People to People 2009 European Odyssey

Day 20: Travel Home

2009-08-03T10:49:00.001-07:00

Today we got up bright and early for our flight home! We had a great time in Europe, but it was definitely nice to get home after our long flight and longer landing!

Day 19: Paris

2009-08-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

Today we started off with a trip to the Louvre, which houses such famous works as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo...

We then got on our "Champions Car" bus (since we're from Philly and World Champions) and went to enjoy the beauty of Versailles.

Day 18: Reims/Paris

2009-08-03T10:19:00.000-07:00

Our morning began with a warm and heart-felt goodbye to our home-stay families and a 2 hour bus ride back to Paris...
We took a very nice bus tour of the city before visiting the famous cathedral of Notre Dame.

And celebrated Hannah's birthday over dinner!

Day 17: Reims/Epernay

2009-08-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

Today our home-stay family started off the day by treating us to a tour of Reims and of the cathedral of Reims. It was in this cathedral that every French king was crowned from Clovis to Charles X. The cathedral was torn apart by bombs during WWI and WWII, and had to be largely reconstructed.

Next, a few of us were able to attend a private tour of the 2nd largest champagne production cellar in the world. We walked down 9 stories of steps to the miles of vaulted cellars that house 40 million bottles of champagne.

Upon returning to Sept-Saulx, we had a very nice BBQ to close out our night.

Day 16: Reims/Sept-Saulx

2009-07-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

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.

Day 15: Paris

2009-07-29T12:57:00.001-07:00

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.

Day 14: Venice

2009-07-29T12:47:00.001-07:00

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.

Day 13: Carpi

2009-07-24T15:24:00.001-07:00

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.

Day 12: Florence and Pisa

2009-07-24T15:17:00.001-07:00

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.

Day 11: Assisi

2009-07-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

"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!

Day 10: Rome/Assisi

2009-07-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

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!

Day 9: Rome

2009-07-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

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!

Day 8: Mount Vesuvius/Naples

2009-07-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

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.

Day 7: Pompeii

2009-07-21T12:26:00.000-07:00

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.

Day 6: Olympia/Overnight Ferry

2009-07-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

Today we left our hotel in Corinth for Olympia, the site of the first Olympic games in 776 BC. The town of Olympia was used to train athletes for various sport activities, and thereby keeping them constantly in shape for war. The site was chosen because it was believed that the nearby hill was the birthplace of the gods. The temple of Zeus was also located in Olympus and housed one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, an enormous marble and gold statue of the god. Today the Olympic flame still originates at Olympia before being transferred to wherever the Olympics are being held.

At Olympia we got to see the ruins of the temple of Zeus...

And the original Olympic stadium, which sat over 40,000 spectators...
From Olympia we left for the port of Patros and boarded our overnight ferry for Greece. The ferry was very nice, and more like a small cruise ship...
And due to the later wake up in the morning, we had a chance to check out the on-board disco and do some dancing...

Day 5: Epidaurus/Corinth

2009-07-21T11:42:00.001-07:00

We started off our morning today with a service project, helping clean up, weed, plant seeds, and rake the Julia & Alexander N. Diomides Botanical Garden in Athens...

We then headed for Corinth, stopping briefly to check out the famous Corinth Canal...
And after about 4 hours of driving finally arrived at the theater of Epidaurus. Epidaurus was mainly a town used for healing during ancient times, but its theater is the most well-preserved ancient theater in the world. Events, plays, and concerts are still held there regularly and it seats between 11,000 and 15,000 people. No microphones are needed because of the perfect natural acoustics of the place...

After our tour of the theater, we went checked into our hotel near the canal, had dinner, and did some swimming in the hotel pool.

Day 4: Aegina

2009-07-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

Today was much more relaxed than our day in Athens yesterday. In the morning we boarded a ferry for the Greek island of Aegina, about 1 and a half hours from Athens by boat.
Which gave me the opportunity to read "The Odyssey" for a few hours while sailing on the Aegean Sea. I know it's fictional, but it was kind of cool reading it while thinking, "I guess this is what it looked like for Odysseus too."
Once on the island, we took a bus to a private beach for a dip in the Mediterranean and a nice sea-side lunch.

