Modern Language Europe Trip 2010
Modern Language Europe Trip 2010
A group of lucky students from Assumption and St John’s, had the March Break experience of a lifetime when they
travelled to France and Italy this year. The ten day trip, offered by the Modern Language Departments at both
schools, was open to students studying French or Italian at the senior level.
The trip began with an early morning arrival in Paris, where the first stop was the instantly recognizable Eiffel
Tower. After taking a series of elevators to the top level, we were rewarded with a magnificent view of the city
which we would call home for the next few days. Our fist day in Paris also included visits to Les Champs Elysées,
featuring the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde. Our three days in Paris passed quickly with trips to
the Lourve Museum, the Palace of Versailles, and a night time boat cruise on the Seine River, which truly
demonstrated why Paris is known as the City of Lights. The visit also offered the opportunity to see several
religious sites including: the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Chapel of St Vincent de
Paul and the Sacré Coeur Basilica.
After visiting Paris, we flew to Nice, where we were greeted by sunshine and warm weather. Our hotel was located
near the Mediterranean Sea, where a few brave students dipped their feet into the water. The next day we made a
short drive through the beautiful French countryside to San Remo, Italy, to experience the local market. We also
visited Monaco, its beautiful cathedral, and the royal palace where we say the changing of the guards. On the way
back to Nice, we stopped at a perfume factory in Eze, where we learned the secrets behind the making of perfumes,
soaps and other beauty products.
We then departed for Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Along the way, we stopped for a chance to take
pictures of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. When we finally arrived in Florence, we had an opportunity to shop in
another local market, where some students searched for fine Italian leather. The next day we were given a guided
tour of the beautiful city, which included a visit to the Accademia Museum where Michelangelo’s David is located.
Our final stop of the trip was Rome, the capital of Italy. There we saw world-famous attractions such as the
Coliseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Circus Maxima. We also spent an afternoon in Vatican City,
where we were able to enjoy the many works of art housed in the Vatican Museum, as well as the Sistine Chapel and
St Peter’s Basilica. We ended the trip with dinner at a local restaurant, where we experienced a traditional
Italian meal. The next day we caught an early morning flight to Paris, where we then transferred to another plane
to return to Canada.
The trip was an excellent educational experience, as it not only provided an opportunity to practice our language
skills, but also immersed us in the European culture. The participants would like to thank “Les Madames” Berardi
and D’Eramo for organizing such a wonderful trip.
