One of my home-stay hosts, Gilles Salade, took me on a brief tour of a few champagne vinyards during the day.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Day 16: Reims/Sept-Saulx
Today the students spent their whole day with their home-stay families in the town of Reims, as well as the surrounding villages and towns. Reims is located in the heart of the champagne region of France, and is famous for being the place where the allied forces first signed the truce with Germany after WWII. It was later decided that since Dwight Eisenhower was not an important-enough man at the time, the truce should be signed again the following day in Berlin.
One of my home-stay hosts, Gilles Salade, took me on a brief tour of a few champagne vinyards during the day.
One of my home-stay hosts, Gilles Salade, took me on a brief tour of a few champagne vinyards during the day.
Day 15: Paris
After 11 hours of being cooped up on a train, we were glad to get out and see Paris' iconic Eiffel Tower, both from the ground and from above. Elevators took us up 900 feet to the top of the tower for an incredible view of the city of that Hemingway called "a movable feast."
We then had some free time to walk around the park...
...and for the Holy Cross kids to pause for a quick picture in our sweet new Tour De France shirts, since the race was ending just a few miles away from us on the Champs Elysee the same day.
We then had some free time to walk around the park...
...and for the Holy Cross kids to pause for a quick picture in our sweet new Tour De France shirts, since the race was ending just a few miles away from us on the Champs Elysee the same day.
Day 14: Venice
Since this was our last day in Italy, before departing for Venice, the leaders all paused for a picture with our Italian bus driver, Giancarlo.
Once we arrived in Venice, our tour began with a demonstration of how artists blow, shape, and mould pure Murano glass. In order for the glass to be considered pure, it must be made only of sand from the island of Murano, and only on the island of Murano, which lies just outside Venice.
Next we had a walking tour of the beautiful city, where we had a chance to appreciate the beautiful canals and little alleys.
And of course made more than one pass through Piazza San Marco.
After lunch it was time for our gondola ride through the canals of Venice!
After our day in Venice we said goodbye to Italy, and boarded an 11 hour overnight train for Paris.
Once we arrived in Venice, our tour began with a demonstration of how artists blow, shape, and mould pure Murano glass. In order for the glass to be considered pure, it must be made only of sand from the island of Murano, and only on the island of Murano, which lies just outside Venice.
Next we had a walking tour of the beautiful city, where we had a chance to appreciate the beautiful canals and little alleys.
And of course made more than one pass through Piazza San Marco.
After lunch it was time for our gondola ride through the canals of Venice!
After our day in Venice we said goodbye to Italy, and boarded an 11 hour overnight train for Paris.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Day 13: Carpi
We spent most of today visiting sites steeped in the history of the second world war. First, we made a stop at the Florence American Military Cemetery to hear the stories of Americans who lost their lives in Northern Italy during WWII.
We then went to Carpi, and visited the Fossoli Transport Camp, which was used as a concentration camp for Jews and political prisoners during WWII. From there, we went to the nearby Transport Museum to learn more about the holocaust through items, quotes, and graffiti from prominent artists like Pablo Picasso.
Tomorrow we're off to Venice for the day, and then on an overnight train to our home-stays in France! I will be staying with the French program director in a town called Sept-Saulx, near the larger town of Reims.
We then went to Carpi, and visited the Fossoli Transport Camp, which was used as a concentration camp for Jews and political prisoners during WWII. From there, we went to the nearby Transport Museum to learn more about the holocaust through items, quotes, and graffiti from prominent artists like Pablo Picasso.
Tomorrow we're off to Venice for the day, and then on an overnight train to our home-stays in France! I will be staying with the French program director in a town called Sept-Saulx, near the larger town of Reims.
Day 12: Florence and Pisa
We started off today by exploring and getting a guided tour of Florence! Our tour included the famous "Duomo" and a trip to the Academia to see Michelangelo's incredible statue, David.
After our tour of Florence, we made our way to Pisa for a some free time to shop around the time and check out the famous leaning bell tower.
After our tour of Florence, we made our way to Pisa for a some free time to shop around the time and check out the famous leaning bell tower.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Day 11: Assisi
"Full On" is always a highlight of People to People trips, and this year's Full On experience in Assisi was no different! Full On teaches students to achieve results in life by focusing on what they want and by stepping outside their comfort zones. After a brief morning icebreaker with another delegation from New York, we all had the chance to rappel down a 90 foot tower that is over 800 years old!
The group was then in for another surprise challenge. Everyone was taught to chop through a block of wood with their hands.
After the Full On day, everyone had some free time to explore the beautiful hilltop town of Assisi. I used my free time to check out the 13th century Basilica of Saint Francis.
Tomorrow we head off to Florence and Pisa. Of course, everyone is very excited!
The group was then in for another surprise challenge. Everyone was taught to chop through a block of wood with their hands.
