Dec 6, 2010 - Two big Castle's with lot's of snow

29th of November Today we drove down to a huge castle called Chateau Chambord. This Castle was the most amazing castle with ten different pillars. The interesting bit was that one part of the castle was made at a later stage of construction and done by a different owner. The later part of the castle was far less detailed than the earlier stage of construction. The most amazing bit was that it was covered in 8 inches of snow. When inside there was an amazing double spiral stair case intertwined with each other. it was called a double helix...

Dec 1, 2010 - Avignon - then quiet couple of days

19th of November We drove all day from Bellagio to Avignon and arrived in the early evening. It rained the whole day, so it was good to be in the car. There was a market of local produce in the town square which we could see from our hotel room, but it was too miserable to venture to the stalls. Later, we went to a local bistro for dinner. Dad had terrible tooth ache so we got in and out as quickly as possible and had an early night before a long drive home. The next day Dad wasn't feeling the best so Mum and the kids had breakfast while...

Jul 30, 2010 - Walking around in a huge circle

Why set an alarm when there is no breakfast. It took a little motivating but we eventually crawled out of bed and got dressed. We could see out the window we just missed a bus, so I made a coffee and checked emails while we waited. With a few minutes to spare before the bus would arrive we walked to the bus stop. We departed the bus at Place Pie and decided to get some breakfast. We found a small supermarket and the hardest decision of our day was deciding what to buy. We decided on Madeleines Coquilles, small cupcakes (kind of). We both...

Jun 27, 2010 - Sun & lavender

We have had a great couple of days here. Yesterday we did the best of Provence tour in the afternoon. The guide was great and there were another 2 kiwis on the tour. We saw the Pont du Gard {roman aquaduct} and three beautiful villages. Today we did the lavender tour which started in a provencal market and then went to an abbey with a large lavender field. Then to 2 of the villages we went to yesterday before going to an area of beautiful lavender fields. We finished with a visit to the lavender museum to learn all about the types, how the...

Jun 25, 2010 - Avignon is hot

Ok. Avignon is hot in 2 ways. 35 degrees when we arrived and we love it. Have decided not to go to Marseilles but have booked another 2 nights here. For ma and pa T, we are 2 floors up and no lift. But we have free internet even though the keyboard is wierd. Never mind. More later

May 24, 2010 - Hey Again

Dear Mrs. McConochie’s Class, I’ve been in school for three weeks now. I have tests daily and take are class at the Palais de Papes. They do a lot of math here and verbs but I like science the best. We are studying shadows now. I don’t know what you are studying but I would like to find out. School doesn’t finish here until July 1st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUMMER!!!!!!! My gym class is outside school (like a field trip) and we do handball but we are going to do tennis soon. Recess isn’t like ours back home. We don’t have a playground just a mini...

May 12, 2010 - 1 1/2 weeks of school down - 7 more to go!

Dear Mrs. McConochie’s Class, I am missing you all lots. School in France is really hard. I have already been in school for 1 ½ weeks and I am doing well but I get really tired. I had handball yesterday. It is a French game where one team has a small ball and the other team tries to get it away from them before they get to 5 passes and vice versa. I don’t have school tomorrow or Friday because it is Ascension Day here which has to do with World War II. How was the Space Play? Write back and tell me all about it. Gros bisous! Lauren Hi again...

May 6, 2010 - We are in Avignon, France!

Dear Mrs. Mc Conachie and Class, I’m here in Avignon, France. I am staying in the same apartment as last year. The first day of school was great. My friends recognized me in the blink of an eye. My classroom is great. I sit next to Matilde, one of my friends. Ameili sits next to her then Pauline. I am learning math and geometry, along with French of course. English class is great (ha ha)! Now instead of tennis I am learning handball. What are you learning? How are the Space rehearsals going? How are you all doing? Miss you and can’t wait to...

Oct 7, 2009 - Avignon - St Remy - Les Baux - Pont du Gard - Orange

Early morning wander through the markets and then off on the bus to St Remy de Provence for their Wed markets - beautiful linen. Yummy mushroom crepe for lunch then at 2pm our driver picked us up. 1st stop - Les Baux de Provence situated high on a rocky spur 245m high overlooking the alpilles. This immense and superb stone fortress is without doubt one of the most beautiful places in France. 2nd stop - Cathedrale D'Images at Les Baux de Provence for a very special light & sound show about the world of Picasso. Through the show they have...

Oct 6, 2009 - Avignon

Sur le pont d’Avignon L'on y danse, l'on y danse Sur le pont d’Avignon L'on y danse tout en rond On the bridge of Avignon We all dance there, we all dance there On the bridge of Avignon We all dance there in a ring @@@@@@@ I kept thinking about all the great French films that we have seen over the years, many of them set in the south, particularly Provence. When we arrived at the train station in Montpelier to book a ticket east, I wanted to suggest to Anil that we go to Avignon, but it seemed to be a little out of the way. When Anil...

Oct 5, 2009 - My birthday - Carcassonne to Avignon

What a start to the day - missed our wake up call and our TGV. No refund - had to rebook - so went shopping. Early afternoon and now headed for Avignon. Met Dana & Fay from USA on the train. We were planing on doing some similiar sightseeing so decided to hit the Tourist place together. Armed with info it was coffee time to make some decisions. The places we wanted to go too were looking difficult - no trains or buses to some - then, Shirley had a brainwave, I grabbed Dana and zoomed back to the tourist place before they closed and got my...

Sep 22, 2009 - Paris - overnight train to Milan

Sleep in and then off to the Musee d Orsay. Not too long a wait in the queue. Musee d Orsay - very impressed - where else can you get so up close and personal with so mnay wonderful paintings and sculptures (especially liked the dance ones). Renoir - Monet - Cezanne - . . . Then one of my favourite things in Paris - a walk along the River Seine - headed back to the Latin Quarter for some shopping and continued back to the hotel to squeeze the extra in. Taxi to Paris Bercy and prepare for an overnight train to Milan. Well, what an education...