REDHILL & ST MARY'S DSG TOUR TO FRANCE – AUGUST 2013
10 AUGUST D DAY!
After months of anticipation, D day has finally dawned and a group of very excited youngsters gathered at the International Departure Hall at OR Tambo International airport this afternoon. Check-in went smoothly and once through emigration, they all had some time to relax & enjoy the duty free shops. We will be meeting at our boarding gate at 18h00 and everyone is looking forward to flying on the magnificent A380 – our arrival at Roissy Charles de Gaulle is scheduled for 06h00 tomorrow morning! Please rest assured that all arrangements are firmly in place and that the safety & security of your precious children is of paramount importance to the chaperones - I have no doubt that a wonderful tour awaits, filled with special memories and abundant blessings!
11 AUGUST AN AMAZING FIRST DAY!
What an amazing day we’ve had and although we’re all exhausted, everyone is running on such adrenalin! Our flight was relatively comfortable and we arrived ahead of schedule this morning, having ‘enjoyed’ breakfast at 4am! We then connected through to our flight to Nice and no one could believe the beautiful day which welcomed us ~ bienvenue a la côte d’Azur! Here we were warmly greeted by our animatrice from Le Centre International d’Antibes, the beautiful Beatrice and together we drove back to Campus Horticole in the safe hands of our jovial chauffeur! We were all able to leave our luggage in a locked room, change into more appropriate clothing and then enjoy a delicious picnic lunch of a mammoth baguette, chips, drink and fruit. After a quick dip in the on-site pool, all hopped on board the transfer bus to Antibes, where Beatrice led us through the quaint streets of the vieille ville. We walked up to the Picasso Museum, from where the view was quite simply magnificent and then we strolled along the ancient ramparts, before enjoying a swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery on the French Riviera! At 17h00 we returned to Campus, where the 6 girls in our group were delighted to settle in to their sea-facing and airy rooms! The familles d’accueil arrived one by one to collect the Redhill students and it is always such an exciting time for the chaperones as we ‘hand them over’! All the families were so warm and welcoming and I am sure everyone will be very happy with their new host parents. Wendy, Fabien and I look forward to seeing all on Campus tomorrow – we are of course on 24 hour call, so no need for any concern!
12 AUGUST SUN, SEA & SAILING!
After a good night’s rest everyone awoke to a glorious day, with beautiful sunshine & clear blue skies! Those on Campus enjoyed breakfast in the restaurant, before meeting with the Redhill students who arrived in high spirits, chatting animatedly about their host families. Between 08h30 & 09h30 they were all assessed on their written & oral competence, after which they were placed in groups to suit their level of ability. Lunch boasted 2 'plats du jour' & vegetables, salads, cold meats, as well as a choice of desserts, cheeses & fruits - enjoyed & appreciated by all! Thereafter we excitedly boarded the coach to the Yacht Club in Villeneuve–Loubet where, under the tutorship of professional instructors, everyone thoroughly enjoyed sailing on a catamaran on the calm waters of the Mediterranean Sea – what an incredible experience! Upon return to the campus, many enjoyed a refreshing swim before the soirée barbecue, which is traditionally a fun-filled evening, with a vast array of food, much laughter and social interaction! Your children are really happy .... a demain!
13 AUGUST OUTING TO CANNES & JUAN LES PINS!
Everyone really enjoyed the course today and the majority were very happy with their level of placement - one or two requested a change and this was orchestrated prior to the start of lessons this morning. After a delicious lunch we all hopped on board the train to Cannes and the first visit was to Le Suquet, a landmark in Vieux Cannes which affords a magnificent view over the yacht-lined bay & the Estérel Mountains. On return to the beachfront, we visited the Palais des Festivals, home to the annual Cannes Film Festival and thereafter the group was delighted to have ‘du temps libre’, which equates to free time! Whilst some decided to window-shop along La Croisette which boasts exclusive boutiques, others headed straight for the well-known brand stores such as Zara, Morgan and Galéries Lafayette, but the majority were delighted to discover the even more affordable shops on la Rue Meynadier, with its abundance of bargains in all shapes and sizes! The boys preferred to go for a swim in the azure blue waters and apparently this was wonderful on such a sweltering day! At 6.00pm, armed with an array of parcels, a happy band of travellers returned to Antibes by train and all are really excited for our evening outing to the vibrant summer resort of Juan les Pins, which is always a highlight!
