A group of Year 10 and 11 students spent three days in Paris, exploring and visiting some of the most famous sights. "La vie est belle!" and "Allez allez" became the key phrases of the trip.
On Saturday the day started with a walk around Paris under a bright, warm sun, to Place du Trocadero and then on to the Arc de Triomphe, a monument dedicated to soldiers who fought for France in different wars. The walking tour continued down the Seine and through Place de la Concorde and Jardins des Tuileries, where the group stopped for lunch. Here, students enjoyed relaxing in the shade while taking in the scents of flowers and enjoying the fountains.
After lunch, they walked to the Cathedrale de Notre Dame, where a tour guide shared some interesting facts. The students were then given free time to shop in the Chatelet, a vibrant city area. That evening, students took part in a team quiz, mixing cultural questions and challenges, one of which was to go snail hunting!
On Sunday, the students visited Chateau de Versailles and were amazed by the beautiful golden furniture of the former Kings and Queens. The students ate lunch at Versailles and then returned to central Paris to visit the Sacre Coeur Basilica, which offers a fantastic view of Paris on a clear day. They explored Montmartre and stopped for an ice cream, where they joined in and sang with a musician performing on the main square, which was fun! The day ended with a relaxing cruise up and down the river Seine, where they passed by lots of landmarks in Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay and the Statue of Liberty.
Trip leader and French Teacher Miss Vicente said:
"This was truly a perfect weekend trip to Paris, and the students all tried to use their best French language skills while going into shops or talking to Parisians."