Berlin Trip (February Half Term)

During the 2023 February half-term holiday, I visited Berlin with a group of amazing teachers and students from different year groups. We had to depart from college to Luton airport at 1am in the morning, and even though we were advised to get some sleep before then, I was busy completing my first full draft of English NEA coursework. 6.2 is no joke! After a few hours of bus ride, we woke up in a muddle to see that we had arrived at Luton airport. We then went through the check-in procedure without much fuss. 

This trip was physically exhausting as it involved a lot of walking, with the first day being fully packed with places to visit literally straight after landing. However, this trip, full of visits to historical sites and museums, was also an intellectually enriching history lesson. I also took this trip as an opportunity to revitalise my memory of the German language, and I was surprised at how much I remembered as I could understand conversations in German and some texts on menus. Amongst the many places we visited, my highlights include walking up to the glass dome of the Reichstag where I got to enjoy the cityscape of Berlin and appreciate the political symbolism of the architecture. We also visited the Sachsenhausen concentration camp where we were given a guided tour by an enthusiastic guide who informed us about the heart-wrenching history and description of the treatment of prisoners in the camp. Another highlight was the Blue Man Group concert, which gave us a serotonin boost with loud drums and music after a long day of visits to places with quite depressing history. On the last day of the trip, we ascended the Fernsehturm (Berlin TV Tower) in Alexanderplatz which overlooked the city of Berlin where we tried to spot the different places we visited over the past few days. For lunch, I had currywurst made by an amiable Afghan guy. The chili-sauce was the star of the dish, though I was confused by the ironic lack of curry.  

– Irisa, 6.2.

  

It was a fantastic trip for my first visit to Berlin. Upon arrival, I was mesmerised by the history and culture of Berlin. I was particularly excited to go on the U-Bahn, and the experience did not disappoint me! We also visited many attractions such as the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and the TV tower at Alexanderplatz, which provided stunning views and a deeper insight into the city. Berlin was bursting with landmarks that constantly reminded people of the war that happened, and that certainly made an impact. The trip was packed with attractions and that left me exhausted, but I did not regret coming on this trip and am looking forward to my next visit to Berlin.

– Christoph, Form 4.

Half Term in Germany and Belgium

From the 27th October to 1st November 2018, a group of 24 students from both the Lower and Upper School, accompanied by Mrs Archer, Ms Salimi and Mr Wilson, went on a trip to the Rhine Valley in Germany, as well as Ypres and Bruges, in Belgium.

During our first 4 days in Germany, we visited some of Germany’s historical sites that were rich in culture, such as the Cochem Castle and Marksburg Castle, followed by an enchanting cruise down the River Rhine and the River Mosel. The beautiful scenes enthralled us with picturesque and captivating landscapes. We also had a wine tasting experience in a vineyard (well, grape juice for the younger students), a cable car ride to the Niederwald Monument, and a tour of the Cologne Chocolate Museum.

On Day 5, we left to visit Bruges, Belgium – a mecca for chocolate lovers. Students had plenty of free time to explore Bruges city, and indulge in appetising, local food. At night, we attended the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. As this was drawing close to the 100th Remembrance Day, we appreciated the opportunity to witness such a special occasion, honouring those who sacrificed their lives for their beloved country. Our last stop before heading back to school was a visit to some of the World War 1 battlefield sites. This was a very eye-opening experience and we were immersed and captivated by a number of stories behind those brave soldiers.

All in all, it certainly was an amazing, insightful and unforgettable trip. Not only did we make lots of new friends, we also had the opportunity to engage with the fellow people there and to explore these two beautiful countries.

Laura – 6.1