A Trip Report

Click here and here for photos.

Article about the anniversary in Le Journal St-Germain, 31 March 2000 (available in the Winchester Library).

Monday, April 10, 2000 -- A dozen of us departed Winchester via bus for Logan Airport, looking forward to a memorable experience celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Winchester -- St. Germain-en-Laye Jumelage. Six were already there. Two more would come later in the week. Further, there is a group of seven who are there to support three of their number who ran the Paris Marathon on Sunday, April 9. So for a brief period there were twenty-seven Winchesterites enjoying April in Paris (and St. Germain-en-Laye) -- and, who would establish a special relationship among themselves based on their common experiences during this exchange.

Tuesday, April 11 -- After a totally uneventful but enjoyable flight (and, isn't that the way a six hour international flight ought to be!!), we arrived at Charles DeGaulle Airport at 10:00 am Paris time. We were a bit groggy since it was still 4:00 am in Boston. Genevieve Parnier, the president of the St. Germain Jumelage and Monique Resnier, who has been a frequent visitor to Winchester, met us. The bus took us quickly to a brief reception at the Mairie (Town Hall). Greeting us at the Mairie were the Mayor, Emmanuel Lamy and his wife Alice (originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana), the Deputy Mayor Suzanne Jaunet, Michelle Chevelier-Joly, who is a former selectman and who was in charge of the official reception, and other friends of the Jumelage.

Following this we were taken to our lodging. Some to the homes of St. Germainois; some to the Hotel l'Ermitage des Loges. It was then time to wash up and freshen up and to try to take a brief nap or to take a walk through the grounds of the fifteenth century Chateau with its stunning view of the Paris skyline.

Evening saw us at dinner with the host families or, for those at l'Ermitage, wine and a buffet dinner at the home of Yves and Marie Jo Lombard.

Wednesday, April 12 -- Up early for breakfast -- remembering that although its 8:00 am in Paris, its only 2:00 am in Winchester. The weather was the same great spring weather we left in Winchester -- rainy and chilly. We would enjoy it for the rest of the week. We were all treated to a day at Chantilly -- home of France's most famous horse country. We visited the Chateau and Musee Conde, enjoying the art collection, the magnificent architecture, and the beautiful grounds. Then we all visited the Musee du Cheval, built as a palace for horses, and while there saw a demonstration of Dressage. Lunch was a most pleasant affair in the dining room at the Chateau shared with our friends from St. Germain-en-Laye.

That evening, dinner was taken with host families or, for some members of the Jumelage, at the local restaurant of their choice in St. Germain-en-Laye or in Paris.

Thursday, April 13 -- Free day. Up early or late for breakfast -- the mind and body are both beginning to accept the local time. Many took the RER (the public transportation system, with frequent -- every 10 minutes or so -- trains) to Paris for shopping and sightseeing -- for example, at the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Musee Marmottan, Eiffel Tower, Pompideau Center, Musee Rodin, National Galleries, Parc de Monceau, Tullieres, Jardin de Luxemburg and a ride on the very large ferris wheel placed at the Place de Concorde for the year 2000 celebration. Others ventured outside of Paris with host families to visit the Monet home at Giverney.

This evening we were treated to a buffet reception at the Restaurant Salle du Colombier. This was the first of the "official" events and was to honor the tenth anniversary of the Winchester-- St. Germain-en-Laye relationship. Our hosts were Genevieve and Paul Parnier and the guests included all of the Winchester delegation, now numbering twenty seven, and a greater number of St. Germain-en-Laye Jumelage members. Included in the Winchester group were the three marathon runners -- Amy Carzo, Ellen Wilson, and Barbara Zack.

The President (Jack Roll) and past President (Lucy DeLaney) of the Winchester Jumelage, the President of the St. Germain-en-Laye Jumelage (Genevieve Parnier), and the Mayor presented speeches in whatever language seemed appropriate. Genevieve read a message from Al Muggia reminiscing on ten years of friendship in the Jumelage and proposing a toast, in his absence, to Judie. Al and his wife Judie were among the founders of the Winchester Jumelage.

Jack Roll presented an engraved Paul Revere bowl from the Winchester Jumelage to Genevieve and the St. Germain-en-Laye Jumelage.

Friday, April 14 -- A second free day. Many did a second day in Paris. Others were with host families at the attractions of their choice in St. Germain, including the Maison where Louis XIV was born, the Claude Debussy Museum, the Claude Debussy statue, or the weekly open-air market.

