the hosts were great, and we sang on an outdoor stage overlooking the beautiful St. Martin Canal. Voix sur Berges treated all the performers to a post-event dinner—it was great to meet the local choirs. (Many folks came up to us, excited to meet “les americains.”)
Following dinner, the Dins split up for the evening. Sam’s homestay host had offered to host us for post-dinner conversation and drinks. Sam and I took up the offer, and had a great time discussing politics, art, and life advice with the host. After a couple of hours, we left and headed to a café for a late-night snack. (Funnily enough, this café also advertised itself as “Ernest Hemingway’s favorite spot.” Hemingway must have been a gourmand.) I had a fantastic serving of bone marrow on toast, while Sam adventurously tried the escargot. It was a great conclusion to a full day.
Monday, June 27th (Day Three): Paris
Today was busy: two performances! In the morning I headed to the U.S. Embassy, stopping for coffee and tarte flambée en route. The U.S. Embassy is a beautiful building adjacent to the Place de la Concorde. We were welcomed warmly by the embassy staff, shown around the complex, and invited to perform in the main atrium for the U.S. foreign service officers on their lunch break.
Following the gig we had a couple of free hours. We decided to take advantage of the free time by heading to the Eiffel Tower for a photoshoot (see pictures above!). Next, it was off to the Travellers’ Club.
The Travellers’ Club is an exclusive social club in Paris. Our event that evening was physically at the clubhouse, but it was primarily attended by Harvard Club of France members. It was great to meet Harvard’s Paris-based alumni community—we met some really interesting folks, and had plenty of time to mingle after the performance. A smaller group of alumni generously hosted us for dinner at a fantastic Indian fusion restaurant on the Champs-Elysées. It was a great way to round out our time in France.
