GAPP at Burg Eltz and St. Wendel

Okay, I have access to the internet for a bit longer again today.  Time to give you all a proper update.  *Note that I just tried for an hour to upload just a few of the pictures I have taken, but to no avail.  I will keep trying, but I will rely on text for now.*

We had an uneventful flight and a noisy train ride to St. Wendel.  There was some sort of bachelor party going on, so a lot of young men were singing (loudly).  There was also some bicycle event going on, so the train was quite crowded.  It took a few stops, but we all were able to sit down for the remainder of the journey (though in small groups).  We saw beautiful scenery, flooding on the Rhine in Mainz, and lots of vineyards.

Our arrival at the train station was met with warm hugs from the girls and cool handshakes from the boys.  Students and luggage were whisked away.  Apparently all students and host students went out to dinner as a big group in an informal welcome planned by the German students.  They said it was fun.

Monday was the no-school day.  Several students went to the local lake--Mia and Rayna celebrated Mia's 16th birthday in a paddle boat and with spaghetti ice cream (a German classic and very tasty).  Some of the others went shopping--I saw Isabella at the train station getting ready to head into Saarbrücken (the state capital of Saarland) for that purpose.  John M got to sit in on a driver's ed class.  Andrea C helped her host study for an English test and introduced Rena to SparkNotes.  I heard there was a lot of sleeping.  In fact, students seem to have underestimated how tired they would be.  This is normal; their brains are processing so many new sights, smells, experiences, and more and working so hard to communicate that they are mentally wiped out.

Tuesday was the first day of school, and the kids were fully immersed in the experience.  Natalie was in Mr. Schu's PE class and played frisbee, Andrea C. went ahead and took the English test, and generally students got the lay of the land. Isabella and Lucas followed their hosts to classes on another campus.  That meant that while we did see them and they reassured that they were fine, they were not present for our first check in.  Tuesday night, Germany defeated Northern Ireland 1-0 to win their group and advance in the Euro.  Many of the students watched with their host families and friends; a few went to a local "Kneipe" to watch.  While there had been some talk of public viewing, the weather didn't really cooperate.  There were intermittent showers through the day.

Wedensday we took the first of our excursions--to Burg Eltz.  This medieval castle is unusual in many ways.  It is not really a fortress (though it was only taken once--after a 5 year siege), but more of an extravagant living castle.  Records show its existence as far back as the 1100s, and various sections were added on or renovated over the next 800 years.  We got a tour of some of the living and entertaining rooms, including the assembly room.  This was known particularly for its free speech, but of course what happens there stays there.  There was a fool's face carved in the room, signifying the free speech (after all, only the fool was allowed to insult the royalty without penalty) and a rose of silence over the exit door, which signifies the promise to remain silent about anything said in the room.  We saw the women's work room with its spindle and laundry press, the hunting room with trophies from Alaska and Canada, the dining room with its Belgian tapestries and famous (and beautiful) works of art, and the children's room, which is still inhabited--by Agnes the ghost.  We also saw war was once likely a chapel but was converted to a dining room, the kitchens, the treasury (lots of gilded stuff and beautiful etched glass chalices).  The entry hall had been converted into a sort of armory for the display of weapons, though of course the castle was remarkably peaceful (due in part to the diplomatic skill of its family).  The count  today no longer lives there but checks in regularly.

Students had some time to explore the grounds, the gift shop (Norman will be bringing home a small sword), and just sit on the patio and eat a bite.  Then we walked back up the hill along the forrest trail.  This mini-hike was great, but it was a bit muggy.  The drive home afforded us a tremendous view of the Mosel (Moselle) River and valley, though Payton, who was mostly asleep as we passed over and is not fond of heights, had a rude awakening when he awoke to see us on a very high bridge over the valley!  Sorry, Payton, and I owe you a chocolate bar for that!

Last night there were apparently a few sleepovers (Paula and Andrea S. with Rena and Andrea C. while Maija joined Isabella and Jana).  This morning students were feeling a bit more at home at the school.  We checked in during 2nd period, and they are now starting to plan out which classes they want to visit in small groups.  A few of them had a free period and are currently enjoying ice cream with Suzanne.  While there are still some inevitable adjustments and some occasional loneliness, they are adapting well.  A group is going to the lake this afternoon, while others are going to the pool.  John M. and Oliver played yard games last night, and John B. and Linus are planning to test the sword on an unsuspecting watermelon.  Don't worry, adult supervision will be on hand, and the sword is pretty small.  All in all they are having fun and learning lots!

