Mr Forrest

After a long spell in the suspended timetable international wilderness, my late call up to this year's Paris trip with the new S2 meant I was probably as excited as anyone when we left Portobello a couple of weeks ago.  This is probably an appropriate point to apologise for the delay in getting my thoughts blogged but when you read about how busy our schedule was, I'm sure you'll appreciate that a week of recovery time was well-needed.

By taking the tried and trusty coach and ferry combination, our group avoided the departure day dramas of a number of other Porty parties.  It did mean however, that after leaving at seven pm on Saturday evening, we did not arrive in Paris until mid afternoon the next day.  A stroll around the vicinity of the magnificent cathedral of Notre Dame, in the baking sunshine, was first up before checking into the Kyriad Hotel.  After such a long journey and some dinner in the hotel, I am sure that everyone slept as soundly as I did that first night.

First up on Monday was a trip to the Stade de France in St Denis.  It really is a stunning stadium.  I am positive that despite their poor World Cup, the French team can take some comfort from the fact that the Portobello group graced their changing room, jacuzzi, tunnel and pitch.  I have now vowed never to return until Dunfermline Athletic qualify for the European Cup Final.  After lunch, the group took a stroll through the atmospheric streets of Montmartre to Sacré Coeur.  This proved an irresistible opportunity to pick up this year's most prized souvenirs - "I love Paris" t-shirts and rastafarian hats.  Again, the weather was gorgeous and everyone was soaking up the sights and sounds.  There was time for a rest outside the awesome and surreal Pompidou Centre before  a super day was rounded off with a boat trip on the Seine.

Tuesday saw our group head to the Eiffel Tower.  To the delight of height-fearing cowards (Mr Enwood) the lift to the very top was out of action.  Never mind though, the day was so clear that the view from halfway up was still mightily impressive.  After a couple of Wacky Races-style laps of l'Arc de Triomphe, it was time for a stroll down the Champs Elysées.  After witnessing first hand the Parisians' approach to road sense, I will never complain about traffic in town again.  We returned to Flunch for dinner much more confident than we had been on our first visit the previous night.

Disneyland on Wednesday:  what can I say?  Mickey, Donald, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Indiana Jones and the rest.  It was another brilliant, baking day and everyone had a ball.  All too soon it was time for the journey home, tired but very happy.  My thanks to Ms Gendreau, Ms Robertson, Ms Hume, Mr Enwood, Jimmy the driver and, of course, the new S2 for making it such an excellent and enjoyable way to spend the last week of term.

Mr Forrest