ART TOUR PHSG STUDENTS ~ JUNE 2009
28 June 2009 D Day!
This tour has been in the pipeline for over a year and there was great excitement at ORT as everyone prepared for departure. We will board the plane at 7.15pm and are scheduled to arrive at Roissy CDG around 6.00am...with a mad dash for our Milan connection! To all the anxious mums and dads, please rest assured that we will take very good care of your precious children. More tomorrow.....
Written by: Jenny Peddle
29 June 2009 What a full day!
We all enjoyed a very pleasant flight on Air France, but with an equal mixture of apprehension & excitement, no one had much sleep! We landed at Roissy CDG at 6.15am where we miraculously weaved our way through seemingly kilometres of passage-ways to arrive at passport control! Fortunately there were no hitches here, but several of us had some fun and games at security as we disrobed and shed boots, belts and whatever else seemed threatening! Then with just enough time for a coffee and toilet- stop, we boarded the flight to Milan, where our smiling non-English speaking coach driver greeted us and whisked us off to the well situated Hotel New York. Some of our rooms were ready and so we were all able to freshen up to a greater or lesser degree, before having some free time to relax. At 1.45pm we were introduced to our guide, Alberto who came to meet us at the hotel for our afternoon walking tour. We all hopped on board the metro, which was a first for most and was really an exciting experience. We started with a visit to La Scala Opera house and we all decided that we did not have enough superlatives to describe this incredible historical building ~ it is quite simply awesome! We then walked through famous squares and past a statue of Leonardo da Vinci, before entering the Galleria ~ a superb shopping emporium...a real favourite with the girls as you can imagine! Before we allowed the group free time to shop, we entered the famous Duomo and everyone was astounded by the beauty and magnitude of this religious landmark of Milan. Like seasoned travellers, we returned to the hotel on the metro, where we had an hour to relax before dinner which was in a local restaurant. It is now 9.30pm and I can assure you that all the girls are happily tucked up in bed and looking forward to a good night's sleep!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
30 June 2009 Onward to Florence!
A rushed diary entry at the end of a very long but wonderful day! We started with an early departure from our hotel in Milan and our first stop was at the Santa Maria delle Grazie, which houses Leonardo da Vinci's spectacular 15th century mural of The Last Supper. It was such an emotional experience to be standing in front of this famous fresco and something we will all remember for a lifetime. Thereafter, we continued by coach through beautiful countryside to Florence, the capital of Tuscany. After checking into our 3* hotel, we went on an informal orientation walk to the old city centre and it didn't take the girls long to sniff out the famous leather markets ~ judging by the packets, several purchases were made! After dinner in a local restaurant, we enjoyed a coach tour of Florence by night, stopping at the Piazzale Michelangelo to admire the incredible view over Florence. A reminder that we will be spending 2 nights in Florence and that the contact details for the hotel Palazzo Vecchio are Tel: 00 39 055 21 21 82 Fax: 00 39 055 21 64 45
Written by: Jenny Peddle
1 July 2009 A wonderful day in Firenze!
This morning we all enjoyed a relaxed breakfast before making our way to the Galleria dell'Accademia for out 9.30am reservation. It seemed incredible to be standing in front of Michelangelo's magnificent sculpture of David and we were also exposed to several other masterful works of art. The girls were then allowed some free time ~ aka shopping ~ and they all made excellent use of these few precious hours! The plethora of name brand boutiques and smaller exclusive shops, not to mention the numerous leather markets do indeed present an irresistible challenge to our serious 'fashionistas'! At 1.45pm we re-grouped for our guided visit to the Uffizi Museum, where Umberto exposed us to a priceless collection of art. He was wonderfully informative and most sympathetic with the girls, who were constantly complaining of the heat and their sore feet! After a quick visit to the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo, there remained a short time to revisit favourite spots before returning to the hotel for our 6.30pm meeting. Dinner will once again be served at a restaurant in the vicinity and I don't think anyone will have the energy to even ask for any further evening activity ~ other than bed and a good night's sleep!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
2 July 2009 Arrival in Montecatini
Many thanks to Michelle for keeping you briefly updated! Our last morning in Florence was really relaxing, since we only had to vacate the hotel at 12h00. With the leather market just a few blocks away, most of the girls headed in that direction to purchase some last souvenirs. We then boarded our coach and made our way to Pisa, where everyone was in awe of the Leaning Tower. After lunch we continued to Montecatini, which is a beautiful small town renowned for its thermal spring waters and laid-back atmosphere. In the evening, a small group of girls and the chaperones made their way to an open-air restaurant, where live music was on offer. None of us will foget Fabio and his fabulous music...not to mention his dashing good looks and charm!It was a wonderfully relaxing evening and great fun!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
3 July 2009 Excursion to Cinqua Terre
We have just returned from a wonderful day excursion to the Cinque Terre, which is listed as a UNESCO World heritage site. There are 5 small medieval villages on the Ligurian coast which boast some of the finest views on the Italian Riviera. We travelled by coach to La Spezia, where we were introduced to our knowledgeable and passionate guide, Rolando. We then strolled along a beautiful walkway known as 'Via dell'Amore' from Manarola to Riomaggiore, where we boarded a train to Monterosso. Here we were able to enjoy lunch and a swim in the warm azure waters...what a wonderful day in such an idyllic setting!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
