SUTHERLAND ART TOUR ~ JUNE 2010
9 June 2010 D Day!
The day all have been looking forward to for so long has dawned! Although some mums are obviously a little anxious, there is great excitement and anticipation! I will write a full diary entry tomorrow night, once we have settled in to our hotel in Juan les Pins.....
Written by: Jenny Peddle
10 June 2010 A wonderful first day in France!
What a wonderful day we have had and apologies for the late entry ~ this is the first time I have had to catch my breath! The plane trip was so exciting and a real privilege to fly on the state of the art double decker A80. Not only was it so very comfortable and spacious, but the level of service was outstanding. As we landed, all the passengers clapped which made our arrival so exciting ~ even though the weather in Paris was grey and overcast! We then had quite a long wait at Charles de Gaulle before we boarded our flight to Nice and what excitement there was to see bright sunshine and the sparkling azure waters of the French Riviera. We were welcomed by our chauffeur Maurice, who whisked us off to our hotel in Juan les Pins and we were all grateful for an hour to shower and relax. We then made our way to Antibes, which is so amazingly beautiful and everyone vowed that they were going to retire here one day…ditto for me! The visit to the Picasso Museum was ‘interesting’ and whilst his paintings did not appeal to everyone, the explanation from Karin really helped to enhance the visit! After a meander through the vieille ville, a successful search for sim cards and a group dance on the Place de Gaulle (!) we arrived back at the hotel in high spirits just after 6.00pm. We joined another group in the dining room for dinner, which made for a great atmosphere and everyone has bonded so well! I know for sure that no one will need much rocking tonight and we are all looking forward to another wonderful day in this incredibly beautiful part of the world tomorrow ~ bonne nuit!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
11 June 2010 An inspirational day!
What another wonderful day and this is the first time I have had to access my laptop! Everyone awoke so refreshed this morning and eager to see what lay in store. The first visit was to the Musée Renoir, where Auguste Renoir resided for the last years of his life. All were delighted to see some of his treasured possessions and original paintings, as well as his workshop in which he created his masterpieces. They were equally impressed by the beautiful gardens & the magnificent scenery and this inspired many to find a spot and sketch, which was amazing! The 2nd visit was to la Verrerie de Biot, where we witnessed the master glass-blowers in action, before visiting the Galérie Internationale du Verre, which boasts an exhibition of masterpieces from more than 35 international artists. Thereafter, Herve our chauffeur drove the group to Biot, which is a beautiful arts & crafts ‘perched village’, renowned for its pottery & ceramics. After a brief visit to the Musée d’Histoire et de Céramique Biotoises, we had some time to explore this quaint town and it was here that we welcomed Nichelle and Alma to our group ~ they left a day later than the group in order to enjoy their Matric Dance. Onward then to Cannes and we stopped in front of the Palais des Congres for photographs on the famous red carpet. The designer shops on La Croisette were breathtaking, but completely unaffordable, so there was a huge sigh of relief as I introduced them to the ‘back streets’, which are lined with bargain boutiques! A happy band of travellers returned to the hotel at 6.00pm, with just enough time to freshen up for dinner in a local restaurant ~ with France playing against Uruguay, you can only imagine the noise and the fervent support from the locals! Only one thing was louder … Alma’s vuvuzela which she brought with her from SA ~ a source of great interest and amusement from onlookers!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
12 June 2010 Excursion to Nice and Monaco
Everyone was very excited about today’s excursion to Nice and Monaco…and no one was disappointed! Although a little cloudy to start, the sun broke through as we approached Nice along the beautiful Promenade des Anglais, lined with its legendary palm trees and at the sight of the sparkling azure blue waters, all understood why this is called the Côte d’Azur. Herve dropped us at the beautiful newly revamped Place Masséena and from here some headed directly for the name brand shops on the Boulevard Jean Medecin, whilst others enjoyed wandering through the narrow streets of ‘la vieille ville’, witnessing the famous Saturday morning marché. A few even enjoyed sunbathing on the rather uncomfortable pebble beach and cooling off in the calm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The consensus after 4 hours in Nice was that this city justly deserves to be called the Queen of the Riviera! At 2.00pm we boarded our coach once more and we drove along the scenic coastal route to Monaco ~ everyone was very impressed with the pristine cleanliness and obvious wealth of this small principality! All took photos of the famous palace and the views from ‘le rocher’ never fail to impress, with stunning villas, white yachts, varying shades of blue seas, purple mountains ~ a veritable picture postcard! With a final stroll through the exotic gardens we departed at 5.00pm for our return to Juan les Pins and after freshening up we gathered in the dining room for dinner. The proprietor is a lovely motherly lady and she has been so impressed by our group that she personally offered a bottle of champagne to thank us. All who wanted were then allowed a small glass, but we did make it clear that this was a treat and under supervision! Karin and her husband have taken the group for a walk along the beachfront and with it being such a beautiful evening, I can only imagine that they are having great fun and making memories of a lifetime.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
