France 2.0: Sunday, April 17

Today is our last day in France.

We are off to Versailles today. Versailles is a HUGE estate. It includes the palace itself, as well as stables and gardens. In fact, Versailles could be considered a small town designed specifically for the use of the King Louis the XIV. It major work of the building of the Castle started in 1661 when Louis the XIV took the throne. The lavishness of the structure is beyond comprehension. Huge paintings were commissioned for the walls. Crystal chandlers hang from the ceilings. Gold trim is evywhere. In addition to the castle, the gardens are equally exquisite. The entire estate is one of those "you have to see it to believe it" kind of places.















After lunch in Versailles, we took the train back to Paris and stopped at the Palais Garnier. The Palais Garnier, is a 1,600-seat opera house that was built on the request of Napoleon III.Co obstruction started in 1861 and was completed in 1875. It is regarded as one of the architectural masterpieces of the time. During 1896, one of the counterweights for the grand chandelier fell and resulted in the death of one person. Supposedly this incident, as well as the underground lake, cellars, along with the other elements of the Opera House even the building itself were the inspirations of Gaston Leroux for his classic 1910 Gothic novel, The Phantom of the Opera.


The building was not open for visiting, and since it was Sunday, most of the stores for shopping in the downtown area were closed. We decided to walk about 15 minutes to the Champ de Eslyie.


The famous boulevard is about two miles long. We spent almost two hours there and walked the entire length of it. The temperatures were in the high 60's and the sun was shinning. A perfect day for strolling, shopping, and cafe sitting.

Dinner was served at the hotel, and then we caught the metro to the Eiffel Tower. It is absolutely beautiful in the evening, and on top of that, the sky was warm and clear, and the moon was full.


Of course a trip to the top was in order. In spite of the warm weather, it was cool and windy at the top. But the views of night time Paris was absolutely worth it. The tower is 1,053 feet tall. In the "it's a small world department" we met a group of English speaking students on the tower. Low and behold, they were from Watertown High School, which is about 70 miles from Potsdam. Here we were almost 4,000 miles from home and we run into a group of students who live 70 miles from us. We made it back to the hotel about midnight, and then of course some of the kids wanted pizza. We finally made it to bed by 1:00 AM.








The morning alarms are set for 4:30 with a 5:00 AM departure for the airport. April in Paris is just about over for us.

PS: These students were a great bunch of kids. They were wonderful to work with and they enjoyed France to the fullest. It is so much fun to watch students learn new things.

Au revoir!!



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France 2.0: Saturday, April 16

We are walking about the old city of Rouen this morning. Established during Roman times nearly 2,000 years ago, Rouen has had a chaotic history. Because it is located on the Seine River, it was a desirable location. The people of Rouen have at times been independent, controlled by England and controlled by the French. During Medieval Europe, Rouen was one of the largest and most prosperous cities. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake here in 1431. She was later sainted and there is a large cross erected at the spot where she died.




Claude Manet used the great Notre Dame Cathedral of Rouen for a series of paintings the now hang in the Orsay Museum in Paris. The cathedral has the highest spire, about 450 feet tall, of any cathedral in France.




The Gros-Horloge clock is an astronomical clock dating back to the 1500's, although the movement dates to 1389. Interestingly, the clock has only one hand, the hour hand. Apparently minutes were not a big deal 500 years ago.




Rouen is also famous for its well preserved half timbered buildings, most of which a still in use today. Of course, we managed to find a McDonalds housed in one of these 500 year old half timbered buildings.








During World War II, about 45% of the city was destroyed, including portions of the great cathedral. Today Rouen is a bustling city with a metropolitan population of about a half million people. On Saturdays the open air markets are full of produce, fish, cheese, and even antiques and old books. The markets were just starting to fill up with people as we walked through at 9:00 AM. In fact, one student even bought fresh flowers in an attempt to butter up my fellow chaperone.








This afternoon we are back in Paris to wrap up our trip.

Paris is mobbed with people. It's a weekend. The weather is sunny and warm. Ant to top it off, Spring Break is starting for the students. We go first to the Latin Quarter. There are many shops and sidewalk bistros here. The Sorbonnne is there as well. We had lunch in the Luxembourg Gardens. The gardens were started in 1612, and have changed some in style and size over the years. The gardens are laid out in a very formal French style, but they are also a free public parks. There were thousands of people basking in the sun and eating their lunches. There is a huge circular pond will little kids and play with sail boats.


Later we went to the Basilica Sacré-Cœur. Started in 1875 and completed in 1914, it lies on the highest point in Paris, Montmartre. It is made of travertine, a white stone. It is a beautiful building that commands a stunning view overlooking Paris. Thousands of people were milling about on the plaza at the top as well as the slopes leading to it. There were hawkers everywhere peddling wares, along with singers, jugglers, musicians, dancers, and pick pockets. Too bad, in my opinion, that the those diversions distracted from the beauty and religious intent of the basilica.





