Nine-year-old navigates Metro in Paris

(Day two in Paris with a nine-year-old)

World Schooling Lessons

This morning we woke to a surprise. There was Explorason with the map of Paris laid out on the floor, and he was planning our day.

He had a pen and paper and was studying lines and their numbers and colors, and directions, and stations.

He was madly writing it all down and had even worked out where to change Metro lines and the next set of instructions. He refused to tell us our destination and was very excited.

It is amazing that this boy who was unable to read in grade/year one is now passionate about reading. This is all thanks to the great effort by his school teacher at Our Saviour Lutheran School who offered him special assistance. I am so glad he is, as it is times like this I can see how important it is.

So – First was which Metro train to get on.

As we sat on the Metro Explorason studied where to get off.

Next came the map to double check that he was on the right train. He had it well planned, and knew exactly where to change and which Metro train to go on next.

Now let me tell you, it is a challenge to navigate as an adult at the start, so I was pretty impressed.

These skills are important for a child who travels. In an emergency, I am confident he would find his way back to where we stayed all by himself.

Mind you, that would make me sick to the stomach, but we do always have an emergency plan.

He always goes out with a paper in his pock with address, and our contact phone numbers, and also a local contact.

Soon we emerge at the Arc de Triomphe. He is so pleased with himself, and does a big jump in the air!

Next challenge was to cross the side roads to find the tunnel to the center. I did not know there was even a tunnel to the center, and last time I nearly had myself killed in the traffic in Paris. Mind you I was only 21 years old at the time.

We line up to get tickets to climb to the top – Another thing I never knew you could do last time I was in Paris!

We discover our Metro Visitor Pass gives us discount entry for the adults. In most attractions in France, I have found out that children get free entry.

This is a great help. Entry is not too expensive either for most things and is less expensive than in the UK. The view from the top is amazing!

Here is what we were able to see, even on this rainy and cloudy day, Paris still showed its charm.

But when we went to the other side – there was the EIFFEL TOWER. When Explorason was only four, we made a collage from magazine clippings of our dream life. His had included a picture of the Eiffel Tower.

He has been fascinated with the Eiffel Tower since he was three when a kind childcare worker went for a visit and sent him a postcard. He has watched Ratatouille probably twenty times.

And here he was. Starring at the Eiffel Tower. When I asked him if he was ready to leave, he declined, telling me he had waited so long, he just wanted to stop and gaze at it a while.

I often think we are so busy taking photos we fail to stop and breathe in the beauty. The blue sky peeped through the clouds for us. We stood there and hugged. This was a special moment in our travels.

Never forgotten! The Arc de Triomphe was soon to close that afternoon for a ceremony.

So we headed down the Champs de Elysées for an afternoon stroll and a bite to eat.

Explorason loved the Mercedes-Benz store.

The nice lady that worked at the store even gave him a book in English of all the models of Mercedes-Benz. One I am sure he will keep.

Explorafriend an Exploramum then even did a bit of shopping and bought ourselves an item of clothing each on the Champs de Elysées, and a pair of PJ pants for Explorason. We then headed back to our Airbnb apartment for an early night.

It was a great day, and I was very proud of Explorason and his achievements. Another great World-School lesson!

Questions and Comments

• What do you find fascinating about Paris?
• What do you make of my visit to Paris?
• How was it seeing the Eiffel tower?
• Do you believe dreams come true in Paris?
• Do share your comments with us below.