For the first time since our twining with Albion we hosted a group of Seniors Albion who came to spend ten days in our region. This cultural trip, suggested by Michelle Mueller, President of Sister Committee of Albion, and prepared long time ago by Didier Cael of Noisy le Roi Bailly (CJNRB) was entitled "The Route of the Impressionists' ...

We invite you to read, below, the details of their program of activities witch they fully insured financing.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

In the afternoon a bus collects the group at Roissy with Gerard Florentine and his wife to greet them. Arrived in Noisy le Roi they are distributed in families.
Invited to dinner by the Mayor of Bailly they taste their first meal of French cuisine and admire the feats of a magician while enjoying the music and singing of a Polish folk group.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Free time to help get better acquainted with their host family.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Depart 8:00 towards Giverny to visit the gardens and house of Claude Monet. Locally supported by a lecturer, visiting gardens is a delight. After lunch tour the museum to admire the paintings of Claude Monet Andelys then head to discover the ruins of Château Gaillard, the fortress built by Richard the Lion Heart.
The day ended with a reception at the City Hall in Noisy le Roi with welcoming remarks by Michel Colin, Mayor of Noisy, and followed by a cocktail.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The program visits a cultural Mecca: the Musée d'Orsay. Using public transport, bus and RER, the arrival at the museum is fast. The numerous paintings of impressionist have wowed visitors. After lunch, strolling through the streets of the capital to walk to Gare Saint Lazare to reach Noisy le Roi by train.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Is a free day. However, organized by François Marteau, President of Renaissance du Patrimoine Association, and with the assistance of the City Hall town councillor of Bailly, Alain Loppinet, a walk was organized for Seniors. They began by visiting the gardens of Marly le Roi then we went to Louveciennes admire the many reproductions of Impressionist paintings, and finally we arrived at the island of Chatou Impressionism and have lunch at the Restaurant Fournaise actively attended by that time and where was painted the famous painting "The Lunch of the Boaters " by Auguste Renoir. After visiting the museum back to Noisy le Roi.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

An early start led the group in Port de l'Arsenal in Paris for a short cruise on the Seine and the Marne to meet a famous tavern "at Gégène" with its late19th century atmosphere who was at that time, a place much frequented by impressionists such as Renoir, Manet, Pizarro, Sisley, etc. .. Lunch and dance program.

Friday, May 22, 2009

This day was devoted to Van Gogh. So the group went to Auvers sur Oise where Van Gogh spent the last days of his life. After visiting the home of Van Gogh, lunch in a typical hostel and visit the workshop house d'Aubigny and then the one of Dr. Gachet, Van Gogh's doctor.
The evening dinner gathered our American friends, host families, members of Municipalities of Bailly Noisy le Roi and CJNRB in the Relay room in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

On the last day of their visit, the Seniors went to the castle of Rambouillet, where they could admire beautiful wooden pannelings and a small pavilion on the interior walls entirely covered with shells. After lunch they went to Vaux Cernay in the forest of Rambouillet, which was a hotbed of inspiration for many impressionists.

Sunday, May 23, 2009

The day of return for our friends in Albion Seniors. Hugs and promises to meet again one day either here or in the United States.

If this trip was a complete success thanks to the hospitality of the host families without whom this would not have been possible, the availability of volunteers and the remarkable work of organization made by Didier Cael make all this program runs under the best conditions. They deserve our warmest thanks.

Photos