Here are a few of their first impressions from Tuesday (somewhat paraphrased as they were all talking quickly, but the gist is correct):

Isaac:  Large pizzas are square.  The y and z are switched on the keyboard.  I wish my blanket were longer.  It’s weird to have doors closed.  I feel like I can’t walk in rooms sometimes.

John B:  Riding bikes there were a lot of hills.  There is no in between hot and cold in my room.  I am trying to balance that.  The shower is weird because the roof is slanted and I can't fully stand up.

John M:  The translator app my host parents are using is sometimes funny.  "I forgot the toast" became "I forgot the death."  There were other awkward translations.

Payton:  Nobody drinks just water here.  When I asked for it, they looked at me like I had committed a crime.  I wish I could drink more tap water without people looking at me like I am weird [the group advised him to fill his water bottle from the tap anyway]

Andrea S:  It’s not that different from my house because her parents speak English.  Paula's dad is living in Frankfurt during the week.  I wish I could speak German.

Rayna:  They drive really fast.  I wish I spoke German.

Mia:  Lots of tile, especially in the bathroom.  It’s cold in the morning.  I wish I knew how to use the radiator [we have since learned that the radiator is broken, but she was given extra blankets--a whole lot of them!]

Leah:  In class the teachers only talk instead of writing on the board.  The class sizes are small.  I wish I spoke German.

Natalie:  My host parents are concerned I’m going to get sick.  They were very concerned because I hadnt blow dried my hair and because I wasnt wearing socks around the house.  I wish I spoke more German

Andrea C:  I took an English test today.  That was fun.  I read the two stories last night.  I taught Rena what SparkNotes was.  The light switch is on the outside of the bathroom, so that is weird.

Maija:  Everyone apologizes about the weather, but it's not that bad.  They eat a lot of bread--I'm not used to that many carbs.

[Isabella and Lucas were on the other campus, so their thoughts are not here, but they are included below.]

All:  They talk about Trump a lot.  There are a lot of stairsl

Here are some of their thoughts from today.  Check in was not in the basement, but outside on the cool log benches since the day is really nice!:

Andrea C:  We played badminton, which was fun, but we all suck at it.  We (the Andreas and their hosts) made schnitzel last night.  We taught each other the words for cartwheels and the like.  We tried to pronounce street signs.

Lucas:  I suck at soccer.  You try to speak slowly and then overthink it and end up speaking broken English.  Classes are small--only 10 people in Luca’s french class.  They dont listen to Drake but do listen to Adele.  If they miss class, they have to get parent and teacher signatures.

Maija--our American English is deteriorating!  (yesses from the group)

Natalie:  I need to figure out how to get to bed earlier.  We stay up talking until 1 am every time.  French class was fun.  I was surprised that the history of the castle wasnt very violent.  I learned the most random vocabulary.

Payton:  I have only seen one clock in the school

Andrea C:  The tour guide gave a French tour after ours.

Leah:  They listen to Nellie somebody.  You dont know who Nellie is?

John M:  Oliver’s friend came over and we played yard games (bocce, etc.)  They totally ruined the grass.

John B:  We are going to get a watermelon and cut it up with my new sword.  I touched stinging nettles yesterday.  I didn't know what it was.

Isaac:  There’s a guitar at my house, so I am all good now.  You have to use a token for the shopping carts.   

Suzanne:  The bathrooms in the town square cost money.  I’m too cheap, so I held it.  There are little parking timers that people carry in their cars.

Lucas:  They couldn't believe we hadnt seen a castle.  They had asked why there wasnt a castle at crater lake.  All the gilded stuff--I would go there during the purge.  I had to take my backpack off in the store.  

Isabella:  You could tell that it was a living castle because it was so extravagant.

Andrea S:  Their grades dont get changed much.  They have 2 tests per semester that are their grades for the term.  Once the tests are done, they still have 3 weeks.

Mia:  German parents are really conccened about sickness.  They are taking Fabienne to the doctor after being sick one day.

GAPP in Iceland

I had a lovely post all written out yesterday only for it to delete right as I published it.  So I apologize about the delay!  I have also been trying to post pictures, but the internet here is just too slow.  So those will come tomorrow.  I have taken a lot because I want you to see how much fun we are having!

