On December 9th, we, Section Européenne 3e, embarked on a trip to Liverpool for a few days, with Mr Nouvet and Miss Havas.
On the outward journey, we stopped a few hours in
Birmingham.
In the 18th
century, Birmingham grew very quickly and was an important industrial city with
a lot of coal mines around. When the mines were closed, the town suffered. But then,
it was renovated. So, the town has now a very modern aspect.
Birmingham.
We could for
instance see a very strange building with loads of bubbles on it and no windows. It is a big department store, in the shopping center called the Bull
Ring center like the place near it. 
We had a limited time to have our lunch and fill in a questionnaire about Birmingham’s history with the help of people around. It was difficult to answer the questions because most people were tourists and didn't know the answers! After that we had a long walk around the city, and along the canal.
We even lost our way so we walked more than necessary.
Finally, we found the coach back and we kept traveling to Liverpool. This visit
was interesting because we learned a lot about Birmingham. It was very tiring
but we had a great time !
Liverpool
Liverpool is a big city, in the North West of England near Manchester. Liverpool is an international commercial port and it has played a very important role in England’s history. It has two cathedrals, an Anglican and a Catholic one. There is also one of the oldest Chinese district of Europe!
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| The Anglican Cathedral |
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| The Catholic Cathedral |
When we walked through Liverpool, we could always see Liverpool’s symbol : the Liver. It’s a huge and imaginary bird!
On the seafront we saw a lot of big, beautiful and
clean buildings. That is where the Liverpool Museum is.
In this museum we discovered
Liverpool’s history: how the port developed thanks to international trade,
emigration, but also slavery. And we learnt about other aspects of Liverpool: the importance of football and music!
In the Maritime Museum we began our history school program: we learnt about the Battle of the Atlantic.
These museums were very interesting and funnier than in France, with more animated documents.
Of course, we also visited the Beatles’ museum and heard about the famous scouse:
it is both a sort of dialect spoken by the Liverpudlians and a dish prepared in this region.
In the Maritime Museum we began our history school program: we learnt about the Battle of the Atlantic.
These museums were very interesting and funnier than in France, with more animated documents.
Of course, we also visited the Beatles’ museum and heard about the famous scouse:
it is both a sort of dialect spoken by the Liverpudlians and a dish prepared in this region.
The Beatles,
Liverpool’s pride
The Beatles were born in Liverpool. In the street, we can find loads of allusions to them, through shops, street names, statues…
We saw the fabulous Cavern where the Beatles played lots of their concerts.
As the group is the pride of Liverpool, a museum is devoted to them. We visited it, and during this visit, there wasn’t any guide but we wore a headset in which we heard John Lennon’s sister telling us the story of the Beatles throughout the visit.
Everything was very well explained and there were reconstitutions of the Cavern for example. We really enjoyed this moment.
In another museum, a lot of girls danced and sang
Beatles songs in a karaoke cabin. It was a very pleasant and amusing moment.
Liverpool Football Club
Liverpool Football Club is an English premier league football club based in LIverpool and founded in 1892. LFC is one of the most successful clubs in England and has won more trophies than any other team.
A very nice and interesting guide told us about the story and
organisation of the LFC. In front of the main entrance, there is a statue of one of the best managers of the LFC: Bill Shankly.
Our guide led us to the Conference Room through the VIP door! After that, we went to the changing rooms and we saw the players' shirts which are hanging over their seats.
Our guide explained that, in order to destabilize the visitor team, the managers of LFC decided to build an uncomfortable room for them, without air-conditioning but with pictures of a victorious Liverpool team. Tricky!
This stadium is called Anfield, can contain some 45000 supporters and is very impressive! We went to the pitch and could sit on the coaches' eats: it was funny!
Finally we visited the LFC museum, where we could admire European and English trophies that Liverpool has won, with pictures of the greatest players and managers of LFC.
This visit was really great!
Bilton school in Rugby
On our way back to Paris, we stopped in Rugby to meet our penfriends in Bilton High School. When we arrived, we were surprised to see a very big school with plenty of buildings: it's a real campus!
The French teacher, Miss Grimes, welcomed us with a happy smile :). We knew her because she visited Valmy school with her students in October.
Then the English students showed us the school and some of us went to classes (sport, music, languages..).
We even listened to beautiful songs sung by students in their music class. After that we had lunch together, and it was delicious!
After lunch all Year 10 had to go to an Assembly. The topic was Nelson Mandela, who had died a few days ago.
Then some of us went to their penfriends's houses to eat and do some shopping, while others stayed at school.
But we all met in the evening for a pizza and bowling party! It was awesome!
Liverpool Football Club
Liverpool Football Club is an English premier league football club based in LIverpool and founded in 1892. LFC is one of the most successful clubs in England and has won more trophies than any other team.
organisation of the LFC. In front of the main entrance, there is a statue of one of the best managers of the LFC: Bill Shankly.
Our guide led us to the Conference Room through the VIP door! After that, we went to the changing rooms and we saw the players' shirts which are hanging over their seats.
Our guide explained that, in order to destabilize the visitor team, the managers of LFC decided to build an uncomfortable room for them, without air-conditioning but with pictures of a victorious Liverpool team. Tricky!
This stadium is called Anfield, can contain some 45000 supporters and is very impressive! We went to the pitch and could sit on the coaches' eats: it was funny!
Finally we visited the LFC museum, where we could admire European and English trophies that Liverpool has won, with pictures of the greatest players and managers of LFC.This visit was really great!
The ex- managers The new managers
  |
Bilton school in Rugby
On our way back to Paris, we stopped in Rugby to meet our penfriends in Bilton High School. When we arrived, we were surprised to see a very big school with plenty of buildings: it's a real campus!
The French teacher, Miss Grimes, welcomed us with a happy smile :). We knew her because she visited Valmy school with her students in October.
Then the English students showed us the school and some of us went to classes (sport, music, languages..). We even listened to beautiful songs sung by students in their music class. After that we had lunch together, and it was delicious!After lunch all Year 10 had to go to an Assembly. The topic was Nelson Mandela, who had died a few days ago. Then some of us went to their penfriends's houses to eat and do some shopping, while others stayed at school.
But we all met in the evening for a pizza and bowling party! It was awesome!
