INDEPENDENT TOUR TO FRANCE – AUGUST 2016
Saturday 6 August D Day!
There was great excitement as we gathered at ORT this afternoon and our early check-in on Air France ensured that all went smoothly. There are 21 students in total and they come from 5 different schools: St Alban’s College, St Mary’s DSG PTA, St John’s College, Roedean and Waterford College. Mrs Alison Scarr from St John’s College will chaperone the tour with me and we will both do our utmost to ensure that your precious children are cared for, safe and happy. After saying a fond farewell to family & friends, we made our way through security and, other than one very serious concern, I am delighted to confirm that we are now all safely through Emigration and on ‘other side’! Everyone is so excited at the prospect of the wonderful adventure which awaits and they have already made new friends in the group. I will update the site as soon as I have connectivity tomorrow. A reminder that photos will also be loaded on a face-book page – if you are a member of FB, then either search ‘Personal Touch Schooltours – August Independent 2016’ or follow the link below and click ‘LIKE’ to receive updates as they are posted https://www.facebook.com/Personal-Touch-Schooltours-August-Independent-2016-1767598510179028/A demain…
Sunday 7 August Safe arrival and glorious weather in Antibes!
We had a smooth & comfortable flight on Air France and all were able to rearrange their seating to be near their friends. After breakfast at 4.00am (!!) we landed at CDG and, with no problems encountered at security or customs, we soon made our way to the domestic terminal. Here we were able to relax a bit before our flight to Nice and on approach everyone was delighted to see the glorious coastline, lined with sparkling azure blue waters. Upon arrival we were warmly welcomed by Claire, our animatrice for the week as well as Gregory from Management at Le Centre International d’Antibes. Having all mercifully retrieved our luggage, we then hopped on board our coach to the campus, where everyone enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch in the courtyard. All then changed into beach wear, before boarding the transfer bus to Antibes, where we enjoyed a guided orientation tour through the fascinating streets of the 'vieille ville'. With not a cloud in the sky, the views from the ancient city ramparts were magnificent and when all were granted ‘du temps libre’ (free time!) the majority dashed off to enjoy a swim and to soak up the glorious sunshine of the French Riviera on La Plage Gravette. After many anT ice-cream, we headed back to campus at 18h15, where all had time to settle in to their rooms, before enjoying dinner in the restaurant. Tonight some exciting ice-breaker activities have been arranged to introduce all the students from the various countries to each other. Hopefully they will then have a good night’s rest and recharge batteries for all the fun that lies ahead ….
Monday 8 August Assessment + class + excursion to Monaco
Last night was really successful and everyone so enjoyed the ice-breaker activities & social interaction with all the other international students on campus. At 8.30 this morning we gathered in the courtyard, before our group was called for their written & oral assessment and after 'la pause' they were placed in ‘cours internationaux’ to suit their individual level. After class I chatted to everyone individually re their placement and we made a few adjustments, which will be implemented tomorrow. At 13h15 we travelled by coach to the Principality of Monaco and what a perfect day it was for our journey along the magnificent ‘route du littoral’ (coastal road). Upon arrival we hopped on board ‘le petit train’, a tourist train which weaves through the streets of the F1 race track, whilst providing informative commentary. All alighted at Le Palais, where resides our very own Princesse Charlène and after a photo shoot, we had some free time to buy drinks/ice creams/crepes or souvenir shop, before returning to the coach for our journey back to Antibes. This evening there is a ‘soiree barbecue’ (a fancy braai!), which is always great fun, with plenty of food, music and social interaction amongst all the students on campus!
