Hi all! Hope the travelers have recovered somewhat after our marathon travel day yesterday. Just wanted to remind you all that I've set up a group photosharing site for trading trip pics. I see Drew has already posted quite a few (and even a video!).
I uploaded some of mine today. More hopefully this evening. I have a lot of the group pics on my camera and hope to get them up soon so you can have access to them. :)
Here's the link:
http://gs149.photobucket.com/groups/s74/JB7DNP6H9U/
You can see the ones that have been uploaded already in the slide show on this page as well.
Monday, June 29, 2009
We're Home! Barely...
Well, we made it! Though at points I was worried that we wouldn't...
Our last day of travel was a long one. Parents by now have no doubt heard this story recounted by their students, and it probably will be a part of the trip they will not forget! For the benefit of those who have not yet heard the tale, and for posterity, here's what happened:
Since we had to leave our hotel at 4 AM in Munich in order to get the airport with enough lead time ahead of our 7:10 AM flight, most of us were up around 3 AM. The checkout from our hotel was more stressful for some than others, as one group had to pay for accidental damage to a lamp in their room (which, by the way, had to have been the most expensive lamp shade I have ever heard of), and others had to figure out how to pay for snacks they had eaten from the mini bar service in their rooms. Meanwhile, playing on the lounge TV was a disturbingly graphic program...so everyone was trying to ignore it for the last three minutes of our stay.
We loaded the bus for the last time with our driver, Marich, and headed to the airport. Our tour director, Tom, gave us a heartfelt goodbye. We'll miss him! I know the students had come to love his Irish accent, his mannerisms, and his style. What a great tour director! For his last task, Tom delivered us to the British Airways desk and saw us through our first round of airport security for the day.
We had about an hour before our flight, so many students caught a quick nap, visited the restrooms, and did some last minute shopping. Our first flight went very smoothly...we boarded the plane on time and arrived at London's Heathrow Airport with no problems (save for the weird bacon sandwhich they fed us for breakfast). I was impressed with the change had I seen in our group to this point. Two weeks ago, we were all wide-eyed and timid boarding planes. Now I saw students and chaperones helping each other find their seats, assisting with luggage, and generally taking care of one another. I was very proud. As it turned out, those skills would be put to the test as the day progressed.
Emerging from the flight at Heathrow, we had to switch terminals and proceed through accompanying security checks. This turned out to be a frustrating ordeal, as a few of our travelers had their bags thoroughly searched. Poor Ms. Hill lost some of her souvenirs to this process. All said, it took us an hour to complete this part of the trip (the terminal switch and security checks). We then found our gate (or at least what we thought was our gate at the time) and dispersed to eat, shop, visit the restrooms, and generally wait out the hours until our 12:50 flight. At this point it was about 9:30 AM BST.
Then the trouble started. Mr. Welle and I visited the American Airlines desk to see if we could get him a seat that would accommodate his long legs on this next 8 hour flight. While there, the ticketing desk attendent said, "Oh sure. And I'll get you your new boarding passes as well. You would have needed them anyway..." The wheels started turning in our heads as we asked her if this meant our entire group would need new boarding passes. She said we did need them... the ones printed at Munich would not work. We immediately realized this would be a challenge for our group, as we had just dispersed across the airport and were told to return to the gate at 12:15...and the ticketing desk was no where near the gate. Additionally, the boarding time was moved up from what had been posted online (to 12:05!) AND they were not confirming the gate number yet...so we knew we may have to switch gates.
So...for the next two hours we tracked down all 27 people and delivered them to the ticketing desk for reprinted boarding passes all in the middle of Heathrow's large and busy third terminal. FUN. When our gate number was finally confirmed, it was a new number, but luckily one right next to the area where our group had been sitting and piling our bags. We proceeded into the gate area, which required ANOTHER security screening for which some members of our group were selected.
Whew. Finally, we boarded the plane, only to sit on the tarmac for over an hour waiting for take-off. While watching the boards for our gate number, we had overheard that Heathrow was experiencing a bunch of delays today and we might be victims of that as well, so we were prepared. The captain told us this was due to some malfunction in a communications system based in Ireland. Again, I was impressed with the patience and cooperative spirit of the group at this point. Despite the delays and the demoralizing security searches, they were generally in an optimistic mood. We kept commenting: "We just need to get to Chicago. At least if we get that far, we could walk home if needed... and we'd be back in the States!" No worries, right? We were on the plane, headed home shortly.
After the delays on the ground, we had a smooth take-off and were headed home! Many of us used this time (the plan was an 8 hour flight) to catch up on some much-needed rest. Then, half way through the flight, we knew something was up. The flight attendants requested that any physicians on the plane identify themselves to the flight crew immediately. Then, a minute later, another request, for any physicians or registered nurses. A member of our group, Melissa, volunteered her services and disappeared toward the front of the plane. A request for a diabetic testing kit was heard, and a passenger produced one. Then, the seat belt sign went on and we were asked to remain in our seats.
Mr. Welle and I started looking at the on-board flight map that is always posted on our screen. We guessed that we might be landing soon, but as we were over the extreme north Atlantic, options were limited. In just a few minutes, the flight attendants announced that we needed to prepare for an emergency medical landing...in Goose Bay, Nova Scotia...so that the aflicted person can be recieved by EMS. As we descended, we could see the snow still present in drifts and ice in the lakes.
So sure enough, we landed at the Goose Bay airport, which, by the looks of it, had not seen so much excitement in years. An ambulance met the plane on the tarmac and the EMS folks transfered the patient to the ambulance.
Ironically, the name of the airport in Goose Bay is "Happy Valley".
So... now what? We had already been delayed even before this new emergency, and Mr. Welle and I had been discussing how we would be crunched for time when we landed in Chicago. Even with the 1 hour delay at Heathrow, our timetable for getting our group of 27 through customs, on a tram to switch terminals and through airport security again and to our gate was sketchy. I estimated we would need at least an hour and a half to do this. Our flight had been scheduled to arrive a 3:25 PM in Chicago, but with the initial delay they were thinking we'd land closer to 4 PM. Our next flight was scheduled to board at 5:45PM, so that didn't leave us a lot of wiggle room. And then....we had to land in Canada.
After refueling on the tarmac at Goose Bay and getting a new flight plan, they were telling us we had 3 more hours on the plane. And it was now 2 PM in Chicago. NOT GOOD. The students kept asking me, "Are we gonna make our next plane?" I was not hopeful. They estimated we would land at 5:10 PM. Add taxi time, customs, collecting and rechecking bags, taking the tram to the correct terminal, and another security checkpoint (all of which would require standing in line), and there was NO WAY we would make it to our gate by the 6:15 take off time, let alone the 5:45 boarding call. But the captain was telling us passenger services reps could help us with our connections once we cleared the gate, so there was nothing to do except to wait and find out what our options were.
I was mentally preparing to have to arrange alternative flights home for 27 people, to call EF, to call parents, to call our bus driver and reschedule pick-up. I figured we were in for a long night.
We did land around 5:10 PM, and probably were all off of the plane by 5:20. As soon as we were allowed to turn cell phones on I was on the line with Leonard, our coach driver from Chippewa Trails who was scheduled to pick us up in Minneapolis at 8:15 PM. I told him to stand by until I got word of our new options, since it was unlikely we'd make our next flight. We then had to go through customs and collect any checked luggage. We were still standing in customs, collecting bags at 5:40 PM. Again, I kept being asked, "Are we going to make our plane?" I started giving the short answer: "No. Our flight boards in 5 minutes. It's not going to happen."
Bags were collected and we passed through the last customs checkpoint. Poor Sara got snagged for a more thorough questioning and was pulled from the line. As the rest of us made it out, the chaperones grouped up the herd before re-checking bags and I went on to find an American Airlines rep to plead for help. The first one I ran into listened to my story, checked what flight we were on, looked at her clipboard and told me: "How many of you? Twenty-seven? We're holding the plane for you. Hurry!"
Everything from that point on was an all-out sprint. We tore out of the re-check area, the three in our group checking bags hurled them at the conveyor as we went by. Then up a crowded escalator with a pause while I flagged down Sara, who had just emerged, a bit shaken, from her interogation by customs officials. Then quickly to the tram, pushing our way through crowds, for a switch to Terminal 3. When we arrived at the Terminal, I grabbed the first American Airlines person I could find, a white-haired woman probably in her late 50s or early 60s. I told her our situation and explained that we had to go through security yet and they were holding the plane. Meanwhile, the lines for security were easily 60-100 people deep. This was quite nerve racking as it was past 6:00 PM and the plane was already boarding. In fact, we heard messages over the PA system requesting all passengers to Minneapolis to report for boarding. She had us wait for a moment while she checked our flight number, then returned, said "follow me" and started RUNNING toward another security gate. Believe me, when that woman started running, so did we!
