So finally the day we've all been waiting for since September has arrived. The day six teachers from Tupton Hall School taken 60, yes 60 fifteen and sixteen year olds to Paris.
The weather when we arrived at the car park was awful. Torrential rain, grey clouds and already a quite humid and muggy atmosphere, but spirits were high and nobody seemed to mind the rain. Even the parents proudly waving their children off for what we hope will be a life changing positive experience.
The weather slowly improved in sync with the pupils waking up. By the time we'd had a quick pit stop and driver change (welcome on board Peter) at Watford gap, the weather had stopped raining and it was brightening up. All our spirits were high as the activity booklets were handed out and the official start of "Walto tours" begun.
Walto tours consists of me (Graham Walton or Walto) taking control of the bus microphone and providing the pupils with a range of "facts", " anecdotes" and travel information. Some light hearted, some silly and some educational and factual. Every year I think that the pupils will take the more "tongue in cheek" comments in good humour and realise that, for example, as we cross the Thames that of course we aren't crossing the "English Channel"!!! However, it seems to baffle the more naïve pupils every year. The aim of this is to make them think and ask questions. Eventually, they may even laugh! 90% find it funny already and the 10% of naïve ones will be source of amusement to the staff if nothing else!
So the rest of journey can be summarised in the following way: Ferry (weather humid),
Coach (weather getting hotter and hotter and more and more humid until the outside temperature reached a barmy 35 degrees) and there was lots and lots of motorway! Every so often we pointed out a few sites, Canadian war memorial, Dutch Windmills, the great Pyramids!!! (It passes the time)
Finally, by dinner time we reached our hotel. The Kyriad hotel is probably one the nicest hotels I've stayed in (certainly for a school trip). The evening meal was amazing. A buffet style restaurant withe everything you could ever wish to eat. The was something for everyone and we were so pleased!
At the time of writing this I am actually sat outside some pupils rooms in the corridor of said hotel. It's half past eleven at night and everyone is in their rooms, peacefully preparing to sleep. Not all are asleep yet, but I'm hopeful of going to bed myself in the next half an hour!
Big day tomorrow as we are off to the Maths museum, sacre coeur, river trip down the seine and a shopping expedition along the Champs Elysees (please excuse poor French spelling)
Walto x
