Welcome to Ross High’s ML Trips

Day 1 : Depart school mid-day to Newcastle for late afternoon overnight crossing to Holland.

Day 2 : Arrive in the morning, onward journey (with lunch stop) to Boppard.  Check into hotel Zur Alten Post in Boppard.  Mini-train late afternoon round town.  Dinner at hotel.  Evening in Eiscafe in town.

Day 3 : River Cruise from Boppard to St Goarhausen, onto Rüdesheim.  Lunch.  Visit to Castle.  Dinner at hotel.  Evening – swimming/bowling

Day 4 : Day in Cologne – visit FC Köln Stadium.  Lunch.  Chocolate Factory.  Visit Cathedral.  Free time in town.  Dinner at hotel. 

Day 5 : Phantasialand all day!!!  Dinner at hotel then last night disco.

Day 6:  Free time in Boppard, lunch in hotel and depart early afternoon taking packed lunch with us.  Transfer back to Calais for evening crossing.  Stop en route for shopping – hopefully!

Day 7 : arrive back to school in morning

Part II of the France 2009 photos.

We stayed 2 nights at a Disneyland Hotel. We went sightseeing on the coach, we had lunch in Le Louvre gardens, we went on a cruise down River Seine, we visited the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and of course Disneyland!!! Fantastic trip as you can see!!!

Part I of the France 2009 photos.

Enjoy photos from ferry to Caen, Port-en-Bessin where we stayed three nights, Arromanches & D-Day Landing Museum, German Battery, American & German War Cemeteries, Isigny-sur-Mer, Bayeux, the cider farm & football game.

Finally the day has come!  No problems getting them up this morning!!!!  We were at the Disneyland Park at opening time – 10am.  It was sooooo hot!  As soon as we entered the park everybody scattered in all directions.  The most organised headed for the Fast Track Passes. The most talked about ride was Space Mountain although the queues got longer as the day went on – however, the teachers started their morning with a slow boat ride round It’s a Small World – we are still singing the song!!  In fact, it was the only ride that Mrs Shanley went on – she was in charge of the gifts, phones, purses, bags, jerseys – the pile got bigger as the day went on ….

Before leaving the Magic Kingdom of Disneyland we had group photos taken in front of the beautiful Castle – hopefully they will appear on the blog.  Unbelievably it started to rain as we got on the bus at 6pm – first drop of rain that we have had all week.  It only lasted a few minutes though.  As soon as we got on the bus, we put on DVDs – some people are sleeping already though – it has been a busy week.

The teachers would like to thank the pupils for their excellent behaviour, laughs you gave us, the fabulous timekeeping and for being YOU!!!!

Thank you all!

Au revoir et passez des bonnes vacances!!!

Hardcore Shanley, Looky-Looky Campbell, Weegee Tennent & Moany Scott ( thanks a lot kids…. Mrs Scott says….)

Paris Day 5

It was so difficult to wake everybody this morning. We were so tired. Poor Aidan got the fright of his life when Mr Tennent in his striped pyjama bottoms and cape knocked on his door to wake them up!!!! Aidan never knew where he was…..Murray managed to get to the breakfast buffet but could not face drink or food!!! Craig Purves was the last person on the bus today – he thought he was going to get a prize…. Instead he was warned to be up earlier tomorrow!!!!

Driving towards the Eiffel Tower Louise A started making seal-noises similar to Robyn’s yesterday when hiccoughing .Amy N said: We should get Robyn down to the front of the bus and we will start a band!!!! Five minutes later Amy N also said when looking at a yellow M sign for the Metro, is that a fake McDonald’s sign????

IT IS SOOOO HOT!!! Tans are coming on nicely…

Arriving at the Eiffel Tower there was a 2 hour wait for the lift, so we decided to go up the stairs all the way to the second level. The views were incredible once we had the energy to appreciate them!!! Beth bought here the most beautiful charm bracelet with all the famous Parisian monuments. Myles- the athlete- complained about all steps on the way back down the Eiffel Tower!

From there we headed to Montmartre where we took a tour on Le petit train de Montmartre ( the cutest tourist train!!!). The sights and the smells of this part of Paris are impossible to describe they have to be experienced!!! Poor Adam was scared of the pigeons and there were quite a few of them! Lindsay & Samantha bought lovely I love Paris tops and Lauren E bought a complete outfit for a whole 20 euros!!! Craig P now knows all the days of the week in French thanks to his new T-shirt. Mr Campbell took photos of Dillon and Andrew outside the Moulin Rouge in THEIR new T-shirts. To summarise Montmartre: the girls T-shirts/jumpers were more touristy and the boys were more naughty….

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at a massive shopping mall where we stocked up on drinks and snack for the journey home. When asked if Stephanie needed any money she said that she was saving it for Dior!!! Lachlan stocked up on his personal supply that will last way beyond Tranent!!!!

