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Thirteen honors students from the School of Journalism are spending their summer in London, working in British media and studying British culture.

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Visit to staircase fulfills childhood promise

June 28, 2008
Regan McCarthy

Courtesy photo

Regan McCarthy’s trip to the Grand Opera House in Paris fulfilled a childhood promise.

When I was eight, my grandparents took me to Philadelphia to learn about our great American history. We stopped at Hershey for some chocolate and took pictures with the Liberty Bell. But my favorite place to visit was Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Inside was a big marble staircase and while we waited for a tour ,I walked up and down it, feeling grown up and elegant.

“I love these stairs,” I told my grandmother, Giggi. “They’re my favorite part of Philadelphia.”

Giggi told me that if I loved these stairs, then I would have to walk up and down the stairs in the Grand Opera House in Paris. I told her I would and that I’d come back and tell her all about it.

“I’ll probably be long gone by then,” she said to me.
“
Well then,” I said, “I’ll come back and tell your grave all about it.”

Giggi laughed. But neither of us forgot our conversation.

Years later, when I reached middle school, Giggi and I started planning a trip to Paris. We began learning French until our planning was cut short. Giggi was not well enough to make the trip.

“You will go someday,” she said, and reminded me of my promise to come to her grave and tell her all about it.

Giggi was right. This summer while studying abroad in London, I had the chance to visit Paris.

I’ve had countless incredible experiences during my summer in London, each helping me to grow in a different way, to be more independent and have better perspective of our world. Paris added to these lessons. I learned to navigate in a world where I could rely on my language skills to get me through. I learned to appreciate foreign tastes and cuisine (escargot), and I learned to fall asleep on public transportation.

We ate melt-in-your-mouth croissants, picnicked beside the Eiffel Tower, spent hours in the Musee d’Orsay and fought our way through the crowd for a peek at the Mona Lisa. My favorite thing, however, was the staircase at the Grand Opera House.

This is supposed to be the opera house that inspired the Phantom of the Opera. Check out the staircase in the song Masquerade to get an idea of what I’m talking about.

We walked through the library, strolled the Victorian Hallways and even caught a glimpse of a couple ballerinas fluttering into the auditorium where rehearsal was in progress.

The best part, though, was the staircase. I know now why Giggi said I would like it so much. The grand marble staircase was decorated with intricate gold inlay on the banisters and branched at the top to provide access to both sides of the auditorium. I walked up and down the stair case feeling incredibly elegant and grown up.

I’ve already planned a trip when I get home to the Attica Cemetery. I think I’ll bring Giggi some roses. They always were her favorite.