ST MARY'S WAVERLEY TOUR TO FRANCE – AUGUST 2015
MONDAY 10 AUGUST D DAY!
After months & months of anticipation, D day has finally dawned! There was great excitement this afternoon as all gathered at O R Tambo International airport and since I have not heard to the contrary, I am assuming that everything went smoothly at emigration. The A380 is a magnificent aircraft and I am sure that the girls will enjoy their flight to Paris, where they are scheduled to land at 05h35 tomorrow morning. I will update this website as soon as I have heard from the chaperones, but a reminder that ‘hot off the press’ news will also be relayed on the Flipboard magazine which Mrs Carla Gordon has created. Please rest assured that all arrangements are firmly in place and a wonderful, academically enriching tour awaits your girls. A reminder that I am presently in France with a group of students and my SA mobile number does not have a roaming facility. I am using my French sim card which is + 33 6 34 48 50 95 and Michelle may be contacted in an emergency on 071 351 1410. A demain…!
TUESDAY 11 AUGUST SAFE ARRIVAL!
Bienvenue a Paris, on a beautiful summer’s day! After freshening up in the airport ablutions, all hopped on board the awaiting coach and made their way to the hotel Campanile Paris La Villette. As the rooms were only available from 14h00, the group enjoyed their first metro experience as they travelled to the Jardin des Tuileries, from where there were apparently shrieks of pure delight as they had their 1st glimpse of the Louvre, the Obélisque, the Eiffel Tower & the Arc de Triomphe! After lunch they returned to the hotel to unpack & rest, before heading off to Montmartre, where they will enjoy a 3-course meal in the famous restaurant La Cremaillère, on La Place du Tertre. There is no doubt that everyone will sleep soundly tonight…!
WEDNESDAY 12 AUGUST CHAMPS ELYSEES, CRUISE ON RIVER, PARIS BY NIGHT TOUR & EIFFEL TOWER!
I received a lovely update from Carla Gordon at midnight, to say that they all had such a superb day! Shopping along the Champs Élysées was a big ‘hit’ as always and from the summit of the Arc de Triomphe, they had a spectacular 360 view, as well as a bird’s eye view of the chaotic driving beneath! The weather was perfect for a leisurely cruise on the Seine, after which they enjoyed a delicious 3 course dinner alongside the river. At 20h00 they met with their guide for the night coach tour ~ Les Illuminations and at 22h30 the group ascended to the 2nd floor for a magical view of this iconic city, before returning to the hotel. What a long day, but what an incredible experience & a veritable life memory!
THURSDAY 13 AUGUST PALACE OF VERSAILLES & CYCLING
This morning the group travelled by RER to Versailles, where they enjoyed an audio-guided tour of the magnificent Palace. They then hired bicycles and thoroughly enjoyed cycling in the spectacular, shady surroundings of this immaculate estate…apparently that this has been the highlight to date!
FRIDAY 14 AUGUST MUSEE DE LOUVRE, NOTRE DAME & LE QUARTIER LATIN
This morning they enjoyed a guided visit to the Musée du Louvre and the girls were so impressed by the magnificent works of art which they were privileged to see. They then made their way to l’Ile de la Cité, where they visited the magnificent Cathedral of Notre Dame and thereafter all sampled a delicious ice cream at Berthillon, which has been a dedicated ice cream parlour since 1954! After lunch they were divided into 2 groups for a visit to La Conciergerie and La Sainte Chapelle, before exploring the hidden gems in the Quartier Latin. Mrs Gordon reports that "the dinner was exceptional, as have been all our meals in fact!”
SATURDAY 15 AUGUST DISNEYLAND PARIS!
I arrived with my group in Paris this evening and was delighted to be able to chat personally to all your daughters at dinner. Everyone is having a wonderful tour and their day at Disneyland Paris today ranked up there as a highlight! It was lovely to hear all their animated stories and I in turn shared details of all that awaited them in the south of France, where my group has just spent a week. A happy band of travelers indeed!
SUNDAY 16 AUGUST ONWARD TO THE FRENCH RIVIERA!
An early wake-up call was arranged for this morning and after breakfast, all loaded cases onto the coach and set off for Orly airport, very excited for the next phase of their tour. Upon arrival at Nice Côte d’Azur, they were greeted by Moritz, their ‘animateur’/guide for the next 3 days, who accompanied them back to their hotel Le Collier in Antibes. After lunch they embarked on an orientation tour of la vieille ville and the views from the ancient city ramparts were quite simply magnificent. Everyone has immediately fallen in love with this quaint town and all unanimously agree that this is an exceptional part of the world! After a “very impressive, bumper delicious supper”, all appreciated a relaxing evening to recharge batteries for their exciting programme tomorrow!