She took us through a security line reserved for airport employees, where we had to go through the normal, but now insanely rushed, routine of removing our shoes, taking our our liquids/gels, removing metal, etc. and sending our bags through the X-Rays. I have never seen so many people moving so fast. All the while, over the PA, we kept hearing, "This is the final boarding call for flight 1158 to Minneapolis. Passengers please report to the gate immediately." Being one of the first through, I grabbed the next adult in line - Jeff Hill, Ms. Hill's dad - and told him to count as our group came through and to accompany the last member of our group to the gate, H12. With Cory ahead of me, I sprinted to the gate to count the students as they came in and to make sure they would continue to hold the plane. By the way, "sprinting" with bags is a difficult thing to do, especially under this type of pressure. I was halfway there before I remembered my pack had wheels and it would be faster to roll it. Meanwhile, Cory is ahead of me, dodging suitcases and baby strollers in a frantic rush to the gate.
In retrospect, this scene must have been hilarious to spectators. I have seen people running through airports before and looked upon them with pity and perhaps a degree of snobbery: "It must stink to be late!" Never again. I wish I had video tape of the line of 27 people sprinting toward our gate, meanwhile trying to reassemble their luggage and put everything back in their pockets, because, although I wasn't there to witness it, apparently some more of us endured thorough searches and had our luggage rummaged through. The theme from "Chariots of Fire" should have been playing in the background.
I counted each one as they came in one by one, scanned their boarding passes and disappeared onto the plane. The folks at the gate were polite and understanding, thankfully. Everyone was sweating and red-faced as they crossed the finish line into the boarding ramp.
When my count got as high as 20 people, I quickly scrambled for my cell and attempted to call our driver to let him know the show was on. I knew I had to do this RIGHT NOW, as I wouldn't be able to use my cell on the plane and the driver was still on standby at Chippewa. It would take him 2 hours to reach the airport, so if I didn't make the call before the flight we would wait an additional couple of hours at the Minneapolis airport. To add insult to injury, the international cell I was using the entire trip, at that moment, ran out of minutes. By the grace of God, I had also packed my home cell, which DID work.
My hands were shaking as I dialed the number....meanwhile counting 23, 24, 25.... Mr. Hill arrived with the last traveler....As the phone was ringing, the gate attendant had me double-check his computer screen to see if any of the remaining missing passengers were mine. None of them were. We were all on the plane. As I grabbed my bags and headed down the loading ramp, Leonard answered and I hurridly told him we were on the plane and would able to make it to Minneapolis after all. I'm sure it must have been a confusing call from his perspective and it was probably hard to hear because they were starting the engines of the plane at the time. To clarify, he asked me, "So, when does your flight leave?" and as my butt hit the seat on the plane I said, "NOW. WE ARE LEAVING RIGHT NOW."
So Leonard set out for Minneapolis on the bus and we were in the air bound for the same destination within five minutes of each other. We caught our breath and unwound from the emotional rush, realizing we were finally going to make it after all. I could not believe we had all made it. The plane had delayed take-off for twenty minutes while we had made our mad dash through O'Hare. We left the ground at about 6:35 or 6:40, arriving in Minneapolis only 20 minutes late, despite all the delays prior in the day.
When we finally made it to Leonard in the bus parking area at Minneapolis, I'm sure he was not prepared for the welcome he received from students. Some of them actually "hugged" the bus. Drained emotionally and physically exhausted as we had now been up and traveling for over 25 hours with a few more to go, the bus ride home was a quiet one, save for some snoring.
We had a great time on the trip, but the Cardinal was a welcome sight as we pulled into the parking lot at Chi-Hi and were greeted by our loved ones. Home sweet home!
Our last day of travel was a long one. Parents by now have no doubt heard this story recounted by their students, and it probably will be a part of the trip they will not forget! For the benefit of those who have not yet heard the tale, and for posterity, here's what happened:
Since we had to leave our hotel at 4 AM in Munich in order to get the airport with enough lead time ahead of our 7:10 AM flight, most of us were up around 3 AM. The checkout from our hotel was more stressful for some than others, as one group had to pay for accidental damage to a lamp in their room (which, by the way, had to have been the most expensive lamp shade I have ever heard of), and others had to figure out how to pay for snacks they had eaten from the mini bar service in their rooms. Meanwhile, playing on the lounge TV was a disturbingly graphic program...so everyone was trying to ignore it for the last three minutes of our stay.
We loaded the bus for the last time with our driver, Marich, and headed to the airport. Our tour director, Tom, gave us a heartfelt goodbye. We'll miss him! I know the students had come to love his Irish accent, his mannerisms, and his style. What a great tour director! For his last task, Tom delivered us to the British Airways desk and saw us through our first round of airport security for the day.
We had about an hour before our flight, so many students caught a quick nap, visited the restrooms, and did some last minute shopping. Our first flight went very smoothly...we boarded the plane on time and arrived at London's Heathrow Airport with no problems (save for the weird bacon sandwhich they fed us for breakfast). I was impressed with the change had I seen in our group to this point. Two weeks ago, we were all wide-eyed and timid boarding planes. Now I saw students and chaperones helping each other find their seats, assisting with luggage, and generally taking care of one another. I was very proud. As it turned out, those skills would be put to the test as the day progressed.Emerging from the flight at Heathrow, we had to switch terminals and proceed through accompanying security checks. This turned out to be a frustrating ordeal, as a few of our travelers had their bags thoroughly searched. Poor Ms. Hill lost some of her souvenirs to this process. All said, it took us an hour to complete this part of the trip (the terminal switch and security checks). We then found our gate (or at least what we thought was our gate at the time) and dispersed to eat, shop, visit the restrooms, and generally wait out the hours until our 12:50 flight. At this point it was about 9:30 AM BST.
Then the trouble started. Mr. Welle and I visited the American Airlines desk to see if we could get him a seat that would accommodate his long legs on this next 8 hour flight. While there, the ticketing desk attendent said, "Oh sure. And I'll get you your new boarding passes as well. You would have needed them anyway..." The wheels started turning in our heads as we asked her if this meant our entire group would need new boarding passes. She said we did need them... the ones printed at Munich would not work. We immediately realized this would be a challenge for our group, as we had just dispersed across the airport and were told to return to the gate at 12:15...and the ticketing desk was no where near the gate. Additionally, the boarding time was moved up from what had been posted online (to 12:05!) AND they were not confirming the gate number yet...so we knew we may have to switch gates.
So...for the next two hours we tracked down all 27 people and delivered them to the ticketing desk for reprinted boarding passes all in the middle of Heathrow's large and busy third terminal. FUN. When our gate number was finally confirmed, it was a new number, but luckily one right next to the area where our group had been sitting and piling our bags. We proceeded into the gate area, which required ANOTHER security screening for which some members of our group were selected.
Whew. Finally, we boarded the plane, only to sit on the tarmac for over an hour waiting for take-off. While watching the boards for our gate number, we had overheard that Heathrow was experiencing a bunch of delays today and we might be victims of that as well, so we were prepared. The captain told us this was due to some malfunction in a communications system based in Ireland. Again, I was impressed with the patience and cooperative spirit of the group at this point. Despite the delays and the demoralizing security searches, they were generally in an optimistic mood. We kept commenting: "We just need to get to Chicago. At least if we get that far, we could walk home if needed... and we'd be back in the States!" No worries, right? We were on the plane, headed home shortly.
After the delays on the ground, we had a smooth take-off and were headed home! Many of us used this time (the plan was an 8 hour flight) to catch up on some much-needed rest. Then, half way through the flight, we knew something was up. The flight attendants requested that any physicians on the plane identify themselves to the flight crew immediately. Then, a minute later, another request, for any physicians or registered nurses. A member of our group, Melissa, volunteered her services and disappeared toward the front of the plane. A request for a diabetic testing kit was heard, and a passenger produced one. Then, the seat belt sign went on and we were asked to remain in our seats.
Mr. Welle and I started looking at the on-board flight map that is always posted on our screen. We guessed that we might be landing soon, but as we were over the extreme north Atlantic, options were limited. In just a few minutes, the flight attendants announced that we needed to prepare for an emergency medical landing...in Goose Bay, Nova Scotia...so that the aflicted person can be recieved by EMS. As we descended, we could see the snow still present in drifts and ice in the lakes.