So we had a pretty smooth journey across the pond.  Students used the airport to get to know each other better, and our flight over was as uneventful as a 7 hour flight can be.  We were impressed with Iceland Air, and most of us got at least some rest.  We did have a malfunctioning card and a lost phone, but all our luggage arrived safely.  We had breakfast in the airport, then stood in the chilly wind to catch our bus to the Blue Lagoon.  After safely locking up our luggage, we headed into the lagoon.  Here students (and teachers) enjoyed a good soak in the geothermal pools, stood under the waterfall, went into the sauna and the steam room, relaxed in the cave, and even took advantage of the free mud masks.  The goopy mud was super fun to apply and has amazing properties for the skin.  The teachers even splurged on an algae mask, which kids didn't need since they don't have wrinkles.  A few of us also took advantage of the swim-up bar (non-alcoholic, of course) and tried a blue slushy called Krap.  Payton particularly enjoyed his blue Krap.

After warm showers, we reclaimed our luggage and took the bus into Reykjavik.  After checking into our hostel, the temptation was to nap.  We solved that by walking to the grocery store--and getting slightly lost and taking the scenic route.  Shopping in another country is always an experience--what is this mystery lunch meat? (turkey)  Is blueberry jam really called Blaberja?  (it is) Where can I find peanut butter?  Do we need spinach for our pasta sauce?  After finding a more direct route back, we walked through the park, past the keg high tossing competition, past a mini-amusement park, and back to our hostel.  Then it was time to cook an early dinner.  I encouraged students to stay awake long enough to watch Germany vs. Poland in the hostel commons room, but only Lucas and I hung on to the bitter end (a 0-0 draw didn't help).  Isabella gave it a valiant effort and lasted most of the game.

After 12-15 hours of sleep, we got up at 10 am yesterday feeling much better.  We purchased day passes for the city, then headed to the ferry to Videy Island.  Here we got a bit of nature in the city as we saw the Yoko Ono Peace Tower, lots of bird species (one made a sound like a video game!), and amazing views.  We then took a bus into the city (except Isabella, Maija, and Lucas, who caught a later ferry directly to the wharf).  We spent the day walking around the shopping district, the festival areas, the waterfront, and more (and looking for a bathroom apparently!).  Andrea C, Natalie, Leah, and John B ("Norman") went to the National Museum.  The rest of us went up to the top of the Hallgrimskirkja (church) and then to Cafe Loki, where we ordered Hakarl, the fermented shark.  Isabella, Payton, Mia, John M, Rayna, Andrea S, Lucas, and even our two vegetarians Isaac and Maija all tried a bite (with mixed opinions).  Even those who didn't like it enjoyed the experience, and we all had a lot of laughs.  The other group also visited the top of the church and rejoined us later.

We moved about in various groups, meeting up from time to time as we continued to explore the city.  A few folks headed down to a music festival, while another group wound up at the public viewing venue for the Euro.  We ended up at a table with Necdet from Turkey, who was very nice and had us all cheering for Turkey over Spain (well, most of us).  The fact that he was good looking may have influenced a few of our group . . . .

After an evening of soccer, explorations, and a full day of fun, it was time to head back to the hostel.  We did all struggle to sleep as it doesn't actually ever get dark here--just a bit twilighty (is that a word?) after about midnight.  But sleep we did.  This morning a few people went to the nearby pool for a swim (yes, Andrea C. found the pool) before we headed out for our excursion.  We started with lovely sunshine in Reykjavik.  At Thingvellir National Park, which is where the Eurasian and North American plates are pulling apart, it was breezy and a bit chilly.  At Geysir, it was slightly overcast and fairly warm.  The geyser, which erupts every few minutes (though not predictably), is quite high.  Our group was smart, staying upwind--until the wind shifted as the geyser erupted, drenching Isabella, Maija, and Andrea C.  Good times!  Our final stop was Gullfoss, the golden waterfall.  Here we encountered wind that made the Oregon coast seem still.  That meant for a lot of laughter!

