The Trip

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

2019 France Trip Day 6: Lyon to Tours

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Today we were up early to leave for Tours. The bus was loaded and leaving by 8:15 am. Today was primarily a travel day with a long drive to Tours. To break up the trip, we stopped at a rest station and also in Bourges. We were able to get a few bites to eat at both stops, and we also had time for a quick tour of the cathedral in Bourges as well as the older part of the town. After, it was back on the bus for a few more hours.

When we arrived in Tours we took a tour of the city's old town area including a basilica to St. Martin. Both of the stops today included places trips from GJHS had never been! They were both amazing!

Fields of lavender

Everyone caught up on some sleep during our long hours on the road today.

She loves seeing the students experience France.

Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges

Our guide, Thierry, at Basilica of Saint Martin.

Because we did not have many pictures of students from our day of travel, here are some more pictures from earlier in the trip from Nice.

When we were in Nice, Fountain of the Sun.

An overlook of Nice on our way to Eze and Monaco.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

2019 France Trip Day 5- Nimes, to Avignon, to Lyon

Monday, June 3, 2019

Got a case of the Mondays? We sure didn't. We were up early to jump on the bus to visit Avignon and the Papal Palace there. At one point during the 1300s the Popes of the Catholic Church relocated the seat of the church to Avignon. This was essentially the Vatican at that time. Students saw the view of the Rhône River and the Pont d'Avignon from the grounds of the palace. Students then toured the palace before having some free time in Avignon.

The next stop on our bus tour, after a short stop at a rest area on the road, was Lyon. We walked to a tram to take us up the hill to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. This basilica is associated with an amazing view of Lyon as well as beautiful mosaics on its walls and ceilings. After returning by way of funicular cable car, we got to go through some medeival passageways through the oldest part of Lyon. We looked around this part of Lyon for a bit, then went into the main part of the town for some more free time before eating dinner at Flam's, a restaurant chain in France.

Palais des Papes

La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière

Boulangerie Du Palais

Flam's Lyon

Eating flatbread pizza at Flam's

Sunday, June 2, 2019

2019 France Trip Day 4- Provence, Nimes, and Pont du Gard

Sunday, June 2, 2019

Sunday started at the same time. We were eating at 7:30 am and out the door packed up to get on the bus at 8:30 am. The pictures below are included out of order because that's the quickest way to upload them today. :)

We finished our day in Nimes. Nimes has several Roman buildings, the arena, the temple, and not too far away, a Roman aqueduct. Well, we saw them all. We finished with the Roman temple, Maison Carrée in Nimes following stuffed tomatoes at Grill Brasil for dinner.

Before dinner we walked from our hotel to the Arena of NImes. We were able to tour the arena and learn about the gladiators who fought there before giving way to bullfights and concerts today. The arena was interesting to see after visiting a roman aqueduct, Pont du Gard, earlier in the day. Pont du Gard was part of the system delivering fresh water to Nimes from over 40 miles away! beneath the aqueduct people swam and played in the river.

Our first stop of the day was in the city of Arles. This was the location of much of Van Gogh's painting near the end of his life. We visited several points of interest including Cafe Nuit, the hospital where he stayed, and the arena of Arles, similar to, but smaller than the arena in Nimes.

Lunch at Pont du Gard

Reflecting on Van Gogh, Obélisque d'Arles

What the riding the bus looks like in France!

Taking it all in, Obélisque d'Arles

Maison Carrée

Enjoying some ice cream/gelato/sorbet/Macaron, Amorino Nimes.

Saturday, June 1, 2019

2019 France Trip Day 3- Eze and Monaco

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Today's itinerary started with breakfast at 7:30, then onto the bus by 8:30 for our trip to Monaco. On the way we stopped in the hilltop town of Eze to visit the Fragonard Perfumerie. After a quick tour we left for Monaco to see the changing of the guard ceremony in front of the palace and to get lunch before returning to Nice. We had a few hours before dinner to spend on the beach along the Promenade des Anglais before eating in Old Town Nice at Dinner at Restaurant Piccola Italia.

Getting the grand tour in Fragonard Perfumerie, Eze, France. 158 Avenue de Verdun, 06360 Èze

Outside Fragonard Perfumerie, Eze, France.

After touring Fragonard Perfumerie in Eze, France.

On the bus on the way to Monaco after stoppin in Eze.

Dinner at Restaurant Piccola Italia, 5 Rue Mascoinat, 06300 Nice

2019 France Trip Day 2- Nice

Friday, May 31, 2019
Nice is so nice!

Along the Promenade des Anglais.

Along the Promenade des Anglais.

Fenocchio's World famous Ice Cream.

Monday, May 27, 2019

2019 France Trip Day 1- Leaving Colorado for Nice via New York

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Today we will leave for our France trip. Please join us on our trip by following this blog. We will try to post something new every day. Our rough itinerary is included below.