So sure enough, we landed at the Goose Bay airport, which, by the looks of it, had not seen so much excitement in years. An ambulance met the plane on the tarmac and the EMS folks transfered the patient to the ambulance.
Ironically, the name of the airport in Goose Bay is "Happy Valley".
So... now what? We had already been delayed even before this new emergency, and Mr. Welle and I had been discussing how we would be crunched for time when we landed in Chicago. Even with the 1 hour delay at Heathrow, our timetable for getting our group of 27 through customs, on a tram to switch terminals and through airport security again and to our gate was sketchy. I estimated we would need at least an hour and a half to do this. Our flight had been scheduled to arrive a 3:25 PM in Chicago, but with the initial delay they were thinking we'd land closer to 4 PM. Our next flight was scheduled to board at 5:45PM, so that didn't leave us a lot of wiggle room. And then....we had to land in Canada.
After refueling on the tarmac at Goose Bay and getting a new flight plan, they were telling us we had 3 more hours on the plane. And it was now 2 PM in Chicago. NOT GOOD. The students kept asking me, "Are we gonna make our next plane?" I was not hopeful. They estimated we would land at 5:10 PM. Add taxi time, customs, collecting and rechecking bags, taking the tram to the correct terminal, and another security checkpoint (all of which would require standing in line), and there was NO WAY we would make it to our gate by the 6:15 take off time, let alone the 5:45 boarding call. But the captain was telling us passenger services reps could help us with our connections once we cleared the gate, so there was nothing to do except to wait and find out what our options were.
I was mentally preparing to have to arrange alternative flights home for 27 people, to call EF, to call parents, to call our bus driver and reschedule pick-up. I figured we were in for a long night.
We did land around 5:10 PM, and probably were all off of the plane by 5:20. As soon as we were allowed to turn cell phones on I was on the line with Leonard, our coach driver from Chippewa Trails who was scheduled to pick us up in Minneapolis at 8:15 PM. I told him to stand by until I got word of our new options, since it was unlikely we'd make our next flight. We then had to go through customs and collect any checked luggage. We were still standing in customs, collecting bags at 5:40 PM. Again, I kept being asked, "Are we going to make our plane?" I started giving the short answer: "No. Our flight boards in 5 minutes. It's not going to happen."
Bags were collected and we passed through the last customs checkpoint. Poor Sara got snagged for a more thorough questioning and was pulled from the line. As the rest of us made it out, the chaperones grouped up the herd before re-checking bags and I went on to find an American Airlines rep to plead for help. The first one I ran into listened to my story, checked what flight we were on, looked at her clipboard and told me: "How many of you? Twenty-seven? We're holding the plane for you. Hurry!"
Everything from that point on was an all-out sprint. We tore out of the re-check area, the three in our group checking bags hurled them at the conveyor as we went by. Then up a crowded escalator with a pause while I flagged down Sara, who had just emerged, a bit shaken, from her interogation by customs officials. Then quickly to the tram, pushing our way through crowds, for a switch to Terminal 3. When we arrived at the Terminal, I grabbed the first American Airlines person I could find, a white-haired woman probably in her late 50s or early 60s. I told her our situation and explained that we had to go through security yet and they were holding the plane. Meanwhile, the lines for security were easily 60-100 people deep. This was quite nerve racking as it was past 6:00 PM and the plane was already boarding. In fact, we heard messages over the PA system requesting all passengers to Minneapolis to report for boarding. She had us wait for a moment while she checked our flight number, then returned, said "follow me" and started RUNNING toward another security gate. Believe me, when that woman started running, so did we!
She took us through a security line reserved for airport employees, where we had to go through the normal, but now insanely rushed, routine of removing our shoes, taking our our liquids/gels, removing metal, etc. and sending our bags through the X-Rays. I have never seen so many people moving so fast. All the while, over the PA, we kept hearing, "This is the final boarding call for flight 1158 to Minneapolis. Passengers please report to the gate immediately." Being one of the first through, I grabbed the next adult in line - Jeff Hill, Ms. Hill's dad - and told him to count as our group came through and to accompany the last member of our group to the gate, H12. With Cory ahead of me, I sprinted to the gate to count the students as they came in and to make sure they would continue to hold the plane. By the way, "sprinting" with bags is a difficult thing to do, especially under this type of pressure. I was halfway there before I remembered my pack had wheels and it would be faster to roll it. Meanwhile, Cory is ahead of me, dodging suitcases and baby strollers in a frantic rush to the gate.
In retrospect, this scene must have been hilarious to spectators. I have seen people running through airports before and looked upon them with pity and perhaps a degree of snobbery: "It must stink to be late!" Never again. I wish I had video tape of the line of 27 people sprinting toward our gate, meanwhile trying to reassemble their luggage and put everything back in their pockets, because, although I wasn't there to witness it, apparently some more of us endured thorough searches and had our luggage rummaged through. The theme from "Chariots of Fire" should have been playing in the background.
I counted each one as they came in one by one, scanned their boarding passes and disappeared onto the plane. The folks at the gate were polite and understanding, thankfully. Everyone was sweating and red-faced as they crossed the finish line into the boarding ramp.
When my count got as high as 20 people, I quickly scrambled for my cell and attempted to call our driver to let him know the show was on. I knew I had to do this RIGHT NOW, as I wouldn't be able to use my cell on the plane and the driver was still on standby at Chippewa. It would take him 2 hours to reach the airport, so if I didn't make the call before the flight we would wait an additional couple of hours at the Minneapolis airport. To add insult to injury, the international cell I was using the entire trip, at that moment, ran out of minutes. By the grace of God, I had also packed my home cell, which DID work.
My hands were shaking as I dialed the number....meanwhile counting 23, 24, 25.... Mr. Hill arrived with the last traveler....As the phone was ringing, the gate attendant had me double-check his computer screen to see if any of the remaining missing passengers were mine. None of them were. We were all on the plane. As I grabbed my bags and headed down the loading ramp, Leonard answered and I hurridly told him we were on the plane and would able to make it to Minneapolis after all. I'm sure it must have been a confusing call from his perspective and it was probably hard to hear because they were starting the engines of the plane at the time. To clarify, he asked me, "So, when does your flight leave?" and as my butt hit the seat on the plane I said, "NOW. WE ARE LEAVING RIGHT NOW."
So Leonard set out for Minneapolis on the bus and we were in the air bound for the same destination within five minutes of each other. We caught our breath and unwound from the emotional rush, realizing we were finally going to make it after all. I could not believe we had all made it. The plane had delayed take-off for twenty minutes while we had made our mad dash through O'Hare. We left the ground at about 6:35 or 6:40, arriving in Minneapolis only 20 minutes late, despite all the delays prior in the day.
When we finally made it to Leonard in the bus parking area at Minneapolis, I'm sure he was not prepared for the welcome he received from students. Some of them actually "hugged" the bus. Drained emotionally and physically exhausted as we had now been up and traveling for over 25 hours with a few more to go, the bus ride home was a quiet one, save for some snoring.
We had a great time on the trip, but the Cardinal was a welcome sight as we pulled into the parking lot at Chi-Hi and were greeted by our loved ones. Home sweet home!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Last Day of Travel! Obersalzburg and Salzburg
My last post from abroad (for a while, at least)! Today was an excellent capstone to our trip. We woke early to get on the road to Obersalzburg and Hitlers Eagles Nest. (I apologize for the lack of apostrophes...cant figure out how to make it work on a German keyboard). Driving through southern Germany was beautiful! We headed into the foothills of the Alps and saw accompanying Alpine-style architecture in the towns and cities we passed.
Our driver, Marich, through his skill was able to negotiate the narrow mountain roads up to the Eagles Nest documentation center where we collected our guide, James Wilson, who accompanied us on ANOTHER shuttle up to the vacation home built for Hitlers 50th birthday. The students will tell you about the anxiety-provoking heights we reached and the narrow road and tunnels we passed through on the way. James gave us a brief history of the building and we had time to explore, take pictures, and even catch a meal at what seemed the top of the world, all the while feeling a bit creepy about the fact that Hitler himself had walked the same rooms.
Then it was down the mountain (safely, thankfully) and off to Salzburg, Austria for a walking tour with a great guide: Analiza. The city, built mostly by the bishops who lived in the fortress above, is beautiful and it was a shame we couldnt get more time there. But then it was to the bus back to Munich in order to eat dinner and park the bus so our driver could get in his legally mandated break before our early departure to the airport tomorrow morning.
