We have had yet another busy and fun packed day. This time we had an acting workshop with a professional actress, looking at the timing of comedy in both American and British dramas.

Students worked on two scenes trying to develop their pace and rhythm in the scene to achieve comedy.

Then we visited the Rockefeller center and 5th Avenue.

Finally the day was ended with a meal at Bubba Gumps and the musical 'The Addams Family' which was a marvellous spectacle.

Final day tomorrow....

Bye for now.

The Drama Team

It's been a very busy day, with an early start and every moment filled with fun! Higlhights include our workshop with Liz from the cast of Billy Elliot, our trip to Ellis Island and seeing the show at the Imperial Theatre. We have ate lots and lots and lots... had our pictures drawn and taken in Times Square, and now it's time to go to bed!

Report tomorrow

Goodnight!

We have arrived safe and sound. Snow flurries this morning making the trees and streets look pretty. Cold but bearable.

We are at the hotel which is nice and clean and has very friendly staff. The students have been very well behaved so far, and Virgin commented at how polite and delightful they all were. Everyone seems happy but a little tired now.

We've just been to Macy's and for a walk on Broadway.

Showers all round now before dinner at 6pm.

Off to Empire State building tonight.

Looking forward to a fun packed day tomorrow.

Performing Arts team

Final reminders before we leave on Monday 21st are as follows:

*Please remember your passport and hand it to Miss Francis as you board the coach

*Please be 100% confident that you have a valid ESTA visa (you do not need a paper copy as it is recognised electronically using your passport)

*All medication should be handed to Miss Tregoning at the coach in a clear plastic bag with your name on it as well as any doctors notes required for the trip and your medication

*Please meet at school at 5:30am with your luggage (1x suitcase max 20kg, 1x hand luggage, all liquids/creams in a clear plastic bag and a max of 100ml)

*Please remember your personal spending money

*It is due to snow while we are there, so please pack sensible and warm clothing

*If you are bringing your mobile please let me know the mobile number in case of emergencies

*Any outstanding reply slips for the letter about mobiles/paracetamol and photos, please bring with you and hand to Miss Francis as you board the coach

New York here we come ....

Miss Francis

We look forward to seeing all the parents at Heathrow tomorrow evening after what should be a sunny day in Monaco. 

Sunday has been a beautiful day with lots of sunshine. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the rain that has been forecast for the next few days might not last too long.

We will try to update the blog during the week, if and when we have access to a computer.

Today we have had a similarly hectic pace, with two shopping trips, a walk through Central Park and a lovely concert in the Cathedral of St John the Divine. We are now setting off to see West Side Story on Broadway...

They say this city never sleeps, they're right!

Check in at hotel 15.30

Walk to Times Square. Evening meal at Planet Hollywood.

Tuesday 27th July

am: Ferry to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit Ground Zero.

pm: Concert at Madame Tussaud's

Evening: South Street Seaport, meal and shopping.

Wednesday 28th July

am: Central Park

pm: Concert, Cathedral of St John the Divine, then Fifth Avenue

Evening: Broadway musical.

Thursday 29th July

am: Macy's

pm: Concert, flight deck of the Battleship Intrepid, then visit the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

Evening: Empire State building followed by evening meal.

Friday 30th July

am: Check out of hotel. Museum of Modern Art.

pm: Rockefeller Centre and Plaza, Times Square.

Evening: Airport Transfer.

Saturday 31st July

ARRIVE LONDON HEATHROW TERMINAL 3 10.30AM. FLIGHT VS10. PUPILS TO BE MET BY PARENTS AT THE AIRPORT.

Please remember PASSPORT , Music and Instrument.

Thursday 11.15pm

Last blog post this evening, since by this time tomorrow your child should be safely home with you again, and I should be in my favourite seat at the Brock with some real beer to drink.

But today, it was farewell to the Hotel Campomar:

Then east and north into France, with plenty of beautiful scenery along some stretches, although many of the group were too engrossed by Sherlock Holmes and Mamma Mia to look out the window much.

To MacDonalds at Poitiers, and considerable chaos as forty-nine Big Macs, chicken nugget portions, McFlurrys etc. were distributed, and summarily scoffed...

Finally arrived in Blois in the Loire Valley about a half-hour ago, and children straight to bed (whether straight to sleep we shall see) for a 6am alarm call tomorrow.

My final photo is of our Burly Bus Drivers. Ladies and gentlemen, Kevin and Kerry...

Expect a call via the "phone chain" once we're through customs at Dover early evening on Friday.

When we get back to school your son/daughter will be personally delivered back to you by Mrs Mathews, so please be patient!

Hasta maňana...

10.30pm Wednesday

Javi's Bar a great success last night, even though the Village People didn't even get a look-in. There was table football (and gossiping on the terrace - see background)...

 ... and snooker, and also gossiping ...

... and even some dancing, not to mention gossiping.

And so to today, our last full day in Spain. Here's the whole group outside the hotel before heading off to the shopping centre in Valle Real (oh joy):

Awards and prize-giving this evening, and Caitlin's birthday was not forgotten...

Hopefully they're all packed by now because we're say "adios" to Cantabria straight after breakfast tomorrow to begin the journey home.

6.45pm Tuesday

To the bakery at Selaya today for a short tour around the Casa El Macho cake factory, which turns sweet yellow gloop into a traditional Spanish cake several thousand times an hour.

Here's Emma and Abby doing their best to make a glamourous back-drop out of a cake production-line:

 Then to the medieval quarter of Santillana del Mar...

Think about perspective next time Josh...

Much better, well done girls.

Dinner at 7.30, and then to Javi's Bar this evening to dance the night away. For some reason Mrs Mathews thought it would be a good idea to leave the music to me... so, everybody, "Y - M - C...

Just kidding!

8pm Monday

Spanish dancing today in Santoňa - the stuff of nightmares for me when I was 14, but which this lot actually seemed to enjoy. Here they are in action:

 Then to the sea-front for lunch...

... and a sand-castle/scupture competition in the afternoon. We haven't decided on the winner yet but I reckon this turtle (by Emma, Ebony, Serena et al.) should be a contender, don't you?

Tapas for dinner this evening - chorizo, morcilla, tortilla espaňola etc.

I have no idea what any of those things are, I'm just hoping they're easier to eat than they are to say.

9.45pm Sunday

To Cabárceno Zoo today to see bears giraffes, lions, tigers, rhinos, gorillas, meerkats, elephants, hippos... and monkeys, thanks to Kevin the Burly Bus Driver, who enticed them off the rocks by throwing fruit (breaking all the zoo rules in the process).

Passion appeared to be running rife among many of the bears, but a bit of wholesome wrestling was enough for these two at least...

Meanwhile, this group photo was taken moments before we began feeding them to the animals...

... leaving Ruby until last so she could take this terrific photo of a very contented-looking lion.

Fortunately they were all regurgitated by the time we returned to the hotel at 4.30, in time to meet Pablo the life-guard and head for the sea - for about 20 minutes or so anyway because it was a bit chilly.

So I'm told.