We learned a lot about Iceland's trees (all planted in an effort to reforest the country), geothermal processes (all the hot water comes directly from underground pools, which is why the smell of sulphur is pretty pervasive), and the animals.  We learned about the unique horse breed (Icelandic horses have their own gaits and are known for their variety in color as well as their hardiness) and saw a roundup.  We also heard the story of Beti the troll and saw a statue of him (sorry, didn't get a picture).

We arrived back at the hostel at halftime of the Iceland-Hungary game, and students are currently out and about--at the local market getting food, at the pool for another swim, relaxing in their rooms, packing, showering . . . .

So I have to add a quick note on how much fun it has been with this group.  They have followed every rule and expectation to the letter, have been on time to everything, have included each other and looked out for each other, and they have just been pleasant to be around.  They are polite, kind, generous, helpful, and in great spirits.  They have really bonded in the last few days, and that bodes well for our stay in Germany.  You all have wonderful young adults, and I thank you for the privilege of spending this time with them.  Their energy, laughter, and curiosity are contagious and uplifting.

Rest assured we are having a blast.  We get picked up at 4am (though thankfully not in the dark) to get back to the airport for our flight to Germany.  We can't wait to see our friends!

IHS Europe 2016 Wrap Up

So we are sitting in Heathrow with a few hours to go, and it seems like a good time to give some final thoughts.  Pets were missed.  Some parents were missed.  Nobody missed their siblings.  Except Seth.

Hannah:  I have learned how to adapt to foreign situations and how to travel, how to navigate a city, how to navigate a foreign culture, and how to get the most out of travel.  I learned how to pay attention to my surroundings and really see what's around.

Emma:  This helped me step outside my comfort zone and made me more outgoing and independent

Molly:  I don't want to leave. I am definitely coming back; I want to move to London.  I learned not to trust my mom when packing

Seth:  I actually don't want live in London (I thought I did).  I liked Edinburgh, but the weather in London was worse than I expected.  I didn't strangle Noah.  I hate haggis, but at least I tried it.  Nobody speaks Welsh in Wales!

Noah:  I hate the plane ride.  I can use a train effectively.  My brain hurts.  I guess it got bigger?  It was like Eugene, but cooler.  I still think this is a prank.  This can't be real.  I could stay another year.

Gabe:  I saw cool . . . things.  What did we learn?  I learned a lot about medieval things and the conquerer dude and the eighth Henry dude.    The stone walls showed me how deep of a history they have.  They are everywhere.  Is the queen still the head of the church of whatever?

Erika:  Gave me a new perspective on travel--I have never traveled with kids my own age, and that was fun.  I like new places.

Jaci:  When people think of the US, they think of Donald Trump.  Everyone hates him.  I miss good water.  The architecture was cool, and it was neat to see really old buildings next to modern ones.  Variety is the spice of life.

Jacob:  I saw different perspectives on the US and how other people think of us.  I love the candy here.

Trevor:  You have to bring salt packets--food isn't salty enough.  The buildings are cooler here, and it's faster and I would live here.  The lifestyle suits me.  I ate haggis.  There are dogs that look like the Skyrim dogs.

Victoria:  I love the Tube and I finally remember the name!  I didn't like the candy.  Playing hide and seek in the castles was fun.  I feel more confident in places I am not sure about.  I wish I could stay longer.  I want to travel more.  The days felt longer because I was enjoying every moment, and it was fun!

Audrey:  I learned how to do the Tube thing.  I feel like like I can conquer the world.  I kissed a stone, and now I can achieve anything.

Benjamin:  I learned a week is long enough.  I love dresses for men (kilts).  Thanks, Gus, for the talk about the things and lots of other stuff.

Callista:  The analogy of the grass being greener on the other side holds true.  There is still a grittiness to the world.  The grayness of the road after rain is the same, but there is still much more to discover.  I assumed that every place would be the same with a different format, but there is a different vibe, actually.  It's cool to discover.

Crystal:  I learned way too much about Henry the Eighth.


