INDEPENDENT TOUR TO FRANCE (2) – APRIL 2017
WEDNESDAY 19 APRIL D DAY!
There was great excitement as we gathered at ORT this afternoon and thank you to all the families for being so punctual! Early check-in certainly worked to our advantage and we were able to calmly make our way through Emigration – another well done to parents for ensuring that all DHA papers were in order! There are 24 students in total, with the majority from Brescia House and 3 from St Andrew’s School for Girls and all are so looking forward to experiencing this wonderful aventure en France together! Once ‘on the other side’, Elizabeth Howard, Tanya Jones and I had a chat to the group, outlining our expectations and highlighting all the joys that await! We will reassemble at 17h30 for photos and then we will board the magnificent A380, which is a veritable hotel in the sky. We are scheduled to land at Roissy Charles de Gaulle bright & early tomorrow morning and I will update the site as soon as I have connectivity. Please rest assured that your precious daughters are in safe hands and I have no doubt that a wonderful tour awaits, filled with special memories and abundant blessings. A reminder that photos will also be loaded on a face book pagehttps://www.facebook.com/Personal-Touch-Schooltours-April-Independent-2-2017-1828236684109036/
THURSDAY 21 APRIL SAFE ARRIVAL AND ALL DELIGHTED TO BE IN PARIS!
It is now 21h30 and this is the very first time I have been able to access my computer today! We had a very pleasant flight and although we did not have much sleep, ever yone was so excited to be in Paris … even though the temperature upon arrival was ONE degree! We had some time to freshen up and enjoy a snack, before boarding our coach to the hotel, Campanile La Villette, where we were warmly welcomed by the hotel staff whom I have come to know personally over the years. Our rooms were not available at such an early hour, so we changed and then left our luggage in the bagagerrie, before embarking on our first metro experience to the Jardin des Tuileries. From here all were ecstatic to see the the Louvre, the Obélisque, the Eiffel Tower & the Arc de Triomphe and the gardens were in full bloom, boasting amazing colours of spring. We had time to relax and absorb all the beauty of Paris, sampling our first baguettes and crepes, before making our way back to the hotel, where we were able to relax in our rooms until 16h30. We then left for our outing to Galéries Lafayette, a national monument and a world renowned department store, which boasts an incredible stained glass dome. Everyone loved this visit and upon return to our hotel we all enjoyed a delicious 3 course dinner in the hotel restaurant, accompanied by drinks. Everyone is so looking forward to a relaxing evening, recharging batteries for our packed day tomorrow! LATEST/BREAKING NEWS: The attack on the Champs Elysees has shocked us all, but please rest assured that we are all safe and that the chaperones and I will do our utmost to ensure that your precious children are protected.
FRIDAY 21 APRIL – LOUVRE, HOTEL DE VILLE, NOTRE DAME & MONTMARTRE!
In spite of what happened last night we are determined to not let this dampen our spirits and enjoyment of the tour. The chaperones and I met with the students prior to departing this morning and outlined increased security measures which we would like to implement. After a delicious breakfast we made our way to the Louvre, where all were overwhelmed by the beauty of this former palace. The specialist guide was excellent and she introduced them to so many incredible works of art. There was then free time to enjoy the Louvre’s ‘mini-Mall, with Starbucks and MacDo’s being firm favourite places to eat! Thereafter we made our way to the Hôtel de Ville (Paris’ City Hall) and many enjoyed bringing out their ‘inner child’ by riding on the carousel! We then crossed the Seine to Notre Dame and, with such glorious weather, the views from the bridge were spectacular. We have just returned to the hotel for a quick rest & recharge, before heading off for our late afternoon/evening in Montmartre. We will visit the beautiful basilica of Sacré Coeur and at the Place du Tertre I am sure that many will chose to have their portraits painted! This evening we will enjoy a delicious dinner in the famous restaurant La Cremaillère and there is always great fun with a resident singer. What a beautiful day and thank you for your thoughts and prayers – we do certainly feel the blessed assurance of God’s protection.
SATURDAY 22 APRIL – CHAMPS ELYSEES + CRUISE + COACH TOUR + EIFFEL TOWER!
