To be honest, one article is not enough to capture the beauty, history, and culture of the south of France and Italy, but hopefully I can briefly immerse you into this spectacular corner of the world.Ī word to the wise: if you sleep the whole way, a nine-hour drive feels like nothing! Our journey from Tours to Nice, France, was worth it. The clear, blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, coastal towns below the cliffs, 2,000-year-old infrastructure, and a lot (and I mean a lot) of pasta. Around Tours we visited three more chateaux with beautiful gardens and spires. The atmosphere was one I found most like home. It would be categorized as a “college town” here in the states with students hanging out along the river, an outdoor square with 15 restaurants and places that stayed open past 9 p.m. Although things have probably changed, its history has been kept alive.Īnd finally, we drove to what turned out to be my favorite French city, Tours. The town itself looks as though it hasn’t been touched since the Renaissance. The Abbey is often mistaken for Hogwarts but it actually inspired the kingdom featured in Disney’s Tangled. Before a bridge was built to the island in 2014 it was only accessible from the mainland during low tide. And pushing forward we paralleled the English Channel to visit the Abbey and tidal island of Mont Saint Michel. The next morning we made our way to the American cemetery in Normandy. I’m surprised you don’t hear more stories of royals getting lost in their own grand palaces and gardens. There was a fireplace that could fit three whole trees.Ī lot of the gardens reminded me of Wonderland: so vast and easy to get lost in. If France ever went into deep debt the gold from just one of the rooms would pay it off and then some. Le chateau de Versailles held true to its reputation: huge and extravagant. First, we hit the best farmer’s market to buy food for our pique-nique, then we were off to the golden gates. affords secondary education.įrom there we travelled to Louis XIV’s Versailles palace. Our Parisian friends couldn’t understand how anyone in the U.S. Since PR is not taught in French universities, to specialize in public relations, students must attend a special, private university costing a whopping 8,000 euros per semester ($8,150). His two interns then filled us in on what it takes to complete university courses, internships, and acquire entry-level positions in France. In Paris we met with Francois Ramaget and his team to discuss working with a global audience. Since all three of us are PR majors, we met with PR firms in Paris and Milan. The purpose of this trip was to diversify our communication education by experiencing and applying it in various cultures. We also discovered Parisians do not wake up early or stay up late. Pain au chocolate (croissant with chocolate) is a common breakfast pastry found for less than deux euros ($2) five minutes from anywhere. Some things we quickly learned: there are a lot of smokers in Paris and the food is delicious. ![]() We spent three days exploring the Louvre, l’Arc de Triomphe, le Tour Eiffel, les Champs Elysees, and eating our way through Paris. But on June 22, at 6 a.m., we landed in Paris. When the trip was first advertised in November 2021, we thought there was a slim chance of us going to Europe. We studied and experienced history, PR, international communication, art, and architecture - all while demolishing tons of delicious patisseries. Over three weeks, we explored France, Italy, Switzerland, Monaco and the Vatican. When I walked into COMM 1500: Public Relations (PR) Principles my first semester at Otterbein, I never thought I’d be spending three weeks on a European road trip with Dan Steinberg, the course instructor, and two other students. First leg: Paris to the Loire Valley, France
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