Once in a lifetime for Queens County students

The school’s travel club spent the past year and a half planning the trip to London and Paris.

“It’s a once in a lifetime experience for a lot of kids,” said acting vice principal Derrick Redden.

The trip began March 8.

They spent the first three and a half days in London. They visited Windsor Castle, toured downtown London, checked out “Big Ben” and stopped by Saint Paul’s Cathedral.

Redden said they saw Buckingham Palace as well, noting the Queen was present at both Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.

On March 10 “we went and saw the Lord of the Rings musical and it was absolutely phenomenal,” he declared. “It was definitely a highlight for me.”

The next day students ventured onto the largest Ferris wheel in the world called the London Eye.

“That evening we did a Jack the Ripper tour,” he continued, “and the next day we took the Eurostar under the English Channel to Paris.”

The group spent three and a half days in Paris as well.

One stop included the Eiffel Tower.

“Definitely people were scared but we all went up to the top level and it was windy and cold up there but it was pretty neat,” said Redden.

They saw the Palace of Versailles and went on a bus tour of Paris as well.

They also stopped by the Louvre to see artwork such as the Mona Lisa.

Students also shopped.

Everyone had the chance to eat some authentic food, but Redden noted the food in Paris was definitely better than London food, which he described as bland.

The trip ended March 15.

The travel club’s past trips include Italy in 2004 and London, Paris and Barcelona in 2005.

Redden said a March break trip to Greece in 2010 is already in the works. A few students have expressed interest already, he added. A minimum of 12 students is required for a trip to take place.