Lyon trip (ES 2nd years)

Lyon trip 2011-2012 [Bellevue-Newpark]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Check here for the latest information on the 2nd Year trip to Lyon.  
This year 25 students (including 5 of mainstream) are taking part in the trip.
Here is the programme of the week:
2012 Lyon trip programme

and here, you’ll find the list of students with their French penpals :
matching exchange 2011 2012

For the weather forecast of the week, please see the following link :
http://france.meteofrance.com/france/meteo?PREVISIONS_PORTLET.path=previsionsville/691230

MONDAY 5TH MARCH
The students arrived safely in Lyon. They were all very excited to go to France and meet their penpals again.
A coach was waiting for us in the airport. Here, it’s cloudy and cold but it should get warmer by the end of the week.
It took about 30 min to arrive to the school; the French families were waiting for the students. Tomorrow, the students will visit the school and go on a Bus tour around Lyon in the morning then, in the afternoon, they will attend a class and a cooking workshop.

TUESDAY 6TH MARCH
Students spent their first night in Lyon. They all seem to get along well with their penpal and host family. This morning, they were all a bit tired as school starts at 8am here in Bellevue, therefore, some had to wake as early as 5.30am. They had a little snack in the canteen. Then, the principal, Mrs Perbet, welcomed the students and showed them the school. It’s very big as it is composed of a primary, a junior and senior school.
Then, we took the bus for Place Bellecour and after that, went on a Lyon bus tour. We had a beautiful view of the city from the roof top but it was very cold and windy. Students learnt a few things about Lyon, for example that its is the world capital of “gastronomie”. Then, we had lunch in the Bellecour square. The students took the occasion to taste some French pastries like the “pain au chocolat” or the “eclair”. After the picnic, we went back to school. Half of the class attended a cooking workshop and the other half enjoyed a film screening, then we swapped. They all ate their creation afterwards.

WEDNESDAY 7TH MARCH
It’s finally starting to be warmer in Lyon. This morning, we took the bus towards Place Bellecour and then, walked around St Jean, the old area of Lyon which is full of “traboules” : hidden passageways originally used by silk manufacturers and other merchants to transport their products. Today, they are a touristic attraction and allow people to go from one building/street to another very quickly. We showed the students the St Jean cathedral which is very famous for its astronomical clock. And, finally we went to the “Musee des miniatures” where students could admire miniatures and original cinema props (lent by american studios) from films such as I. Robot, Terminator, Star Wars…etc. After, the visit, the students had time to taste more French pastries before heading back to school. They spent the afternoon with their penpal. Some went shopping, others went to do sport or to play games.

THURSDAY 8TH FEBRUARY
Today, we spent the day in Annecy, a pittoresque town near the Alps and Switzerland. It was a 2 hour trip by coach. The weather was again very cold and windy but the view on the lake was beautiful. A French guide showed us the old part of the town and gave students a few facts about it. We walked quite a lot and you could see that the students were starting to feel tired after 3 days getting up around 6am…However, Annecy was worth the trip….

FRIDAY 9TH FEBRUARY
Today, we went back to the St Jean area in Lyon. In the morning, we took the “funiculaire”, like the one from Montmartre in Paris, to climb the Fourviere hill. We had a beautiful view of the city from there; it was just spectacular. We visited the Basilica of Fourviere which is being renovated at the moment. Then, we went to the Musee de Gadagne, a museum which traces the history of Lyon and its “gastronomie”. In the afternoon, we headed to La Part-Dieu, a huge shopping centre. The students were delighted to have some free time and took the occasion to buy souvenirs and presents.

SATURDAY 10TH / SUNDAY 10TH FEBRUARY
The students are spending the weekend with the French families. Some are planning to go shopping others skiing.
It should be sunny and warmer.