After lunch we had a chance to walk around the quiet city-center of Aegina, do some shopping, and sit in a cafe by the sea for a while. All in all, a pretty awesome day by anyone's standards!

Day 3: Athens

2009-07-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

Tuesday was packed with touring, site-seeing, and walking! We started our day early by taking a light rail tram to Athens' Syntagma Square. We got off the tram just in time to see the unusual and entertaining changing of the guard...

And take a few pictures with the very serious guards...
From there we took the metro to the Acropolis. Athens is really a city steeped in history, so much so that even the metro is partially a museum. As they were digging to create the metro lines old sewage pipes, homes, graves, and other elements of Athens' 3000 year history. Instead of simply disgarding these elements of the past, though, the Atheneans glassed in large walls as you go down into the extremely clean and efficient metro system.

We got off at the next stop for the Acropolis, and were able to visit the oldest known theatre in history, the Theatre of Dionysus...

We then climbed the steep, slippery, rocky hill of the acropolis in 95 degree heat that felt like about 110. The prize at the end, however, was a great look at the many temples atop the acropolis, including the famous 2500 year old Parthenon...

On the way down the hill we stopped at a large rock mound called "Mars Rock" that was used primarily for trials during ancient Grecian times. Today it is often visited by Christians because in 51 AD Saint Paul addressed the people of Athens from this rock. Many of the people of Athens were not convinced by Paul, but one man named Dionysus was converted and became the first Bishop of Athens. Today he is known in western culture as "Saint Dennis." The plaque behind me in this picture is the Greek text of Paul's visit to Athens from the Acts of the Apostles.

Back at the bottom of the acropolis we enjoyed a nice lunch, and had some time to wander around the busy yet pedestrianized Plaka...

Next we were off to a Greek school for some traditional Greek dancing lessons...
After dinner we were treated to a Greek dancing show by our dance teachers in an Athens park...
And of course were invited to join in ourselves much to the entertainment of the local children and elderly...
In the end, everyone was given a "diploma" for our success...

Day 2: Athens (Glyfada)

2009-07-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

On Monday we arrived at our hotel in Athens' Glyfada neighborhood. Glyfada is mainly a seasonal beach neighborhood where a lot of wealthier people own condos and vacation during the summer months. We had a quick opportunity to check into our hotel before checking out the shops and beach in downtown Glyfada.

Day 1: Travel

2009-07-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

Our first day (Sunday) was spent traveling on an overnight flight from Philadelphia to Athens with a layover in Frankfurt Germany. We met at the Crown Plaza in Cherry Hill for our bus to the airport, and I quickly found out my camera wasn't working. Luckily I was able to grab a camera in the airport before we departed for Greece!

2009-07-09T20:26:00.000-07:00

Last year I wasn't sure if I'd have frequent access to the internet, so I decided to Photoshop myself into some pictures of the places I'd be visiting. The results were creepily accurate. Observe...

This year I wasn't going to do the Photoshop thing considering the fact that I won't be staying in any third world nations this year, and most of the hotels I'll be in have free internet access. But then I thought, "who am I with my Western mindset to be so cocky as to think I'll have internet everywhere I go." So without further ado, here are some anticipated images fresh from the time machine of my future trip...

We'll be visiting Athen's famous Syntagma Square, where people marvel over the strange costume and gait of the guards. Here I am giving the post a try for myself:

My grandfather always thought I'd be a priest, so here I am in Rome with the Pope:
And here I am trying my hand at rowing a gondola down the Grand Canal of Venice:

Of course, all of this would be for naught if I didn't get a picture of myself in front of the Eiffel Tower...with a creepy looking mime...

