"I'm so glad I came on the French exchange" exclaimed one boy today. Granted it was after he had a chance encounter with the world's best soccer player, Lionel Messi of Argentina.

Otherwise, we've had a day full of walking and museums, including the Jardin du Luxembourg, Musée d'Orsay, Jardin des Tuilieries, Jeu de Paume museum, Petit Palais museum, some shopping on the Champs-Elysées (one of the trip leaders forgot to pack his socks!), and summiting the Arc de Triomphe.

Now we're headed out for an evening stroll in the shabby-chic Montmartre neighborhood.

Spirits are high, and the group is enthusiastic, cooperative and complaint-free if not necessarily punctual...

More new tomorrow. À plus tard!