This Easter, 42 pupils and 5 staff embarked on a trip to Rome. This was the first MCS overseas trip since before the pandemic started; as in every sphere of our lives, Classics got there first! Aside from the need for Covid passes at the airports and the occasional bout of indoor mask-wearing, this was a school trip just like they used to make them.
In four days, the group explored a dozen different archaeological sites both inside and outside Rome, from Ostia in the west to Tivoli in the east, sampling plenty of delicious pizza, pasta and gelato along the way. The pupils engaged enthusiastically with everything they encountered, bringing all of their impressive historical knowledge to bear and often reading ancient inscriptions as if they were little more than road signs. The sunny and warm spring weather allowed for plenty of time strolling through the vast outdoor sites – whether at Hadrian’s Villa (where it was just us and the lizards for a good hour or so) or among the fragrant wisteria of the Palatine Hill.
The experience gave resounding proof that international school trips are feasible once more, and that pupils are more eager than ever to make the most of them. Before we flew back, one of our group was even able to draw crowds at Fiumicino Airport with an impromptu piano recital!