Forty Wallace High School pupils, accompanied by four members of staff, recently spent five days in Paris.
The annual French language study tour, organised by Head of Modern Languages Miss Pam Brown, was thoroughly enjoyed by the group of teenagers.
On arrival at Charles de Gaulle airport, the Lisburn party was met by their coach and driver. Their Disney festooned coach proved very eye – catching – a boon as it provided an easy point of reference at busy tourist locations.
Their first evening gave the Wallace pupils a chance to put their French language skills into practise, ordering their meal. The first full day began with a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral. Year nine pupil Rory Stewart commented,
“The architecture of Notre Dame was really impressive – the rose window and the gargoyles were very memorable, as was the buzz of the street vendors outside, where we all enjoyed buying souvenirs and showing off our French!”
A tour of the Conciergerie, the former prison where Marie Antoinette was held before being taken to the guillotine, gave the pupils an opportunity to learn about French history by exploring the cells and exhibitions.
A stroll along the Seine to the Louvre was next on the agenda, with the Wallace pupils being impressed by the modern glass pyramid. They then enjoyed shopping on the famous Boulevard Hausmann in Parisian department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.
A “Paris, City of Light” illumination tour that evening gave the party a chance to savour the delights of the capital , complete with a tour guide to keep them informed about the history and culture of the city.
The following day was a highlight for many on the trip, with a visit to Disneyland Paris. The drizzle did not dampen the teenagers’ spirits as they explored the five theme parks.
A river cruise along the Seine started off the fourth day, followed by lunch on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. A guided tour of the Musee d’Orsay was followed by a trip to the Sacre Coeur Church in Montmartre. Caroline Davis commented,
“The view from the steps of Sacre Coeur was amazing. Lots of us had our portraits painted in the Place de Tertre by the street artists.”
Kathryn Fairley went on, “Our final night was spent back at our hotel where our teachers had organised a table quiz based on all we’d learnt during the trip.” Marcus Lewis concluded, “Our last morning in Paris was spent climbing up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for some spectacular views of the Grande Arche at the Defense and the Charles de Gaulle Etoile. We also had time for a final stroll down the Champs Elysees before heading back to the airport to catch our flight to Dublin. We’d all like to thank our teachers, Miss Brown, MrAgass, Mrs Mitchell and Miss Colton for organising such a brilliant trip.”
Miss Pam Brown concluded, “This was a very successful trip – due in no small part to the exemplary behaviour and enthusiasm of The Wallace High School pupils who learnt a great deal about French history, language and culture.”
Last modified: October 16, 2007
