ERICA TAGLIARINO

2 a.m.- Daylight savings goes into effect and clocks move forward an hour.

6:30 a.m.- The group leaves Hotel Campanile in Nanterre, France. On the coach on the way to the station, Paul tells the group they will be taking the TGV train through Belgium to Amsterdam.

7:10 a.m.- The group arrives at Garre du Nord station in Paris, France.

7:15 a.m.- Paul assembles the group in the lobby and tells them to be back at 8 a.m. to board the train.

8 a.m.- The group reconvenes under the welcome sign in the lobby of Garre du Nord station.

8:10 a.m.- The group boards the train to Amsterdam, stowing luggage in the end of the train cars.

8:20 a.m.- The train leaves the station and the group is off to Amsterdam!

11:50 a.m.- The students arrive in Amsterdam Central Station, leave the train and walk to the coach, which is waiting across the canal. The students, despite getting to sleep, were underwhelmed with the lengthy train ride. “My expectations [of the train ride] were higher than what it actually was,” senior Taylor Krason said. Outside, the weather is rainy with blustery wind and cold bite to the air and the students walk quickly to the warm coach.

12:55 p.m.- The group gets to Leidseplein Square for lunch. They split off to try the Dutch cuisine of Amsterdam. “We got pancakes, they were about 12 inches in diameter. I thought it was alright,” senior Justin Treece said.

2:15 p.m.- The group meets back at Leidseplein Square and heads to The Rijks Museum. In order to get there, the group must walk in the rain, causing mild discomfort.

2:30 p.m.- The group gets to the museum and waits in the lobby.

2:50 p.m.- The students are finally admitted into the museum and split up to look at the different pieces of art. The art in the museum celebrates Dutch culture and Dutch artists.

4:40 p.m.- The group meets back in the Rijks Museum lobby. Students seemed to enjoy the experience. “I really liked the layout of the museum. Everything was really organized and easy to see. I liked it more than the Louvre,” senior Claire Oliver said.

4:50 p.m.- The group leaves the museum for dinner at Wagamama, a noodle place across the street.

4:55 p.m.- The student arrive and are seated at Wagamama. For dinner, students choose from a small menu of noodle dishes, and for dessert, vanilla ice cream is served. “Ramen is the best thing there, in my opinion. I didn’t mind going there twice [once at lunch and once at dinner] and I had the same meal twice. And I hope they extend it to the United States,” junior Paige Tapia said.

6:14 p.m.- The group leaves the restaurant and goes to the coach.

6:20 p.m.- The coach pulls away from Amsterdam and goes to the hotel which is in the countryside.

7:45 p.m.- After a long ride, which most students slept through, the group arrives at Apollo Hotel. After retrieving their luggage and room keys, the group is released to get settled before meeting back in the lobby 45 minutes later.

8:30 p.m.- The group meets in the lobby in the hotel for a quick meeting. Paul tells the group about the hotel and how to be the best guests possible. He also tells the group that we need to leave the hotel at 7:20 a.m. the next morning and that breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. the next morning. The next day, the group will be going to the Anne Frank House and touring the city with some free time in the evening.