CORNWALL HILL COLLEGE HISTORY TOUR ~ AUGUST 2008
1 August 2008 D Day!
After months of preparation, D Day has eventually arrived! All are to be commended on their punctual arrival at OR Tambo, where the check-in procedure ran very smoothly. I have just chatted to Vanessa du Toit and everyone is very excited as they prepare to board the plane.... for many, their first international flight! They will land in Paris early tomorrow morning and remain in transit for their connection to Berlin. The Tour Director, David Morris, will be at the airport to meet them and he will ensure the smooth running of the tour henceforth. As parents, you have certainly afforded your children the most wonderful opportunity and they are guaranteed to have an exciting and enriching tour. More tomorrow -----
Written by: Jenny Peddle
2 August 2008 Safe arrival!
07h30 - all have arrived safely and they are already at the boarding gate for Berlin! 17h00 - I received an sms from Vanessa du Toit who confirmed that the flights, although long, had gone well. They were all enjoying a rest in their rooms at the 4* hotel before meeting in the foyer for their orientation tour of Berlin with their Tour Director, David Morris. No doubt bed will be welcomed with open arms tonight!A reminder that the hotel telephone number is 00 49 30 210 070 and Miss du Toit has an sms roaming facility on + 27 82 925 7451.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
3 August 2008 Tour of Third Reich Sites
The group had an amazing day in Berlin and a walking tour with a specialist guide was scheduled for this morning. The focus was on the Infamous Third Reich Sites and they visited Alexanderplatz, Brandenberg Gate, Marx & Engels monument, the Russian War Memorial, the Topography of Terror Museum, Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag and the Berlin Wall. To be exposed to this graphic reality is invaluable to students of History and certainly extends the boundaries of the classroom.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
4 August 2008 Germany rocks!
I received a lovely email from Vanessa du Toit: "We are having a fabulous time and Berlin was incredible. Everybody is well and all are very impressed with the hotels, the food and the history! Today was spent on the bus travelling to Munich, stopping off en route in Nuremburg to see the Rally Show Ground and Courthouse for the Nuremburg Trials. Sorry, no time to go into more detail, we are off to go shopping....! We are really looking forward to visiting Dachau tomorrow. Bottom line, we are all loving the tour and we think that Germany rocks! Love to all the moms, dads and siblings!"
Written by: Jenny Peddle
5 August 2008 Munich
Today the group had a guided tour of the Dachau Memorial Concentration Camp Site, which stands as one of the most gruesome symbols of inhumanity. As students of History, this visit would certainly have touched all and will no doubt be indelibly printed on their minds forever. I expect an update from Vanessa, but I will only be able to load this tomorrow, since I am travelling with a group to France tonight. Please may I remind you that I can still be contacted on my regular email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or on my French mobile phone, which is + 33 6 18 43 14 00.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
6 August 2008 All very happy!
Greetings from Paris, where I arrived with my group this morning --- you may enjoy reading the St Peter's + Brescia tour diary to hear our drama at CDG! I received a brief message from Vanessa to say that all is going exceptionally well and that everyone is very happy. I will see the group in Paris on Saturday and will write a detailed report then!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
7 August 2008 A wonderful day in Lucerne
This morning the group enjoyed a relaxing cruise on Lake Lucerne, after which all made their way to the aerial car which which ferried them 70 000 feet above sea level to the summit of Mount Pilatus. They were all amazed by the unbelievably beautiful 360 degree view of the Alps including its 7 peaks and 5 lakes. The descent down the mountain was on the world's steepest cog-wheel railway and was quite hair-raising! They returned by coach to the hotel, where they had some free time before enjoying dinner at the traditional Swiss restaurant, the 'Stadkeller', where all were entertained by a lively folklore show, as they ate authentic cheese fondues. It was such a wonderful day!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
8 August 2008 Bienvenue a Paris!
An early departure today as they passed through beautiful scenery en route to Paris. The long journey gave eveyone some time to relax and recharge their batteries before the hectic schedule organized for Paris. All were ver y impressed with their hotel and after freshening up, they enjoyed an orientation walking tour on l'Ile de la Cite. I remind you of the contact details for the Hotel Concorde Saint Lazare: Tel +33 1 400 84444 and fax +33 1 429 30120.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
9 August 2008 Ver sailles + Eiffel Tower
This morning the group travelled by coach to Versailles, where they enjoyed a tour of the spectacular Palace & gardens. The Eiffel Tower and a cruise on the River Seine were on the itinerary for this afternoon and they thoroughly enjoyed both. I made arrangements to meet the group for dinner and at 7.00pm we gathered in the restaurant ' Les Noces de Jeanette'. It was wonderful to see everyone and to hear their many animated stories. They were all bubbling over with enthusiasm and I am sincerely delighted that they have obviously had such a wonderfully enriching tour. Tomorrow they are off to Disneyland Paris, which is a very exciting prospect for most!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
10 August 2008 Disneyland Paris!
I know that everyone in the group (including the teachers!) was looking forward to the day at Disneyland Paris and I can only imagine the fun and laughter!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
11 August 2008 Final day on tour
How quickly time flies and after so much built-up and excitement, it is hard to believe that today marks the final day of the tour. This morning they enjoyed a guided visit to the Louvre and then all spent their last euros shopping on the Avenue des Champs Elysées. In the afternoon they traveled to Montmartre, which is dominated by the white basilica of Sacré Coeur and a few decided to have their portraits painted in the Place du Tertre! Ms Vanessa du Toit and Ms Paulette Preyser have been outstanding chaperones and the group has been very fortunate to travel with such fun-loving, responsible and compassionate teachers. They will all return with wonderful memories, having shared life-changing experiences with their friends. As parents, you can rest certain in the knowledge that you have afforded your children such a valuable opportunity and I have no doubt that each and every child will return not only academically and culturally enriched, but enriched as a person, having matured and grown in confidence. The group departs tomorrow morning at 10h15 on AF 994 and they are due back in Johannesburg the same day (Tuesday 12 August) at 20h40. It has been my pleasure and privilege to orchestrate the 2008 History Tour for Cornwall Hill College and I look forward to our continued liaison in the future.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
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