An early start tomorrow, as we leave the hotel at 4 AM to get to the airport and catch the first of 3 flights home. If all goes as planned, we will see you at Chi-Hi at 10:15 PM tomorrow!
Our driver, Marich, through his skill was able to negotiate the narrow mountain roads up to the Eagles Nest documentation center where we collected our guide, James Wilson, who accompanied us on ANOTHER shuttle up to the vacation home built for Hitlers 50th birthday. The students will tell you about the anxiety-provoking heights we reached and the narrow road and tunnels we passed through on the way. James gave us a brief history of the building and we had time to explore, take pictures, and even catch a meal at what seemed the top of the world, all the while feeling a bit creepy about the fact that Hitler himself had walked the same rooms.
Then it was down the mountain (safely, thankfully) and off to Salzburg, Austria for a walking tour with a great guide: Analiza. The city, built mostly by the bishops who lived in the fortress above, is beautiful and it was a shame we couldnt get more time there. But then it was to the bus back to Munich in order to eat dinner and park the bus so our driver could get in his legally mandated break before our early departure to the airport tomorrow morning.
An early start tomorrow, as we leave the hotel at 4 AM to get to the airport and catch the first of 3 flights home. If all goes as planned, we will see you at Chi-Hi at 10:15 PM tomorrow!
Friday, June 26, 2009
June 26, 2009 - Munich
Our first full day in Munich was a beautiful one. Pleasant weather after the rain yesterday.
We began the day with breakfast at the hotel and departed for a coach tour of the city at 8:30. Our guide, Vicki, was excellent and pointed out numerous historic buildings and monuments, including some used by the Nazi party prior to the war years. We also stopped at a palace built by King Ludwig, which was modeled after Versailles. Having seen Versailles just a few days ago, the parallels were obvious.
We ended our tour at Marienplatz with a look at the famous Glockenspiel. Then we had almost two hours for exploring, eating and shopping. Many of us found gifts for the folks back home.
The afternoon took us to Dachau concentration camp. A somber place, no doubt. An afternoon shower fit the mood. Then dinner of spaetzle and chicken. Tomorrow, Salzburg!
We began the day with breakfast at the hotel and departed for a coach tour of the city at 8:30. Our guide, Vicki, was excellent and pointed out numerous historic buildings and monuments, including some used by the Nazi party prior to the war years. We also stopped at a palace built by King Ludwig, which was modeled after Versailles. Having seen Versailles just a few days ago, the parallels were obvious.
We ended our tour at Marienplatz with a look at the famous Glockenspiel. Then we had almost two hours for exploring, eating and shopping. Many of us found gifts for the folks back home.
The afternoon took us to Dachau concentration camp. A somber place, no doubt. An afternoon shower fit the mood. Then dinner of spaetzle and chicken. Tomorrow, Salzburg!
Good Morning from Munich!
Just a quick note before the bus leaves...
We arrived in Munich at 6:30 yesterday after an interesting journey on our now-small bus. Our driver Maric was pushing time to get us here, even with an abbreviated stop in Nuremburg. Because we ended up late, our restaurant would not serve us :[ and we had to supper on our own in Marienplatz. But EF is reimbursing us the cost and we are glad to have made it.
Today we have a coach tour of Munich in the morning and will visit Dachau Concentration camp in the afternoon. My internet time is expiring, so that must be all for now!
We arrived in Munich at 6:30 yesterday after an interesting journey on our now-small bus. Our driver Maric was pushing time to get us here, even with an abbreviated stop in Nuremburg. Because we ended up late, our restaurant would not serve us :[ and we had to supper on our own in Marienplatz. But EF is reimbursing us the cost and we are glad to have made it.
Today we have a coach tour of Munich in the morning and will visit Dachau Concentration camp in the afternoon. My internet time is expiring, so that must be all for now!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Photosharing Site for Trip
Hi All!
As some of our travelers depart for home, it's time to talk about sharing all of those wonderful pictures we've taken. I've created a photosharing page through Photobucket.com where we can share pics. I know students will also probably want to post to Facebook, but since some of us have had trouble printing those images in the past, this might be better if you want to include any of these pictures in an album or just print copies to share. You can certainly do Facebook, too, but I'll be uploading all of the group pics from my camera to this site, as well as pictures I've taken of the rest of you.
Here's the link:
Chi-Hi Europe Trip Photobucket
There won't be any photos in there until I arrive home, unless someone beats me to it, which you are welcome to do.
As some of our travelers depart for home, it's time to talk about sharing all of those wonderful pictures we've taken. I've created a photosharing page through Photobucket.com where we can share pics. I know students will also probably want to post to Facebook, but since some of us have had trouble printing those images in the past, this might be better if you want to include any of these pictures in an album or just print copies to share. You can certainly do Facebook, too, but I'll be uploading all of the group pics from my camera to this site, as well as pictures I've taken of the rest of you.
Here's the link:
Chi-Hi Europe Trip Photobucket
There won't be any photos in there until I arrive home, unless someone beats me to it, which you are welcome to do.
More to come...
If I can find a computer, I'll fill you in on the details of June 21-23 tomorrow. The hour is late now in Berlin and it's time for me to prepare for another busy day tomorrow. Hopefully, more information from Munich tomorrow!
June 20, 2009
June 20th found us waking in Caen, France at the Hotel Crocus. We then hit the bus for a ride to Paris via Rouen. After two hours of riding through the french countryside, we arrived in Rouen, a city liberated by Allied troops in the battle for Normandy, and site of the execution of Joan of Arc as well. On the way, Tom gave us the skinny on why our fellow traveler, Matt, would be revered as a god in Ireland.
Tom, our tour director, gave us a brief orientation in the small city, including a medieval courtyard were plague dead were stored before burial. We also viewed Notre Dame de Rouen, the church were Joan of Arc was tried and the square where she was burned at the stake. The consumerists among us found some satisfaction in that we had an hour and a half of open time to find lunch and, of course, shop!
Then back to the bus for another short ride into Paris. Tom shared with us some popular contemporary music from Europe along the way. We arrived at our hotel about 3:00 PM, checked in quickly and re-boarded the bus to be dropped off at no other than Notre Dame cathedral in the heart of the Latin Quarter along the Seine. After about an hour of exploring time, we gathered for dinner at Escarole, where we were serenaded by musicians who were waiting to play for a wedding party.
Then, the majority of our group headed over to the Eiffel tower area for a cruise along the Seine and our trip up the Eiffel tower. The tower was very busy, as this is the height of the tourist season, but we made it up and took in the amazing view. When we met at the bottom, some of us had managed to secure crepes and other snacks and we viewed the tower in its twinkling phase, which happens at the top of every hour. We took the metro back to the hotel then for some much needed rest.
Tom, our tour director, gave us a brief orientation in the small city, including a medieval courtyard were plague dead were stored before burial. We also viewed Notre Dame de Rouen, the church were Joan of Arc was tried and the square where she was burned at the stake. The consumerists among us found some satisfaction in that we had an hour and a half of open time to find lunch and, of course, shop!
Then back to the bus for another short ride into Paris. Tom shared with us some popular contemporary music from Europe along the way. We arrived at our hotel about 3:00 PM, checked in quickly and re-boarded the bus to be dropped off at no other than Notre Dame cathedral in the heart of the Latin Quarter along the Seine. After about an hour of exploring time, we gathered for dinner at Escarole, where we were serenaded by musicians who were waiting to play for a wedding party.
Then, the majority of our group headed over to the Eiffel tower area for a cruise along the Seine and our trip up the Eiffel tower. The tower was very busy, as this is the height of the tourist season, but we made it up and took in the amazing view. When we met at the bottom, some of us had managed to secure crepes and other snacks and we viewed the tower in its twinkling phase, which happens at the top of every hour. We took the metro back to the hotel then for some much needed rest.
Our Day at the Normandy Beaches
So... to catch up. The last blog post before my major delay was sent from Portsmouth, GB. We were preparing to cross the English Channel by overnight ferry. As it turned out, our ferry ride was incredible! The ferry was very luxurious, despite the small room size and showers. Several of us stayed up late to watch the water as we headed out into the Channel. I can tell you, it was an eerie feeling heading out into the black, knowing that about 65 years ago the largest invasion force in the history of mankind was in the process of making the same journey...though in much different accommodations.
The night was a short one, as our ferry left around 11:00 PM and we landed at 6:00 AM on June 19 (though, due to the time change this felt like 5:00 AM to us). We had breakfast on the ferry before arrival, then proceeded through customs and to a wait in the ferry terminal at Ouisterham for our coach driver for the day.