"The craic [pronounced "crack"] is great!" --Ben  "I agree!"--Everyone else


Most likely to live under a bridge in Scotland--Noah
Most likely to die of a fit of laughter--Molly
Most likely to spread rabies--Crystal (rooming with the CT people)
Most likely to teach everyone in London to do the dab--Benjamin
Most likely to be killed by a swan--Gus
Most likely to get left behind off a bus--Jacob
Most likely to speak the language (well!)--Seth
Most likely to buy the weird things--Jaci
Most likely to strangle her sister--Victoria
Most likely to be laughing--Audrey
Most likely to be mistaken for a German--Gabe
Most likely to buy livestock upon return--Trevor
Most likely to be found in a Pret--Erika
Least likely to get in trouble or get lost (and least likely to do IB)--Emma
Most likely to have hair blowing everywhere--Hannah
Most likely to make a face in a picture--Callista


Edited to add a note about our adventurous trip home:

We left our benches in the Heathrow Terminal, got all the way to the last gate, and as our boarding group was called, Hannah realized she had left her camera at the benches.  Seth and Jacob took his bags while he raced all the way back, found the camera, and boarded the flight at the last moment.  Whew!  Then towards the end of the flight a lady collapsed in the back of the plane, necessitating a few passengers to be moved to accommodate the lady and the nurse.  Erika and Crystal ended up way further up the plane, then had to wait for everyone to deplane (we were in the last three rows) to go back and get their stuff.  After the paramedics got the lady off and we were all in the arrivals hall, things really got wild as the line was about a half mile long.  We have never seen anything like it!  After a few fruitless calls to United, I raced off using the Global Entry privilege, found the gate, and asked if Emmanuel Torres, the lovely gate agent, could help us out--and he did.  Meanwhile, Gus used his gift of gab and somehow, miraculously, got the group to bypass the line and hustled them all through immigration, customs, and another security check.  They all sprinted through the airport and made their connection.  Disaster averted, and Gus got not one, but TWO runs in!  Gabe's suitcase and ours ended up in San Francisco, but otherwise all was well, and now it is off to class!

IHS Easter in London

Wow, fun and exhausting!

First, let's get caught up on the photos from Scotland:

Krispy Kreme at our first rest stop.  We really did encourage healthier snacks . . . .

Stone walls with no mortar

Entering Windemere

It's called the Lake District!

Enjoying England's largest lake

Breeze!

Seth, Victoria, Benjamin, Audrey, Trevor, Jacob, Gabe

Fun on the coach

Such a pretty landscape

And cute villages

Rydal Mount, home of William Wordsworth

Molly looks at displays

Enjoying the gardens

Hannah and Emma

Crystal and Callista, whose many faces brought us a ton of laughs

Postcards!

Grasmere, where we had lunch

The moorlands

Gretna Green

Yep, we are in Scotland

Jaci likes the Highland Cows

Benjamin and Trevor

Gabe and Jacob

Trevor, you are too big for the playground!

Shortbread, courtesy of David

Scottish lowlands

Edinburgh Castle on the crag

Jaci and Erika

Seth and Benjamin

Looking up to the old city

Along Princes Avenue

Rose Street

Walking together 

Easter decor

Jacob, Benjamin, Noah, Jaci, Erika, Molly, Seth

Magic hour

At the Knight's Watch tower

Cemetery

Only a bit spooky

Seth, Gabe, Crystal, Victoria, Callista, Emma, Jacob

Trying haggis

Hmm . . .

Hannah will try it!

The boys were less sure

Benjamin was not impressed.  Seth thought it was fine.

Audrey and Señor Joe Parodi, the leader of the Connecticut group

Looking at the new city

Sandstone Georgian homes with alighting stones and foot scrapers

Holyrood Castle

Along the Royal Mile

Greyfriar's Bobby, the dog statue next to the coach mirror

Where Rowling wrote Harry Potter--also frequented by Alexander McCall Smith, author of the IHS novel The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

Gary, our Wales to Scotland driver

Alan MacDonald, our guide

Robert the Bruce

Learning in the wind

  

At Edinburgh Castle 

Erika, Hannah, Emma, Jacob, Victoria, Molly, Callista, Audrey, Gus, Jaci, Noah, Gabe, Trevor, Crystal, Benjamin.  Where on earth is Seth?  I know he was in the picture . . . . he somehow got covered by Gabe and Trevor.  Oops!

Audrey, Victoria, and Molly wait to see the crown jewels

The Firth of Forth for the fifth time . . . . 

Dog cemetery

Mons Meg

Edinburgh Castle

The Royal Mile

Inspriration for Jekyll and Hyde

Proof I was on the trip--hot chocolate at the Elephant House

We were up there!

Jacob, Seth, Benjamin, Crystal, Molly

Audrey and Victoria

Helping load the bags

On the train to London

Food, journals, music . . . 

