We left Exchange Station on Friday, 4th June at 7.30 p.m., stopping at Chester at 8.45 p.m. and leaving at 9 p.m., passing through Rhyl at 9.35 p.m., coming into Llandudno Junction at 10.5 p.m., passing through Bangor about 10.25 p.m. and getting in at Holyhead at 10.50 p.m., twenty-five minutes early. We then got on the ship and went to our berths. The ship left at 3.25 a.m. the following morning, arriving at Dun Laoghaire for 6.40 a.m. After going through customs (which was no bother), we got on the coach which took us to the hotel Cois Fairrge. After arriving at the hotel and being given our rooms, we went down to breakfast.

The hotel faced the sea, and along the opposite side, raised from the beach were lawns which we were allowed to use. The first day (Saturday) was wet but otherwise not too bad, a lot of us began to look around, and find the different shops. Sunday morning we went to church. When we returned, and had had our dinner we made our way to the main bus stop, and caught a bus which took us (the whole party of 61 people or more), to Enniskerry, which is abour 3-4 miles from Bray. We went into the Powerscourt gardens, where we were shown around. Returning to the hotel, and after having tea, we were allowed to go swimming (most days we were allowed to go swimming).

On Monday we went to Glendalough. The day started dull, but became brighter near noon. Glendalough is about 20 or more miles from Bray. The conductor of the party told us that St. Kevin, a hermit, stayed at Glendalough for a number of years; he then left to study religion, returning a few years later, with some of the friends he studied with. From then on he followed his life as a hermit. There were also a number of very interesting old ruins. Included in these was a large stone tower, where monks stayed when they were under the attack of foreign invaders. For the people who believed in luck, there were a number of ways for them to wish. After this the party went down near the lower lake, where we had a picnic tea.

Tuesday was a free day, when we had a chance to look in the shops. Later, after tea, a few of us, with two teachers, went on a six mile walk. The next day the party was taken on a tour to see old ruins, monuments, etc. First we saw the monument of St. Christopher and next we saw a tumulus, in which there were a number of tunnels and caverns. One cavern contained a cremation stone, on which the body was burned. Some of the caverns contained the ashes of the body. On some of the rocks there were ancient marks and patterns showing that these people were believers in the sun gods. Besides these we saw two crosses, engraved with figures of holy people. Last we saw the ruins of an old monastery, showing the church, the lawn, and where the monks washed their hands.

On Thursday we went to Dublin, passing through Little Bray and Killaney. Besides many other places, the party went to see the Cathedral where St. Christopher's body was. The cathedral was very large, and contained monuments of a lot of great men. After a tour around we were allowed to do some shopping. We got back at the hotel at six o'clock (or a little earlier). On Friday it was wet, and for this reason we did not go on our last excursion, instead we were told that we could do last minute shopping. The afternoon was used mainly for packing. On Friday night we left the hotel Cois Fairrge at 7.20 p.m., and got in at Dun Laoghaire at 8 o'clock. We then got on the ship, which left Dun Laoghaire at 8.40 p.m., and arrived at Holyhead about 11.30 p.m. We got up at 5.30 a.m. on Saturday, 12th June, being all off the boat by 6.30 a.m. The train came in 10 minutes late, at 7.10 a.m. We arrived at Manchester Exchange at 11 o'clock, where we all made our own way home.

The holiday was exciting and most enjoyable.

IRENE THORLEY (2A).

On Monday, 12th April, 1965 at 7.10 a.m. a party of 29 boys and girls left Ardwick Technical High School for London Victoria. lt was raining very heavily and most people were wet, but despite this everyone was very excited. At 8.16 a.m. we stopped at a Forte's Cafe on the M.6 for 10 minutes. The next stop was on the M.l, at another Forte's Cafe where we all piled off the coach and had something to eat.

At 2.10 p.m. we arrived outside London Victoria where we were dismissed and allowed to wander the streets of London for three-quarters of an hour. Soon we were on the train and in Folkestone. Just as we were boarding the steamer called the Cote d'Azur for Calais it began to thunder and rain, but it did not last long. The crossing was rather rough, and for most people it was fun but the rest were "rather green around the gills".

At Calais we had to board another train for Paris where we were to spend the night. The hotel was all right, not exactly the "Queen's" but at 11.30 p.m. we were willing to sleep anywhere.

The next day, after a breakfast of croissants and coffee we caught another train in Paris on which we spent eight hours until we reached Irun. We had received a packed lunch from a cafe called "Le Petit Quin-Quin" and we all enjoyed it very much.

At Irun there was a coach waiting to take us to our hotel in San Sebastian.

Our hotel was very nice and soon we were all settled in. There was a party of boys and girls from Cardiff staying in our hotel. The main meal was at 9 p.m. so we had a lot of time to spend on unpack-ing and getting to know the Welsh people. Also Mr. Davies let us go out for a while to look around, but most of us soon came back (especially the girls) because of the amorous Spanish males.

After a comfortable night's sleep we had breakfast at 9 a.m. which consisted of three bread rolls with butter and jam and a large cup of coffee. The rest of the day was ours to do as we pleased but at 1.30 p.m. we had to return for lunch, which was at 2 p.m. At 7.30 p.m. we all had to be in from the streets but next door was a very pleasant Coffee-Bar called the Amara where we could go.

Thursday morning was very wet. We had an early breakfast and then made a coach tour of San Sebastian. Among the places we saw was the Bull ring. After lunch we had the rest of the day to ourselves but it was still wet.

On Good Friday, all the shops were closed but everybody was off work and school. The day was dull but not cold. Most of the party took this as a fine opportunity to explore San Sebastian.

Saturday was a very enjoyable day. After an early breakfast we drove to St. Jean de Luz in France where we spent one-and-a-half hours looking around. It was not very sunny but quite pleasant. After St. Jean de Luz we carried on to Bayonne where we ate our lunch in the grounds of the Cathedral. By this time the sun was shining and everyone felt much happier. We spent a very pleasant two hours there and we were all sorry to leave, but then we were moving on to Biarritz, a very nice place indeed! The sun was glorious and everyone was on the beach but unluckily for us the beach was full of oil and some people spent small fortunes on some special liquid to remove this.

On Easter Sunday a party of 21 went to see the Bull-Fight while the rest spent their time on the beach soaking in the sun while it was out.

On Monday we went to Loyola Monastery and Aspeita. The day was very showery. Although all the lights were out in Loyola Monastery we all thought that it was a beautiful place. Monday night and Tuesday morning were spent packing and saying goodbye to our Spanish friends.

We left the hotel at 3 p.m. on Tuesday for Irun Station where we caught a train to Paris. We had couchettes because it was an over-night journey. At 6.10 a.m. we arrived at Paris where we had breakfast at the station restaurant. After this we had another train journey to Calais where we once-again boarded the Cote d'Azur. After a rough crossing we arrived in Folkestone but to our dis-appointment we had missed the train for London Victoria and so we had to wait for the next one, so at 4.45 p.m. we finally caught the coach for home. With one stop for our tea at a Forte's Cafe and a 10 minutes stop at 10 p.m. at another Forte's Cafe, at I I.15 p.m. we arrived at school very tired but very happy.

LYNNE BANKS (5H). SUSAN HELYAR (5H)