What better way to wrap up the school year than to take a trip to France? Perkins Pirates – along with students from Vermilion High School – had a fantastic time touring through southern France, roaming through Provencial towns and cities, before arriving in Paris.
Travelers began their adventure in Nice where they swam in the Mediterranian Sea. In Monaco, they enjoyed the gardens and watching the changing of the guard. Just outside of Monaco students toured a perfume factory, Le Fragonard, where they learned about what goes into making expensive scents and how a person becomes a “nose”.
While in Provence the Pirates and Vermilion Sailors enjoyed an artistic performance called Carrieres des Lumieres performed in an old quarry. It was spectacular. During the performance, students were surrounded by moving art and music. Later that afternoon, the bus arrived in Arles, where travelers visited a Roman amphitheater and walked by the Rhone River.
In Avignon, students toured the Palace of the Popes before heading out to stroll the city streets and shop for their picnic lunch. One of the highlights of the tour was an afternoon picnicking and swimming in the shadow of the Roman Aquaduct. In the morning it was time to hop the fast train to Paris.
While in Paris, the Pirates and Sailors walked through Montmartre before climbing the 365 steps to Sacre-Coeur where they enjoyed crepes and local artwork. Later that evening they enjoyed a river cruise along the Seine.
Visiting the Louvre was on the schedule for the second full day in Paris. Students viewed the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo just to name a few. Leaving the Louvre travelers strolled down the street to the Paris Opera House where they could take a tour, have lunch at a cafe, and shop in the Gallery Lafayette before heading to the Eiffel Tower. The views from the Eiffel Tower were stunning, all of Paris as far as the eye can see.
After a stroll along the Champs Elysee and dinner students enjoyed the views from the tallest building in Paris, the Montparnasse tower. While at the top of the tower students watched the Eiffel Tower twinkle and light up the evening skies of Paris.
On the third and final day in Paris, students took a walking tour and visited an open-air market and Les Invalides where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried. That afternoon they traveled by train to Versailles where they toured the palace, ate lunch, and strolled through the gardens.
After dinner, travelers were treated to ice cream and crepes before heading to the hotel to pack for an early departure for the airport and home.
It was an amazing experience.