End-of-year trip to France (June 2000)
That was my first trip to a foreign country. I finished the Secondary School (ESO) last summer and we visited France. A few months before was a show of hands in the classroom to choose between Paris or Lisbon and this vote revealed that everyone prefered Paris but me, I voted for Lisbon. I wasn't especially excited about going to Disneyland and I would have preferred another destination though Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, romantic, rich in culture and history.
We travelled by bus because obviously, it was the cheapest option and it was also a way to spend more time with all classmates and teachers. Almost 24 hours of journey! We stopped several times to take pictures, to rest or eat something. Before arriving in France we stopped in Zaragoza...
We travelled by bus because obviously, it was the cheapest option and it was also a way to spend more time with all classmates and teachers. Almost 24 hours of journey! We stopped several times to take pictures, to rest or eat something. Before arriving in France we stopped in Zaragoza...
The trip on the bus was long but very amusing with music, films, etc. I took a cassette by Westlife. The teachers who came were Joan, Mercedes Álvarez and Santi. I was happy because I had always wanted to travel abroad and because I was with my school friends.
The trip was very complete: Bordeaux, Poitiers, Futuroscope, Paris, Costa Brava (Figueras).
DAY 1: LOCATION - POITIERS
Departure early in the day towards Poitiers. Arrival, installation, dinner and overnight.
DAY 2: Poitiers (Futuroscope Park)
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Futuroscope, where we spent the whole day. It was a different theme park where science and technology come together to amuse and excite the senses. Explore the world from another perspective, through emotions and feelings. We lived and shared innovative experiences. We had lots of fun during the day. Before we left I bought a keychain of Futuroscope and a teddy bear :-)
DAY 3: POITIERS - PARIS (Panoramic, Eiffel Tower)
Breakfast at hotel and departure for Paris. Once there we started making a sightseeing. We went to the Concorde Square, the center of the city, where we walked the famous avenue of Paris: The Champs Elysées. This avenue was designed by Napoleon and leads up to the Arc de Triomphe at Etoile Square. We continued to the Trocadero Gardens, where we enjoyed a beautiful view of the city.
Later we saw the Eiffel Tower. We took the lift to the top of the tower (some colleagues ascended the stairs) and we enjoyed the spectacular views.
Installation in the hotel. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 4: PARIS (Versailles, Paris)
Breakfast at the hotel. We visited the Palace of Versailles. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for more than thirty years ago, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most known worldwide not only for its stunning architecture and endless palaces and manicured grounds, but because it's an important part of French history.
In the afternoon we continued the visits to Paris. We went to the Centre Pompidou path to Bastille area. The Bastille is one of the symbols of the French Revolution, and a monument in the center of the main square in the neighborhood reminds us. We continued the tour arround the geographic center of the city, where we saw the Conciergerie (a beautiful old palace during the Revolution intended to house the prisoners until his execution by guillotine), the Sainte Chapelle and the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, a masterpiece of Gothic and medieval architecture. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 5: PARIS (Louvre, Bateau Mouche ride on the Seine)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we made a cultural visit to the Louvre, the world's largest museum. This building was the palace of the kings of France until Louis XIV moved to Versailles. This visit lasted most of the morning and the rest of the time is dedicated to continuing visits to the city.
We walked the streets of the Rive Droite, a parallel to the Champs Elysées district where commercial public life, work and concentrates Paris. Among others, we can highlight the Opera House, the Magdelaine, Place Vendome, with its central obelisk. In this part of the city is where we find the Galeries Lafayette, a large shopping center refined architecture.
In the afternoon we went to the famous Montmartre district, located on a hill from where we enjoyed a magnificent view of a big part of the city. This neighborhood was the epicenter of bohemian Paris in the late nineteenth century and home to painters and artists of international renown. We visited some city squares and streets. We went to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, recently built, but has become one of the symbols of Paris.
Around the Basilica we saw the Theatre Square and surrounding streets, where the painters were working on the street. On the way down the hill we found the emblematic Moulin Rouge. Late in the afternoon we took a walk along the Seine river with the Bateau Mouche. A different view of the major sights around the river, viewed from another perspective. In the evening, return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
DAY 6: PARIS (Disney)
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by bus to Eurodisney park where we were all day enjoying the attractions and characters of Walt Disney. We visited several shops of souvenirs and I bought a Mickey Mouse very cute ^_^ and some other things.
Dinner at the park and and later we started the trip to Spain with a stop at the north of the Costa Brava. Night on route.
DAY 7: COSTA BRAVA (Figueras)
Arrive to the hotel. Full board. We had free time to go to the beach and enjoy the facilities of the hotel (including the swimming-pool). At night: we had a party at the hotel. Party end of trip at the nightclub and bar of the hotel.
DAY 8: RETURN TO VALENCIA
Free time until meal. Afternoon: return to Valencia and end of the trip. Approximate arrival time: 20.00h.
DAY 1: LOCATION - POITIERS
Departure early in the day towards Poitiers. Arrival, installation, dinner and overnight.