For dinner we took the metro to the financial district in Paris. There are hundreds of places to eat here. You had your choice of McDonalds, Hard Rock Cafe, or one of many small cafes. I admit, I walked into McDonalds. But it was to use their free WiFi, not their food. I choose a very small typically French cafe and had an excellent meal.


Tomorrow is our last full day in France.

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France 2.0: Friday, April 15, 2011

Today we are going to Normandy and Omaha Beach. We will stay in Rouen tonight. We boarded the bus at 8:00, and everyone was really, really dragging. Fortunately the bus ride to Pointe du Hoc, the first stop, is about four hours long. We hadn't been on the bus more than a half hour and every single soul, except the driver, was asleep.


Pound du Hoc is a spot on the English Channel where a group of Army Rangers scaled a 100 foot cliff to disable German guns threatening Omaha and Utah Beaches as part of the massive assault on the Normandy coastline on June 6, 1944. The Ranger force numbered 225 at the beginning of the attack. Only 90 survived. The French have erected and preserved a wonderful memorial to the American Rangers. Even the original bomb craters have been preserved.





Next stop is Omaha Beach, one of the D-Day landing sites. There is a beautiful piece of sculpture there to honor the soldiers.


We lunched in Arromanches, which is also located on the English Channel. The liberating forces used this village to establish a temporary harbor to move troops and supplies.

After lunch, we visited the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. These 173 acres are on soil granted to the Americans by the French. There are 9,387 headstones located there as well as 1,557 names listed as missing in action. The cemetery overlooks Omaha Beach.





Tonight we stay in Rouen. Then its on to Paris tomorrow for two final days in France. We fly home on Monday.


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France 2.0: Thursday, April 14

We left Potsdam a week ago today. Doesn't seem that long ago.

This morning we toured the old town part of Tours. Tours is located in the center of the Loier Valley. This region of France is noted for vineyards and castles. Tours dates back almost 2,000 years. The old part of town that survives today dates back to the 1100 and 1200's.


We found a house where Joan of Arc lived for awhile when she was on her way to Chinon to bring the future King of France back to power. Pretty gutsy for a 17 year old girl.

After lunch we headed to the Chateau Chenonceau. This castle was built in the early 1500's and is built over the River Cher. Henry II lived there. Henry managed to have both a wife and a mistress at the same time. He gave the chateau to his mistress upon his death. Henry's wife, Catherine, then traded another chateau to the mistress, Diane, to get possession of Chenonceau back. Such drama back in the 1500 and 1600's. Makes the TV show " Desperate Housewives" seem mild. In more recent history, the chateau was actively used during World War II.


The River Cher was the demarcation line between free France and occupied France. The French Resistance was able to pass large numbers of people into the free zone by going through the chateau and therefore crossing the river.

Next we went to Amboise. We had the chance to tour the home of Leonardo de Vinci, who is also buried in Amboise.


His home featured many drawings and models of some of his ideas, including early designs for tanks, water pumps, ball bearings, airplanes, helicopter and parachutes, just to name a few. Leonardo died in 1519, almost 500 years ago. It is hard to comprehend how he could have been so gifted in so many areas. He painted the Mona Lisa and at the same time developed the concept of modern mechanics 200 years before anyone else.

We finished the day with dinner in Troglodyte.


Troglodytes are caves that were created in the surrounding hills when stone was mined to construct buildings. The caves have since been turned into wine cellars, homes and in this case, a restaurant. It was a "cool" experience. :-)

Tomorrow we are off to Normandy.


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France 2.0: Wednesday, April 13

It's goodby to Nogent today. Everyone meets the tour bus at the high school at 8:00 AM. Most students, both French and American, have tears in their eyes as we prepare to leave. Danielle and I have to almost drag the students onto the bus. The French students form a long cheering line as the bus pulls out. I will miss my stay with Patricia and Dan, along with my visits of the the other teachers at Nogent.

The first stop of the day is the city of Chartres. Miles before we arrive, the spires of the cathedral show up in the distance.


Our tour leader is Malcolm Miller. He is considered one of the world's leading experts on the Cathedral at Chartres. The present structure was constructed mostly between 1193 and 1250. There were at least four previous buildings on the site going back nearly 2,000 years. It is considered to be one of the best preserved medieval structures in Europe.


The collection of stained glass windows is unequaled. Mr. Miller pointed out that stained glass windows were used for telling stories and recording events before the invention of paper and writing. The cathedral contains some 176 stained glass windows. The majority of these windows were made and installed between 1205 and 1240.


