German Tour 2023

Posted on : September 30, 2023

On Wednesday 20th September Ms. Tansey’s 2^nd, 3^rd and TY German students departed for a five-day four-night tour of Germany. We began with a tour of Drachenburg Castle and its stunning landscape and enjoyed a relaxed lunch at the castle café. We continued on to the Haribo factory outlet in Bonn to stock up on the much needed gummybears to sustain us through the hectic week ahead. Following a delicious dinner at a well-known local restaurant Schwan, choosing nightly from a menu of classic German dishes we then settled in to our accommodation for the duration of the trip, the H2 Hotel in Düsseldorf City which also provided a huge buffet breakfast for our group every morning. On Thursday morning our group boarded our private coach and transferred to the Bay Arena Stadium in Leverkusen, where we enjoyed a guided behind-the-scenes tour of this renowned stadium. We then travelled further north to Movie Park Germany (similar to Universal Studios), to enjoy live stunt shows, 4D cinema experiences and thrilling rollercoasters. After our evening meal we went to Bowling Planet Düsseldorf for some relaxation before settling in for the night again. Friday was dedicated entirely to the beautiful city of Köln (Cologne), first visiting the huge Gothic Cathedral which dominates the skyline of this beautiful city, steeped in culture and history. We climbed the cathedral’s tower ascending the 157 metres to the viewing platform for a panoramic view over the city and the Rhine river. After lunching and shopping we then strolled over to Time Ride Cologne for an exciting Virtual Reality tour of the city, where we were transported back to the Köln of the 1920s. Naturally the best thing to do after all that was to tog out for a few hours in Aqualand, one of Germany’s biggest water parks, for the thrill-seekers it was water slides galore! Saturday had to be a full day excursion to Phantasialand, one of Europe’s finest theme parks. We enjoyed many attractions such as the Black Mamba Rollercoaster and the River Quest adventure. Each region is so distinctive, old Berlin being a favourite rest break from all the adrenaline junkie rides, best enjoyed with a frothy hot chocolate and sugar dusted fresh hot waffle with the old-style carousel spinning nearby. That evening we had a trip to the Glowing Rooms to enjoy a game of mini golf like no other in a sensory filled 3D experience. On Sunday we returned home tired but bursting with lots of newly acquired German phrases and unforgettable cultural experiences. A huge thank you to the teachers who made the trip possible, Ms Tansey, Mr Henry and Mr. Geraghty. Planning is already underway for our 2025 German Tour which will be open to 2^nd and 3^rd German students. SEE PHOTOS HERE.