Taylorian 2020

76 O ver the half-term, a group of boys from the Fourth Form, along with Mrs Haye, Mr Macleod and Mr Mitchell, went to Burgundy. After a long bus journey from MTS, we arrived at Maison Claire Fontaine, a small school that taught French and provided the dorms we would be staying in for the rest of the trip. After a good night’s rest, we began our activities. While one group learnt circus skills from a professional, the other groups learnt French via a lesson in archery in which we practised hitting balloons. The next day, the groups would switch activities, so that everyone could have a go at everything. We also had the opportunity to learn how to prepare French cuisine in the form of tartouillat, a kind of apple pie. It was an ‘interesting’ experience — for our team, it didn’t turn out very well. Later in the trip, we visited the town of Vézelay in the heart of Burgundy. We learnt the history of the medieval basilique. The tour of the basilique was incredible, and we had the chance to see a brilliant view of the majestic French countryside from a viewpoint on the hill where the large building was situated. The next day we visited the castle Savigny-lés-Beaune, the home of racing and Formula 1 champion Michel Pont, an aristocrat owning a collection of over 6000 incredible vehicles, including motorbikes, planes, and even vintage fire trucks. After visiting the town of Beaune, we went back to the centre to prepare for a meal at a restaurant which served delicious French cuisine especially from that region. It was a brilliant experience. On our last day at the centre, we went on a trip to a market, not only to improve our French when speaking to the people selling the products but also to experience the market and purchase lots of brilliant French food. We then held a competition between four tables to see who could buy the best French food, prepare it well, and then present it in French to the rest of the group. After having lunch, which comprised the meals we prepared for our table, we went on a refreshing hike through the nearby woodland. Overall, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a beautiful area of France, expand our learning, and make lifelong memories. Elliott Gregg (4ths) Trips Trips Fourth Form trip to Burgundy