After the Full On day, everyone had some free time to explore the beautiful hilltop town of Assisi. I used my free time to check out the 13th century Basilica of Saint Francis.
Tomorrow we head off to Florence and Pisa. Of course, everyone is very excited!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Day 10: Rome/Assisi
We visited the sites of ancient Rome today before heading north to Assisi. First, the Colosseum, followed by the ruins of the Roman Forum...
Then we made our way up to Assisi and heard a short talk from a Franciscan Friar who lives and works in Assisi.
Tomorrow we're looking forward to our "Full On" day in Assisi!
Then we made our way up to Assisi and heard a short talk from a Franciscan Friar who lives and works in Assisi. 
Tomorrow we're looking forward to our "Full On" day in Assisi!
Day 9: Rome
We started off our day in Rome with a tour of the Vatican museum and the Sistine chapel. Priceless works of art lay all around for us to see, as we wound our way through the museums to see Michelangelo's famous ceiling and his "Last Judgment."
Next, we were given free time to visit Saint Peter's Basilica. The Basilica is built on the grave of Saint Peter, the first Pope, and is the largest Church in the world.
Before leaving the Vatican, the Holy Cross students and I paused for a picture in front of the heart of Catholicism.
After a lunch of the best pizza I ever had near Piazza Navona, the students had free time to complete a scavenger hunt that took them to the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. While they were hunting, I got a chance to meet up with Alexis and get a few #1's in across Rome!
Next, we were given free time to visit Saint Peter's Basilica. The Basilica is built on the grave of Saint Peter, the first Pope, and is the largest Church in the world.
Before leaving the Vatican, the Holy Cross students and I paused for a picture in front of the heart of Catholicism.
After a lunch of the best pizza I ever had near Piazza Navona, the students had free time to complete a scavenger hunt that took them to the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. While they were hunting, I got a chance to meet up with Alexis and get a few #1's in across Rome!
Day 8: Mount Vesuvius/Naples
Today we started off our day by climbing Mount Vesuvius, of course pausing for a few #1's on the way up...
After a long climb up to the crater, we met with our guide who told us that Vesuvius is still active and considered one of the world's most active volcanoes. 800,000 people live within the "red zone" of Vesuvius, without counting the 1 million people who also live in nearby Naples. The last eruption was in 1944, and according to our guide with today's technology they should be able to give residents of the area approximate 3 weeks to evacuate before another eruption. While he was talking however, the thumping bang of a landslide in the crater was enough to spook us.
After lunch at a restaurant nestled right in the side of Mount Vesuvius, we went into Naples of a brief city walk, stopping at the Gallaria Umberto, the Cathedral of San Gennaro, and several other scenic locations around Napoli.
After a long climb up to the crater, we met with our guide who told us that Vesuvius is still active and considered one of the world's most active volcanoes. 800,000 people live within the "red zone" of Vesuvius, without counting the 1 million people who also live in nearby Naples. The last eruption was in 1944, and according to our guide with today's technology they should be able to give residents of the area approximate 3 weeks to evacuate before another eruption. While he was talking however, the thumping bang of a landslide in the crater was enough to spook us.
After lunch at a restaurant nestled right in the side of Mount Vesuvius, we went into Naples of a brief city walk, stopping at the Gallaria Umberto, the Cathedral of San Gennaro, and several other scenic locations around Napoli.
Day 7: Pompeii
Once our ferry landed in the port of Bari, Italy, we drove across the country to see the ruins of Pompeii. Pompeii was destroyed by volcanic ash when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Even though Vesuvius is about 8 miles away from Pompeii, a strong southerly wind brought a rain of rock, ash, and debris on Pompeii, killing its residents and burying the city under over 20 feet of debris. Excavations of Pompeii began in the early 1700's and still continues today.
One of our first stops in Pompeii was the theater, where AJ got to try out the acoustics with a little round of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
Next we got to check out the home of a Pompeii aristocrat and marvel at how well preserved the frescoes inside the house were, like this one in the dining room...
Today you can even see the shops of Pompeii. The two holes in the counter top in this picture would have been used to serve "fast food" to passers by.
Finally we got to see a few plaster casts of people who died in Pompeii. Due to the way the ash rained down in the city, they were forever preserved in the positions in which they died.
After our amazing of Pompeii we arrived at our very nice hotel in Naples and got ready for another busy day of touring.
One of our first stops in Pompeii was the theater, where AJ got to try out the acoustics with a little round of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."
Next we got to check out the home of a Pompeii aristocrat and marvel at how well preserved the frescoes inside the house were, like this one in the dining room...
Today you can even see the shops of Pompeii. The two holes in the counter top in this picture would have been used to serve "fast food" to passers by.
Finally we got to see a few plaster casts of people who died in Pompeii. Due to the way the ash rained down in the city, they were forever preserved in the positions in which they died.
After our amazing of Pompeii we arrived at our very nice hotel in Naples and got ready for another busy day of touring.
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