Moselle Valley Trip 2011
Guten Tag und willkommen!!
Hello and welcome to the update page for this year's Moselle Valley Trip. Below you will find a blog that I will try to update daily, allowing you to track all the exciting activities we have been doing and hopefully some words from the pupils themselves.
To the right you can find links to galleries for each of the days (providing the technology is being friendly), so you will also be able to see how much the students are enjoying themselves.
Day 1 Blog
At last, we have got the internet working, so welcome to our first day's blog.
The journey was surprisingly good. Junior, our driver, was very smooth and good humoured throughout, telling us lots of interesting facts on the way. We were surprised by the number of wind farms (the landscape is covered with giant wind turbines) and wonderful views across tree covered valleys. Throughout the journey Charlie Collinge kept us up to date with his bird spotting - three buzzards and two kestrels at the last count. On arriving at the Youth Hostel, we sorted out our rooms, then had dinner - roast pork, potatoes and salad. We were glad of a good meal following the long journey. After this we spent time in the classroom, working on our German, ready for Monday, and had a mass game of football, and a table tennis tournament. A good first day!
More to come tomorrow, and photos too (if we can work out how to attach them!)
Mr Nicholls & Mr Morgan-Russell
Day 2 Blog
In the morning we visited a Moselle vineyard; we were surprised to see how high tech it all was - all controlled by computer. Alex the owner, made it clear to us how hard it was picking the grapes on the steep slopes of the valley, and how heavy the back packs were when full of grapes - 70kg (about the same as Miss!). We then sampled some of Alex's grape juice, and some of his wine - it was lovely!
After this we visited Cochem Castle, a fairy tale castle from the Middle Ages. We had a guided tour, then ate some ice cream.
We then went for a swim in the open air pool at Cochem - it was very cold! Mr Nicholls said it was like 'swimming in the sea!'. Mr Morgan Russell then taught everyone to swan dive.
After this we had dinner at the hostel - pasta bolognaise (very German!). In the evening we went ten pin bowling, and much fun was had by all!
Day 3 Blog
Third day and it's even hotter!!! Main destination today was Trier which has the oldest Roman remains outside of Rome; we looked for historic evidence at the Amphitheatre, Imperial Baths and the Emperor's Throne Room. It was fab (es war fantastisch!!) Some super historical detective work was carried out, and some excellent maths. We even discovered some local wildlife - lizards basking in the sun.
Then on to Luxembourg and the town of Echternach and some free time to shop, eat ice cream and do role plays in the tourist information office. We returned home and after dinner had a classroom session and presented awards to our best detectives.
Day 4 Blog
Today we headed south-west along the Moselle to the picturesque town of Bernkastel with its half-timbered houses and narrow alleyways. There we shopped for souvenirs and gifts to bring home and ate more ice cream before heading back to Traben-Trarbach for a game of mini-golf on German’s oldest mini-golf course. The course is very pretty, being built in a huge garden in a steep valley with a stream running through it. Mr Nicholls tried to teach us how to putt. Some of us were better at it than others.
At 3.00pm we took a boat to Zeltingen, about an hour away. It was lovely and sunny so we sat on deck and looked at the castles, the vineyards and the pretty villages beside the river. Back at the hostel we did twenty minutes' work in the classroom to try to complete our diaries and workbooks, and then had free time until dinner.
This evening we had drinks and snacks in the classroom whilst we tried to do Mr Morgan-Russell’s quiz. This was followed by a talent show where different groups showed off their gymnastics, their football, their German and (the two Mrs Robinsons) their singing! The show finished with a hilarious slide-show set in the Roman remains of Trier.
Back home tomorrow. We’ve had a great time – practised our German, learnt about the geography and history of this beautiful area, seen lots of new places, tried new foods and made new friends. Mrs Robinson is busy persuading us to take our German a stage further by going on the German Exchange next year (details to follow in September).
Auf Wiedersehen in England!
Contact Details
Denefield (school hours) - 0118 9413 458
Youth Hostel (Jugendherberge Traben-Trarbach) - 0049 6541 9278
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