4 July 2009 Bienvenue en France!
Our coach arrived at 8.00am and we loaded our luggage in record time! Our journey from Montecatini Terme to Monaco was estimated at 5 hours, but we had not anticipated the traffic on the first day of the European school holidays, nor had we been advised that the world renowned Tour de France was scheduled to commence today .... starting in the streets of Monaco! Needless to say, all vehicles were barred from entering the principality, so Henri (our chauffeur) and I did some quick lateral thinking and we swapped Monday's itinerary with today's! So off we travelled to the medieval hilltop village of Saint Paul de Vence, which is a Mecca for painters, sculptors and all tourists! Prior to this, we visited the Fondation Maeght, which is a great modern museum which boasts some of the most important collections of twentieth century art in Europe...including some bizarre pieces! At 5.30pm we continued to our hotel in Juan les Pins, where we quickly settled in and then re-grouped for a stroll on the magnificent beach front. To be in such an idyllic setting on the glorious French Riviera is unbelievable and everyone is quite frankly in 7th heaven!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
5 July 2009 A wonderful day on the Cote d'Azur!
We were all grateful for a relaxing lie-in this morning and at 8.30am we gathered for breakfast in the beautiful hotel gardens. At 9.30pm we boarded our coach and made our way to the Musée Renoir in Cagnes sur Mer, where Auguste Renoir resided for the last years of his life. We were delighted to see some of his treasured possessions and original paintings, as well as his workshop in which he created such masterpieces. We then travelled 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, we drove 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, before returning to Antibes. With careful planning, we had been able to reschedule our visits, which afforded us 2 hours of free time in Antibes ~ much to the delight of the girls and chaperones! They thoroughly enjoyed strolling amongst the vast array of yachts, swimming in the protected beach and wandering through the quaint vieille ville. At 4.30pm we visited the Picasso Museum, which has recently been refurbished and then we completed our day with a brief visit to the Musée de la Carte Postale, which boasts a permanent and fascinating collection of postcards from several eras and countries. We then returned to the hotel, where we had a quick freshen-up before making our way to a beach-front restaurant for dinner. Everyone is very happy and all adore la belle France!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
6 July 2009 Our final day in Provence
Everyone was very excited about today's excursion to Monaco, Nice and Grasse. The weather continues to be extremely hot and we were immensely grateful for our beautifully air-conditioned coach. The approach to Monaco is very impressive and all were astounded by the obvious wealth of this principality. Everyone 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! The girls were delighted to see the flag flying high, which indicated the presence of the royal family and all hoped to get a glimpse of Princess Caroline's gorgeous son! After a visit to the Cathedral, where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace are laid to rest, everyone strolled through the exotic gardens and at midday we departed. Our chauffeur drove along the scenic 'route du littoral', passing through beautiful towns like Beaulieu sur Mer and Villefranche. Upon arrival in Nice, the Queen of the Riviera, the girls were given some free time to explore and it didn't take them long to find the name brand shops on the Boulevard Jean Medecin, which leads to the newly revamped Place Massena. Some enjoyed wandering through the narrow streets of 'la vieille ville', while others decided to sunbathe on the rather uncomfortable pebble beach and cool off in the azure waters of the Mediterranean. At 2.30pm we hopped on board our coach and drove along the beautiful Promenade des Anglais, lined with its legendary palm trees. Our next stop was Grasse and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the guided visit to the Fragonard perfumery ~ judging by the packets & strong scent in the coach thereafter , many purchases had been made! A very happy group arrived back at the hotel at 6.30pm and we had an hour to freshen up for our dinner which was served in the gardens of the hotel. A wonderful final day in Provence!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
7 July 2009 Bienvenue a Paris!
Although everyone was sad to leave this idyllic part of the world, there was great excitement at breakfast this morning at the thought of travelling to Paris! At 9.30am we loaded our cases and our amiable chauffeur treated us to a scenic journey along the Cap d'Antibes en route to the station. Travelling on the TGV was a unique experience for the girls and the 5 hour journey through beautiful varying countryside was so relaxing. We arrived at Gare de Lyon at 4.15pm where we boarded our coach to the Campanile Bastille hotel ~ such a posh hotel and everyone is delighted with the accommodation! Should you wish to contact your children during this last leg of the tour, herewith the details: Tel: 00 33 1 43 38 58 08 Fax: 00 33 1 43 38 52 28. At 7.00pm we had our first experience on the metro as we made our way to our designated restaurant on the Place de la Bastille, where we all thoroughly enjoyed a delicious 3 course meal. At 8.30pm the girls boarded a coach for a guided tour of Paris by night ~ quelle soirée magnifique!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
