March 11

The day started off in the Louvre, where we were given a two-hour guided tour that included the beautiful Mona Lisa, sculptures of Greek gods, and many striking Renaissance and religious paintings. Seeing the Mona Lisa in person was really exciting because it’s one of the most famous paintings in the world. The museum was huge, and in just two hours we got to admire so many art pieces. We learned about the artists who created them, the history behind them, and how cultural context played into their creation. The building itself was amazing, especially the glass pyramid at the entrance, which felt both modern and historic at the same time. Overall, it was a really cool experience, and the museum was even more impressive and beautiful than we expected.

Afterwards, we left the lovely city of Paris and drove up to Reims, France, where we explored the birthplace and home of our very own St. John Baptist de La Salle. Brother Claude gave us an amazing experience as he told us all about the early and later years of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s life. It was really cool to explore the real house, even though it had been renovated, and learn about how he became such an influential historical and religious figure.

Next, we walked over to the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Reims, where the French kings were crowned, and got to look around and admire all of the ancient architecture. After the cathedral, all of the students enjoyed free time to buy souvenirs, grab a snack, and explore the city of Reims. Finally, we returned to the hotel to have dinner and rest for the night.

— Maiya Allen '28

Jonathan Gonzalez '28

We started off the day by departing from our hotel in Paris. From there, we arrived at the Louvre, where the artistic brilliance of the Renaissance was impeccably portrayed. Our tour guide explained in great detail the gripping elements of each breathtaking artwork. The most prolific piece we came across was the astounding artwork depicting Napoleon’s self-coronation.

From the Louvre, we departed on a four-hour journey. With full stomachs and plenty of sleep, we surrived the long bus ride to Reims. After arriving in the quaint town of Reims, we swiftly dropped off our luggage and departed for the birthplace of our founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle. We met up with Brother Claude, who toured us around the home now turned museum, which exceeded the group’s expectations. Conversations with Br. Claude brought forth comparisons of our experience as Lasallian students and historical references, it was kinda cool to make the connections.

From there, we journeyed to the nearby Notre-Dame Cathedral, where we were able to take in more beautiful and breathtaking Catholic works at one of the most famous cathedrals in France. This historic place was used for the crowning of the last king of France and many kings before him, before the country became a republic. We also spoke with a random woman who was from the Bay Area, and she informed us of some small details we might have missed in the cathedral.

We were then given free time to explore the streets of Reims. Because everyone was tired, we dined at the hotel for our evening meal. For supper, we were served shrimp risotto, followed by scrumptious chicken wings, and we ended the evening with tiramisu.

— Kaiden Adya '26

Reims with Brother Claude