Dear Readers,

I hope your children have had a good night rest... I certainly did.

I do believe everyone had a really good time this week and I am sure we've all come back with lots of memories.

I'm going to try to play catch up with today's blog... So here we go...

On Thursday, we set off to the region of Vendée, south of Derval, where we spent the day in the most notorious and visited theme park of  Europe, le Puy de Fou.

Contrary to other theme parks, it hasn't got any roller coasters because it is a historical one. The park is split into five separate attractions, each running for approximately 30 - 40 minutes.

We began with the Richelieu's Musketeers which features Musketeers performing swash-buckling sword fighting and Gypsy girls Flamenco dancing in water. Horses also perform special trotting/ jumping techniques. Performed in complete darkness, this is the only show that is staged indoors.

 Here is us waiting patiently for the first show to start :-D

The next show on the programme was The Phantom Birds Dance which is a show set to a mysterious story. Dozens of birds of prey surge from the ruins and swoop low over the heads of the visitors. The falcons are placed on the heads of some visitors wearing hats by the falconers. Many of the larger birds were supposed to be released from a balloon floating far overhead but because of the strong wind that day, the birds were released from the ground which was as spectacular as can be. This ends with around a hundred birds flying at once around the audience.

The final show we went to see before lunch was The Secret of the Lance which is set in front of the battlements of a Middle Age Castle. It relates the story of a young shepherdess who must defend alone her dungeon from the English knights, helped by a lance with supernatural powers.

After all the rushing about to see as many shows as we could, it was time for a well deserved lunch break. Some went around various other "little shows" and some went to shop.
The weather, once again had been very kind with only 3 to 4 minutes of rain at the start of the third show.

After lunch, two major shows were scheduled and the first one was The Vikings which is set in a reconstructed 1000 year old fortress that is attacked by a Viking longship.The story begins with a marriage in the village, just before the arrival of a Viking Longboat. Special effects include the emergence of a Longboat from underwater, and a saint walking on the water.

The final show we went to was the Triumph's Sign which is set in a replica of an amphitheater that is 115 meters long and 75 meters wide. It recreates the Gaul atmosphere during Roman time. It features a traditional parade of people and animals, gladiatorial combats, chariot racing and executions. It is set during the time of Diocletian, when there was great unrest.

 As you can imagine, we had an excellent day but, unfortunately, we had to go back to finish packing and have an early night leading to a too early morning :-(

On Friday morning, we met at the French bus bay at 5.30am to say our goodbyes to our lovely hosts. Despite the early hours, all the families were there to wave us goodbye!!!

Just before 6am, we set off on our journey home. The weather was nice all through France and during the crossing where the last few pictures were taken.

 So here it is... The blog must come to an end :-( but before I say my goodbyes, I would like to thank various people who have contributed to the success of the Exchange 2012:

• A particular HUGE thank you to Mme Laurence-Anne Hay who has put up a very busy but above all highly interesting programme for us.  She has made sure everything went smoothly and that everyone was enjoying their stay.

• Mme Persehais (Headmistress of Collège Saint-Joseph, Derval), who was present at our arrival and has welcome our group on the first day at the school, Nicole and Estelle who hosted M. John Griffiths and Miss Roisin Boland, Anne-Cécile et Sylvie for being our tour guides on two separate trips, the staff in Derval school for having our pupils in their lesson and for allowing me to interrupt them to take pictures, all the host family for showing great kindness and generosity.

 (From left to right): Mme Persehais, Ismaelle Langel et Isabelle V. (2 other English teacher), Estelle, Nicole, Laurence-Anne Hay et Anne-Cé Leflaec.

Sylvie Kassous

• M. Griffiths and Miss Boland who have helped me a lot along the way, M. Mark Deakin, our driver, without whom we wouldn't kept on schedule on a daily basis.

• And finally all our pupils who have been really nice, courteous, polite and who have certainly done Llanidloes High School extremely proud; without them and of course you, Parents,  for allowing them to join the Exchange, the trip wouldn't have been possible!

To all these people I say a massive 

THANK YOU! 

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺

Your Blogger,

FR-J