It has just come to our attention that the bad smells at the back of the bus could well be Fraser even though he is blaming everybody else…..

We are so pleased that three people are well-behaved and quiet on the bus all the time- Thank you James, John and Arron MacK!!!

Craig S was quiet on the way back from Paris today and he was even trying to catch flies when sleeping! Most of the group tried snails at dinner, we think that Kevin S was the only one who brought his up immediately!!!!

Tonight some have gone to the Disney village on the shuttle bus and some have decided to stay in the hotel and chill or go swimming.  We are all looking forward to the madness of Disneyland tomorrow – well, all except Mrs Shanley, who has brought her book and will hold all the bags – bring it on!!!

We shall finish the blog when we get back to school on Friday morning – hopefully with photos!  Bet you wish you were here …..

Hardcore Shanley, Looky-looky Campbell, Weegee Tennent and (sorry Ms Scott…) Moany Scott

Normandy Day 3

Very early start today and not many made it for breakfast at 7.45 only the exceptionally hungry ones!

We headed for the Caramel factory in Isigny-sur-Mer where we were shown how caramels are made. Mrs Shanley was the translator, however she looked like somebody out of Ghostbusters with a massive tube amplifier around her neck which she had to lug around the whole factory. They used local butter and milk and they only sell to order around the world. We all got to taste different caramels and everybody got a bag to take away.

As many pupils missed breakfast they were all over the moon when we spotted a McDonald’s nearby the factory. We had to wait impatiently for them to open but soon everybody was fed and we had a free internet access. So everybody was happy!!!

From there we went to the port and saw typical fishermen’s cottages called hogues Pupils not too impressed but slightly bored however they got some fresh air in the sun. 

The afternoon was spent in Bayeux where we visited the cathedral and had two hours free time. Everybody loved the quaint cobbled streets and small cafes. It was soooooo hot!!

Before heading back to the hotel we went to a cider farm where Mrs Scott was the translator without ghostbusting equipment: she had to make do with her own voice which presented no problems to her!!! We had some cider and apple juice tastings amongst the apple trees (or orange trees not quite sure!!!) in the orchard. Strangely enough everybody preferred the cider. Quelle surprise!

After dinner, which of course was chicken but this time served with pasta, Mr Tennent & Mr Campbell took a group up to the local park to play football while Mrs Shanley & Mrs Scott took the rest down to the beach. It was a beautiful night….

Tomorrow we leave for Paris.

Bad translations of the day:

-         Mrs Shanley with her ghostbuster equipment thought the lady said huit million de morceaux de caramels but it was huit mille. Numbers are difficult in French!!! ( 8 million pieces instead of 8 thousand)

-         Mrs Scott kept on translating jus de pomme as orange juice instead of apple juice. Ooops and we were visiting a cider farm at the time.

Quote of the day:

In the crypt of Bayeux cathedral Amy F when looking at an open stone coffin said: OMG there is not enough room to move about in there. And then realised what she said: I can’t believe I just said that!!!

Paris Day 4

Left Normandy bright and early after a huge search for room keys and lost property. One key seemed to be lost forever and we had to pay to 20 euros to the angry lady at reception. Luckily Rebecca M found it in her hand bag just in time and we got our money back.

It was a quick journey to Paris and we did a sightseeing tour by bus before having our picnic lunch in the Tuilleries gardens outside the Le Louvre. Tom Hanks was not in sight though…. It seems a strange thing to mention toilets but 12 of us ( Ailsa, Alice, Ailie, Christie, Kevin, Zack C, Blair, Ceira, Jill, Bethany, Mrs Shanley & Mrs Scott) had the privilege to pay 1 euro each to experience the most luxurious toilets in the world!!! The toilet doors were held up by a lady wearing plastic gloves. You could buy as a souvenir toilet rolls with pictures on them in every colour known to man. We all wanted one but unfortunately they were 9.90 euros each!!! Meanwhile the rest of the gang were enjoying the sunshine and some were playing football when they eventually got the ball from Mr Campbell.

We then went on a cruise on the River Seine where we enjoyed the sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Musee d’Orsay in brilliant sunshine. And some of us even spotted a seal!  The group has developed a taste for making up chants as we drive along mentioning as many teachers as they can – we have no idea what we are going to hear next!!!!!!  LouiseA managed to walk on the highest heels all day – and even said that her shoes were soooo comfortable!

Our Disneyland hotel is fantastic!!! Everybody loved our buffet dinner. However we were surprised that quite a few of them picked Chicken & Chips!!! Kieran, how many times did you go to the buffet tables? Ellen also could not stop commentating how good the food was.  Afterwards, some went for a swim, some explored and some stayed in their room chilling. Everybody is so excited as we are so close to Disneyland! Jade has been helping people with their French in the Disneyland Boutique at the hotel – well done!

