Amazingly enough - we landed yesterday on time at 2:30pm in JFK. We woke the students up at 5am to leave at 5:30am for the airport. We had a flight to Munich, then Munich to JFK. We made our connecting flight and somehow were able to land yesterday.
After a good night sleep - looking back on the trip - it was a great experience and we were all thankful that the students were well behaved and I hope had a good time.
Kind of weird to not have to look after 25 students :)
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Last Night in Paris
While in Montmartre they these 2 guys performing on the street who were absolutely amazing....we took a picture with them and then they proceeded to ask Isabelle to be in their act!
After dinner we went back to the Seine to finish our trip with a boat tour of the city.
Last Day in Paris
We ventured back to the Louvre Museum. Upon arrival, they informed us that the workers were on strike - France at it's best :). Just as we were getting ready to put plan B intoplace, they opened. So we broke up into 3 small groups and wondered around the museum - the pictures above are of Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory and of course La Joconde (Mona Lisa).
After the museum we walked along the Seine, stopped at a few of the bouquiniste (book/souvenir) sellers and made our way to the Latin Quarter for lunch.
After lunch we broke into 2 groups - one went to Galerie LaFayette for some last minute shopping, the other to the Catacombs......unfortunately even though we called ahead they were closed.
We met up in Montmartre to see the Sacre Coeur - then walked through the Moulin Rouge area (which had about 6 blocks of sex shops - yikes!)....to dinner.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Paris Day 2
We got up early (actually some of the kids have been getting up even earlier in the mornings to go for little run...this was our 3rd morning....and it will be the last )....we headed to center city to pick up our guide Thierry - who I am sure the students will agree was GREAT. He had a great sense of humor and was not a boring or dry guide.....he made jokes with the students and got them invested in the history of Paris and France.....
With the bus and Thierry we visited the main attractions of Paris, Place de la Concorde, Eiffel Tour, Hotel Invalides where Napoleon is buried, the Louvre, Musee D'orsay, Notre Dame.....it was a drive by type deal. Then we took the bus to Verseilles.....and toured the King and Queen's apt, the chapel and the hall of mirrors. The picture above is from the back of Verseilles in front of the building. Today's weather was not so great - but not horrible.
We got back to Paris around 2:30pm - where we saw the Opera - the largest opera house in the world - and we broke into smaller groups to eat some lunch, then met up again and had some shopping time. My group walked to Angelina's a famous place for hot chocolate (make from pure chocolate) - to get some goodies....the picture is of Kevin enjoying a decadent mousse thing.....
We then went back to the Latin Quarter for dinner - and then took the metro to the Eiffel tour. We got there just as it was sparkling - the lights on the tower blink for 10 minutes on every hour. We went up the tower to enjoy the views......and then afterwards got a crepe and watched the tower sparkle for the second time.
Got back to the hotel at 11pm....so it was a 8am-11pm kind of day - and it was wonderful.
Last day in Paris tomorrow is the "free" day - but we were quick to fill it up :)
We are going to the Louvre tomorrow morning, then the Catacombs, then to the Latin Quarter for lunch....then a little bit of free time - maybe for more shopping! Then off to Montmartre to see the Sacre Coeur and tour around that area. After dinner in Montmartre we are finishing our trip with a bateaux mouches tour on the Seine (Glass window ceiling boats that circles around the city).
I heard from one of the students say that it might snow on Friday :(
Will blog tomorrow - but just in case - make sure to call Lufthansa for flight info and if there is some sort of delay we will activate the phone chain as soon as we can.
Paris Day 1
Small group in front of the Louvre museum and the glass pyramid designed by IM Pei
My group at the cafe in the Musee d'Orsay.....it was so beautiful
First Day in Paris
Train picture of arrival in Paris.
Notre Dame group picture and groups hanging out outside Notre Dame.....this first day in Paris was beautiful couldn't have asked for better weather....cool and sunny.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Paris - Day 1 :)
We arrived somewhat rested from the train ride.....there were 4 per cabin and they had beds that pulled down - bunk beds. So that was interesting...actually more fun than you would think and a lot quicker too bc for the majority of the time we were sleeping.
Grabbed our bus to the hotel, dropped off our luggage - and went to downtown area. We walked to Notre Dame and Ile de la Cite- the center of Paris and spent some time wondering around the church. We then walked over the the St Germain de Pres area of Paris - Latin quarter.....and the students were able to experience their first French meals - which they loved. Some had crepes, croque monsieurs, salads......on a full stomach we walked over to the Louvre musuem to find out it was closed on Tuesdays.....so Plan B was to go to the Musee d'Orsay.
