During my trip to Spain last April, I had the opportunity to explore Casa Batlló, one of architect Antoni Gaudí's most emblematic works in Barcelona. Nestling in the heart of the Eixample district, this modernist residence is a veritable ode to Gaudí's boundless imagination.

Casa Batlló is much more than just a residence; it's a work of art where every element, from the furniture to the lighting fixtures to the stained-glass windows, has been designed with meticulous attention to details. As I explored Casa Batlló, I was fascinated by Gaudí's architectural innovations, such as the natural ventilation system, the skylights and the organic shapes inspired by the natural world.

During my visit, the area of the house that really stood out for me was the stairwell, which in my opinion, with its cold colours, is a real contrast to the rest of the house and its warm-coloured woodwork. What's more, the design of the stairwell sets it off really well, with a video of the sea projected onto the walls, making you feel as if you were in the middle of a stormy sea, with the balconies looking like little boats.

Another thing that stood out for me was the façade of this house. Although it's very well-known and I'd already seen photos of it, arriving in front of this house blew me away. I'd already read articles saying that Gaudi found his inspiration in Nature, but I didn't really understand this. It's really by looking at each detail of this facade, or even the house as a whole, that you understand Gaudi's intention to represent in this house a Nature that he judged to be perfect and abundant. Some of the details may seem insignificant, but all the curves in the house make for a harmonious and very (once again) natural whole.

There's a lot to say about this visit, I could tell you about the magnificent view over Barcelona from the rooftop, or the magnificent architectural exhibition by Kengo Kuma at the end of the visit, but I think the most important thing is to go and admire this modernist masterpiece for yourself. The only drawback I can see is that the place is so crowded that it's often hard to appreciate every detail Gaudi has to offer. Anyway, to sum up, I'd say I loved this immersive visit to Gaudi's work.

Albin Corteval

 

Three years ago, when I was on holiday in England, I visited the Harry Potter Museum. It’s a museum where you can find a lot of objects that were used during the making of the movies.

Personally, I am a big fan of the Harry Potter saga; I’ve read the seven books and watched the eight films so it was a unique experience. I have seen the background of the movie and realized all wasn’t montage, for example the train to go to Hogwarts is real and I went inside during my visit.

This museum is adapted for every fan of the saga that wants to learn more about it, the duration of the visit depends on you because you are free to stay as long as you want so that’s a positive point. The negative point is the cost of the ticket (more than fifty pounds!); that could make it expensive when you want to visit the place with your family. The experience is very immersive because there are several rooms
that have different themes with a lot of elements and accessories.

In conclusion, the Harry Potter museum of London is a fantastic experience that I recommend if you are a fan of the saga and you want to go to London.

Clément Caetano

Take your hats off if you don’t want to lose them, and buckle up ! I am taking you to Port Aventura, the greatest amusement park in all of Europe! From the stomach-turning loops of Dragon Khan to the destabilizing heights and drops of the Shambala, via the Furious Baco, making you feel like you were shot by a canon, this park will give you thrills like you have never felt before. I have never been so shaken or turned around or glued to my seat by speed than I was during that week-end.

If you’re not a fan of thrills and adrenalin, no problem! The mind-blowing shows and entertainment will keep you occupied and you won’t see time pass by. Be it the gravity-
defying acrobatics from the Cirque du Soleil or the fiery passion of the Polynesian dancers, be prepared to be breathless from amazement!

But it is not all about amusement, for just a walk in the Park will be enough to get you to believe you are travelling the world. Every step will take you in another area of the world, beginning in the colourful streets of the Mediterranean, passing by the exotic landscapes of Polynesia, to walking on the Great Wall of China, and end by going through a small Far-West town and visit the Colorado.

Port Aventura isn’t just an amusement Park: it is a full-blown sensory overload which will leave you breathless and begging for more. All you have to do is pack your bags, pick me up and go there!

Sara Blanc-Rougane

Do you know the story of Alice in Wonderland ? It’s the story of a girl who ends up in a fantastic world that she explores, discovering everything and living an incredible adventure…

My name is not Alice but I have lived through the same story, and, for me, it was not fiction! What I’m talking about is a unique experience, something that you have to live once in your life… Do you know what a “fantastic quest” is? Let me explain: it’s a outdoor escape game happening in more than ninety places in the Auvergne. It’s a total immersive game where your goal is to save a whole village from a gruesome end. To save everyone, me and my teammates had to find all the ingredients of the potion of strength. In order to do this, we had to travel across the “fantastic village”, asking the right person to find the solution. I can now say that I have met a very nice dragon or even help a witch to do a potion; insane isn’t it?