We are one TIRED group now but are still loving it…. C’est tout ce que j’aime ( I’m loving it… the McDonald’s tune)!!!!! 

Mrs Tully – do not worry – Conor IS eating!!!!

Quotes of the day:

When approaching Paris the drivers pointed out the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Mhairi: I thought it was a lamp post!!!!

We announced that we were about to go around the L’Arc de Triomphe  and Dale shouted out:

OMG put your seat belts on!!!!

Kevin: How many stars does our Disneyland hotel have?

Zack C: Does it have towels? (We now know how determine how many stars a hotel has)

Robyn is so excited at going to Disneyland that she ( in pure excitement) developed seal-liked hiccoughs!!!!

Bless Alana!!!!!!  She kept the teachers right at the lift in the hotel by saying:

If you press 1 then that takes you to the first floor!!!!

What a busy day!!! Early start breakfast lovely baguettes and croissants and massive big bowls of chocolat chaud, tea or coffee.

At the local market by 9.30 and we all became shopaholics!!! Excellent! You could buy anything from olives to jewellery. Plus it was so cheap, apart from the cheese that Mrs Shanley bought. Aidan has bought lots of presents for family and friends. All girls plus Mrs Shanley and Mrs Scott need to have discussions each day before leaving school so we don’t wear the same jewellery as that would be a massive fashion faux-pas! Ailie was very brave and tasted donkey sausage and oysters but she did not like them very much. Craig and Arron also tried the oysters but unfortunately Craig was feeling a little sick afterwards.

From here it all went historical! We hopefully now know lots more about the D-Day Landings by visiting Arromanches where the British soldiers arrived. It was so surreal as this village is absolutely gorgeous and tranquil to think that all these horrible events took place here. Afterwards we had a lovely lunch while overlooking the Mulberry Harbours (baguettes au jambon, crisps and chocolate sponges). Delicieux!

We also visited the German Battery which were captured by the Allies on the 7^th June 1944 the day after the D-Day Landings.

Next on the agenda was the American cemetery which was very beautiful and calm area with thousands of marble crosses all lined perfectly side by side like an army parade. It was very emotional as well as heartbreaking. Lastly we visited the German Cemetery which was very bare with some black crosses and a massive stone gate where only one person could walk through at the time (However Arron and Stefan managed to walk through side by side!!!).

Back at the hotel for showers and getting ready for the evening meal. I am afraid we where disappointed that there was no chicken & chips but pork & green beans! 

So far the quote of the trip is: At the local market at Port-en-Bessin. Mrs Shanley told a group of pupils that this is a place where lace is made. Dillon: Did the make mine (shoe laces)  12 Hours later – Lauren still does not get this!!!!

Been to local shop and Stefan was delighted to find a coke called Steff which he is sure is named after him!

Been so hot and sunny today – hope the weather is as good tomorrow……

We only managed three miles along the road before we had to stop due to the wing mirror casing being loose.

Mr Tennent the master technician fixed it with three plastic bags and a short prayer.

At the first service station stop some people bought magazines, Ailie bought where’s Wally (She had to fight off Mrs Scott from finding him in every picture) and some boys meanwhile bought special magazines with unique posters…

We made such good progress that we were just north of London before midnight. When we arrived at Portsmouth we were so early we had to wait for the port to be open.

Statistics so far: no one sick on the bus and only three sick on the boat.

However some comments made on the boat included…

Lauren: ”my hay fever is really bad just now ”

Stefan : ”how can you get hay fever on a boat?”

Alana: ”from the fish”

One of the views on the boat that everyone was queuing up to see was Ailie sleeping with mouth open and eyes half open. Another tourist attraction was Mr Campbell grinning while he was asleep.

We have to say that pupils were a bit confused on the boat when they received a “welcome to Iceland message” on their mobiles.

Mr Campbell announced that there was a sign at sea that said Welcome to Normandy Ross High School!!! and Stefan said “ Where?”

Questions being asked before leaving ferry were:

• Do they eat French food in France?
• Is this an airport?

At dinner in Port–en-Bessin, true to form, chicken and chips all round. Fabuleux!!!

Mrs Cranston: Do not worry: So far, so good.

Have you got the new hairdo’s and are the speedos packed? Are the towels, hairdryers and straighteners in your bag with your adaptor? We will meet at the school at 7pm and the bus will leave at 7.30pm. Make sure that  you have something to eat and drink on the bus as well as a pillow and a jumper. Bring DVDs!

REMEMBER YOUR EUROS!!!

A demain! See you tomorrow!

The Party Leaders

Tuesday 16 June at Break (10.35-10.50) there will be a meeting held in Mrs Shanley’s room 131 for everybody going on the trip. Don’t forget it!

À demain!