Day one - travel & exploration

From the airport we took a train to the Alexandraplatz, we then caught the underground train to the Pankow station, we then changed for the third time and took the underground to our final destination being Senefelderplatz station where we lugged suitcases to our hotel. We checked in and. Had free time in our rooms to unpack and shower. We then met in the lobby at half 7 to start our walking tour of the city. We caught our fourth form of public transport and went from Senefelderplatz back over to Pankow where we were able to explore the city. We all grabbed some food, we went to McDonalds and some of the others took food from other places, like the crepè store and Starbucks. We went to view the TV Tower and all of the other sights around, we walked for miles to explore gorgeous sights that Berlin holds. On our journey we so buildings such Brandenburg gate, the Reichstag building and we saw all of the embassies that were around. We also detoured a little to see more, such as the university, and the holocaust memorial. Whilst being at the memorial, many people felt many different things. Penny told us that she felt that it was so 'eerie' yet so 'beautiful' where as Callum, said that 'you almost felt lost, you had a lack of belonging, you almost feel inferior. The disorientation was overwhelming' he explained that he had 'never felt anything like it before'. After a long day, we finally made our own way back to the Hostel and guided the teachers too! We took the underground again to make our own way back. Arriving to the hotel was a relief for many, but the day was phenomenal. 

  Signed Callum and Sian👦👧

😄😃😀😊☺️😉😍😘😚😗😙😜😝😛😁😂😅😋😆😎👶💂👲👳👮👷👴👵👱👼👸😺😸😻😽😼🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐞🐞🐞🐞🐧🐑🐛🐝🐪🐖🐂🌲🌞🌑⛄️⛄️🌁🌾🌳🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌘🌗🌖🌕🌚🌚🌚🌚🌚🌚🌚

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1 week to go

Yay! It's so close now!

If you wanted to watch the film (some info here: http://tipsfromchip.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/movie-valkyrie-2008.html) that I mentioned at the meeting, it is called VALKYRIE and stars, amongst others, Tom Cruise.  I did say that I would do a showing after school on Tuesday next week for you, but I'm not in school that day now, do I won't be able to sort hat for you ... Many sorries. It is available on LOVEFILM and on netflix though. I think I have also found a diversion link on YouTube to it - search force full length film. Fantastic film - well worth a watch.

Don't forget to keep checking back to the blog. I'll update you on things almost daily now if I can.

Remember: waterproof and walking shoes/wellies/doc martins.

The presentation for the parents' meeting is below and can be downloaded as a pdf file, should you so wish.  The documents handed out at the meeting will be uploaded onto this blog after the parents' meeting has taken place.

BERLIN Presentation

Back in the UK

The title says it all ...

Disneyland

Well we are all here and fun is very much underway. 

There is a group of children and teachers in each park - later on, we will all join together before we head off for another Christmas market and the long journey home. 

It is LOADS warmer here today and the sky is beautifully clear -just admire our photo :-)

We hope you aren't missing us too much ...

All up

We've had a well-deserved night of sleep im a fab, comfortable hotel. The showers are fantastic and everyone was out like a light. 

Breakfast soon and then we are off to explore Dismeyland. 

Yesterday's weather was not as bad over here as it was in the UK,but the winds did mean that we departed England a little late and that our journey speed was restricted over here- as a result we bypassed Arras and went straight for Paris. The children enjoyed their Champs-Élysées McDo experiene and we were incredibly good tourists around some of the big sites. We wtimed the arrival at the Eiffel Tower perfectly and saw a stunning light show. Photos of the Eiffel Tower are in abundance and several of the children made ickle purchase sat the Christmas Market by the Tocadéro :-) 

And we are just boarding the train

We have passed through passport control and are just queuing to board the train - all perfectly to time :-)

The children have been great and there have only been a few "are we nearly there?" queries!!