After a busy day in school 51 pupils set out on a 30-hour bus journey to Italia via Scotland, England, France and Switzerland. We went with Mrs Barber, Mrs Ball, Mrs Slowther, Mr Dempster, Mr Wren and Mr Stirling.
On our first day we visited the very fashionable city of Milan with a coach tour of the city in the morning and a tour of the San Siro, the home stadium of AC Milan and Inter Milan, and it’s Museum in the afternoon. We were shown around the stands and got to see inside the AC Milan changing room, Inter Milan was playing the next day so we couldn’t see theirs. Many of us had pictures taken in famous player’s seats. We also went to the San Siro museum and saw past footballers’ shoes, footballs and paintings etc.
On Sunday we got on the coach again for a spectacular drive to Riva del Garda. In the morning we visited the Cascata Varone, a waterfall where apart from the cascading water we were able to admire all the plants of the area. This was also our first opportunity to do some shopping. In the afternoon we went for a trip on Lake Garda stopping at Limone. Working in groups we carried out a tourist survey trying out our Italian and then had some free time to wander about.
On Monday we packed for the second hotel and left for Gardaland. Gardaland is a famous and the biggest theme park in Italy. We all went on various rides in groups – roller coasters, water rides etc. After Gardaland we travelled to our second hotel in Lido de Jesolo.
We didn’t have the bus drivers on Tuesday as they had a day off, so we explored around the hotel area and performed our plays on Romeo and Juliet with a modern twist for the Golden Gondola Award. Later on, the teachers treated us to an ice cream of our choice, they were all different but nice. Although it wasn’t wall-to-wall sunshine we hit the beach where a few brave people went into the water while the others played rounders. That night we had our disco in a local club called Splash.
On Wednesday we visited the beautiful city of Verona. The arena was impressive because it had been around for so long and is still being used for entertainment. A short walk past some very expensive shops took us to Gulietta’s balcony for some photo opportunities and we then had some free time to wander through the market in the Piazza del Erbe. Instead of dinner at the hotel that night we went to Andiamo and had a pizza made to our choice, they were very big and tasty.
Thursday was our final day in Italy and we had a walking tour of Venice and two other small islands near it; Murano, where we watched the Maestro blow some of the famous glass and Burano which we nicknamed Balamory because of all the brightly coloured houses. We had free time on this day, and it was good to look around.
On Friday 14 May it was “Ciao Italia” and we left for another long journey.
Every night, either before or after dinner we had Mr Wren’s quiz, which over all had 6 rounds and lasted the entire excursion. Mr Stirling and Mrs Slowther also prepared activities for us including the Fashion Show and Knox Has Got Italian Talent. At night when we weren’t doing activities we had free time to explore or speak to people in other rooms.
The majority of us thought the second hotel was better as it was near the beach with more freedom to shop in the evening!
Throughout the trip the rain was off and on, but we had quite a lot of sunny spells too. On one night thunder and lightning came but it didn’t affect us as our activities weren’t weather dependent.
Everyone who went on this trip all extremely enjoyed it and many of us made new friends who they hadn’t talked to in school before. We saw the teachers in a different environment which made them less strict but we still depended on them. They made everyday fun and we all bonded with them. We are all so grateful for them taking us and putting up with us.
It was an experience we will all never forget.
Aylee Bunting, Ailsa Macaldowie, Matthew Moore, Emma Paterson, Emma Scott
S2 Pupils
