In the dark and murky hours of Friday morning an excited but slightly sleepy group of twenty Year Seven, Eight and Nine Smestow Academy students boarded the coach for a four-day trip to Paris, the ‘City of Lights’. There wasn’t much ‘light’ at the 1am departure from school but, to the students (and parents’!) credit, they all arrived on-time and we were able to set off on schedule.
After a fourteen-hour(!) coach journey, passport control and a smooth ferry crossing, we arrived at The Chateau Grand Romaine PGL activity centre, just twenty miles from the capital city and thirty minutes away from Disneyland Paris. For some students it was their first trip outside the UK – so it was a fantastic experience for them.
Saturday
It was an early morning get up. Students had a typically French breakfast followed by making their own baguette packed lunch for the day.
Disneyland itself was an incredible experience. Students had an amazing time. It was sometimes a little overwhelming just because of the sheer size of the place, the colours and sounds and the number of people there. It was like visiting another planet! Although queueing times were long, students managed to experience some of the big rides and see many of the Disney characters walking around the streets.
Although it was forecast to rain, the skies thankfully remained dry – right up until the time we left to get back on the coach when the heavens unleashed a terrific hail storm!
Evening activities back at the Activity Centre included; crepe making classes, a disco, movie night, floodlit football and basketball courts and a campfire.
Sunday
Sunday was another early get-up followed by breakfast and baguette lunch making – but today the sun appeared! The weather was terrific as we took a guided coach trip across the city towards the Eiffel Tower.
From the foot of the tower students took a boat ride down the River Seine – seeing the Louvre Museum, The Musee D’Orsay and Notre Dame Cathedral. As our boat passed under the many bridges students enjoyed joining in with the tradition of clapping.
We returned to the Eiffel Tower and most students climbed up the 674 stairs to the second floor to see the spectacular views over the city. A student’s forgotten bag was rescued by our PGL guide – which avoided there having to be an evacuation of thousands of tourists from the tower!
Back on the coach for a drive across the city, along the Champs Elysees to Montmartre, for some souvenir shopping and more sight-seeing. Here, students saw the beautiful Sacre Coeur basilica.
Monday
Having packed their cases the previous evening, students had their last breakfast and made their final baguette lunch for the journey home.
We arrived back at Smestow Academy at 10.30pm Monday evening, exhausted but full of incredible experiences!
Well-done to all the students for working to some very tight time frames(!) and always acting responsibly and respectfully.