14 AUGUST INTENSIVE FRENCH TODAY!
With a few more placement ‘tweaks’, all thoroughly enjoyed their ‘cours internationaux’ this morning and after lunch les Sud-Afs were divided into 2 groups and assigned to a teacher for 3 hours of ‘cours fermes’. These lessons replaced those that will be missed tomorrow, as it is public holiday – The Assumption of Mary. With the emphasis on gesture and intonation, the educators incorporated songs, role-play and games, all of which encouraged confidence and fluency. As you can imagine, after 6 hours of tuition today, they were all keen to relax and everyone is very excited for tomorrow’s excursion to Eze and Nice … with perhaps Monaco as well!
15 AUGUST QUELLE JOURNEE MAGNIFIQUE - EZE, MONACO & NICE!
Aujourd’hui c’est un jour ferié en France’ - ‘L’Assomption - so therefore no lessons … PLUS it is Ally Smith’s birthday today – Joyeux Anniversaire! At 09h30 we all hopped on board our coach and with such lovely weather, the scenery along the route du littoral was magnificent. At Eze we enjoyed a visit to the Fragonard perfumery, where our guide was exceptional and all were delighted with their purchases. We then continued on to Monaco, which was not originally on our itinerary, but we made contingency plans to include it and this was thoroughly appreciated by all. Beatrice led the group up to the the Cathedral, where Prince Rainier & Princess Grace are laid to rest and at the Palace all were hopeful that they might catch a glimpse of our very own Charlene Whittstock – la Princesse Charlène! Everyone then had a short time for some Grand Prix souvenir shopping and a quick stroll through the beautiful exotic gardens of Princess Grace, before boarding the coach to Nice, the ‘Queen of the Riviera’. At the newly revamped Place Masséna, Beatrice gave a short talk about the history of Nice, explaining how it has vacillated between Italy & France for centuries and then she led us through Vieux Nice to the famous Fenocchios, which boasts a selection of 106 different flavours, ranging from avocado - sundried tomatoes – basil – nutella – lemon meringue - mojito & beer! Everyone then split into groups, with some heading straight towards the name brand boutiques along Boulevard Jean Medécin, whilst others made their way to the beach to soak up the ambience of the beautiful pebbled seafront. At 17h30 we all returned to Antibes in high spirits and tonight on campus the animateurs/animatrices have organized a soirée cabaret, which is always great fun and historically Les Sud-Afs steal the show! What a very special day we had in this idyllic part of the world – Ally will certainly remember her 17th birthday!
16 AUGUST OUR FINAL DAY IN THIS IDYLLIC PART OF THE WORLD!
Our week in Antibes has flown by so very quickly and today marks the end of formal lessons at Le Centre International d'Antibes. All were proud recipients of a DELF accredited certificate which attests to the 15 hours of tuition + the level attained + a comment from the teachers and once again the educators expressed their delight with the South Africans, praising their positive, enthusiastic & serious approach. Everyone was so excited to have a free afternoon and after lunch we hopped on board the local transfer to Place de Gaulle, from where all split into groups. Some headed off directly to the beach, whilst others chose to explore the fascinating 'vieille ville' and mix with the locals at the marché provençal. Tonight we have organized a second visit to Juan les Pins and we will commence with a visit to Le Crystal, which is a tasteful 'cocktail lounge’ with a superb ambience and all the cocktails (non-alcoholic of course) & ice cream sundaes are adorned with umbrellas & other decorative paraphernalia - it has a really good ‘vibe’ and all will be under our watchful eyes! We have arranged to meet at 23h30 and after a very short sleep, we will say a fond farewell to Campus Horticole & Béatrice as we commence our 2nd leg of the tour. We will all certainly miss this idyllic part of the world, but there is much in store ....!
