I arrived on Sunday, March 23 along with Tiny, my little red dinosaur who's worked his way into dozens of travel photos over the years. After a bus and a taxi, I arrived at the charming Hôtel de Londres Eiffel, tucked away near the Eiffel Tower.

After check-in and a quick nap, I met up with the rest of my group and our leader, Patrick. At 28 I was on the younger end of the group but the shared eagerness was palpable... that is, until we fought (and lost) a battle against post-flight drowsiness during a bus tour intended to orient us to the city.

After the first of the week's delicious dinners we headed for our small but well-appointed rooms. My room had an elegant purple theme, a view of the searchlights from the Eiffel Tower and free WiFi!