Accomodations

2009-07-08T19:03:00.000-07:00

With anticipation mounting before my trip, I couldn't help but to start going though my accomodations and checking out the hotels. Here's what I have so far:

In Athens we'll be staying at a hotel called "Hotel London, which appears to be located right on the beach!Once we go south from Athens we'll be staying in a town called Isthmia, at the hotel "Prime Isthmia:"

Then we'll be sleeping on an overnight ferry from Greece to Bari, Italy:

Outside of Naples we're staying in a town called Villaricca at a hotel called La Laterna:
Just outside of Rome, we'll be staying in the town of Pomezia at Hotel Selene:
Near Assisi, we'll be staying in Perugia at the Best Western Golf Hotel Quattrotori (doesn't sound quite as fancy as the others):
Then we'll be staying in the northern Italian hillside town of Serravalle at Hotel Lago Verde:
We'll be sleeping on an overnight train from Venice to Paris:Then staying with a family for a few nights near Paris:
Finally, we'll be staying at Novotel Aulnay Sous Bois, outside Paris:

Map of the Trip

2009-07-08T18:36:00.001-07:00

Well the day is getting closer and closer! According to my "iGoogle" page, there are 3 days, 20 hours, 22 minutes and 58 seconds until our plane departs for Athens! I'll have more stuff on this page in the next few days, but for now, here is the map of our trip for the year...

2009 Itinerary!

2009-06-11T08:05:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go again! It's my second year traveling with People to People, and this year I'm going on a "European Odyssey!" The trip definitely promises to kick butt. Since October, we've been getting together a crack group of high school kids, collecting paperwork, doing service projects, and getting to know each other. So our cozy group of 46 people (42 students and 4 teachers) are scheduled to depart on July 12th to Athens, Greece. We're scheduled to return 3 weeks later on July 31st. I'll be updating this page periodically prior to departure, as well as while we're abroad as often as possible, so check back for updates and pictures.

Here's our flight information:

July 12 - 13
-Lufthansa Flight 427, Philadelphia to Frankfurt
6:05 PM - 8:15 AM (8 hours, 10 minutes)
-Lufthansa Flight 3380, Frankfurt to Athens
9:15 AM - 1:00 PM (2 hours, 45 minutes)
(Total travel time - 11 hours, 55 minutes)

July 31
-Lufthansa Flight 4213, Paris to Frankfurt
10:50 AM - 12:05 PM (1 hour, 15 minutes)
-Lufthansa Flight 426, Frankfurt to Philadelphia
1:35 PM - 4:20 PM (8 hours, 45 minutes)
(Total travel time - 11 hours, 30 minutes)

Here's our tentative itinerary:

SUNDAY, JULY 12
Depart for Athens

Meet your delegation and board your international overnight flight to Europe.

MONDAY, JULY 13
Athens, Greece

Welcome to Europe! After arrival at the airport your Delegation Manager and coach driver will greet you!
Take a walk with your Delegation Manager in the center of Glyfada!

TUESDAY, JULY 14
Athens, Greece

Enjoy a guided city orientation taking in such amazing sights as the majestic Acropolis as well as the Parthenon which symbolizes the glory of ancient Greece.
Take some time with your Delegation Manager for a walk in the old part of Athens - Plaka, and enjoy the city flair on your own.
Take some time to relax and refresh yourself.
Learn the first steps of the most popular Greek dances at the public school of Zografou.
Enjoy a traditional folkloric dance show by professional dancers. Don't be shy! You can also join the dance at the end!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
Athens, Greece

Enjoy your day on the beach with swimming and sport activities!

THURSDAY, JULY 16
Peloponnesus, Greece

Take part in a service project in Glyfada near Athens. The "Archelon Association" cares for the protection of sea turtles- Caretta Caretta, especially for the preservation of their natural living space and the existing of their species.
Join a guided visit of the famous theatre of Epidaurus! The theater is marveled for its exceptional acoustics, which permit almost perfect intelligibility of the unamplified spoken word from the stage to all 15,000 spectators, regardless of their seating!

FRIDAY, JULY 17
Overnight ferry to Bari, Italy

Enjoy a guided visit of Olympia, where the Olympic Games first took place in 776 BC. At ancient Olympia, you can see the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, as well as a 3rd century BC athletic stadium.
Departure of your overnight ferry to Bari on the Italian mainland.

SATURDAY, JULY 18
Naples, Italy

Visit the ancient city of Pompeii, Vesuvius' most famous victim. When the mountain erupted in 79 AD, it rained ash and stone; the city was completely destroyed and buried beneath the debris.

SUNDAY, JULY 19
Rome, Italy

Take an excursion to Mount Vesuvius, one of Europe's few active volcanoes. Don't worry; the last eruption was in 1944.