We split into 3 small groups and spent a couple of hours looking at the impressionist greats like Monet, Cezanne, Pissaro, Van Gogh, Toulouse Lautrec....The museum is located in a renovated train station of Paris so even the building is incredible.
The French students are taking their responsibility of helping the Spanish students very seriously. There are only 8 French students - so they are teaching the others simple French phrases....I think Kathryn McCarthy might be able to take French AP now because of Zach and Greg! It is amazing to have seen the Spanish students in action in Madrid - and really wonderful to see the French students in action here.
SO - after the museum we walked through the Place de la Concorde and up to the Opera area to grab our train to the hotel for dinner.
Early night tonite - because we had't stopped running since Monday morning - and we hadn't showered either :0
Tomorrow is guided tour or Paris in the morning, bus to Verseilles and then Eiffel tower at night after dinner.
Pictures still aren't loading - so when I figure that out I will post them. Sorry
Grabbed our bus to the hotel, dropped off our luggage - and went to downtown area. We walked to Notre Dame and Ile de la Cite- the center of Paris and spent some time wondering around the church. We then walked over the the St Germain de Pres area of Paris - Latin quarter.....and the students were able to experience their first French meals - which they loved. Some had crepes, croque monsieurs, salads......on a full stomach we walked over to the Louvre musuem to find out it was closed on Tuesdays.....so Plan B was to go to the Musee d'Orsay.
We split into 3 small groups and spent a couple of hours looking at the impressionist greats like Monet, Cezanne, Pissaro, Van Gogh, Toulouse Lautrec....The museum is located in a renovated train station of Paris so even the building is incredible.
The French students are taking their responsibility of helping the Spanish students very seriously. There are only 8 French students - so they are teaching the others simple French phrases....I think Kathryn McCarthy might be able to take French AP now because of Zach and Greg! It is amazing to have seen the Spanish students in action in Madrid - and really wonderful to see the French students in action here.
SO - after the museum we walked through the Place de la Concorde and up to the Opera area to grab our train to the hotel for dinner.
Early night tonite - because we had't stopped running since Monday morning - and we hadn't showered either :0
Tomorrow is guided tour or Paris in the morning, bus to Verseilles and then Eiffel tower at night after dinner.
Pictures still aren't loading - so when I figure that out I will post them. Sorry
Day 4 - Last day in Spain & we MADE it to Paris
For some reason I cannot get the pictures to load - will try again after finishing the narrative part of the blog - bc the pictures are incredible.
First of all - we made it 13 hours on a train to Paris!
Now to back up to our last day in Spain. In the morning we took a bus South of the city to Toledo......where we get the expression "Holy Toledo" it's bc this small old village has 80 churches, 3 still present synagogues and I think 3 mosques. Also it's date of creation is not known but the last known official record of it's existence is 192.......absolutely amazing! And back in the day for over 3 centuries Jews, Muslims and Christians all coexisted in peace in this small town. We visited the most amazing church - the masterpiece painting of el Greco.....and one amazing synogogue which was built by muslims and is now used as a church.....I know sounds confusing and unfortunately I cannot do the history of this town justice without our local guide Luis.....who was a guide for Hillary Clinton and Chelsea when they visited. He was GREAT.
Then we came back to Madrid for last minute shopping and to buy some snacks for the train - so the students were able to experience a Spanish grocery store which I thought was fun.
We took the 7pm train to Paris ...... and arrived the next morning at 8:30pm........
First of all - we made it 13 hours on a train to Paris!
Now to back up to our last day in Spain. In the morning we took a bus South of the city to Toledo......where we get the expression "Holy Toledo" it's bc this small old village has 80 churches, 3 still present synagogues and I think 3 mosques. Also it's date of creation is not known but the last known official record of it's existence is 192.......absolutely amazing! And back in the day for over 3 centuries Jews, Muslims and Christians all coexisted in peace in this small town. We visited the most amazing church - the masterpiece painting of el Greco.....and one amazing synogogue which was built by muslims and is now used as a church.....I know sounds confusing and unfortunately I cannot do the history of this town justice without our local guide Luis.....who was a guide for Hillary Clinton and Chelsea when they visited. He was GREAT.
Then we came back to Madrid for last minute shopping and to buy some snacks for the train - so the students were able to experience a Spanish grocery store which I thought was fun.
We took the 7pm train to Paris ...... and arrived the next morning at 8:30pm........
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Day 3
Eventful day today - it was an unscheduled day that we scheduled. We started with going to the Reina Sopia Museum which is free on Sundays and right next to our hotel. We saw paintings by Miro, Dali and Picasso - and the famous Guernica.....which was incredible!
