Hi All!
We are all doing fine and settling into our final hotel in Nice. We had a very long day on the coach with three different stops. Pictures will be uploaded tomorrow.
We have an early wake up call tomorrow so that we can head over to Italy for the afternoon.
Tomorrow is our last day in France before we head back to Paris where we will catch our flight to the States.
I apologize for the short note but all is well. Please, check in tomorrow for pictures!
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Friday, April 5, 2013
Provence
We have officially arrived in Provence and for the next several days we will explore this region.
When we arrived in Avignon we explored the Pope's Palace. At a time when the Vatican was not safe the King of France invited the current Pope to come to Avignon to reside safely. For nearly a century, Avignon was home for the Roman Catholic Popes. Today the city is still surrounded by the original 3 mile wall. The Pope's Palace was grand with multiple levels to see.
After Avignon, we traveled to Pont du Gard:
We ended our day in Nimes which is known for its production of fabric. In fact, the cotton originally used to make jeans came from Nimes. Nimes also had several exciting Roman structures to explore.
*All Pictures of the Roman Monuments
Tomorrow we head to the French Riviera for two nights.
p.s. Everyone is doing well!
When we arrived in Avignon we explored the Pope's Palace. At a time when the Vatican was not safe the King of France invited the current Pope to come to Avignon to reside safely. For nearly a century, Avignon was home for the Roman Catholic Popes. Today the city is still surrounded by the original 3 mile wall. The Pope's Palace was grand with multiple levels to see.
Pope's Palace
Pope's Palace
Pope's Palace
Students inside the Pope's Palace
A Destroyed Bridge Outside of Avignon
After Avignon, we traveled to Pont du Gard:
The Group at Pont du Gard
The View from Pont du Gard
Listening to the Tour Guide
Safi & Lily
We ended our day in Nimes which is known for its production of fabric. In fact, the cotton originally used to make jeans came from Nimes. Nimes also had several exciting Roman structures to explore.
*All Pictures of the Roman Monuments
Tomorrow we head to the French Riviera for two nights.
p.s. Everyone is doing well!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Carcassonne
The group has been on the road all day long. It was a long journey, but we are excited to explore what the South of France has to offer.
We made one stop today in Carcassonne on our way to Nimes. Carcassonne has two distinct parts, a modern town and a medieval area which is totally enclosed by fortress walls.
We ate lunch in the modern section and then wandered the narrow streets of Carcassonne's medieval area later in the afternoon. We did all of this in the pouring rain! The kiddos were troopers. We are hoping for better weather tomorrow.
We made one stop today in Carcassonne on our way to Nimes. Carcassonne has two distinct parts, a modern town and a medieval area which is totally enclosed by fortress walls.
We ate lunch in the modern section and then wandered the narrow streets of Carcassonne's medieval area later in the afternoon. We did all of this in the pouring rain! The kiddos were troopers. We are hoping for better weather tomorrow.
The Modern area of Carcassonne
The Entrance to the Medieval Area
Fortress Walls
Getting Ready to Enter the City Behind the Walls
Chaperones Braving the Rain
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Spanish Splendor & More
Today was an exciting day of exploration. We stopped at three different cities and had the opportunity to explore each one at our own pace. The weather was absolutely perfect and we were finally able to shed our coats. Everyone is having a blast and doing just fine :)
Tomorrow we head south on a 4 hour bus ride to Carcassonne.
As a geography teacher, I love looking at maps! Check out this map to see where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going!
San Sebastian, Spain:
St. Jean de Luz, France:
Biarritz, France:
The group traveled back to Biarritz for additional shopping and dinner. Check out the photographs from yesterday's blog post!
Until Tomorrow...
Tomorrow we head south on a 4 hour bus ride to Carcassonne.
As a geography teacher, I love looking at maps! Check out this map to see where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going!
San Sebastian, Spain:
Group Photo
The Port
Sail Boats
Basque Flag
Beautiful Architecture
Arroz Negro
St. Jean de Luz, France:
Church
Church x 2
Traditional Shop
Beach
French Candy
The group traveled back to Biarritz for additional shopping and dinner. Check out the photographs from yesterday's blog post!
Until Tomorrow...
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
ATTENTION!
Good Evening Parents,
Please note that we are no longer in France. For the next two nights, we are staying in Spain. As a result, the local numbers from France will not work. If you want to contact the group please use the last three numbers that start with, "+44" ....... for the 4/2 and 4/3.
+44 793 715 7326
+44 793 764 1566
+44 793 707 6133
Thanks!
Please note that we are no longer in France. For the next two nights, we are staying in Spain. As a result, the local numbers from France will not work. If you want to contact the group please use the last three numbers that start with, "+44" ....... for the 4/2 and 4/3.
+44 793 715 7326
+44 793 764 1566
+44 793 707 6133
Thanks!
Au Revoir, Paris!
An early alarm had us out the door by 6:30 am today. In no time, we were at one of the seven train stations in Paris. Platform 6's train awaited our arrival and promised a speedy trip. We squeezed all of our luggage into a couple of cars, grabbed our seats, and immediately indulged in a much needed nap. The few who braved the day without a nap saw the countryside and the towns nestled throughout. We traveled south along the western portion of France. We were off to Bordeaux!
Upon our arrival in Bordeaux, we met our coach and left for Biarritz which is a popular resort town. During our tour, we learned that many people head to Biarritz for holiday.
In Biarritz, we took a walking tour along the Atlantic Ocean and through the narrow streets. Biarritz is filled with breathtaking views and adorable shops. Many of the students were excited to hear that we would return to Biarritz tomorrow for shopping and exploring.
After dinner in Biarritz, we left on our coach for our hotel in Spain. The hotel is absolutely beautiful as it is newly renovated. We are settling in for the night and getting ready for another fun filled day of adventure.
Goodbye France, Hello Spain...Well, for the next day anyway!
Upon our arrival in Bordeaux, we met our coach and left for Biarritz which is a popular resort town. During our tour, we learned that many people head to Biarritz for holiday.
In Biarritz, we took a walking tour along the Atlantic Ocean and through the narrow streets. Biarritz is filled with breathtaking views and adorable shops. Many of the students were excited to hear that we would return to Biarritz tomorrow for shopping and exploring.
After dinner in Biarritz, we left on our coach for our hotel in Spain. The hotel is absolutely beautiful as it is newly renovated. We are settling in for the night and getting ready for another fun filled day of adventure.
Goodbye France, Hello Spain...Well, for the next day anyway!
Seine River Cruise
The Eiffel Tower Overhead
Sunset From the Seine River
The Eiffel Tower By Night
Our last night in Paris was spent on the Seine river. We braved the cold and re-discovered the beautiful monuments we had seen by day. During our tour, we saw everything from the Eiffel Tower to the Notre-Dame. Paris truly came to life by night. Commentary was provided throughout the tour via headsets and a welcoming staff. The boat tour was absolutely unforgettable.
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