Computing USA School Trip - Fri 20th Feb 2009
February 21st, 2009 Posted in SCHOOL TRIP REPORTS
And finally…
Our last official full day! We arrived in San Diego, Southern California… or SoCal as it’s known over here… for our last full day.
The students hit the beach along the Pacific Ocean shores, right next to the famous Hotel Del Corenado… the largest wooden building in the USA (according to our Tour Director… before someone Googles that and picks me up for inaccurate editorial!)
Today was a fully social day for the group, with Will demonstrating his full awareness that San Diego is close to the Mexican border and sporting perhaps the largest sombrero known to man… it is considered that NASA can actually see Will wearing his hat from outer space!
Lunch in the old town gave everyone a chance for some final gift shopping… and Elliot appears to have single handily rebalanced the American economy with all he has spent! Any rumours that the GSAL contingency will arrive back in Leeds on two coaches is entirely accurate… one for passengers and luggage… and one for Elliot’s shopping bags!
Many students took a rare opportunity to visit a naval aircraft carrier… the USS Midway, recently decommissioned after nearly 50 years active service in the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam and the first Gulf War. This education museum provided a wonderful insight into a totally extra curricular aspect of the tour… and Adam even engaged in political dialogue with a US Naval veteran… debating the American -v- British perspectives on US international policy!
San Diego is famous not only for its military bases here, but was also a key location for the filming of the 1980s hit movie Top Gun. Across the entrance to Seaport Village is Kansas City Barbecue, where students dined in true Californian style! This restaurant is famous not for its BBQ but for being the place where “Goose and Maverick” jammed to “Great Balls of Fire” in “Top Gun.” Does anyone else reading this feel old? The restaurant made the movie feel like a recent box office hit, yet the movie is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary!
Tomorrow, we’re returning to Los Angeles… just 24 hours prior to the Oscars and arriving in the Hollywood city at the same time as many of the ‘celebs’. We’re treating the students to a day at the shops, combined with some time at Venice beach.
We aim to be at the airport 6.00pm USA time and all is going to plan for a punctual flight and return home.
It’s been a pleasure keeping everyone up-to-date with the antics of our students in California over the past 8 days or so… but it’s time to sign off now. Thank you for taking the time to read the blog.
Over and out!
Mr Longstaff and all on the GSAL trip.
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