Y13 History Rome-Berlin Trip

28 Apr Y13 History Rome-Berlin Trip

@ Sunday 30th April 14:59CEST. So it’s goodbye to Berlin. Since the last post we have done lots. We have been to a traditional German sausage house – the students threw themselves into dancing with the oompah band (see photos). Yesterday was a poignant one as the trip visited the very moving Sachenhausen concentration camp and the Wansee Villa. Today we walked to the Brandeburg Gate, the memorial to Holocaust victims and the location of Hitler’s Bunker. We are back at the hostel now about to head to the airport. All in all, an excellent trip.

@ Friday 28th 15:37 CEST. We are check in to our hotel in Berlin Senefelderplatz. It’s very nice – our sixth year here. We are all having some down time before we head to the Topography of Terror museum and, then, the traditional German sausage house. We have booked a table near the oompah band. Mr McFaul is very excited. Tomorrow sees us visit Sachenhausen concentration camp and the Wansee villa where the decision to carry out the ‘Final Solution’ was made.

@ Fri 11:28 CEST. WE have landed! Hello Berlin. More soon…

@ Friday 28th 07:30 Rome Ciampino Airport. Pleased to announce we are all at airport and heading through security. Great day in Rome yesterday, we went to the Vatican, Colosseum and explored the ancient ruins of the Forum. We had another cracking pizza pasta dinner and then early night. We obviously did not please the gods at the temples of the Forum because they rained buckets on us this morning at 6am when we had to walk to the bus. Further drama as the bus was oversold so not everyone could ride. All  sorted in the end and we should be in Berlin by lunchtime – JA!

@ Wed 26th 23:00 CEST: what a day! After heading out at 3pm we fitted an enormous amount into the day. Mr Hayes taught us lots about Mussolini and the Italian response to him post-war at the Stadio Olympico. We walked along the Tiber. We saw the Egyptian Obelisk taken by Augustus. We ate excellent ice cream (and got some great photos in the process). We had great pizza. We went to the Circus Maximus in the dark and recreated a chariot race (well done to Jay and Phoebe, the winners). And, we finished up at the Colosseum at night. Incredible stuff. Up early tomorrow for a trip to the Vatican to see the Sistine Chapel.

@ Wed 26th 14:15 CEST: arrived at hotel in Rome. Very helpful staff. Quick pizza/ pasta lunch round the corner and now an hour’s rest before we head off to the Stadio Olympico, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and then to pizza restaurant for dinner.

@ Wed 26th 10:43 CEST: we have landed. Good flight. No drama. Sun is out. 20 degrees. Off to hotel and then the walking tour of Rome . Avanti!

Post @ Wed 26th 04:08 BST: all students arrived on time, with passports, and we are aboard the minibuses and en route to Stansted. Let’s hope everyone’s bags are small enough to get on as hand luggage!

Post @ Tuesday 25th 15:00 BST: All students should be at school at 03:50 tomorrow morning (Wednesday 26th) with their passports and hand-luggage sized travel bags. Don’t be late – we can’t wait!