MONDAY, JULY 20
Rome, Italy

Today you will visit the capital of Catholicism and the world's smallest state, the Vatican! Admire St. Peter's cathedral, including Michelangelo's glorious Pieta and the Sistine Chapel.
Continue with a city exploration by way of a Riddle Rally including Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. Bring some coins - tossing a coin in the fountain will ensure your return to Rome!

TUESDAY, JULY 21
Assisi, Italy

Some of Rome's most popular highlights are waiting for you: your guide will take you through the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. The city of Rome, with its antique monuments and religious sites, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Participate in an educational meeting at the monastery. You will have the privilege to speak to a monk/priest, who will tell you about life in the monastery and its founder, Saint Francis, who lived in Assisi in the 12th century.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
Assisi, Italy

Your experience with Full-On will be a day full of overcoming fears, building confidence, expanding horizons and strengthening personal development. The day involves indoor and outdoor challenges, adventure and learning.

THURSDAY, JULY 23
Montecatini, Italy

Now your guide will take you for a walk through the city of Florence, you'll pass by the Duomo and the bronze doors to the Baptistery, known as the Gate to Paradise.
Pay a visit to the Accademia Gallery, which houses Michelangelo's colossal statue, David.
Get to know Pisa, while your Delegation Manager shows you around. Use the free time for visiting the Duomo and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Take some time together to learn about your upcoming home stay. Ask questions and set expectations for the days with your home stay families.

FRIDAY, JULY 24
Vicenza, Italy

Now you will have an official welcome by an employee of the American Battle Monuments Commission who will guide you through the American Cemetery where over 4.000 American soldiers, killed in the capture of Rome in June 1944, are buried.
Today you will receive an official welcome from the Mayor of Carpi or one of his delegates.
You will now visit the museum dedicated to the commemoration of political and racial prisoners.
Experience a darker side of European history when you visit the Fossoli transit camp.

SATURDAY, JULY 25
Overnight train, Italy - France

During a guided orientation you will explore the bustling alleys, quaint bridges and narrow canals of Venice. See the Basilica San Marco and the Bridge of Sigh.
Take part in an informative presentation about the making of glass in Murano. You will learn about each step - from the composition to the polishing of the glass. A demonstration of each of the working steps fascinate you.
Enjoy one of life's greatest pleasures and take a ride in a gondola. While passing "Canale Grande" and narrow channels you will see the famous Guggenheim Museum, the "Fenice Theater," and Mozart's Venice Residence.
Say good-bye to Venice and depart on the overnight train for the magical city of Paris!

SUNDAY, JULY 26
Home Stay, France

Attend an educational meeting in the famous Musée du Parfum Fragonard, where you will discover the fabulous world of perfume!
It´s time for your French lesson!
Admire a dazzling view of Paris! There's only one place to go: take the elevator up to the top of the Eiffel Tower (899 feet) which was built for the 1889 World's Fair to commemorate the French Revolution.
Today you will meet your home stay family and be welcomed into your new European home!

MONDAY, JULY 27
Home Stay, France

Today will be spent with your home stay family experiencing European home life.

TUESDAY, JULY 28
Home Stay, France

Today will be the last day you spend with your home stay family. Be sure to write a thank you note and leave it with your home stay family or mail it to them the next day!

WEDNESDAY, JULY 29
Paris, France

Say goodbye to your home stay family and rejoin your delegation!
Visit the historic Montmartre area, a haven for artists and writers before WWI. Marvel at the white Basilique du Sacre Coeur, which is the second highest point in Paris. Take some time to discover this area's treasures in small groups.
Voila Paris! A French guide will now join you for an orientation of the city Ernest Hemingway called "a moveable feast."

THURSDAY, JULY 30
Paris, France

Enjoy a guided exploration of one of the most important art collections in the world, the famous Musee du Louvre. You will visit the principal parts of the museum - including a look at Leonardo's masterpiece, Mona Lisa.
Explore the magnificent Chateau de Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on your own. Built during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun King, it was the seat of the royal court from 1682 to 1789, when the French Revolution put an end to the monarchy.

FRIDAY, JULY 31
Depart from Paris for the United States

Say goodbye to Europe! Have a nice flight back home!