Train shenanigans

Fun on the train

So that was Scotland!  On to London!

So we had a short night, but after breakfast we headed down to the Croyden train station and took the train into London Bridge.  From there we caught the tube to Waterloo station and started the adventure.

Let us first talk about weather.  We left the hotel in a light drizzle, keeping our heads down as we walked the 10 minutes to the station.  Then the train system struggled with the clock change (like they didn't know it was coming?), but no biggie.  We hopped on the next train into the city.  During the ride, the rain cleared up, and as a result our group headed out onto the London Eye with enthusiasm.  A few of us wandered around the Embankment and down to the Big Ben Clocktower and watched the boats come in (part of the big Oxford/Cambridge regatta).  Big Ben is actually the bell, but the tower is the largest four sided clock tower in the world--and it is huge.  The lovely weather meant those on the Eye had a fantastic view, too.  Then we split from the Connecticut group and wandered down the South Bank--first to the Vaults, a little-known tunnel under Waterloo station where artists can do graffiti.  We saw PAD, the most prolific artist, working on a new piece, and we have to say that this is an under appreciated art form that requires tremendous skill.  The spot is also not touristy or crowded, so that was fun.  Then we continued down past a playground (where we stopped briefly to act like children) to Gabriel's Wharf.  We had lunch here, and our timing couldn't be better--while we were eating the skies opened up!

On the train from Croyden

Pictures!  After all, look where we are!

With some of our Connecticut friends, though this time it was Trevor hiding and Seth only partially hiding

London Eye

Nope, not Big Ben--the Clocktower.  Big Ben is the bell inside the tower.  You can't see it.

Regatta!  Boats coming in at the Eye

Trevor and Benjamin on the Thames

Modeling at the Vaults

Callista shows off

Victoria

We found a playground near the Eye!

Gus is the biggest child of them all

Selfies!  Okay, there really is a story here.

Hannah, Emma, Seth, Crystal, Callista

Molly and Crystal on the banks of the Thames

On the river

Photobomb Noah!

Seth doesn't see the dance moves Jacob is performing behind him

After lunch the weather cleared and we walked down to the Thames and marveled at the London cityscape--St. Paul's, the Gherkin, the Shard, the Cheese Grater, and of course the Tower Bridge--before heading back up to the Houses of Parliament and up to Westminster.  The Abbey was closed for Easter services, but we got to look at the statues on the square--Churchill, Gandhi, Mandela, and others--and talked to a Lamp Lighter about how the gas lights work.  This inspired a conversation about our history and lit curriculum.  Then we met up with Connecticut and our coach and guide for the day.  Mario (from Portugal) and David Drury drove us around, starting at Westminster.  Did you know that the statues above the door are all modern and depict 20th century martyrs (including Dr. MLK)?  We didn't!

What, did you think we wouldn't get a picture of our lone Churchill campus student with Winston Churchill?

Freshmen with Nelson Mandela, whom we just studied

Westminster

Through the sunglasses

Lamp Lighter

Learning how the gas lamps work

MLK is just to the left of center

Stumpy the pigeon

The iconic phone booths

We drove past the New Scotland Yard building to Buckingham Palace, where we got out to take some photos.  The queen was not in (she is at Windsor--maybe we will see her tomorrow?), but the hail started right then!  We hopped back on the bus and continued on past Trafalgar Square, home of Nelson's Column (aka Big Brother--just ask the seniors!), and up the Strand.  Then it was into the City of London, down Fleet Street of Demon Barbour and press corps fame, and then past St. Paul's cathedral.  We were a bit tired, so we stopped after crossing the London Bridge (sixth iteration) to get a good look at the Tower Bridge and the HMS Belfast, one of only three remaining ships that took part in the naval bombardment on D-Day.  After some coffee, we realized we were ahead of schedule due to the light traffic thanks to the holiday.  So we drove across Tower Bridge (a treat!) and past the Tower of London, hearing about the ravens and the crown jewels as well as a bit of the history.  Then we stopped at Leadenhall market.  While empty, it was still exciting simply because of the Harry Potter connection!

David Drury explains about the queen

Buckingham

Before the hailstorm and the camera being put away!

Tower of London 

Tower Bridge

Asking questions about the Tower

Driving across the bridge

Home of the Crown Jewels (and the Gherkin to the left)

Leadenhall Market

Harry Potter filmed here!