Tuesday 9 August Classes + Cannes + Juan les Pins
Having organized a few changes of levels yesterday, all made their way happily to class this morning and at lunchtime they reported that “the lessons had been great”! After another delicious lunch and armed with hats, sunscreen, beach towels and a rugby ball, we all hopped on board the train to Cannes. Once we had seen the Palais des Festivals, home to the annual Cannes Film Festival, all were afforded ‘du temps libre’ (free time) and the options were plentiful: a) walking up to Le Suquet for a magnificent view over the yacht-lined bay & the Estérel Mountains b) shopping in either the well-known brand stores such as Zara, Morgan and Sephora, as well as the more affordable shops on the Rue Meynadier or c) swimming in the azure blue waters and enjoying the glorious sunshine. All opted for a mixture of b) & c) and at 6.30pm, a very happy band of travellers returned to campus. Tonight there will be an excursion to Juan les Pins, a small and vibrant town adjacent to Antibes, which transforms into a wonderful tourist attraction during the summer holidays.
Wednesday 10 August Classes + Excursion to Nice
With some rain forecast for tomorrow, it was decided to swap our afternoon excursions around, as both Nice and sailing need the sunshine! So we visited Nice today, with Grasse tomorrow and sailing on Friday. After lunch everyone was transferred to the train station, very excited for their visit to the ‘Queen of the Riviera’ and it is difficult to imagine the carnage which took place in this idyllic part of the world exactly one month ago. Our meeting point was set at the newly revamped Place Masséna and everyone was afforded some glorious ‘temps libre’, to either enjoy the shops along Boulevard Jean Medici n or to appreciate the ambience of the Promenade des Anglais, lined with its palm trees and the azure blue waters flanked by pebbled beaches. The weather was perfect and at 17h30, laden with parcels, all made their way back to the train station for the return trip to Antibes. This is when the St Alban’s boys’ beach ball landed on the train tracks and, suffice to say, this matter was treated seriously by the police …. but all’s well that ends well and certainly this will be a story to dine out on!
THURSDAY 11 AUGUST CLASSES + PARFUMERIE + CHOCOLATERIE!
Everyone is thoroughly enjoying the lessons and certainly feeling far more confident to communicate in French! After lunch there was time to relax and enjoy ‘bonding & chilling’ in the courtyard, before boarding the coach to Grasse – home of French perfume and dubbed as the ‘balcony of Provence’ for its magnificent panoramic views. At the Fragonard Parfumerie, our delightful guide Monica led us on a most informative tour, before putting all ‘to the test’ in their in-site boutique….with Zak as her able assistant! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the visit and, judging by the packets in hand, many purchases were made! We then walked through the small, quaint streets of Vieux Grasse, where we visited the Chocolaterie du Planteur, a family-run enterprise and after a brief tour & free tastings, all headed off for some ‘post chocolate crepes’!! After such a happy &relaxing afternoon, all returned to campus in high spirits and this evening there is the traditional soirée cabaret, where each country represented on campus performs - our SA students will not let the side down and all are eager to show off their many & varied talents!!
FRIDAY 12 AUGUST DELF CERTIFICATE + SUN, SEA & SAILING!
Our week in Antibes has flown by so very quickly and today marked the end of the formal lessons with Le Centre International d'Antibes. All the students were proud recipients of a DELF accredited certificate which attests to the 15 hours of tuition + the level attained + a comment from the teachers and once again the educators expressed their absolute delight with the South Africans, praising their positive, enthusiastic and serious approach. After lunch all excitedly made their way by coach to the Yacht Club in Antibes, where they donned life jackets and listened attentively to the instructions for sailing on a catamaran! This was such a wonderful experience and all were stunned by the incredible beauty of the calm azure blue waters, with the vieille ville in close proximity and Italy in the distance! There was much laughter as they were towed out to sea and all returned having loved the experience. We then made our way to the public beach, where we relaxed, frolicked in the waters and ate ice-creams until our departure for campus at 16h45. Tonight there will be a 2nd visit to the vibrant summer resort of Juan les Pins, which is bound to be a perfect ending to our incredible week on the French Riviera!
SATURDAY 13 AUGUST FAREWELL TO ANTIBES & BIENVENUE A PARIS!