17 AUGUST ANTIBES TO CAEN!
This morning we were all very sad to say farewell to such an amazing part of the world and the memories made will no doubt last a lifetime. Upon arrival at Orly Airport we met with our chauffeur, Francois and we travelled through beautiful countryside to the Peace Museum in Caen, the capital of Basse Normandie. Here we were introduced to our local guide, who clearly explained the build-up & consequences of both WW1 & WW2 and she gave us amazing insight into the D-Day landings, all of which will be highlighted on our excursion tomorrow. Thereafter we were delighted to settle in to our very comfortable hotel, where we had some time to freshen up, before enjoying dinner at a restaurant in close proximity. Should you wish to contact your children, we are at the Kyriad Caen Centre - Tel: + 33 2 31 86 55 33 and Fax + 33 2 31 79 89 44.
18 AUGUST TOUR OF D DAY LANDING BEACHES
Everyone woke up refreshed and after a delicious breakfast, we all hopped on board our coach, where we were delighted to meet our local guide Corinne, who would give us an amazing overview of the Battle of Normandy. As we departed, we were all stunned by the destruction & subsequent reconstruction of Caen and then we moved on to Pointe du Hoc, a German Battery vantage point, where Colonel James Rudder & his Rangers accomplished a memorable feat of arms on the cliffs on 6 June 1944. The ground around us was scarred with huge craters from the Allied bombings and it was an emotional experience as we relived the feelings & emotions of the soldiers in the first hours of that morning. We then drove to the American Cemetery at Coleville-sur-Mer, where everyone was visibly moved as we walked through 9 387 white marble crosses & stars, all placed in perfect rows – an amazing tribute to the young men who made the greatest sacrifice of all for liberty. Thereafter we travelled to Arromanches, which is renowned for its artificial Mulberry Harbour, but uncannily it is today quite simply a beautiful seaside resort. Here we had some free time to enjoy lunch, before viewing the 360 degree movie, which graphically highlighted the 100 days of the Battle of Normandy – it was an excellent production which was utterly moving. We all returned to our hotel physically & emotionally exhausted, with such respect & a real empathy for the events that took place on the shores of Normandy all those years ago. We had some time to relax before dinner at a local restaurant, where the chaperones had arranged a soirée ‘with a difference’ and what fun it was! Onward to the Loire Valley tomorrow …
19 AUGUST ONWARD TO THE LOIRE VALLEY!
After another copious breakfast (which translated into a substantial lunch!), we travelled by coach to the Loire Valley, where we visited the beautiful château of Chenonceau, a splendid jewel of the French renaissance and the fairytale castle of Catherine de Medici. We all had access to audio-guides and everyone was truly impressed with the magnificence of the castle and the gardens, with its unique beauty reflecting in the calm waters of the River Cher. In the late afternoon we arrived in Blois, a charming town which is renowned for its quiet dignity and after having unpacked, we all had time for some informal exploring before enjoying a delicious dinner in a restaurant adjacent to our hotel. It is said that “what happens on tour stays on tour” and I sincerely hope that this is true, as tonght I was well and truly duped by some amazing role play & acting - you will need to hear the details from your children….or watch the video – ha ha!!
20 AUGUST CHAMBORD AND ONWARD TO PARIS!
This morning we travelled to Chambord, which is the largest château in the Loire Valley and here our guide provided us with an excellent overview of this magnificent castle, which has been designated as a world heritage site. We then had the most wonderful experience of cycling with a guide through the beautiful estate and there are many photos & videos which will attest to the enjoyment of this activity! At lunchtime we all grabbed a quick take away snack, before hopping on board the coach for the last leg of our journey to Paris and there were squeals of joy at the first sighting of the Eiffel Tower! We had a short time to relax and freshen up in our hotel, before making our way to the Latin Quarter for dinner in a local restaurant - the atmosphere was animated and everyone was in such high spirits! We then wandered through the streets, passing Le Panthéon and then on the Place Saint Michel the children were afforded a little free time to explore locally. At 23h00 we returned to our hotel, rather weary, but having had the most amazing day! A reminder that we are staying at the Hotel Campanile Gare du Nord Tel: 00 33 1 40 34 38 38.