From there we went to the train station where some of the photos from Zach's blog come from - they have a tropical rainforest in the train station - and we were able to take pictures of the bullet train. (Unfortunately we are not taking that to get to Paris - but more about that later).
Headed to lunch where we had traditional Paella - and then we broke into smaller groups and walked around center town - shopping, watching the street performers and sitting in the cafes drinking coffee.
Dinner was at the Museum of Ham -but ironically we had chicken...which was good and then we headed back to the hotel by 9pm. Early night tonight because we started our day at 9am and didn't stop until 9pm AND because the next 48 hours could be a little "rough".......
We are leaving for Toledo tour early in the morning - then wrapping up here in Madrid to take our train which leaves at 7pm and arrives in Paris at 8:30am......what could be more exciting than spending 13 hours on a train? It should be great. Then we arrive in Paris and spend the day touring bc we cannot check into our hotel until dinner time. SO - we will be out of reach until Tuesday night.
From there we went to the train station where some of the photos from Zach's blog come from - they have a tropical rainforest in the train station - and we were able to take pictures of the bullet train. (Unfortunately we are not taking that to get to Paris - but more about that later).
Headed to lunch where we had traditional Paella - and then we broke into smaller groups and walked around center town - shopping, watching the street performers and sitting in the cafes drinking coffee.
Dinner was at the Museum of Ham -but ironically we had chicken...which was good and then we headed back to the hotel by 9pm. Early night tonight because we started our day at 9am and didn't stop until 9pm AND because the next 48 hours could be a little "rough".......
We are leaving for Toledo tour early in the morning - then wrapping up here in Madrid to take our train which leaves at 7pm and arrives in Paris at 8:30am......what could be more exciting than spending 13 hours on a train? It should be great. Then we arrive in Paris and spend the day touring bc we cannot check into our hotel until dinner time. SO - we will be out of reach until Tuesday night.
Isabelle & Carly's post - day 3
Hi guys! So far it's been pretty incredible. The shopping has been awesome! We've all bought great things, even some for the people at home. The food has been well different? Just kidding, it's good. It's surprisingly similar to New York, they even have a sign in the middle of the town that resembles the screens in Times Square. It seems like we've been here forever, Madrid is becoming normal to all of us! It's almost curfew time, gotta go! Adios!
Day 3 - Zach's blogging
Hola!! I learned that word in Spain! Also cuanta cuesta means how much(?), although that's unhelpful when they respond in incomprehendable spanish. This trip is fantabulous so far. The city is really nice, and it's fun to wander through it buying stuff. There are these people that stand in the streets posing in costumes like statues for money who look very realistic. It's an interesting form of art. Speaking of art, the museums so far are really cool. The Picasso exhibit in the museum this morning was incredible, as were some of the exhibits in the prada. The food so far is...meh...but I think it's going to greatly improve in France. I had the best cup of coffee in 'la plaza mayor' that I've ever had. I can't upload my pictures here, but I have about 400 so far that I'll be happy to show people when I get home...I challenge you to stay up through a slide show. Adios! -Zach 'Verde'
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Day 2
This morning we visited some sites around Madrid - including the Royal Palace.....it was an absolutely beautiful day. Incredible weather - it must have been high 50s and sunny. It's hard to get students to blog bc of our schedule - really the only time we have is after "room checks" - but I will try and find some time to have them blog about their experiences soon.....It's great to see the comments - keep them coming! Ali Gold never thought her Mom would be able to comment on the blog - so you too can blog!
TAPAS dinner
We went to a tapas place for dinner after flamenco. With Zach, Toni and Sam is Silvia our tour guide. We had Spanish ham with manchego cheese, spanish omelette, chorizo, calamari and french fries with various dipping sauces.
Day 2 continued
Flamenco performance pictures including Ms Resendiz and Mallory. Group photo in lobby of hotel before leaving for flamenco
Madrid - Day 1 pictures 2
After dinner we went to two different downtown plazas - the first one is the equivalent of out Times Square - it is here where they gather at New Years to count down to midnight. And they bring 12 grapes and eat them at each strike of 12 on the clock posted to start their year off right. The last picture is Plaza Mejor? - not quote me on the spelling - but the major plaza where they first started bull fighting....but it's a square - so the audience didn't like it when the bulls would go into the corners.....so they made the circular bull fighting rings of today.Today - Day 2 - touring of the Palace and some other areas of Madrid and group lunch, shopping and then Flamenco - then tapas dinner and then who knows what else.......
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