Departure day!!

We will post pics and moments of our journey! Thanks, James, the fearless group leader, for your work and effort. We begin!!

Germany! Switzerland! Italy!

The Germany exchange group is preparing to take off, and we are very excited about the opportunity and the possibilities. I look very much forward to seeing Armin and Danielle as well as their community and college. Ater spending a week or so in Darmstadt, we will bus through the Swiss Alps and arrive at Imperia, Italy. Check out the GoogleMap: http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&gl=us&saddr=darmstadt+germany&daddr=imperia,+italy&dirflg=d&geocode=KdnNcxFkcL1HMfDFsClQQyIE;KfdcSh-PbtISMQDMPEd95gUE&ei=cWK-T4aMIIeHsgKPypEf&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CAwQ-A8wAA.

So... by way of Madison, Detroit, and Frankfurt, we will arrive in Darmstadt. We will depart Tuesday morning, so many of us on the excursion will try to keep our loyal followers updated to the events, scenes, experiences and friendships as merrily we roll along.

I'll have some students post once we arrive.

While one group of students has returned from London and Paris, Moraine Park reps are nearing the final stages of preparation to send off another group of 18 students, faculty and administrators to Germany and Italy. The passports are in hand, the tickets are ready to print, the host families are identified, and the group is almost packed for the May 29 departure. On May 29, James Simmers and I (more so James) will lead a group of Moraine Park culinary (and other) students on a group to Darmstadt, with Italy waiting in the wings. I will share more as we near the departure date, but for the moment, we will finish courses, respond to students here, march in graduation, and prepare for our Madison via Detriot via Frankfurt flight.

We look forward to you following us, and I plan to update you once or twice prior to the trip as well as while on the trip. Students will chime in, and members of our London travel group will get some final reflections and thoughts posted for you over the next few weeks as well. Moraine Park values the experiences study abroad can provide to workplace competencies, and these opportunities to London, Paris, Germany and Italy are evidence of those values. I'll be back for more in a few weeks!

Caron

Last Day for an American in Paris!

So this is my last day on my week and a half long vacation.  It makes me sad because I feel like I didn't even see all that London/Paris had to offer.

Yesterday, we went on a 3 hour tour, but for any Gilligan Island fan's out there, it was by bus.  We drove all around the city, and then I headed back to the hotel for a few hours to rest my feet, while the others went to Versailles. 

Then later that night we went on a boat tour down the river Sane.  After the tour, we waited for all of our group members, I ended up getting a great deal on some souvenirs, but that was the least excitement of the day!

I saw my life flash before my eyes when I got caught in between the Metro (Subway) doors.  This was caused by my fellow group members not heeding our Tour Directors advice when she said get on as quickly as possible.  (Side note, other group members claimed I was the slow one... I can only go as fast as everyone else... Okay, Rant over!)

Then we saw the twinkling lights on the Eiffel Tower at 2200.  I can not express how breathtaking this sight was, and tried to take pictures, but there was no justice given!  So Beautiful!

And for today...

We started out by going to a perfume museum.  Very boring to be quite honest, but the perfume smelt pretty.  (I ended up buying a small bottle at 19 Euros...)

After the museum, we were free.  I opted to see 2 sites, Notre Dame and Jim Morrison's grave.  Both areas were very peaceful, and awe inspiring!

So now, it is bed time, and I must bid my foreign travel farewell.  We are departing for America at roughly 0500!  So early, and it will be hard to get focused, but then again, I get to see my family.


 Farewell for now Followers!

End of Days in London/Beginning to Ol Par'i!

                                           Hello my blog followers!

 Yesterday was a sad day, as it was our last day in London.  However we tried to make the most of it by taking in as much fun as possible.

First, my friend Melissa and I went to the British Museum to look at the historical treasures I missed on Thursday.  Then, we met up with some other of our group mates in Chinatown to shop and eat lunch.  Finally, I went on the "Ghost Walk of London".  I enjoyed it, except that it involved walking, (hence the title...) and my dogs were barking from the last week of activity. 

We all went to sleep that night knowing that we had to be up at 0500 to get on the "Chunnel".  While on the Chunnel, it was a smooth ride, and although it was space deprived we all ended up falling asleep during the 2 hours we were on the train.  (And as a side note, I felt like Harry Potter going to Hogwarts, because it was foggy and of course London.)


From the train, we came to check into the hotel.  Amazingly Beautiful would be an understatement!  It is like Carrie Bradshaw's apartment in Sex and the City!  (Made a girl feel important...)

We then went to the art museum where we saw none other than the Mona Lisa!  I almost had tears in my eyes beholding her understated beauty!  Not only her, but there were so many other paintings and sculptures that I was actually taken back to ancient times.

For tomorrow, we will be going to Versailles, followed by a trip down the river Sane to see the most amazing sights from a ideal location!  So all in all, a long day ahead!

Til Tomorrow Followers!

More/Less Fun Times in London

Day 5 in London...

To start off my morning on a bad note, I was not given a wake up call.  So, I got a call at 0900 asking where I was.  I quickly got dressed, got my hair looking presentable, and was downstairs in 5 minutes.  We then were in a hurry to get on the tube, and never stopped moving.  Keep in mind I woke up only 7 mins prior by the time we reached our tube.  So now, with that in mind, it did not make my tummy feel very well, and I started to feel shaky and queasy.  Feeling like this, I opted out of the British Museum, and London Eye, and went back to the hotel.

Very Upsetting.

But I rested and ended up feeling better. 

Then around 1800ish, we went to see "39 Steps".  This play was Hilarious!!!!!  I laughed so hard I couldn't stand it! 



So now tomorrow I will try the British Museum again with my good friend Melissa.  Along with the museum tomorrow, we will also be going to Chinatown, and finally out to dinner!  This will be our last night in London. ( I am making a sad face now!) 

More Fun Times in London

So Day 4 in London was my favorite day so far I think. 

We started off in the Tower of London... SO COOL!  I was able to see the final resting place of one of my idols, Anne Boleyn!  We were able to see the White Tower on the inside where there were interesting pieces of armor, the block and axe that they used to behead many people, and even (to my delight...) orbs in some pictures...  Plus on top of that we got to see the CROWNED JEWELS!!!  So breathtaking... Although we could not take pictures!

(Left, look in the hallway; Right, look at the top of the picture by the green sign.  There was not way to explain it, it was just plain freaky)

We also saw the "Neptune Building", with Neptune (Poseidon) facing out to sea.  Along by that building, there was a memorial for all those fallen at sea.  So moving!  By the memorial for the fallen Navy, there was a memorial dedicated to the unfortunate people on the very site the even took place.  Just the thought of all that murder made me cringe!

After the Tower of London, we went on the Dickinson Walking Tour.  3 hours of straight walking where Charles Dickinson got his inspiration... And let me tell you, I can understand why.

We then went to dinner where we had the traditional Fish and Chips.  Oh yeah, and a dessert called "Topsy Turvy".  (I think...)

Now after all that walking, I came back to the hotel.  Not that I wanted to, it is just my feet were screaming at me!  Walking from 0800-1900 can be quite painful I found out! 

So now tomorrow we will be visiting The British Museum, and then later that night going to the theater performance "39 Steps".  I will post more pics if I am able to.