FRANCE

Our immersion into France was an elegant dance through quintessential European charm, where grandeur and intimacy seamlessly entwined. The sheer opulence of the Palace of Versailles left us spellbound, its gilded halls and sprawling gardens echoing centuries of royal drama. In Paris, the city's iconic landmarks beckoned; ascending the Eiffel Tower offered breathtaking panoramas, and the immense collections within the Louvre provided an unparalleled journey through artistic mastery. We stood in awe before the majestic Arc de Triomphe, its scale commanding, and felt the spiritual resonance emanating from the resilient Notre-Dame Cathedral. The serene heights of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre offered stunning cityscapes, while the modern perspective from Montparnasse Tower provided a contrasting, sweeping view of the urban tapestry. Beyond these celebrated sites, the city's atmospheric arrondissements, charming cafés, and the gentle flow of the Seine completed a truly sophisticated and unforgettable French experience.

My connection to this nation deepened during a second visit in 2018, when I had the unique opportunity to reside near the very gates of Versailles Palace while pursuing a course in Social Entrepreneurship at HEC Paris.