UMd. Chamber Singers Take on France!

The University of Maryland Singers travel to France for a singing tour through some of the country's most beautiful and historic venues. Follow their journey with photos, updates, and more. This post was written on July 27.

We made it!!

After a nice and easy six-hour flight to London and a connecting hourlong flight to Paris, the UM Chamber Singers have made it to France all in one piece – no luggage left behind, no passports lost…Whew!

As soon as we landed at Charles de Gaulle airport, we met up with Elizabeth (our guide for the next two weeks) and hopped on the bus and headed to Giverny to see Claude Monet’s house and garden and all the surrounding neighborhoods. Walking through all those pansies and wildflowers and passing by the waterlilies was magical, and after seven hours on a plane, it was heaven. A few of us took a quick walk down the road and found Monet’s church, as well as the gravestone for Monet’s family. All in all, a beautiful introduction to France.

After another quick bus trip, we made it to our hotel in Orleans, where I am currently sitting in my cozy little room. Our delicious welcome dinner was just a few minutes down the road, which gave us the opportunity to stare like the excited tourists we are at all the cobblestone and the small shops and cafes that might be worth exploring sometime tomorrow!

Tomorrow holds our first concert at Chartres Cathedral, followed by a tour of the grounds and dinner in Chateaudun!

A bientot,
Caroline Brent