Day 10 Lucerne to Paris Tuesday 31st December 2013: New Years Eve!

After a good night sleep in such a interesting hotel in Lucerne the group was up bright and early.

We made our way to the dining room for our included breakfast at 5 am.

After breakfast we checked out of our hotel rooms and took our bags to the coach at 5:30 am.

We boarded the coach before departing beautiful Lucerne filled with great memories we made our way towards Paris at 5:45 am.

As it was such an early start to the day most of the group caught up on sleep as we made our way towards our first service stop of the day.

We arrived at our first service stop of the day at 10 am.

We stopped at a service stop in the french city Besançon located in eastern France near the border of Switzerland and France.

We had 15 minutes to stretch our legs and purchase some snacks before boarding the coach at 10:15 am.

After boarding the coach as we made our way through France towards Paris, our Trip Manager Rebecca explained our itinerary for when we arrived in Paris which included:

Viewing the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomphe and the Champs Élysées (one of the most famous avenues in the world), before making our way to our hotel for our included dinner and how we would celebrate New Years Eve as she organised to take the group to a local bar called O’Sullivans which is located next to the Moulin Rouge to bring in the New Year together.

After explaining our itinerary Rebecca made her way up the coach asking if we had any queries or questions about our night in Paris.

As Paris was the place I was most excited about I had planned with a group of Australian friends to celebrate New Years Eve at the Eiffel Tower at midnight and Rebecca helped by explaining how to make our way there and make our way back to our hotel after.

We arrived at our second service stop of the day at 1:15 pm.

We stopped at a service stop in the french city Auxerre located in the Burgundy region of France.

We had 45 minutes to stretch our legs and have some lunch before boarding the coach at 2 pm.

After boarding the coach at 2 pm we had a 2 hour drive until arriving in Paris.

Shortly before arriving in Paris, our Trip Manager Rebecca explained our itinerary for our second day New Years Day in Paris which included: included entrance to the Eiffel Tower with the opportunity to go all the way to the top, before a free day to explore Paris before making our own way back to the hotel and our optional Moulin Rouge Dinner at the world famous cabaret to finish up our trip together.

As we arrived in Paris at 4 pm we made our way past the Arc De Triomphe, the Champs Élysées before catching a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in the distance as we drove past it was such a surreal feeling knowing we would be spending New Years Eve in one of the most romantic cities in the world!

After getting a glimpse of what Paris has to offer we made our way towards our hotel for the next 2 nights.

We arrived at our Ibis Paris Porte de Clichy Centre Hotel at 6 pm.

After checking into our rooms and getting all dressed up for New Years Eve in Paris.

We met up with Rebecca at 8 pm and she showed us to our table for our included dinner at the hotel restaurant as we chatted about how exciting the night ahead would be in Paris!

After dinner we boarded the coach at 9.30 pm and made our way into Paris for New Years Eve celebrations where most of the group had decided to celebrate at O’Sullivans Bar.

While the group of 5 Australians had decided to celebrate at the Eiffel Tower before making to the hotel.

As we got dropped off at O’Sullivans Bar at 10pm.

I found my friend Jessica and gave her a hug wished her Happy New Year and told her how much experiencing Europe together meant to me.

As she was celebrating at O’Sullivans Bar and I was celebrating at the Eiffel Tower and it would be a New Year in 2014 by the time we saw each other again!

After wishing the rest of our group a Happy New Year the group of 5 of us walked through Paris to the Eiffel Tower filled with excitement.

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As we made our way towards the Eiffel Tower we realized how beautiful Paris is at night!

We arrived at the Eiffel Tower at 11:45 pm and found a great viewing spot to celebrate New Years Eve with all the other people who had the same idea.

As the clock struck midnight the Eiffel Tower lit up with flashing lights to celebrate the New Year.

Being in Paris at the Eiffel Tower for New Years Eve was such a life changing moment.

Experiencing a dream I had always had since a young age with the crisp winter air making the moment so magical and a moment that will live in my heart for all time!

After celebrating New Years Eve the group of 5 of of made our way back to the hotel walking past the Arc De Triomphe which looked so beautiful in the illuminated night.

After such an a life changing night we arrived back at our hotel at 2am and headed back to our rooms to went to sleep to be rested for a full day of exploring Paris in the morning.

Safe Travels!

Campbell 🙂