A fun history trip across the ocean
Photo submitted
The Wildcat Travel Club traveled to Europe in July on an educational tour of England and France. From left are Stacie Hutsell, Bobbi Porter, Abigail Penn, Jasmine Smith, Sadie Hutsell, Katelyn Mitchell, Ava Walker, Sandi Scurlock (front), Taylor Hicks, Josie Gifford, Whitney Hart, Adalee Hart, Abigail Miller (back), Sarah Miller, Suzie Blackburn and Judy Satterfield.
Sandi Scurlock, Reporter
The Wildcat Travel Club, composed of group leader Suzie Blackburn, several students, parents and other adult community members, went on a trip to Paris, France, and London, England, the week of July 20-27. To see places one has only read about or seen on television was amazing, especially for someone who has always been interested in history.
We departed Springfield-Branson National Airport on July 20 and flew overnight to Paris. Our tour guide, Lewis Irvine, met us at the Charles De Gaulle Airport; he was with us the entire trip.
The tour began with a bus ride through the streets of Paris, then to Luxembourg Gardens. We walked to Ile de la Cite, which is an island where Paris began and is the location of Notre Dame Cathedral and The Concierge (a medieval palace where Marie Antoinette was held captive before her execution during the French Revolution).
Another EF Tour group from Bronson, Michigan, joined us, increasing our numbers to twenty-seven students and adults. We dined at a Canard Street restaurant (canard is French for duck), then headed back to our hotel, Ibis Style Villejuif, for a well-earned rest.
The following day began with another bus ride back to Paris, where we set off on a walking tour of the city. Living in Paris is very expensive. Our guide shared that apartments above the stores are one million dollars or more. Automobiles were all brand new models and gas was $10-15 a gallon! Our tour took us to the Eiffel Tower and around the outside of the Louvre. The Louvre used to be a palace of King Louis XVI, but it was too small for him, so he built the Palace of Versailles.
Located just southwest of Paris, the Palace of Versailles is very large and still contains original paintings and furniture, with murals painted on the ceilings. The Hall of Mirrors has large windows on each side of the hallway and a huge landscaped garden. The king was held captive here before his execution. We were shown where, on the square in Paris, the king and queen were executed by the guillotine. After dinner in Paris, we took a boat ride down the Seine River.
Our final full day in Paris was busy. We went to Musee de l’Armee Invalides, which was a military hospital and is where Napoleon’s Tomb is located. On this day, we were able to explore the interior of The Louvre, but it’s so large, it’s impossible to see everything. The Mona Lisa and the statue Venus De Milo, along with other famous paintings were seen. The Sacre-Coeur Basilica was toured, and had 222 steps leading to a hill to reach the landing. A tram ride to the bottom was a welcome relief after hiking up. The metro train took us back to the hotel after our evening meal.
It was an early wakeup on July 24, as we took the Eurostar from Paris to London, under the English Channel. We had a new bus driver, Lee, who drove us through London each day. At Trafalgar Square, we saw lion statues, a museum, a water fountain and a statue of King George IV. The tour took us to Piccadilly Circus, which is like Times Square in New York City. Some excitement occurred on our way to dinner when we became caught in a traffic jam near Scotland Yard. A water patrol boat on the Thames River had crashed into Westminster Bridge and five officers were injured. We finally made it to our hotel, which was right on the Thames River.
The following day, our tour guide, Sue, shared the history of Windsor Castle. The Royal Family still uses the castle so no pictures were allowed inside. We walked the cobblestone pathway where the monarchs have walked since Queen Victoria. St. George’s Chapel is there; it is very famous for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The chapel is also the location of a burial chamber where King George VI, the Queen Mum, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are interred. We were also able to see the famous Changing of the Guard. Then it was off to Buckingham Palace, where the late Queen Elizabeth lived.
On our final full day of touring, we went to the Tower of London, where the Crown Jewels are housed, along with armor and weapons that belonged to the monarchs.
The next day it was to the airport for the long flight home. The trip was full of history and lots of fun for all the members of the Wildcat Travel Club. The Wildcat Travel Club is very appreciative of the community’s support in helping them to make this trip.
Photo by Suzanne Blackburn
The City of London skyline contrasts starkly with the historic features dwarfed below. Seen in the foreground with its stone walls running along the edge of the River Thames is the Tower of London, one of the oldest buildings in London (its construction started in 1078).