Our coach driver arrived at 8:00 AM, and we collected our local guide, Katherine, who showed herself to be an EXPERT on the history and logistics of the D-Day operations and the battle for Normandy in Caen.
We then proceeded westward through BEAUTIFUL hedgerow country as Katherine illustrated how the hedgerows and small towns were impacted in the breakout from the beachhead in June 1944. Amazing to think that such beautiful countryside could have such a scar on its history. Our first stop of the tour was at Pointe du Hoc, where students were able to witness and climb around in the remains of German pillboxes and bunkers in the Omaha beach area. We snapped several photos of students and staff standing at the bottom of craters created by the devastating shelling of the area prior to the invasion.
We boarded the coach again at about 10:45 AM, and drove east to our next stop, Omaha beach itself. This was a big moment for me personally, as it was amazing to stand in the sand of the beach, looking out over the water, seeing the obviously difficult terrian Allied forces had to fight in during the invasion. Our students seemed to really grasp the significance of this site, writing messages in the sand, llike "THANK YOU" and "WE REMEMBER".
Our next stop was the American Cemetery and Memorial, which overlooks more of Omaha beach. Our students planted 185 American flags at the graves of Wisconsin soldiers buried there. An impressive sight.
About an hour's journey brought us to the Arromanches museum on Sword beach. Here we grabbed a quick lunch and met for a tour of the exhibit and a couple of short films. We learned how the Arromanches were contructed. The engineering required to erect an artificial port in a span of a few days was nothing less than remarkable. I must admit, despite reading a great deal on the history of WWII, this was an exhibit where I learned a lot of new information.
Our last stop of the day was at the Peace Museum and Memorial in Caen. We toured their extensive exhibit on World War II and watched a 25 minute film on the D-Day invasion itself. By this point, most of our students were completely exhausted from the early start and lack of sleep, so the early evening at the hotel was welcome. The students might refer to our accommodations that evening as the "watermelon hotel" because of its interesting green color scheme. We had a dinner of lasagna at the hotel restaurant and many students crashed immediately following. Which was good, because the following day was to prove long as well!
The night was a short one, as our ferry left around 11:00 PM and we landed at 6:00 AM on June 19 (though, due to the time change this felt like 5:00 AM to us). We had breakfast on the ferry before arrival, then proceeded through customs and to a wait in the ferry terminal at Ouisterham for our coach driver for the day.
Our coach driver arrived at 8:00 AM, and we collected our local guide, Katherine, who showed herself to be an EXPERT on the history and logistics of the D-Day operations and the battle for Normandy in Caen.
We then proceeded westward through BEAUTIFUL hedgerow country as Katherine illustrated how the hedgerows and small towns were impacted in the breakout from the beachhead in June 1944. Amazing to think that such beautiful countryside could have such a scar on its history. Our first stop of the tour was at Pointe du Hoc, where students were able to witness and climb around in the remains of German pillboxes and bunkers in the Omaha beach area. We snapped several photos of students and staff standing at the bottom of craters created by the devastating shelling of the area prior to the invasion.
We boarded the coach again at about 10:45 AM, and drove east to our next stop, Omaha beach itself. This was a big moment for me personally, as it was amazing to stand in the sand of the beach, looking out over the water, seeing the obviously difficult terrian Allied forces had to fight in during the invasion. Our students seemed to really grasp the significance of this site, writing messages in the sand, llike "THANK YOU" and "WE REMEMBER".
Our next stop was the American Cemetery and Memorial, which overlooks more of Omaha beach. Our students planted 185 American flags at the graves of Wisconsin soldiers buried there. An impressive sight.
About an hour's journey brought us to the Arromanches museum on Sword beach. Here we grabbed a quick lunch and met for a tour of the exhibit and a couple of short films. We learned how the Arromanches were contructed. The engineering required to erect an artificial port in a span of a few days was nothing less than remarkable. I must admit, despite reading a great deal on the history of WWII, this was an exhibit where I learned a lot of new information.
Our last stop of the day was at the Peace Museum and Memorial in Caen. We toured their extensive exhibit on World War II and watched a 25 minute film on the D-Day invasion itself. By this point, most of our students were completely exhausted from the early start and lack of sleep, so the early evening at the hotel was welcome. The students might refer to our accommodations that evening as the "watermelon hotel" because of its interesting green color scheme. We had a dinner of lasagna at the hotel restaurant and many students crashed immediately following. Which was good, because the following day was to prove long as well!
Delayed Report on Trip Progress
I apologize for the posting silence, but internet cafes were hard to come by over the past several days (often due to time more than availability).
Today we were in Berlin, staying at the Hotel Bogota. We left the hotel for a coach tour of the city at 9:00 AM and saw the major sites, stopping for pictures at Brandenburg Gate and a still-standing portion of the Berlin Wall. We also toured the Checkpoint Charlie museum, which documents escape attempts and resistance during the period of division in Berlin.
Following the mornings activities, we set a meeting place in Alexanderplatz, and groups of students and chaperones explored the city. We finished the evening with buffet style dinner, which was much welcomed by our hearty eaters.
Tomorrow those on the regular tour depart for home and the rest of us continue on to Munich!
Today we were in Berlin, staying at the Hotel Bogota. We left the hotel for a coach tour of the city at 9:00 AM and saw the major sites, stopping for pictures at Brandenburg Gate and a still-standing portion of the Berlin Wall. We also toured the Checkpoint Charlie museum, which documents escape attempts and resistance during the period of division in Berlin.
Following the mornings activities, we set a meeting place in Alexanderplatz, and groups of students and chaperones explored the city. We finished the evening with buffet style dinner, which was much welcomed by our hearty eaters.
Tomorrow those on the regular tour depart for home and the rest of us continue on to Munich!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Hello from Portsmouth!
What a fantastic day!
We woke up in London to a 8:30 breakfast and leisurely 10:00 AM checkout time. Then we boarded the bus and headed south on a 2 hour drive to Portsmouth on England's southern coast. On the way, we saw the "white cliffs" of chalk the area is famous for and Tom (our tour director) entertained us with stories of exploding corpses (Henry VIII and William the Conqueror) and explained some handy tips about gestures in Europe, including which ones are rude. Of course, a good portion of the group also slept through much of the trip, so it will be interesting to see who actually remembers any of that when they return home.
We arrived in Portsmouth around 12:30 and had some free time to eat and explore the shops near the shore. Some of our adventurous eaters tried local exotic specialties (like eel!) while others stuck with familiar favorites (hot dogs, panini).
At 2:00 we visited the D-Day Museum, located here because this is the port from which the bulk of the invasion force was launched. We viewed the Overlord Embroidery, for which the museum is best known: a 30+ panel tapestry commissioned to memorialize the buildup and action in Operation Overlord D-Day). We also watched a short, but moving, film about the operation, which I think everyone found emotionally effective (it was, of course, quite sad). It was a great reminder of the importance of this trip, and I think as a result many of the group were very contemplative as they viewed the rest of the museum's exhibits. Of course, some of us snapped photos of ourselves in a personnel landing craft while wearing authentic-looking helmets, too!
Some of the group also explored Southsea Castle behind the museum.
We then had some free time before dinner, which we elected to spend at Gunwarf Quays, a more modern shopping center. Some explored the nearby shipyards, and others ascended the Spinakker Tower, this area's major landmark, built for the millenium celebration.
We ate a great dinner (either pasta or sausages & mash, depending on preference) at a restaurant in the area called Tiger Tiger. Following that, we traveled to the ferry terminal to prepare for our voyage across the English Channel to France. In fact, as I write this, we are getting ready to gather the group to begin boarding for the night. Tomorrow, we'll wake up in Normandy and explore the cemetery and beaches. Tonight's route traces the movement of Allied troops across the Channel, so it's a very appropriate journey. I expect a moving and impressive day again tomorrow!
We woke up in London to a 8:30 breakfast and leisurely 10:00 AM checkout time. Then we boarded the bus and headed south on a 2 hour drive to Portsmouth on England's southern coast. On the way, we saw the "white cliffs" of chalk the area is famous for and Tom (our tour director) entertained us with stories of exploding corpses (Henry VIII and William the Conqueror) and explained some handy tips about gestures in Europe, including which ones are rude. Of course, a good portion of the group also slept through much of the trip, so it will be interesting to see who actually remembers any of that when they return home.
We arrived in Portsmouth around 12:30 and had some free time to eat and explore the shops near the shore. Some of our adventurous eaters tried local exotic specialties (like eel!) while others stuck with familiar favorites (hot dogs, panini).