23h55 … please excuse the late entry, but we’ve had a very long day and this is the first time I have been able to access a computer! Firstly, I would like to say what an AMAZING time we all had at Montmartre last night …it was such fun and so memorable. We met up with another Ursuline school from Cleveland Ohio who were dining in the same restaurant and they were delighted to meet us … so many photos and such a special evening! This morning we were (thankfully!) able to have a later start, before heading off to the glorious Champs Elysées, where the girls had 2.5 hours to discover the magic of this famous boulevard. In the late afternoon we enjoyed a cruise on the Seine, followed by a delicious 3-course meal in the restaurant alongside the river. Our guide arrived at 19h30 and the coach tour of Paris by night was wonderful. To complete an amazing day, all ascended the magnificent Eiffel Tower at 21h30 and then returned to the hotel by coach at 23h00. We have had such a happy stay in Paris and whilst the girls are sad to say farewell tomorrow, all are looking forward to the next phase in the south of France. More tomorrow - bed calls….!
SUNDAY 23 APRIL ONWARD TO THE COTE D’AZUR!
All were a little weary this morning, with the wake-up call scheduled for 05h45 and breakfast at 06h30! Everyone has absolutely loved Paris and enjoyed all that we have managed to fit in to such a relatively short space of time, but all are so excited to experience part 2 on the wondrous Côte d’Azur! At Orly Airport we were fortunate enough to fast track the queues and once on the plane, many were able to catch up on some much needed sleep! Upon arrival in Nice, we were greeted by Antoine, our animateur for the week from Le Centre International d’Antibes, who escorted us to the coach bound for Antibes. At Port Vauban the girls were introduced to their host families and it is always so heart-warming to witness the warm interaction. The families are all truly lovely and I have no doubt that your children will be well cared for and feel comfortable with them for the week. They returned ‘home’ for lunch and there was time to freshen up & settle in before our orientation tour of the vieille ville. The views from the ancient city ramparts were magnificent and everyone has immediately fallen in love with this idyllic part of the world! Once our visit was complete, all were given free time to wander and explore, before making their way home by 18h30. Bon séjour à tout le monde and I look forward to chatting to all tomorrow morning, when we meet at the school...
MONDAY 24 APRIL LE TEST + EXCURSION TO MONACO
We saw many of our students at the bus stop this morning and once at the school, we were greeted by all the others. Everyone was in high spirits and at 09h00 they were divided into 2 groups to do their oral & written assessment. After ‘la pause’, all enjoyed ‘cours fermés’ and tomorrow, based on the results of ‘le test’, they will be placed in classes to suit their individual level of French, with other international students of similar ability. After lunch we hopped on board our coach bound for Monaco, travelling along the ‘route du littoral’, where we admired the magnificent coastal views and the azure blue waters. Upon arrival 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. All alighted at the Palace and then they had free time to do some Grand Prix souvenir shopping, before walking past the Cathedral and the Princess Grace Exotic Gardens. We arrived back in Antibes at 19h00 and the girls were taken directly to the venue for the ‘soiree barbecue’ (a fancy braai!) where they will socialize with all the other international students at the school this week. This is usually such a fun-filled evening and I am looking forward to some wonderful stories tomorrow morning!
TUESDAY 25 APRIL FRENCH COURSE + EXCURSION TO CANNES!
Joyeux anniversaire à Tanya … what a wonderful & unexpected reception she had upon arrival at the school this morning! The girls all contributed towards a beautiful sun hat which we purchased in Monaco and she was very touched indeed! All were in high spirits and apparently last night’s soirée had been such a success, with our ebullient students once again ‘getting the party started’ with their singing and dancing – bravo les filles! At 08h45 all went to their various classes, eager to start their cours internationaux, where the emphasis is placed on improving communicative skills and confidence to speak. At lunch everyone had some of the cake we had organized for Tanya and thereafter we made our way by train to Cannes. Upon arrival Antoine led the group up to Le Suquet, a landmark which affords a magnificent view over the yacht-lined bay & the Estérel Mountains. We then visited the Palais des Festivals, which is famous for hosting the Cannes Film Festival and then they were afforded ‘du temps libre’ (free time)! The majority swarmed to the well-known brand stores such as Zara, Morgan, Sephora and Galéries Lafayette, whilst others were delighted to discover the more affordable shops on the Rue Meynadier, which boast an abundance of bargains in all shapes and sizes! At 18h00 a very happy band of travellers returned to Antibes on a packed train and everyone is looking forward to recharging batteries tonight for all that still lies ahead!
WEDNESDAY 26 APRIL SCHOOL + VISIT TO FRAGONARD & FLORIAN
Lessons were great fun this morning and everyone is so much more confident to communicate in French! They have all bonded so well as a group and made good friends with students from other countries. After lunch we hopped on board our coach to Grasse, which is dubbed the ‘balcony of Provence’ for its magnificent panoramic views. It is also the home of French perfume and at the Fragonard Parfumerie everyone enjoyed a fascinating & most informative tour. The on-site boutique was a highlight and many purchases were made! We then continued on to the Gorges du Loup, where we visited the Florian Confisserie & Chocolaterie, which are world renowned for their sweets, jams and superb chocolates! Laden with even more packets, we returned to Antibes in high spirits, singling vigorously on the coach!