That evening, the Mayor and other officials from the Mairie hosted an official delegation, consisting of Betsy and Alexis Cregger, Lucy and Bob DeLaney, Susan and Kevin Drum, Peggy and Jack Roll, Carrie Shaw, and Linda Wills. In addition, the dinner honored delegations from Aschaffenburg Germany (who celebrated their twenty fifth anniversary with St. German-en-Laye), Ayr Scotland, Konstancin Poland, and Temara Morocco.

As a special unplanned treat, Alexis Cregger sang a trio of songs, a cappella, in German, English and French - as a commemoration of the Jumelage anniversaries being celebrated. For the rendition in French, La Vie en Rose, former Mayor Jean Chastang joined Alexis.

Saturday, April 15 -- At noon, the Fanfare Melomania (a brass band from Aschaffenburg), a drum and pipe band from Paris, and the Musique Principale de l'Armee de Terre (a military marching brass band) formed the core of a parade from the market square to the Church at the Place de Mairie. Jumelage members from all cities and many of the townspeople joined this troop for the half mile parade route. Seemed that the rainy weather appropriate for the gardens peaked just at parade time. However, that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the bands nor of the followers.

Saturday evening saw the official reception at the Mairie for the two anniversary Jumelages (that is, Aschaffenburg and Winchester) with attendance by the three other Jumelages and perhaps two to three hundred officials and citizens of St. Germain-en-Laye. There were, of course, the obligatory speeches (in three languages) and acknowledgements and gifts. Selectman Betsy Cregger represented Winchester with an acknowledgement (in French) of the ten years of "good will and enthusiasm in which we are all invested" and a forward look "to the visit of the St. Germain Jumelage to Winchester in the fall". Betsy presented an engraved Paul Revere bowl from our Jumelage to the Mayor. The Mayor, in turn, presented Winchester with an 1875 framed lithograph of the Eglise de St. Germain-en-Laye.

Following the reception, the assemblage moved to the Manege Royal, a newly renovated performance hall, for an evening of musical treats. The formal program included sets by Sash and Sporan (Scottish dances), Chorale Voix Nouvelles (eight songs all in English), Fanfare Melomania (the German band from the mid-day parade), and the Musique Principale de l'Armee de Terre (the marching band from the mid-day parade). During the intermission, it appears that the Mayor successfully prevailed upon Alexis Cregger to again sing La Vie en Rose, unplanned and a cappella, before the crowd of about six hundred. Wonderful!!

Sunday, April 16 -- It was now Palm Sunday and many of the delegates from all Jumelage delegations accepted an invitation to join the Mayor and his wife in the church for the service. There were the traditional Palm Sunday readings and mass with a standing room only crowd. Afterward, six of the Winchester group left to return to the US. Some continued sight seeing and shopping. And, some joined a group of delegates from the other Jumelages, along with selected town officials, to visit Auvers-sur-Oise and VanGogh's final resting place. The beautiful Chateau overlooking the village and the river Oise houses a series of exhibit rooms and a theater allowing visitors to experience Parisian life at the turn of the century in the trains, cafes, parks, and streets that so influenced the works of the French impressionist movement. Our continued dialogue with officials and new friends continued during lunch in the Chateau, where communication was in a blend of English, French, German, Arabic, and smiles.

Returned for the last night in St. Germain-en-Laye. Dinner at host families or at the home of Genevieve and Paul Parnier. Winchester artist Betsy Molloy presented to the Parnier's her own print of the Winchester Town Hall to add to their extensive art collection. Final good byes and promises to see each other in October.

Monday, April 17 -- The delegation was now about twelve as some are already in Winchester while others are taking additional time to enjoy the country. We took our last walk through the town. Looked for and often found that last souvenir or gift for the family at home. Weather now a bit more hospitable. Had a last coffee, crepe, or croissant out-of-doors on the market square. Bus departed St. Germain-en-Laye at noon for DeGaulle and the flight home.

And next -- The second half of the anniversary celebration is scheduled for Wednesday, October 4 to Sunday October 8. We all look forward to seeing again our friends from St. Germain-en-Laye and for the time together showing them the sites and sounds of Winchester and New England.

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For more information on the Winchester Jumelage visit us at our Web site

www.winchestermass.org/germain.html

or call on 781 729 7669.