The weather has been absolutely glorious for the entire week and we have been very blessed indeed. After breakfast, all vacated their rooms and then had a couple of hours in Antibes, before returning to campus for a picnic lunch. Here everyone had the opportunity to say a fond farewell to new-found friends and to our animatrice, Claire, who has really added such value to our week together. We left campus at 13h00 and check-in at Nice airport went very smoothly, thanks to a wonderful gentleman at Air France and we made our way through security with no problems. At Orly our coach was waiting to whisk us through to our hotel, Campanile Paris La Villette and the telephone number is + 33 6 34 48 50 95. Once the rooms had been allocated, we had some time to freshen up and relax in the lounge, before enjoying a delicious dinner in the hotel restaurant, accompanied by coke & orange juice. Everyone is exhausted and all were very happy to then retire to their rooms for some sleep, in the knowledge that tomorrow will be a very busy day!
SUNDAY 14 AUGUST MUSEE DU LOUVRE, NOTRE DAME & MONTMARTRE
Joyeux Anniversaire to my gorgeous little 2 year old grandson, Joshua and to Alison’s daughter in England! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed a good night’s sleep and, after a quick breakfast, we all made our way by metro to the Musée du Louvre. They were overwhelmed by the beauty of this former palace, as our specialist guide introduced them to so many incredible works of art and veritable ‘gems’. There was then some free time to buy food, before setting off on a relaxing Sunday stroll along the River Seine in glorious sunshine. At Notre Dame they were given free time to explore the area and all were encouraged to go inside the cathedral to see the beautiful stain glass rose windows. We have just returned home to rest for a short while and at 17h00 we will leave for Montmartre, where we will enjoy a 3 course meal on the famous Place du Tertre….some may even have their portraits painted!
MONDAY 15 AUGUST CHAMPS ELYSEES + CRUISE + PARIS BY NGHT + EIFFEL TOWER!
Everyone was delighted to have a slower start this morning and we only left the hotel at 11h00. They were looking forward to a few glorious hours on the Champs Elysées and our meeting time is set for 15h30. We will then make our way to Trocadero, which affords a magnificent view of the majestic Eiffel Tower and, after photo-shoots, ice creams and crepes, we will hop on board one of the Bâteaux Parisiens for a cruise with commentary on all the famous landmarks along the river Seine. A delicious 3 course meal will be served in a restaurant alongside the river and at 20h00 our guide will meet us for our coach tour of Paris by night. To complete our amazing day, at 22h30 we will ascend to the 2nd floor of a sparkling Eiffel Tower, where all will marvel at this City of Lights, before returning to our hotel by coach around midnight! Quelle journée magnifique!
TUESDAY 16 AUGUST DISNEYLAND PARIS!
All are very excited for their day at Disneyland Paris and a full day it will be, with our return only scheduled for 19h00! Dinner tonight will be served in the hotel restaurant, after which they will have time to socialize in the lounge and pack. With our departure tomorrow, many of the girls will have to re-arrange their luggage to avoid being overweight … and this could take some time!
WEDNESDAY 17 AUGUST HOMEWARD BOUND!
Today marks the final day of our tour and tonight we will return to Afrique du Sud. The group had bonded so well and there will certainly be mixed feelings - sadness at having to leave new friends, but excitement to see loved ones back home! Once we have packed and left our luggage in the bagagerie, we will set off for the famous Galéries Lafayette and all the other ‘gems’ which lie in close proximity! We will return to the hotel by 16h00, where everyone will have time to freshen up & change, before boarding our coach to CDG. Flight AF 990 is scheduled to depart at 23h25 and I am sure that there is no need to remind all excited parents & family members that we are due to arrive at OR Tambo tomorrow morning, Thursday 18 August @ 09h55. To act ‘in loco parentis’ is no mean task and I would sincerely like to thank Alison Scarr from St John’s College who has been a superb chaperone and tower of strength. She is a women of great compassion and I very much appreciate her quiet dignity and her constant support throughout. Thank you for flying the Personal Touch banner so high - merci beaucoup pour tout ma chère amie! It has been a very successful & happy tour and as parents you can rest assured that you have afforded your children the most wonderful opportunity. 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 and the precious memories & firm bonds of friendships will last a lifetime. It remains for me to wish you all a happy home-coming ~ ‘bon voyage, bon retour et a la prochaine’!