Shortly after catching the first glimpse of the Eiffel tower, we checked in at our three-star hotel - ‘Itineraires’ - before taking the Metro, the French version of the London Underground as it were, to the National Monument of the Arc de Triomphe. Most chose to spend a modest 5 Euros on arduously climbing the colossal number of stairs to the top, but reaped the reward of a 360 ^oview around the whole of Paris and its many wonderous aspects.

On the Friday there were a number of places to visit, so it was imperative that pupils were down for breakfast on time, although there were some who failed to do so! First, it was to the Louvre, where much of the photography, which the trip was specifically centred around, would start. It was only a 20 minute journey from the hotel to this beautiful art gallery and whilst waiting for tickets, all observed the magnificent architecture of the building itself and the three pyramids over its central kiosks, before entering. After that, it was to the town centre for some shopping in Paris, where a few people returned some two hours later, having spent all but five of their remaining Euros on some sports wear (mentioning no names!)

Following this, all visited the Pompidou Centre, which appears to have its interior structured on the outside where again, the view from the top of which was exquisite, and enjoyed perceiving some of the ideas of modern art in the 21st century. Next, a paddle cruise on the river of the Seine, when pupils admired some of the fantastic historic infrastructure present elsewhere, including the cathedral of Notre Dame, and the equivalent of the Botanic gardens.