When the German Army was advancing into France during World War Two, all the windows were removed, created, and put on a train to Southern France. I can't imagine the work involved. The cathedral is also the site of many pilgrimages because the cathedral allegedly contains a remnant of the tunic worn by the Virgin Mary at the birth of Jesus. Outside, the thousands of sculptures incorporated into the stonework also reveal historical times. In early times, the Cathedral at Chartres was considered the academic center of France.


After the tour, there was free time for lunch and walking around the city.

At 1:00 we boarded the bus and headed to the Chateau of Chambord. The young King Francis I was 25 years old in 1519 when he initiated the building of the chateau.


The building was intended to be a hunting lodge, with 282 fireplaces and 426 rooms you might consider that a bit over the top. The architecture is a blend of medieval and influences of Renaissance Italy. The "hunting club" contained 13,000 acres and was completely surrounded by
a high stone wall.

After Chambord, we head to the city of Tours and check into the hotel. After dinner, Danielle takes us on a walking tour of Tours. The city is located in central France and is on the River Loire. It has a long history going back 2,000 years. This evening we took a long walk and saw the Cathedral of Tours and walked along the River Loire.





We need to expend some the students energy so they would sleep. :-)

More about Tours tomorrow.



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France 2.0: Tuesday, April 12

Today we spent the entire day in Nogent. From 8:00 to 10:00 we are at the High School. The students are attending classes with their French hosts.


I'm using the time to work in the faculty room and catch up on the travel blog. This faculty room is amazing! There are a dozen computer work stations, lockers, tables to spread out materials, bathrooms, comfortable chairs, microwave, etc. Everyone collects here to exchange greetings, do school work or grab a coffee. It is a very pleasant work environment.

At 10:00 all the American students met with the PE teacher (they call them the sports teacher) for a two hour canoe and kayak paddle. There is a river just a couple of minutes for the school and the school owns a couple dozen canoes and kayaks. It was great fun, and the exercise did the kids good. We only has one tip over. Fortunately he was able to borrow some clothes from other students and the school was able to dry his wet clothes.


After lunch, we gathered and walked to the Chateau St. Jean, which is located at the highest point in Nogent. It was originally a fort built for defense of the region. Parts of it date back almost 1,000 years. Later, the structure was converted into a home and now is a museum.


After the the Chateau, we had an hour to shop and walk around Nogent. I found a chocolate store that was out of this world. I also found a street named Gouverneur. I couldn't resist a picture. The street names in France are posted on the sides of buildings at the intersections. There are no street signs as we know them.


At 5:00 everyone met up their host and went their own way. This is our last evening in Nogent. Dan, Pat and I went to visit the farm of Isabella, an English teacher at the high school. Isabella and her husband, who is a carpenter, have a small organic farm in the country.


Their farm is located on a high ridge with a fantastic view. In the distance you see fields of yellow, which is Colza. In America Colza is often called Rape Seed. The seeds are harvested and from them Canola Oil is produced.


Tomorrow we leave Nogent.

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France 2.0: Monday, April 11, 2011

This morning the students went with their host. Some of them had classes early, while some had classes later. Nogent students have a schedule similar to our college. They don't have the same classes every day, and if they do not have a class, then they can leave the school grounds. The same is true for the teachers. The French and American chaperones met with the Nogent School Superintendent to discuss American and French education systems and the long range plans for the exchange program.

Today we are traveling with both ant American and French students together. The French host students have been excused from school early to travel with us to Le Mans. At 11:00 we all board the tour bus. The day was warm and sunny again. We arrived in Le Mans about 1:00. After a picnic lunch we gathered at the fountain at the base of the street leading to la Cathedrale Saint-Julien.


The construction of the cathedral started about 1056. The building was basically finished in 1430. Roman architecture was evident in the early construction phase, but by the end, Gothic architecture was prevalent. So, one wing of the building is very Roman looking, and the other is very Gothic in appearance. The Roman influence is shown by the high rounded arches while the Gothic look has pointed arches. The photo below shows the rounded arches in the foreground and the pointed Gothic look in the background.


Here is a good view of the cathedral from the newer Gothic style. A feature called "flying buttresses" were built to help strengthen the thinner walls used on the more modern construction techniques.


The old city of Le Mans sits high on a hill and surrounds the cathedral. The streets are stone and narrow.


You can find evidence of the original stone work dating back to the Roman times of Julius Cesar. The red stone below is the handiwork of the Romans.


The modern city sprawls out below the hill in all directions.


Le Mans is famous for the race track, and most notable is the 24 hour race. After touring the old town, we had time for shopping, cafe sitting and people watching.


We ended the day back in Nogent with a huge pot luck dinner put on by the French host families. Again, we ate really well. That seems to be a trend here.






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