Report by Mrs Maltman
The recent French/Art trip to Paris, consisting of 12 students and three members of staff, was another great success.
On arrival in Paris, after a quick bite to eat and check-in at the hotel - we were using the same hotel as last year and every room we were allocated had a stunning view over the Eiffel Tower - we headed to Sacré Coeur where we were lucky enough to hear an evening service and enjoy the stunning view over Paris.
The next day we had an extremely early start to be at the Musée d’Orsay by 0945, followed by a visit to the Tuilerie gardens, lunch in the Rue de Rivoli district and then a long stroll in glorious sunshine through the streets of government buildings on the Left Bank, past the Rodin Museum and Les Invalides to the Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower. We walked up to the second floor on foot but it got a bit scary when a storm hit just as we had started the ascent - violent squalls, wind, thunder and lightning! When we came down we headed back to Montmartre to eat at a local brasserie, exhausted!
On Friday, we had yet another very early start to be at the Louvre before 0930. It was extremely busy, but interesting for all. Lunch was in the quartier of the Palais Royal. Thanks to some contacts of Gregor's father, we were able to organise a visit to the Paris Ecole des Beaux Arts, a wonderful Art school which is not open to the general public. The administrator in charge of all Media and Press links showed us round: the Art students in particular were fascinated, especially by the fact that we were taken through several workshops - etching, wood-working, plastering, painting - where they could see students actually working and speak to them. Hopefully, we will be able to visit the school another year. After this excitement, it was off to Notre Dame, the Shakespeare Book Company and then a meal in the very lively Latin Quarter.The day finished as we strolled up the Champs Elyssées to the Arc de Triomphe by night.
On Saturday, the students opted for a “long lie”, followed by a stroll past the opulent Opéra Garnier, into the gardens of the Palais Royal to see the huge art installation, past les Halles and down to the Pompidou Centre for its modern art. There were fewer street performers than usual, perhaps because of the chill in the air. Maisie was joined by her sister, Poppy (who was on this trip two years ago), and I met Chiara Orloff (who was also with me two years ago) and I was able to get news not just of these two former students but of others with whom they keep in touch. The students went off shopping, following which we returned to the hotel to pack before our final meal together.
Some students left early on Sunday morning to catch flights home but the small group which remained just had time to visit the Orangerie to see Monet’s wonderful Waterlilies in all their splendour, and admire the Place de la Concorde, before returning to the hotel to collect cases and depart by bus for the airport.
It was an action packed few days in mixed weather. The French students enjoyed conversing in French and discovering that they could really be understood by French people! The Art students all preferred different museums: some had hundreds of photos, others preferred to sketch. All gained from the experience and all went home exhausted!