THURSDAY 27 APRIL SCHOOL + EXCURSION TO NICE!
The girls have thoroughly enjoyed their classes and all have made so many new friends. At lunchtime our group jumped the long queue in order to get to the station in time to catch the 13h18 train to Nice. Upon arrival we walked down to the spectacular Fontaine du Soleil, on the Place Masséna and here Antoine explained some of the history of this beautiful city, which is dubbed the ‘Queen of the Riviera’. Everyone was very keen to find Fenoccios – a famous ice cream parlour - and we weaved through the narrow streets of the quaint vieille ville to find it! There are 107 different flavours, ranging from Nutella; Rocher; Nougat; Noisette; Cactus; Rhubarb; Menthe Fraiche; Violette; Coca Cola; Pinacolada; Menthe Chocolat etc and, with such a vast choice, it is always really hard to make a decision! The April 2 group record was 6 scoops – 10 short of Jesse on the April 1 tour!! Thereafter, everyone headed to the Boulevard Jean Medecin to browse/shop in the well-known brand boutiques and we met again at 17h30, all in high spirits and brandishing their purchases! Once at the station, we hopped on board the train and returned to Antibes - quelle journée magnifique!
FRIDAY 28 APRIL FINAL DAY ON THE CÔTE D'AZUR
Today marked the end of formal lessons at Le Centre International d'Antibes and all were very proud to receive their DELF accredited certificates, which reflect the hours of tuition, the level attained and a personal ized comment from the teacher. The educators were once again full of high praise for our SA students, commenting on their level of participation & enthusiastic approach to the tasks at hand and all commented on the marked improvement in their confidence to communicate. Straight after class, I chatted to all re arrangements for tonight and tomorrow and then most opted to go straight into town to eat lunch. They were all so looking forward to an afternoon at leisure to explore all the hidden ‘gems’ Antibes has to offer! We will meet again on the Place de Gaulle at 20h00 for our evening out in Juan les Pins and, as the weather is so lovely, we will start with a walk along the beautiful beachfront. We will then make our way to Pam Pam’s, which is a trendy & tasteful 'cocktail bar’ with a superb ambience, boasting a wide variety of non-alcoholic cocktails and ice cream sundaes, all adorned with exotic umbrellas & other decorative paraphernalia! It will be a chance for all to ‘dress up’ and will, no doubt, be a wonderful way to end our special time on the Côte d’Azur! We leave for Paris at 15h00 tomorrow and I will communicate all the finer details in the morning …. à demain!
SATURDAY 29 APRIL HOMEWARD BOUND!
What a wonderful evening we had at Pam Pam’s last night and it was a lovely way to end our time on the Côte d’Azur! Antoine has been such an attentive animateur and he joined us for the latter part of the evening, before driving all back to their host families. There was such a happy spirit amongst the girls, with Leigh & Elizabeth leading the way, singing & dancing through the restaurant! We woke up to glorious sunshine this morning and all have time to relax and stroll through the vibrant marché provençal, before meeting at Port Vauban at 14h30. Here the girls will say a very fond farewell to their host families who have taken such good care of them for the past week, before boarding the coach to the airport in Nice. At 18h10 we will board flight AF 7709 to Paris and once at Roissy Charles de Gaulle, our group will remain in transit, where all will no doubt enjoy browsing in the duty free shops … although there’s not much money left to spend! Flight AF 990 is expected to depart at 23h25 and I am sure that there is no need to remind all excited parents & family members that we are scheduled to arrive at OR Tambo tomorrow, Sunday 30 April @ 09h55. To act ‘in loco parentis’ is no mean task and I would sincerely like to thank Elizabeth Howard and Tanya Jones for their amazing support and dedication to the role. They have been superb companions and we share very fond memories of our tour with your children. Merci beaucoup mes chères amies ~ I value your professionalism, ‘personal touch’ and your very special friendship. It has been such a happy and successful tour and no one can quite comprehend all we have managed to pack into such a relatively short space of time. All have fully embraced every opportunity and, as parents you can rest assured that you have given your children the most wonderful gift. 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 remains for me to wish all a happy home-coming - ‘merci beaucoup, bon retour et à la prochaine…!