This tour is really something special for every American visiting Paris and so wonderfully unexpected. A quote Ellen taught me on the tour was by Thomas Jefferson, A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.” That's exactly what this tour is about.
Imagine being taken through Paris by a history professor, equipped with an iPad that displays images, video clips, charts, etc. that all work together to bring the egos, eccentricities, context, and motives of important historical figures to life. In many ways, this walking tour packed the punch of a fully-immersive, college lecture, but it was delivered into laymen's terms in a way that everyone will find enjoyable and approachable. So, don't fret if you didn't do any pre-readings about the American or French Revolution. Ellen will fill you in and then take you deeper than you could've imagined. That's what touring with Ellen felt like in the most marvelous way.
The biggest thing that impressed me was Ellen's keen attention to detail, which was as careful and deep as her kindness and passion. One of the most notable yet subtle moments from the tour was when Ellen displayed a graphic to demonstrate the taxation controversy that careened France towards Revolution. Beyond the graphic, which conveyed the core data, there was an illustrative figure representing each social class. That really helped imagine the parties at conflict in my mind's eye. It was a little detail, perhaps missed by most, but it epitomized the way Ellen combines academia, context, and storytelling.
Another favorite moment was when we watched a film clip of John Adams requesting aid from the Dutch, during a moment where we visited a building where he was party to a treaty and were caught up on his rivalry with Ben Franklin. The way Ellen develops and presents each character is almost similar to the way a TV series would develop the backstory and dramatic arc of each character. A lot of thought and careful attention went into this tour and it shows.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, because a lot of what I loved about the tour is how many things you'll be surprised to learn and discover. However, I will say that I was astonished to learn that the previous two bookings of this tour where by people who were writing books on Ben Franking (coincidentally) and had done this tour as part of their research. I can easily see Ellen being a historical advisor on a Hollywood movie production of Ben Franklin. That's the caliber of quality she brings and to be able to be led through the streets of Paris with her was really something special.
At the end of the tour, Ellen also gave my wife and I recommendations to where we could find a high-profile mall that had all of the big brands but wasn't wildly overcrowded like Champs-Élysées where people were waiting outside for 30-40+ minutes to get into a store. Ellen even took us there by bus, as she carries bus passes for all of her guests (just in case of situations like this) and she even walked us inside of the mall and gave us a grand introduction to where we were.
That reminds me of another thing that made the tour special. Ellen also leads antique and vintage shopping tours. So on our commutes from each location to the next one, she'd be able to point out interesting details about the stores we passed. In a way, it almost felt like 2 tours in one. Normally, when I'm on a tour, the tour guide talks at a location and then everyone walks to the next place in silence. But with Ellen, she knows everything about everything and the entire tour is filled with constant intrigue.
If you are a history buff or just a geek like me, you'll love this tour. It was the hidden gem of my visit to Paris and I walked away with an understanding of American (and French) values, spiritedness, and aspirations that I would not have been able to get in the U.S. France and the U.S. are truly sibling nations. Understanding how that is so is one of the most profound lessons.
Ellen is perhaps the best tour guide I've ever experienced on my travels. Passing through an alley, she started to explain mid-eval Paris architecture and carriage doors still evident in buildings today.
My only critique is that I think Ellen charges too little for what she offers. I can see people paying 200 euros per person for a curated experience such as this with a tour guide as spectacular as Ellen. Walking through Paris with Ellen is like getting a personalized tour of the kitchen of a three Michelin star restaurant with the head chef. It's just remarkable the way she knows the ins and outs of her city's past, present and future across so many different verticals.
A famous quote says, "Every man has two countries – his own and France." This tour really helped me understand why. Thank you so much for such an enlightening and profound life and cultural experience, Ellen! :) You are a national treasure.
America’s Founding Fathers in Paris is a definite “must do” on your next trip to Paris. Our tour guide, Ellen, was fantastic! Ellen is friendly, knowledgeable, and loves to share her love of American and French history.
The information on the tour was presented in a way that was fun, easy to understand, and easy to remember. Ellen even tailored the tour’s content so that the pace was appropriate for me and my two children, ages 8 and 12. We learned so many interesting facts about the lives of four of America’s founding fathers who lived in France for short periods during America’s formative years. We also visited historic sites and learned about some of the shared history between America and France.
I definitely plan to take other amazing tours with Ellen in the future.