But I also discovered a story that was unknown to me: the past and present of Clermont-Ferrand. Have you for example seen Notre-Dame-du-Port? It’s a sumptuous place that commands respect from everyone. Or maybe the fabulous street just in front of it? No? Then you have to go see it, it’s really marvellous, so colourful and lively. I have discovered so many good addresses like the “Les Trois Lutins” bar or even the “Monts et Merveilles” shop, places where I really want to go back to.

Anyway, if I have one word of advice for you, it would be: “Go, run like you never ran before to book your tickets now!” What are you waiting for? Hurry up!

Gwendoline Rochette

A surprising visit

“Oh my God, what for!?” That's what I said to myself when I was told that we were going to visit the Lascaux cave. Initially, the idea of seeing a cave with prehistoric paintings didn't appeal to me at all. Honestly, it seemed boring and I was pretty sure I was going to waste my time. But sometimes you have to comply with family plans, so why not go on an adventure? Either way, I had no choice. We entered the reception building, and all this modernity reassured me that visiting a replica of the real Lascaux cave would not transport us thousands of years back in time.

We joined our group for the visit. Tablets were given to us, and a few minutes later, we were in an elevator a few meters underground. As soon as we walked through the entrance, one thing immediately caught my attention: the atmosphere. The cave hall was huge, we were surrounded by stone. This freshness, this resonance, this silence... I even had to whisper to speak to my mother. I immediately felt transported to another world.

Our guide, Antoine, then began his talk. From his first words, we understood that there was no better guide for this visit. He was passionate and passing on his knowledge about this cave made him happy. His explanations of cave painting techniques, the meanings of symbols, and hypotheses about the lives of Cro-Magnon men were fascinating. For example, we learned that the paintings came from the Magdalenian culture and their main themes were animals, human figures and abstract signs. They painted with bones, stones and colourful plants. The tribes that lived there were hunter-gatherers.

We finished with a quick visit to a small museum where there were many objects dating from this period. But the experience I had just had in the cave remained in my mind; I was amazed. Ultimately, what I thought was going to be a boring visit turned into an extraordinary adventure. It was not a waste of time but turned out to be an enriching experience about our origins and the world. If I had to recommend or repeat this visit, I would without hesitation!

Justine Dubouis

 

In my last year of high school, I had the opportunity to go see Hamlet, Shakespeare’s famous play, a masterpiece of the theatre, known for its depth and complexity.

William Shakespeare is an English playwright, poet and actor born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Hamlet is a tragedy written between 1599 and 1602. It is one of the playwright’s most celebrated plays. Certainly it is a great classic. The main themes in Hamlet are action and contemplation, and revenge. Hamlet’s monologue “To be or not to be” is one of the best-known in English literature.

Hamlet is a five-act play centred on the story of a young Danish prince who simulates madness in order to avenge the death of his father, the former king of Denmark. Hamlet’s father was murdered by his own brother, Claudius. Claudius becomes king and marries Gertrude, his murdered brother’s widow. Since his death, the ghost of the previous king has wandered around the palace every night. One night, he meets his son Hamlet and asks him for revenge. Following this revelation, Hamlet devises his plan to avenge the death of his father. This quest for revenge will lead Hamlet to question his own identity, loyalty and morality.

I think that what makes Hamlet so captivating is the psychological richness of the characters. Each one is complex, each one is tormented. Shakespeare’s work reminds us of the complexity of life. I also think that there is a lot of darkness and violence in this play. Hamlet’s themes are still relevant today.

Seeing Hamlet was a very good experience for me because it’s the only theatre play that I went to see this year. I went to the theatre with two friends which allowed me to talk and debate about it with them afterwards.

Thomas Casinhas-Arnaud

A few months ago, I went to London and I was able to visit the British Museum. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. It was so much more wonderful than I thought it would be! First, I liked the fact that there were the four corners of the world in one place. Each piece of art made me travel to the country from which it came. Secondly, I really liked the Roman statues and the totem that was at the entrance of the museum. Since I love reading, I was in awe of the old bookshelves full of historical manuscripts and books that were so big that they reached the ceiling. The warm colours of the rooms and the mouldings on the ceiling made me want to walk around the museum forever.

The diversity of works of art was enormous. Indeed, there were books, shells, jewellery and weapons so everyone visiting the museum can be sure they will find something they like. During my visit, I learnt a lot about cultures I did not know. For example, the method of hunting or making clothes from certain countries…

I stayed there for hours and yet hours felt like minutes because of how engrossed I became. In conclusion, if you love world culture and art, you need to go to the British Museum!

Kaïna Abioui