FIRST TRIP TO EUROPE

FRANCE AND LONDON, 1979:

(This was to be the first of numerous trips we would later make to Europe and elsewhere)

In order to encourage the teaching of French in Public Schools in Louisiana, the French government invited Virginia and me to France (along with about 40 other elementary school principals in South Louisiana).

We left from Houston aboard a huge "jumbo jet" plane (Air France), and flew non-stop to De Gaulle airport in Paris.   After arrival we were bussed to a 300 year old home in a suburb called "Pont de Sevre".  This had formerly been the home of Madame Currie, who had participated in the invention of radium many years earlier.

The next day, with an English speaking guide, we boarded a bus for a tour of Paris.  Saw the Eiffel Tower,  the Louvre Museum, Napoleon's tomb, and the Church at Mont Martre.  Then the next day we visited several elementary schools to observe the teaching.

We then boarded another bus the next day to tour four days in the countryside.  Saw the following towns: Chartres, Rouen, and the coast town of Le Havre and the American cemeteries on the coast near St. Lo and Pointe-de-Hoc where the Normandy invasion occurred.  Spent the night at Honfleur on the North Sea coast.  The name of the hotel was "NOIR CHAL" (Black Cat).

We then visited the Loire Valley sightseeing several French castles, including CHAMBORD, CHENONCEAU, AND VILLANDRY.  Then we returned to Paris for two more days of sightseeing.  Then flew to London for a week of sightseeing on our own, before returning home.

We decided that we wanted to return to Europe and see more sights later.