21 AUGUST WHAT A FULL DAY IN PARIS!
We all had such a good night’s sleep and everyone was delighted to see that there was so much choice at breakfast this morning. By 8.30am we were on the metro for our visit to the Musée d’Orsay and many were very excited to see the original art works of famous Impressionist painters, all showcased in this magnificent former railway station. Thereafter time was spent relaxing in the Jardin des Tuileries, which is looking so very beautiful at the moment and the view from the Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe was truly spectacular. Everyone has been really looking forward to shopping/window shopping on the Avenue des Champs Elysées and after a photo shoot at the Place de la Concorde, all were afforded ‘du temps libre’! At 4pm, laden with parcels, we all gathered near the Arc de Triomphe and then we made our way to the Bateaux Parisiens for a relaxing cruise on the River Seine. Thereafter we enjoyed a delicious dinner in the restaurant alongside the river and here we were introduced to our guide Catherine, who accompanied us on our tour of Paris by night ~ ‘Les Illuminations’! At 22h00 the Eiffel Tower lit up in all its sparkling glory and at 22h30 our group ascended to the 2nd floor for a magical view of Paris ~ what an incredible experience and a veritable life memory!
22 AUGUST LOUVRE + NOTRE DAME + MONTMARTRE
We were all grateful for a later start this morning, given that most of us only got into bed after midnight! By 11h00 we were at the Musée du Louvre and after a photo-shoot outside this magnificent former palace, we entered within for a tour with a specialist guide who introduced us to so many wonderful works of art. We then made our way to L’Hôtel de Ville, from where we encouraged all to visit the Georges Pompidou Centre and the Cathedral of Notre Dame. At 3pm we returned briefly to our hotel to freshen up and relax, before making our way to Montmartre, where we climbed the steps (with many a moan!) to the beautiful basilica of Sacré Coeur. We then strolled to the Place du Tertre, where some chose to have their portraits painted before enjoying a 3 course dinner at the famous restaurant on the square, La Cremaillere. There was a wonderful atmosphere and with a piano at our disposal, we had on-site entertainment from our talented youngsters, which was great fun and a truly a memorable occasion!
23 AUGUST A WONDERFUL DAY AT DISNEYLAND PARIS!
Everyone has really been looking forward to Disneyland Paris and after breakfast we all excitedly made our way to the RER station for the ‘external’ train ride to Marne la Vallée. With entry tickets firmly in hand, the boys & girls bounded through the gates, with Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain & the Indiana Jones roller coaster being top of their list! Dinner was in the form of a voucher and after the spectacular Parade showcasing favourite Disney Characters, we all hopped on board a packed train back to Paris - what a wonderful day for everyone and a veritable life memory indeed!
24 AUGUST OUR FINAL DAY!
Today sadly marks the final day of our tour and in 2 weeks we have managed to cover the South of France, Normandy, the Loire Valley & Paris. It has been a very happy tour, with the 14 Redhillians bonding so well with the 5 St Mary’s DSG girls & Melanie, from Kingswood College. After breakfast we left our luggage in the hotel ‘bagagerie’ and traveled to L’Opéra Garnier for a guided tour of this elegant & opulent Paris Opera House. In close proximity lie Printemps & Galéries Lafayette, both world renowned department stores and after the tour, everyone was afforded ‘du temps libre’ to explore these national treasures! We then treated the children to a final icecream before returning to our hotel to freshen up and our coach is due to arrive at 17h00 to transfer us to Roissy Charles de Gaulle. I have confirmed the return flights, departing Paris @ 23h20 on flight AF990 and I am sure there is no need to remind all excited parents that your beloved children are scheduled to land at OR Tambo @ 09h50 on Sunday 25 August. Whilst everyone is really looking forward to returning to South Africa to see family and friends, all will be left with a sense of sadness at having to say farewell to people they have grown so accustomed to seeing on a daily basis. All will undoubtedly be exhausted upon arrival and whilst the many wonderful anecdotes may not immediately be forthcoming, they will I know reveal themselves in the days, months and even years to come! To act ‘in loco parentis’ is no mean task and Mrs Davis, Mr V and I have ensured that your children have been well cared for, happy and safe throughout the tour. From my perspective it has been a real joy to travel with Wendy & Fabien – I admire & applaud their calm perspective, sense of fun and professionalism ~ they have been a pleasure to work with and their dedication, energy and enthusiasm have been inspirational. We have so enjoyed travelling with this group and as parents you can rest assured that you have afforded your children the most wonderful opportunity. I have no doubt that each and every child 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 for me to once again be associated with Redhill School, St Mary’s DSG & Kingswood College and it remains for me to say ‘merci beaucoup, bon retour et à la prochaine…..!’