At 2:00 we visited the D-Day Museum, located here because this is the port from which the bulk of the invasion force was launched. We viewed the Overlord Embroidery, for which the museum is best known: a 30+ panel tapestry commissioned to memorialize the buildup and action in Operation Overlord D-Day). We also watched a short, but moving, film about the operation, which I think everyone found emotionally effective (it was, of course, quite sad). It was a great reminder of the importance of this trip, and I think as a result many of the group were very contemplative as they viewed the rest of the museum's exhibits. Of course, some of us snapped photos of ourselves in a personnel landing craft while wearing authentic-looking helmets, too!
Some of the group also explored Southsea Castle behind the museum.
We then had some free time before dinner, which we elected to spend at Gunwarf Quays, a more modern shopping center. Some explored the nearby shipyards, and others ascended the Spinakker Tower, this area's major landmark, built for the millenium celebration.
We ate a great dinner (either pasta or sausages & mash, depending on preference) at a restaurant in the area called Tiger Tiger. Following that, we traveled to the ferry terminal to prepare for our voyage across the English Channel to France. In fact, as I write this, we are getting ready to gather the group to begin boarding for the night. Tomorrow, we'll wake up in Normandy and explore the cemetery and beaches. Tonight's route traces the movement of Allied troops across the Channel, so it's a very appropriate journey. I expect a moving and impressive day again tomorrow!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
London Day 2
Greetings, All!
Another busy day in London, but thankfully we tackled this one with a good night's rest. After a hearty breakfast of rolls, cereal, yogurt and fruit at 8:30, we left our hotel near Wembley on our "coach" (not "bus", as we were informed!) at 9:30 with the lovely and informative Liz, our local London guide.
The bus (coach) tour took us by many famous London sites, including Westminster/Big Ben, Picadilly Circus, etc. Liz pointed out many areas and buildings that were destroyed and then rebuilt after the blitz in 1940-41. We had a short stop at St. Paul's Cathedral (the dome had survived the blitz while everything else around burned) for photos and ended around noon at Buckingham Palace, where we witnessed the changing of the guard.
Then, it was on to Churchill's Cabinet Rooms for a tour of the place where Churchill lived and worked during the war. Following that, some of us took off for our Thames River Cruise and London Eye experience. I accompanied that group - the views of London were AMAZING! Other groups shopped and explored the West End. We met up for a dinner in London's "China Town". I am now in an internet cafe getting ready to depart for the theatre. A group of 19 of us are to see Les Miserables in about 20 minutes! Other groups have returned to the hotel or are shopping in the Picadilly Circus area tonight.
Tomorrow we leave for Portsmouth and the D-Day museum and cross the Channel by ferry at night! All for now...
Another busy day in London, but thankfully we tackled this one with a good night's rest. After a hearty breakfast of rolls, cereal, yogurt and fruit at 8:30, we left our hotel near Wembley on our "coach" (not "bus", as we were informed!) at 9:30 with the lovely and informative Liz, our local London guide.
The bus (coach) tour took us by many famous London sites, including Westminster/Big Ben, Picadilly Circus, etc. Liz pointed out many areas and buildings that were destroyed and then rebuilt after the blitz in 1940-41. We had a short stop at St. Paul's Cathedral (the dome had survived the blitz while everything else around burned) for photos and ended around noon at Buckingham Palace, where we witnessed the changing of the guard.
Then, it was on to Churchill's Cabinet Rooms for a tour of the place where Churchill lived and worked during the war. Following that, some of us took off for our Thames River Cruise and London Eye experience. I accompanied that group - the views of London were AMAZING! Other groups shopped and explored the West End. We met up for a dinner in London's "China Town". I am now in an internet cafe getting ready to depart for the theatre. A group of 19 of us are to see Les Miserables in about 20 minutes! Other groups have returned to the hotel or are shopping in the Picadilly Circus area tonight.
Tomorrow we leave for Portsmouth and the D-Day museum and cross the Channel by ferry at night! All for now...
Good Morning from London!
Well...what a day! Our arrival day in London is one I'm sure our students will recall as a busy one! Most of the students hit the hay early last night...almost sleeping as they walked because they were so tired!
Our various flights "across the pond" went as well as one might expect. We did have some troubleshooting to do (some minor delays and one significant one for a couple of travelers) on the spot, but all of our students handled it quite well. I was VERY impressed with their patience and maturity as they waited long hours in lines and at checkpoints as we moved through the airports. Eventually, we all got our passports stamped with the UK's customs mark and were on our way.
We were unable to check into the hotel on arrival, as we expected, so we stashed our bags and headed from our hotel (near Wembley stadium) to the Imperial War Museum to view exhibits on Trench warfare in WWI, the Blitz, and the Holocaust, as well as many large artifacts from the world wars (tanks, planes, etc.). In order to do this, we were introduced to the Tube (London's subway or underground system). Hats off to our chaperones as we conquered the difficult task of getting 44 people on and off the trains and through line switches during busy traffic! (You can imagine the difficulty... as staying on too long or not getting on at the right time would create considerable havoc!).
By that point, many of our group were completely famished...as (due to delays and other hassles) many of our group got little for lunch and had last eaten breakfast on the plane (it was 4:30 PM!). Fatigue was a constant companion today as well, since many of us (including me) slept little during our overnight flight schedule and were up for nearly 48 hours straight.
We headed (via the Tube) into downtown London and had a traditionall (AND DELICIOUS) Fish & Chips dinner at Mr. Chips. After dinner, a contingent of our group headed back to the hotel for an early bedtime (many volunteered for this...due to extreme fatigue. We were waking up students who were falling asleep sitting AND standing in the Tube trains!). The EXTREMELY hardy among us continued for a 2 hour "Ghost Walk" (haunted tour of London's East End). Our guide was impressive...even if he was getting impatient with our zombie-like slowness and unresponsiveness by this point. Those who braved the walk were back to the hotel a little after 10:00 PM and more ready for shower and bed than they have ever been in their lives, I imagine.
We did early room checks around 10:30 (curfew at 11:30, by the way) and found all in their rooms, many already in bed. I doubt this evening will yield the same result as they are now well-rested.
Breakfast will be soon at 8:30 (it's 7:37 AM BST as I write this) and we'll be off for a bus tour of London's major sites. Highlights for the day ahead include the London Eye and Les Mis! I'll post pics as soon as I can, but for now know that all is well. We were much exhausted but hopefully on the recovery and ready for the day ahead!
Our various flights "across the pond" went as well as one might expect. We did have some troubleshooting to do (some minor delays and one significant one for a couple of travelers) on the spot, but all of our students handled it quite well. I was VERY impressed with their patience and maturity as they waited long hours in lines and at checkpoints as we moved through the airports. Eventually, we all got our passports stamped with the UK's customs mark and were on our way.
We were unable to check into the hotel on arrival, as we expected, so we stashed our bags and headed from our hotel (near Wembley stadium) to the Imperial War Museum to view exhibits on Trench warfare in WWI, the Blitz, and the Holocaust, as well as many large artifacts from the world wars (tanks, planes, etc.). In order to do this, we were introduced to the Tube (London's subway or underground system). Hats off to our chaperones as we conquered the difficult task of getting 44 people on and off the trains and through line switches during busy traffic! (You can imagine the difficulty... as staying on too long or not getting on at the right time would create considerable havoc!).
By that point, many of our group were completely famished...as (due to delays and other hassles) many of our group got little for lunch and had last eaten breakfast on the plane (it was 4:30 PM!). Fatigue was a constant companion today as well, since many of us (including me) slept little during our overnight flight schedule and were up for nearly 48 hours straight.
We headed (via the Tube) into downtown London and had a traditionall (AND DELICIOUS) Fish & Chips dinner at Mr. Chips. After dinner, a contingent of our group headed back to the hotel for an early bedtime (many volunteered for this...due to extreme fatigue. We were waking up students who were falling asleep sitting AND standing in the Tube trains!). The EXTREMELY hardy among us continued for a 2 hour "Ghost Walk" (haunted tour of London's East End). Our guide was impressive...even if he was getting impatient with our zombie-like slowness and unresponsiveness by this point. Those who braved the walk were back to the hotel a little after 10:00 PM and more ready for shower and bed than they have ever been in their lives, I imagine.
We did early room checks around 10:30 (curfew at 11:30, by the way) and found all in their rooms, many already in bed. I doubt this evening will yield the same result as they are now well-rested.
Breakfast will be soon at 8:30 (it's 7:37 AM BST as I write this) and we'll be off for a bus tour of London's major sites. Highlights for the day ahead include the London Eye and Les Mis! I'll post pics as soon as I can, but for now know that all is well. We were much exhausted but hopefully on the recovery and ready for the day ahead!