DAY 2: Poitiers (Futuroscope Park)
Breakfast at the hotel and departure to Futuroscope, where we spent the whole day. It was a different theme park where science and technology come together to amuse and excite the senses. Explore the world from another perspective, through emotions and feelings. We lived and shared innovative experiences. We had lots of fun during the day. Before we left I bought a keychain of Futuroscope and a teddy bear :-)
DAY 3: POITIERS - PARIS (Panoramic, Eiffel Tower)
Breakfast at hotel and departure for Paris. Once there we started making a sightseeing. We went to the Concorde Square, the center of the city, where we walked the famous avenue of Paris: The Champs Elysées. This avenue was designed by Napoleon and leads up to the Arc de Triomphe at Etoile Square. We continued to the Trocadero Gardens, where we enjoyed a beautiful view of the city.
Later we saw the Eiffel Tower. We took the lift to the top of the tower (some colleagues ascended the stairs) and we enjoyed the spectacular views.
Installation in the hotel. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 4: PARIS (Versailles, Paris)
Breakfast at the hotel. We visited the Palace of Versailles. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for more than thirty years ago, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most known worldwide not only for its stunning architecture and endless palaces and manicured grounds, but because it's an important part of French history.
In the afternoon we continued the visits to Paris. We went to the Centre Pompidou path to Bastille area. The Bastille is one of the symbols of the French Revolution, and a monument in the center of the main square in the neighborhood reminds us. We continued the tour arround the geographic center of the city, where we saw the Conciergerie (a beautiful old palace during the Revolution intended to house the prisoners until his execution by guillotine), the Sainte Chapelle and the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame, a masterpiece of Gothic and medieval architecture. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 5: PARIS (Louvre, Bateau Mouche ride on the Seine)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we made a cultural visit to the Louvre, the world's largest museum. This building was the palace of the kings of France until Louis XIV moved to Versailles. This visit lasted most of the morning and the rest of the time is dedicated to continuing visits to the city.
We walked the streets of the Rive Droite, a parallel to the Champs Elysées district where commercial public life, work and concentrates Paris. Among others, we can highlight the Opera House, the Magdelaine, Place Vendome, with its central obelisk. In this part of the city is where we find the Galeries Lafayette, a large shopping center refined architecture.
In the afternoon we went to the famous Montmartre district, located on a hill from where we enjoyed a magnificent view of a big part of the city. This neighborhood was the epicenter of bohemian Paris in the late nineteenth century and home to painters and artists of international renown. We visited some city squares and streets. We went to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, recently built, but has become one of the symbols of Paris.
Around the Basilica we saw the Theatre Square and surrounding streets, where the painters were working on the street. On the way down the hill we found the emblematic Moulin Rouge. Late in the afternoon we took a walk along the Seine river with the Bateau Mouche. A different view of the major sights around the river, viewed from another perspective. In the evening, return to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by bus to Eurodisney park where we were all day enjoying the attractions and characters of Walt Disney. We visited several shops of souvenirs and I bought a Mickey Mouse very cute ^_^ and some other things.
Dinner at the park and and later we started the trip to Spain with a stop at the north of the Costa Brava. Night on route.
DAY 7: COSTA BRAVA (Figueras)
Arrive to the hotel. Full board. We had free time to go to the beach and enjoy the facilities of the hotel (including the swimming-pool). At night: we had a party at the hotel. Party end of trip at the nightclub and bar of the hotel.
DAY 8: RETURN TO VALENCIA
Free time until meal. Afternoon: return to Valencia and end of the trip. Approximate arrival time: 20.00h.
SOME PICTURES OF THE TRIP
Our first stops were still in Spain...
In Poitiers (France). "Museé Agricole Les Ruralies". L'Aire du Poitou-Charentes 2000.
Our first stops were still in Spain...
In Poitiers (France). "Museé Agricole Les Ruralies". L'Aire du Poitou-Charentes 2000.
Futuroscope Park. Poitiers.
Days in Paris
Altogether (4ºESO 1999-2000)
At the hotel entrance with my friends Pilar and MªÁngeles
Me (right) with M. Ángeles and Pilar, sitting,
waiting for the people and the bus to go to Paris
EURODISNEY
Costa Brava (Figueras, Spain) Hotel and beach
This picture was taken in the room balcony. I shared my room with Pilar and M. Ángeles B.
Behind me is Juanín ^_^
At the swimming-pool of the hotel. Me (left) Joan, Pilar and Lucía de Miguel
Party at the hotel.
End of the trip. M. Ángeles, Pilar and I (right) Next to me the teacher Joan B.
Carmen, Mercedes, Jorge, Carlos, Joan
Sandra Milena and Joan B. dancing on the dance floor ^^
Me on the left next to Marian
Pilar, Marian and I
Last day of the journey. Last hours on the beach
This is our teacher, Joan Belenguer, covering his head with his beach towel xD
Relaxing on the sofa...
Eating in the hotel bar with Joan, Juanín, Pilar and MªÁngeles
Returning home. MªÁngeles (left), Joan and I (right)
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