MONDAY 17 AUGUST GRASSE (FRAGONARD), GORGES DU LOUP (FLORIAN) & CANNES!
At 09h30, Moritz was waiting for the group at the hotel reception and amidst excited chatter, all hopped on board their coach bound for Grasse. Dubbed the ‘balcony of Provence’ for its magnificent panoramic views, this is also the home of French perfume and at the Fragonard Parfumerie they enjoyed a fascinating & most informative tour. After making several purchases at the on-site boutique, they continued on to the Florian confisserie in the Gorges du Loup - world renowned for its sweets, chocolates & jams and also boasting an on-site boutique! Having enjoyed a wonderful olfactory experience, as well as a taste extravaganza, all then continued on to Cannes, where everyone posed on the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals, home to the annual Cannes Film Festival. The girls were then given the opportunity to visit Le Suquet, a landmark in Vieux Cannes which affords a magnificent view over the yacht-lined bay & the Estérel Mountains. Thereafter they enjoyed browsing in some well-known brand stores, as well as delighting in the more affordable shops on la Rue Meynadier, before soaking up the sunshine and swimming in the azure blue waters of the Mediterranean. Quelle journée magnifique!
TUESDAY 18 AUGUST COURS DE CUISINE + SAILING ON THE MEDITERRANEAN!
I work with a language school in the south of France called Le Centre International d’Antibes and together we created a wonderful ‘culinary programme’ for the girls. At 08h00 Moritz accompanied the group to the school campus, where a professional chef was waiting to impart his skills for the creation of a delicious dessert. Whilst the first group was enthralled with the ‘cuisinier’, the other group was treated to a mini ‘marché provençal’, where they were introduced to all the tastes, scents, colours & flavours of Provence. This was great fun and after an ample picnic lunch, per kind favour of the school, all excitedly boarded the coach to the Yacht Club in Antibes, where they donned life jackets and listened attentively to the instructions for sailing in a catamaran! This was such a wonderful experience and all were stunned by the incredible beauty of the calm azure blue waters, with the vieille ville in close proximity and Italy in the distance! Thereafter they had time to frolic in the waters or suntan on the beach, before returning for yet another delicious dinner!
WEDNESDAY 19 AUGUST PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO & NICE!
Once again Moritz met the group in the hotel foyer, before hopping on board their coach and travelling along the ‘route du littoral’, where the views are magnificent. Upon arrival in the Monaco, everyone was struck by the cleanliness and obvious wealth of this small principality and with 1 policeman per every 60 tourists, no-one even thinks of littering! All thoroughly enjoyed the ride on ‘le petit train’, which is a great tourist attraction and the informative commentary gives excellent global coverage as it travels through the streets of the F1 race track, passing in front of the world renowned Monte Carlo Casino. After viewing the Palace they enjoyed some Grand Prix souvenir shopping, before visiting the Cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace are laid to rest. After a stroll through the magnificent exotic gardens of Princess Grace, they headed back to Nice, the ‘Queen of the Riviera’. Nice boasts the newly revamped Place Masséna and whilst many enjoyed shopping in the name brand boutiques along the Boulevard Jean Medécin, others loved exploring the narrow streets of Vieux Nice, noting the strong Italian influence of this fascinating city. The beach too was a great draw-card, flanked by the beautiful palm-lined Avenue des Anglais and it was such a wonderful final day on the Cote d’Azur!
THURSDAY 20 AUGUST HOMEWARD BOUND!
By all accounts the tour has been a resounding success and everyone will be returning with such fond memories of all the beautiful places they have been fortunate enough to visit. I can confirm that the flights remain as per schedule and I am sure there is no need to remind all excited mums & dads to expect your daughters at O R Tambo @ 10h00 tomorrow, Friday 21 August. The girls will undoubtedly be exhausted upon arrival and whilst the many wonderful anecdotes may not immediately be forthcoming, they will certainly reveal themselves in the days, months and even years to come! To act ‘in loco parentis’ is no mean task and sincere thanks must go to Mrs Carla Gordon & her superb team for taking such good care of your precious daughters. As parents you can rest assured that you have afforded your children the most wonderful opportunity and I have no doubt that each and every girl will return not only academically enriched, but enriched as a person, having matured and grown in confidence and the precious memories & firm bonds of friendships will last a lifetime. It has been a joy and privilege to be associated once again with St Mary’s Waverley and it remains for me to say ‘merci beaucoup et bon retour!’