Friday, June 12, 2009
How's the Weather Over There?
Well, we're finally getting some beautiful weather here in Northwestern Wisconsin, but I'm sure many of you have your minds on the weather "over there." (As an aside, being a US History teacher, using the phrase "over there" in writing makes me want to burst into a rousing chorus of Over There, the uber-patriotic WWI-era tune. "Johnnie get your gun, get your gun, get your gun...Johnnie show the Hun who's a son of a gun...") Anyway...Just as it is here in the US, the farther out the forecast, the less likely it will be accurate. And since our first official day in London is just clinging to the far end of a 5-day forecast, I wouldn't yet place too much confidence in predicted weather conditions. That being said, the current forecast for our arrival day in London is:
Chance of rain (20%). Scattered Clouds. High of 68 (degrees F) & Low of 55.
You might also notice I've added 5-day forecast information for each of our major-city destinations to the right hand side of this page. Be sure to check back as departure approaches because that information should become more reliable with each passing day.
In his latest email from Ireland, our tour director (Tom Quinn) recommends "warm clothes, decent footwear, and maybe a rain jacket" for Tuesday's attire. This shouldn't be a change of plans for you, I hope, as you should plan on wearing the bulkiest of your clothes (and jacket) on the plane. Tom also wanted to let travelers know that you should be prepared for a long day on Tuesday, as we will likely not be checking into our hotel until the evening, perhaps even after the Ghost Walk. So come dressed ready for business!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Important! Amendment to Hotel Information on Final Itinerary
Today I received word from my tour consultant that our Paris hotel information has changed. The address and phone information that was given on any itinerary you printed out (or picked up from me) is no longer correct. It is VERY important that you print out a new version of your itinerary (either by logging in to your EF Account at www.eftours.com/student or by following the appropriate link below) and give this new information to your emergency contact in case someone needs to contact you while on tour.
Also, I discovered today that one of our hotels is NOT listed on EF's Final Itinerary (including those linked below). I only stumbled upon this because our TD mentioned in an email to me that rooming for our hotel in the Ardennes will follow the same configuration as in Caen, and I thought to myself: Hmm... I don't remember seeing that hotel on my list. Further investigation and communication with my tour consultant revealed that a computer glich is preventing that hotel information from posting. They hope to have the issue corrected soon, but in the meantime here is the address for our hotel in the Ardennes, where we will be staying the evening of 6/22:
1ere Classe Ardennes
Route De La Francheville - Zac Du
Moulin Le Blanc
Charleville Mezieres
http://www.premiereclasse.com/en/default.aspx
Please add the above address to the hotel information you print off for your emergency contact. I hope to get a phone number listed here soon, as well.
Here are additional links to the updated itinerary with the new Paris hotel information:
Base Tour Final Itinerary (updated 6/11/09)
Extension Final Itinerary (updated 6/11/09)
Tip: If using the links above, you will be taken to a file-sharing site where you can follow the links to download the htm. documents with the info. When you get to the final screen select "save" to save the files to a folder on your computer (if you select "open" it may just give you a bunch of jibberish). Then access the files through the "my documents" menu.
Also, I discovered today that one of our hotels is NOT listed on EF's Final Itinerary (including those linked below). I only stumbled upon this because our TD mentioned in an email to me that rooming for our hotel in the Ardennes will follow the same configuration as in Caen, and I thought to myself: Hmm... I don't remember seeing that hotel on my list. Further investigation and communication with my tour consultant revealed that a computer glich is preventing that hotel information from posting. They hope to have the issue corrected soon, but in the meantime here is the address for our hotel in the Ardennes, where we will be staying the evening of 6/22:
1ere Classe Ardennes
Route De La Francheville - Zac Du
Moulin Le Blanc
Charleville Mezieres
http://www.premiereclasse.com/en/default.aspx
Please add the above address to the hotel information you print off for your emergency contact. I hope to get a phone number listed here soon, as well.
Here are additional links to the updated itinerary with the new Paris hotel information:
Base Tour Final Itinerary (updated 6/11/09)
Extension Final Itinerary (updated 6/11/09)
Tip: If using the links above, you will be taken to a file-sharing site where you can follow the links to download the htm. documents with the info. When you get to the final screen select "save" to save the files to a folder on your computer (if you select "open" it may just give you a bunch of jibberish). Then access the files through the "my documents" menu.
War Horse Sold Out! Les Mis Tickets Booked Instead
Travelers: Much to my disappointment, Tom was unable to get tickets to War Horse as it was sold out completely. He had contacted me about this possibility last week, but until yesterday was hoping more might become available through EF's ticket agent. Thus, as you are likely aware, last week I posted a survey on this blog to get an idea of what folks who signed up for War Horse might want to do instead if tickets were not obtainable. Based on the results from that poll and from responses that I received in person, Les Miserables got the majority of votes.
Despite the fact that it was not our first pick, Les Mis is an EXCELLENT choice for our trip, as it provides us with a glimpse of French history as well as stunning music! This musical, which is based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, has been seen by over 40 million people since it first hit the stage in 1985. The trailer below is from 2006, when the production celebrated it's 9000th (nine-thousandth?) performance in London.
The cost for Les Mis is the same as the projected cost for War Horse: £30, which will be due to our Tour Director on Day 2 of the trip. Tom has generously agreed to also accept US dollars ($50) if you would prefer not to change over the money.
Since I did not receive any emails from travelers wanting to cancel if War Horse did not run, I had to assume that everyone who signed up for War Horse is still on board. At this point, since tickets have been ordered and are non-refundable, if you wish not to participate because of the show change you'll have to pay OR find someone else on the tour who would be willing to take your spot. I apologize for the switch. I was really hoping to see War Horse, but I'm convinced Les Mis will be an excellent show and historical to boot.
Despite the fact that it was not our first pick, Les Mis is an EXCELLENT choice for our trip, as it provides us with a glimpse of French history as well as stunning music! This musical, which is based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, has been seen by over 40 million people since it first hit the stage in 1985. The trailer below is from 2006, when the production celebrated it's 9000th (nine-thousandth?) performance in London.
The cost for Les Mis is the same as the projected cost for War Horse: £30, which will be due to our Tour Director on Day 2 of the trip. Tom has generously agreed to also accept US dollars ($50) if you would prefer not to change over the money.
Since I did not receive any emails from travelers wanting to cancel if War Horse did not run, I had to assume that everyone who signed up for War Horse is still on board. At this point, since tickets have been ordered and are non-refundable, if you wish not to participate because of the show change you'll have to pay OR find someone else on the tour who would be willing to take your spot. I apologize for the switch. I was really hoping to see War Horse, but I'm convinced Les Mis will be an excellent show and historical to boot.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Double Bonus for Psychology Students on D-Day Trip!
Several AP Psychology alumni are among the travelers going on our D-Day trip, and they should be excited to note that our trip also (inadvertantdly) takes us to one of the most famous sites in the history of abnormal psychology: Bethlem Royal Hospital (a.k.a. "Bedlam"). Check out this post on our Serendipitous Trip to Bedlam on our AP Psych blog to find out more.
Bethlem Royal Hospital - Interior Corridor
Update: Girls' Rooming for Caen and Tuesday Itinerary Switch
I've been emailing back and forth with Tom Q. (our TD) over the past few days, and I now have some news to report.For one, Tom is handling our rooming arrangements and so far it looks like the rooming list I distributed at our last meeting will work for most locations. However, we did have to do some adjusting at the Caen hotel, l' Hotel Crocus. They did not have quad arrangements available, so I had to adjust the groups of female students to 6 triples and 1 twin room for that night only (instead of 5 quads as planned). Intestingly, the hotel has a Youtube video displaying its accommodations, which I embedded below for your amusement. Note that we will not be staying in the "superior" class rooms...stay tuned for the "standard" ones to get a glimpse of what your room might look like.
The rooming arrangements (for female students) for that night (June 19th), will look like this: Group 1: Michaela, Katy, Nikelle, Group 2: Leigh, Sara, Alyssa, Group 3: Megan, Taylor, Amee, Group 4: Emily, Marah, Meredith, Group 5: Santana, Shawna, Kaera, Group 6: Miranda, Whitney, Nicole, Group 7: Sam P. and Sam S.
Also, because our schedule looked especially packed for the 17th, Tom suggested we move our visit to the Imperial War Museum to our arrival date (the 16th). I agreed, as we want to have plenty of time to take in this museum, which includes exhibits from the First World War to WWII and beyond. So, it looks like we will head off to the Imperial War Museum around 2:30 on Tuesday, June 16th.
