Free time, shops, palaces ...

We've walked for miles and Vicky R feels like her legs are going to drop off!

We have seen the arc de triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Madeleine church, the president's palace (there was something going on there ... A police lady even helped us to cross the road), walked up the champs élysées, seen the obelisk, ate dinner in Tuileries gardens (we can see why Paris is the city of lurve), seen the Louvre and the Bastille ... Oh and been up the very tall tour Montparnasse.

Weather is beautiful and very warm (and we can even see the sun ... Although George has warned us about the perils of looking at the sun).

We're off to see the flame lighting ceremony, then we are going to climb many steps up the arc de triomphe ... Then we will probably not only ache, but also DESERVE our dinner :-)

So far today

We have been to the top of the Tour Montparnasse (well, except Mr T and Chloe B!) and seen for miles, playing I-spy. 

After a short coach journey, we have now arrived at the Louvre and have got a little free time before we go for a picnic in the gardens outside. 

We have seen SO much of Paris today already - unbelievable. 

We want to wish Miss D'Arcy a happy birthday today as well - joyeux anniversaire :-)

Morning all

We have all reaped the benefits of a good night of zzzzzzzzs!

Up and raring to go (well, most of us!) and we are soon off to the Tour Montparnasse and for our day visiting the real centre of the city.

Weather should be warm once it is a better hour! We are hoping that the sun will burn the clouds away and that we shall see it today.

Breakfast is basic, but absolutely fine, and very fresh. We will catch up throughout the day.

Both mobile numbers available today.

Speak soooooooon.

We are off to explore :-)

All now in rooms

With our first day now complete, the children (and staff alike) are all shattered - clearly there are several who think that it is possible to power on against the odds though!

Children are all settled in their rooms and seem quite content with the arrangements. The 'ensuites' are more like pods! The rooms are small, but definitely very clean and tidy and they are very safe.

We've had to deviate slightly from the planned itinerary today and haven't made it to the war memorial near to Arras, as Hayden, our fantastic driver, was tight on hours to get us to the hotel; however, our bakery experience was phenomenal and we have explored the local area, visited some shops and had our tea, before a (quite competitive - thanks to Mrs Verow) rounders game. The children and staff ALL ordered their own dinner this evening in French. It may only have been a 'McDo', as it is known in France, but at least that gave many children a confidence boost about the ordering process.

Shortly after tea our whole party was united as Mrs Verow and Jake finally joined us (fresh faced and not nearly as tired as those of us who has travelled by coach!) at the hotel shortly before 9pm.

With the excitement of the first day over, we look forward to hitting Paris with a bang tomorrow and exploring some of the highs of the city before we get on the public transport on Wednesday and take on Paris 'for real'.

We hope you're missing us all terribly, but rest assured we are all having a fantastic time :-). Catch up tomorrow again.

Paris 2013 team

All now in rooms

With our first day now complete, the children (and staff alike) are all shattered - clearly there are several who think that it is possible to power on against the odds though!

Children are all settled in their rooms and seem quite content with the arrangements. The 'ensuites' are more like pods! The rooms are small, but definitely very clean and tidy and they are very safe.

We've had to deviate slightly from the planned itinerary today and haven't made it to the war memorial near to Arras, as Hayden, our fantastic driver, was tight on hours to get us to the hotel; however, our bakery experience was phenomenal and we have explored the local area, visited some shops and had our tea, before a (quite competitive - thanks to Mrs Verow) rounders game. The children and staff ALL ordered their own dinner this evening in French. It may only have been a 'McDo', as it is known in France, but at least that gave many children a confidence boost about the ordering process.

Shortly after tea our whole party was united as Mrs Verow and Jake finally joined us (fresh faced and not nearly as tired as those of us who has travelled by coach!) at the hotel shortly before 9pm.

With the excitement of the first day over, we look forward to hitting Paris with a bang tomorrow and exploring some of the highs of the city before we get on the public transport on Wednesday and take on Paris 'for real'.

We hope you're missing us all terribly, but rest assured we are all having a fantastic time :-). Catch up tomorrow again.

Paris 2013 team

The journey has started ...

Well, we are just a few metres from our train and the journey south has gone really well so far. 

Some children have slept; others haven't! 

We should be travelling on an earlier train, departing on the 6.47 instead. 

There have clearly been too many E numbers consumed by the younger proportion of the coach; but they are all beginning to think that sleep would be a good idea. 

We are all aware that many of you are just waking up as we bid au revoir to England and bonjour to la France. 

We all want to wish Jake lots of luck in his GCSE Statistics exam - and we hope that Mrs Verow and him have a lovely flight out to join us later today (we will save you a pain au chocolat). 

See you all soon. 

Are you excited?

So, it's the BIG DAY. There'll be a fantastic buzz of excitement at 11.30 tonight outside Clough Hall Technology School, as parents hand their children over to teachers for the week.  The languages trip has become an institution for some of the children in school - they come every year and can't bring themselves to miss one. For other children, they will only be allowed to one once, and they have DEFINITELY chosen a fantastic trip to enjoy! We will be updating the blog as we travel to Paris and at the end of the day each day. There'll be photos of the exciting things we do, there'll be tales of the things thy we have done, and there'll be snippets of things that have happened throughout the days.