8 July 2009 Montmartre, Champs Elysées and the Louvre!
We all had a wonderful night's sleep and enjoyed an excellent breakfast this morning! At 9.30am we made our way by metro to Montmartre, the oldest district and highest natural point in Paris. After visiting the beautiful basilica of Sacre Coeur, we wandered through the Place du Tertre, where many of the girls could not resist having their portrait painted! We then strolled through the back streets of Pigalle, completing our tour at the famous Moulin Rouge. Then once more on board the metro, we travelled to the Champs Elysées, where I never tire of hearing the ecstatic oohs and aahs as everyone emerges from the metro station and beholds the Arc de Triomphe for the first time! The girls enjoyed nearly 2 hours of free time along this famous boulevard and all were delighted to note that the sales had started! Our guided visit to the Musée du Louvre was scheduled for 3.30pm and this was a very rewarding experience. The teachers were impressed with the guide's immense knowledge and with the intelligent questions posed by the girls. After a leisurely stroll through the Tuileries Gardens and a photo-shoot in the Place de la Concorde, all made their way to the restaurant for an early dinner. Once again we ate like kings and by 9.00pm everyone was more than ready to rest their weary feet and to recharge their batteries for the early start tomorrow morning.
Written by: Jenny Peddle
9 July 2009 Versailles + Cruise + Eiffel Tower!
A bright and breezy start this morning as Catherine, our guide, met the group at the hotel for their scheduled excursion to the Palais de Versailles. The tour was magnificent and included both the palace and the beautiful gardens. After lunch, the group returned to Paris, where they were introduced to my Independent French students and together we enjoyed a cruise on the river Seine. This was followed by an ascent to the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower, where the views were absolutely amazing! The group then opted to have an early dinner in our local restaurant and once again, this was scrumptious! By 10.00pm all were delighted to be tucked up in bed and recharging batteries for their last full day in Paris!
Written by: Jenny Peddle
10 July 2009 A day devoted to Impressionism!
After another good night's sleep in very comfortable beds, all were excited to make the most of their last full day in Paris. At 9.15am the girls made their way to the Musée d'Orsay, which houses the world's finest collection of Impressionist paintings and thereafter there was a choice to either visit an exhibition at the Grand Palais or to have an hour's shopping on the Champs Elysées ~ this was a ver y difficult decision for many! At 1.00pm the group boarded the coach and in the company of their guide, Catherine Brouchard, they made their way to the charming village of Giverney, where they thoroughly enjoyed a visit to the splendid house and gardens of the Master of Impressionism, Claude Monet. The final dinner tonight will be in our local restaurant and with many humorous anecdotes of our 2 week tour through Italy & France, this will no doubt be a special evening and one to remember forever
Written by: Jenny Peddle
11 July 2009 Fond farewell!
Today marks the final day of the tour and after breakfast we made our way to l'Hotel de Ville, from where all were given some free time to explore the area. The girls will visit the magnificent cathedral of Notre Dame & then view the Georges Pompidou Centre, which is the landmark of contemporary Paris and home to the National Museum of Modern Art. At 1.00pm we will hop on the metro once more and our final visit will be to the world famous department store Galéries Lafayette, which was built in 1912, it is now classified as an historic monument, boasting a beautiful glass roof-dome and an Art Nouveau staircase. All bags are packed, the flight arrangements confirmed and the airport transfer organized to arrive at Roissy Charles de Gaulle at 6.30pm. Here the group will bid a fond farewell to Ms Debbie Dugmore, who has been a superb 3rd companion on the tour and a real 'mommy' to the girls! She will be continuing on to London and we wish her a wonderfully relaxing & happy few days. The group will undoubtedly enjoy the duty free shops prior to boarding flight AF 990 at 23h15 and I am sure there is no need to remind parents of their scheduled arrival at ORT on Sunday 12 July at 09h40. The girls unanimously agree that this tour has been AMAZING, with so many valuable and memorable experiences having been packed into the 14 days! It has been my privilege and pleasure to orchestrate this Art tour for PHSG and it has been a delight for me to accompany the group through Italy and France. The ultimate success of any tour depends largely on the chaperones and both Mrs Jaqui Greenberg and Mrs Michele Booysen deserve the highest praise. They managed to find the perfect balance between firm discipline along with an enormous sense of fun ~ their dedication, energy and enthusiasm have been inspirational and your children have certainly been very privileged to have travelled with them! The superb memories and firm bonds of friendships which have been made will last a lifetime. Whilst the girls are all obviously looking forward to seeing family and friends back home, all 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! Arrivederci & au revoir!
Written by: Jenny Peddle