And, last but not least, a handy tip from Mr. Kinville: when carrying currency (US dollars) for exchange at exchange bureaus, take care to select bills that are in relatively good shape. He reports that travelers on his Egypt trip earlier this year encountered difficulty exchanging money if it had small tears or was otherwise damaged. If you don't have any "good" bills on hand, he recommends a visit to the bank or a local ATM, as they generally have crisp, undamaged bills.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Les Mis is 2nd Choice
Hi Travelers,
Based on responses I received in person and those registered through the online poll, Les Miserables is our 2nd choice show if War Horse tickets are not obtainable. Since no one indicated to me that they would prefer NO show if War Horse is not do-able, I contacted our TD to let him know that all 19 people (who had signed up for War Horse) would attend Les Mis if War Horse is a no-go.
I should find out tomorrow or Thursday which show we will be seeing for sure. :)
Based on responses I received in person and those registered through the online poll, Les Miserables is our 2nd choice show if War Horse tickets are not obtainable. Since no one indicated to me that they would prefer NO show if War Horse is not do-able, I contacted our TD to let him know that all 19 people (who had signed up for War Horse) would attend Les Mis if War Horse is a no-go.
I should find out tomorrow or Thursday which show we will be seeing for sure. :)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
President Obama Remembers D-Day on 65th Anniversary
President Obama spoke today at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, commemorating the D-Day Invasion launched 65 years ago this day. He spoke of the significance of this battle as one of the most important in the history of humanity and honored surviving veterans in attendance.
In just a matter of days, travelers, you will be standing in his footprints. See the video of his speech below, courtesy of MSNBC.
In just a matter of days, travelers, you will be standing in his footprints. See the video of his speech below, courtesy of MSNBC.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Thursday, June 4, 2009
War Horse Attendees: Please Indicate 2nd Choice
If you signed up to see War Horse, I have some news to report. Our Tour Director is having difficultly securing tickets, as the show for the 17th may be sold out. After talking with the EF ticketing agent, Tom found that more tickets may become available on next week Wednesday, but he can't be sure that he will be able to get them yet. So, as of now, War Horse is up in the air.
Our TD, Tom, felt very badly about this, and wanted to offer an alternative theatre option to those who are interested. There are a few choices (Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and Billy Elliot), and we'd have to select one that we would all attend together. The cost would be very similar to War Horse, if not exactly the same. If it appears most people would still prefer to attend a show, I'll take the top "vote-getter". However, those who wish NOT to attend a show if War Horse is unavailable should vote accordingly and EMAIL ME at wellevk@chipfalls.k12.wi.us so I know to send the appropriate numbers to Tom.
Our TD, Tom, felt very badly about this, and wanted to offer an alternative theatre option to those who are interested. There are a few choices (Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and Billy Elliot), and we'd have to select one that we would all attend together. The cost would be very similar to War Horse, if not exactly the same. If it appears most people would still prefer to attend a show, I'll take the top "vote-getter". However, those who wish NOT to attend a show if War Horse is unavailable should vote accordingly and EMAIL ME at wellevk@chipfalls.k12.wi.us so I know to send the appropriate numbers to Tom.
POLL CLOSED
Monday, June 1, 2009
Look who ELSE is headed to Normandy!
Chi-Hi students aren't the only people whose thoughts will be on Normandy, France this June. President Barack Obama will be attending the 65th Anniversary ceremony, honoring the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944. Unfortunately, we were on able to arrange travel on the actual anniversary date ourselves, since our finals and graduation are so close. Turns out, our travel dates are likely better, since security measures would likely not allow us to be there for the ceremony anyway, given the star-power of the attendees.Unfortunately, elaborate ceremonies commemorating the D-Day invasion are not likely to continue in perpetuity. This article from the Telegraph points out that this year's anniversary is likely to be the last gasp of many veterans' groups, whose memberships are shrinking as D-Day veterans age and pass on. Just another reason our trip is truly a historic occasion!
Hotel Information Posted to EF Accounts
D-Day Travelers:
Your hotel information is now posted to your individual EF account pages. I will not be posting the information here for security reasons (this page is accessible to anyone on the web and I don't want just anyone knowing the addresses of where we're staying on specific dates).
Many of you picked up this information from me today at the Lunch & Learn meeting. For those who did not attend, you may access the info by logging in to your EF Account at www.eftours.com/student. Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites of hotels are all listed for your convenience. Please leave a copy of this information with your Emergency Contact in case someone needs to get in touch with you in case of an emergency at home.
Your hotel information is now posted to your individual EF account pages. I will not be posting the information here for security reasons (this page is accessible to anyone on the web and I don't want just anyone knowing the addresses of where we're staying on specific dates).
Many of you picked up this information from me today at the Lunch & Learn meeting. For those who did not attend, you may access the info by logging in to your EF Account at www.eftours.com/student. Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites of hotels are all listed for your convenience. Please leave a copy of this information with your Emergency Contact in case someone needs to get in touch with you in case of an emergency at home.
Continuing the Conversation: Using Credit, Debit, and ATM Cards in Europe
At our meeting last night, many travelers expressed confusion about what type of card to use when making purchases in Europe. Admittedly, I'm hardly an expert on this topic myself. This is probably for two reasons:- In the past, I've always used cards issued through my credit union. After doing some reading on the subject from some websites I'll share with you, it turns out this is usually a good idea, since credit unions tend to charge lower fees. So, the fees I have been charged in the past for purchases abroad have been quite negligable, in my opinion, but I'll be checking before I leave to see if they've changed.
- I'm not really a big shopper. I just don't buy that much stuff, so I tend to incur fewer transaction fees anyway.
My strategy for spending abroad has been to withdraw my spending money in cash from an ATM using my debit card. You pay transaction fees for this, but if you withdraw larger amounts at a time you avoid multiple fees. I've only used my credit card for larger purchases.
For those wondering what your options are and what fees you should inquire about, here are some guides you might find helpful:
- The Sleaze of Credit Card Fees - another handy guide from Rick Steves
- Easy Money: Credit Cards, Debit Cards and Cash in Europe - written for trasitionsabroad.com, this quick guide explains the pluses and minuses of different methods of payment. Good advice for those not sure which card(s) to bring.
- European Travel Tips - from VISA. One issue that US credit card holders seem to be running into is that many European countries have adopted a "chip" and "pin" system that allows customers to use a 4-digit pin number instead of signing for purchases. This makes some merchants confused when you attempt to pay with a card that has no PIN but requires a signature. In this guide, VISA tells us to be assertive and insist that the card be swiped anyway, since it should work, though perhaps not in automated kiosks.
I hope you find the above information useful. As always, your bank or the credit card company is the best source of information on the rates for your particular card. My advice, after reading up on the subject and discussing the issue with all of you last night:
- Inquire about special fees for international purchases BEFORE traveling. As one of our fellow travelers related to me in an email today, different companies (and banks) charge different rates, so shop around for the best deal. If the fees charged by your credit card company are exorbinant and you can't justify the hassle of applying for another card for a short trip, limit your use (or don't use it at all) by relying on cash withdrawals from debit or ATM accounts.
- Although it's no fun paying fees to credit card companies (especially ones that seem to be charged for no good reason), fees at exchange bureaus that convert currency are considerably higher, so bringing all of your spending money in cash for exchange is not a good alternative.
- Also, as we discussed, cash is irretrievable if stolen, whereas you can cancel a lost or stolen card.
- Use debit and/or ATM cards to withdraw cash, not credit cards. Many credit card companies allow cash advances at ATM's, but they will often begin charging you interest immediately.
- Given the transaction fees charged by ATM's, withdraw cash in larger amounts (I would recommend to plan for only 2-3 trips to the ATM; once to withdraw pounds sterling in London, another France to withdraw Euro, and only again if you absolutely need it). Then keep the cash securely stored in a pouch or pocket under your clothing to keep it safe from pickpockets.
- When using your debit card, keep your PIN number secure. Do not accept help from "friendly" strangers, and hide the key pad when you type in your number. DON'T write your PIN number on the back of your card.
- Carry numbers of emergency services for your cards so you can report a theft if it occurs. Create some coded system to record your card numbers (writing it backwards, adding 3 to every digit, etc.)
- It is useful to bring SOME cash in case your card doesn't work for whatever reason. While the situation is being remedied, at least you'll still be able to eat.
- Of course, alert your bank/credit card company of your travel plans so that your card is not blocked due to fraud protection systems.
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