13 June 2010 Their last day on the French Riviera!
After breakfast this morning, everyone boarded the coach for an excursion to St Paul de Vence ~ a perched mediaeval village with magnificent views. It is renowned as an artists’ haven and boasts numerous galleries, which display a wide range of sculptures, paintings and ceramic works of art. They enjoyed a visit to the ‘Fondation Maeght’ which is one of the most interesting modern art museums in the world, housing a prodigious collection of contemporary works…fairly strange to the ‘untrained’ eye! Onward then to Grasse, known as the ‘balcony of Provence’ for its incredible views. This is the home of French perfume and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the guided visit of the Fragonard Perfumery, which was followed by a shopping spree in their on-site boutique ~ judging by the packets in hand, several purchases were made! I have organized with a local restaurant on the beachfront for us to enjoy a selection of pizzas for dinner and everyone is really looking forward to their final evening on the French Riviera. Tomorrow we will travel inland to Avignon, where many more treats lie in store…
Written by: Jenny Peddle
14 June 2010 Aix-en-Provence to Avignon
At 9.00 this morning we all said farewell to Juan les Pins and after a quick stop en route, we arrived in the beautiful and elegant city of Aix-en-Provence at midday. Here we met our local guide who led the group on a walking tour in the footsteps of Paul Cezanne. Onward then to Avignon and at 4.00pm we arrived at our hotel, which is situated within the ancient walls of the city. We had a short orientation walk and then there was time to relax before dinner which was served in a local restaurant called ‘Le Pili’ ~ the service, food and ambiance were superb! All are now safely tucked up in bed and looking forward to a full day tomorrow. Should you wish to contact your children, a reminder that the telephone number is 00 33 4 90 86 36 51 and the fax number is 00 33 4 90 85 48 90.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
15 June 2010 Yet another lovely day!
At 8.30am everyone boarded the coach to Arles, where the group enjoyed a guided walking tour in the footsteps of Van Gogh. This was very special and all the art students were enthralled to see so much of what they had leant in theory. They then travelled to the Cathédrale d’Images where images of artwork, some 400m in length, are projected onto the giant stone walls of the limestone quarry. A ‘total picture’ is therefore created and you feel like you are actually standing in the picture rather than simply looking at it ~ amazing! After this there was a short visit to Les Baux-de- Provence, which is a very beautiful ‘eagle’s nest’ ancient village. There were a few hours to relax before dinner, which was served in the same restaurant as last night ~ all returned to the hotel full and immensely pleased with the day!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
16 June 2010 Onward to Paris!
This morning we packed our suitcases into the coach (or rather Herve did!) and then proceeded to the Palais des Papes for a guided visit this immense and very impressive UNESCO world heritage site. Thereafter we had some free time to explore and we all had a photo-shoot with the famous Pont d’Avignon in the background. Onward then to the station, where we said a very fond farewell to Herve ~ he has been a wonderful companion for the past few days and gone out of his way to give exceptional service. Loading the many heavy suitcases and paraphernalia onto the TGV in record time was a real feat and stressful to say the least, but we all made it! The journey was not without incident and we all have many funny stories + video snippets of the crazy elderly woman who attempted to assault both Karin and myself! There was great excitement as we drew into the Gare de Lyon, where we boarded our coach and travelled to our hotel, the Campanile Maine Montparnasse. After quickly settling in and freshening up, we dashed off for our dinner reservation at the Pizza Roma, where we enjoyed a delicious 3 course meal AND watched the kick-off between SA and Uruguay. At 9.00pm all boarded the coach for an exciting guided tour of Paris by night ~ something they have all really been looking forward to! Should you wish to contact your children, a reminder of the hotel contact details: Telephone - 00 33 1 53 74 60 00 Fax – 00 33 1 40 47 01 49.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
