Successful Fifth Exchange For Thame Twinners

——————————————————

LINKS between Thame and France were further reinforced last weekend when a coach load of townspeople left in the early morning darkness of Friday, to begin Thame?s fifth twinning exchange.
Over 40 people of all ages, ranging from young adolescents to one lady in her ?eighties,? travelled to Montesson, Thame?s twin town near Paris, to stay with French families, some reuniting with their regular hosts and friends, others for the very first time.
The party enjoyed a very full weekend which included a trip to the house, gardens and lily ponds made famous by the painter, Monet. Others, including some of those who had made that particular trip two years ago en route for Montesson by bicycle from Thame, visited Paris instead.
Of particular interest this year was the Science and Industry Park or Parc de la Villette, a fascinating, modern campus of predominantly glass museums fronted by rectangular pools and a giant, Geodesic dome made entirely of mirrored glass. Looking like a single, giant bubble, it has a framd made entirely of triangles and is aproximately 12 meters (35 feet) in diameter. The inside, through the magic of Miramax technology, becomes a giant, 350 degree cinema screen that surrounds the viewer creating the amazing and tummy-churning allusion that you are actually flying along the river Nile, white-water rafting or looking up at the hieroglyphs of an Egyptian column soaring above you.
On Saturday afternoon, following the tasting of the traditional delicacy, p