We began our journey to France in Rosslare in Co. Wexford, hopping onto the ferry for 17 hours. The view was beautiful from the deck as we sailed away from Irish shores. We arrived into Cherbourg the following day to beautiful weather and the towering old train station. We then took a tour of the city viewing the difference between the eras of architecture in Normandy. We also visited an old Gothic cathedral in the center of town which was destroyed during the Second World War and was rebuilt.

The next day, in the morning, we attended the Lyceé Alexis de Tocqueville and played a variety of different sports. This was a good way to bond quickly with the students in this school. In the afternoon, we went to La Cité de la Mer. This is an aquarium with all the native sealife of Normandy and also houses an exhibition of the world´s second largest ever nuclear submarine, the Redoutable. The next day, we attended school again, taking part in some of the French students everyday classes, gaining an insight into what school is like for them. We then continued on to The Airborne Museum half an hour outside of town. This museum was based on the landings in Normandy during D-Day in 1945. I found this to be one of the best parts of the holiday as I always have a great interest in history. 

This is the Redoutable, on display at La Cité de la Mer. © Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 4.0. Image: Picture: Google Images.

The next day we said goodbye to the school and the friends we had made there and visited the island of Tatihou off the coast. This island used to be a laboratory and quarantine for French soldiers coming back from Africa or other countries. The last day then, we went shopping in Cherbourg town and had lunch in town before we headed off to board the ferry again. I really enjoyed this holiday and found that there was a great balance between educational trips and fun. I highly recommend Cherbourg to other Irish tourists and to Irish schools as well. I was sad to be leaving but I was happy that I made such good memories.