17 June 2010 A glorious day in Paris!
After a refreshing night’s sleep and an excellent breakfast, we made our way by metro to the Champs Elysées, where everyone had 3 glorious hours to explore the amazing boutiques along one of the world’s most famous avenues. After lunch we made our way to the Musée du Louvre and all were in awe of this splendid former palace. This visit was such a highlight and everyone appreciated the immense knowledge of their designated ‘conférencier’ ~ the whisper system really works well and avoids having to compete with other dominant, loud and umbrella-brandishing guides’! After a reviving cup of coffee at Starbucks, we made our way to Montmartre, the oldest district and highest natural point in Paris. After visiting the beautiful basilica of Sacré Coeur, everyone wandered through the Place du Tertre, where many were tempted to have their portrait painted! A long but very rewarding day and all will readily fall into bed tonight! PS We were reall y lucky to escape the flash floods which swept through south eastern France and devastated the picturesque region in the hills behind the Riviera!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
18 June 2010 Another memorable day in Paris!
This morning we travelled by metro to the Trocedero, which provides a stunning perspective of the Eiffel Tower. After several photo shoots on the elevated balcony, we made our way down to the River Seine, where we boarded the Bateau Parisien for a relaxing and informative cruise. Thereafter we crossed to the Eiffel Tower, where everyone ascended to the 2nd level for a spectacular view over Paris. After a picnic lunch in the gardens of the Champs de Mars, the group met with their designated local guide who accompanied them on the RER to Versailles. They commenced the visit with a leisurely stroll through the beautiful gardens, followed by a tour of the opulent Palace. After freshening up, we all enjoyed dinner in a different restaurant tonight and everyone is now looking forward to a good night’s sleep after another enjoyable and very full day.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
19 June 2010 A wonderful day of Impressionism!
After another good night’s sleep, all were excited to make the most of their last full day in Paris. At 9.15am we arrived at the Musée d’Orsay, which houses the world’s finest collection of Impressionist paintings and all were in absolute awe…some even in tears! After this visit, there was time to spend in the Tuileries Gardens before boarding the coach for an afternoon excursion to the charming village of Giverney. Their immensely knowledgeable local ‘accompagnatrice’ expertly guided them through the splendid house and gardens of the Master of Impressionism, Claude Monet and all were encouraged to sketch in the famous gardens. Our final dinner tonight will be in an authentic French restaurant and no doubt it will be a very special evening as we recall the many humorous anecdotes during our wonderful 2 weeks in France.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
20 June 2010 Au revoir to France!
Today marks our final day on tour and after breakfast we made our way to l’Hôtel de Ville, from where all were given some free time to explore the area. Everyone visited the magnificent cathedral of Notre Dame and many showed interest in the Georges Pompidou Centre, which is the landmark of contemporary Paris and home to the National Museum of Modern Art. After a stroll through the famous Latin Quarter , the group returned to the hotel and at 4.30pm they boarded the coach to Roissy Charles de Gaulle. All flight arrangements have been confirmed and we are due to fly out at 23h20 on AF 990 ~ I am sure there is no need to remind parents of our scheduled arrival at ORT on Monday 21 June at 09h45. It has been my privilege and pleasure to orchestrate this Art tour for Sutherland High School and all unanimously agree that we have had the most amazing 2 weeks, with so many valuable and memorable experiences! The superb memories and firm bonds of friendships which have been made will last a lifetime. Karin van Rooyen has been a real ‘mommy’ to the group and her passion for Art has been inspirational. Whilst all are obviously looking forward to seeing family and friends back home, they are left with a sense of sadness at having to say farewell to people they have grown so accustomed to seeing on a daily basis. As parents, you have certainly afforded your children the most wonderful opportunity and 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. They are bound to be exhausted and the many wonderful anecdotes may not immediately be forthcoming, but they are sure to reveal themselves in the days, months and even years to come ~ au revoir!
Written by: Jenny Peddle