Old Tom the goose

We headed back to the cathedral, where we said goodbye to David and enjoyed a bit of free time.  The normal $30 entry fee was waived because the cathedral was open for Easter services, and while we couldn't get photos or really wander around, we did get to see the inside for free.  Yet another Easter bonus!  A few of us got ambitious and hustled across the Millennium Bridge to the Globe theater.  We didn't get inside, but we got to see it!  Then we met up for an early dinner at a hummus place that was surprisingly good.  While we were tired from our short night, dinner energized us.  Connecticut headed straight back to the hotel, but we decided our time in London was precious and instead headed back down past St. Paul's.  We caught a red double-decker bus back to Trafalgar square.  Since the weather had cleared, we got to see it properly and even climb on the lions (made from melted French cannons).  Several students got the full history lesson of the battle of Trafalgar as well as the literature lesson of 1984.  Talk about bringing the classroom to life!  Anyway, we headed back down Whitehall past the horse guards, the Old War Rooms, and towards Westminster, where we got on the tube and then onto the train back to Croyden.

Callista, Victoria, and Audrey at Shakespeare's Globe theater

At St. Paul's Cathedral

Millenium Bridge

Best buddies!

Jacob, Callista, Trevor, Gabe, Benjamin

"Smile!" is an ambiguous term

Waiting for the bus--or the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Double decker

Getting on the bus

Callista, Jacob, Crystal

Molly, Emma, Hannah

Enjoying Trafalgar Square

Most of us climbed up

Some sort of dance move.  I think.

Who is Admiral Nelson?  Victoria, Gabe, and Audrey get a history lesson from Gus

On the Tube

All was well on the train (other than Molly getting the giggles), but once in Croyden Gus got us turned around trying to find the hotel.  Remember how we kept our heads down on the way in this morning?  That was a mistake!  Then the rain came down (Storm Katie).  We were hopelessly lost, soaked, and every person was laughing the whole way!  It took awhile and three or four people giving us incorrect directions (ultimately bringing us back to the station), then getting proper directions that made it clear we had come the wrong way this morning--it really is a three minute walk!  We were soaked and tired, but everyone was smiling and laughing.  Audrey's step counter had her at 25,000 steps for the day!  No pictures of the adventures in the wind and rain (camera stowed safely in the bag), but it will be a major trip memory.


London Day 2:

After breakfast we headed into town.  While on the train from Croyden to London Bridge, we informed the kids that they would have to figure out how to navigate us to the British Museum--meaning the London Underground (the Tube) and then the city streets.  I have never seen a group of teenagers pore over maps so enthusiastically (and competitively).  They figured it out and only took us a half block in the wrong direction before realizing they had gone too far, and we got to the museum in good time.

Long escalator in the tube--stand on the right, walk on the left

Once there we took in the Rosetta Stone, the Gilgamesh flood tablet (we study it sophomore year when we read the epic of Gilgamesh), Egyptian mummies, Haida totems, Greek pottery, Korean armor, Japanese swords, and even an exhibit on money ranging from ancient coins to Dr. Who bills.  In our experience, more than two hours in the museum is too much as brains get full, so we left at lunch time.  We grabbed some fish and chips or Pret a Manger sandwiches (Pret is a thing!), then split up.  I took those going on the Windsor excursion to meet David at the Natural History museum (next to the Victoria and Albert), where they boarded the coach to Windsor.  David took them on from there, and according to them, they had a good time together learning about the kings and the artwork there.  They also did a great job looking out for each other, and David said they were the easiest excursion group he had had in some time.  Then they headed to Shepherd's Bush, where they did some shopping before dinner.

Crystal's new friend

Erika looks at Greek pottery

Seth discovers sarcophogi

See, Dr. Who money really is in the British Museum

Inside the museum

Emma looks at the Rosetta Stone

Audrey fights through the crush to see the stone

Jacob eats fish and chips

Erika in Pret

Getting lunch at the British Museum

The Windsor group outside the Natural History museum in Kensington

Meanwhile Gus took the rest to Covent Garden, where they explored the junk craft market and watched the buskers.  I rejoined them there, and we took the Tube to Hyde Park and walked along the lake for a bit (we did not let them touch the swans despite their pleas) and then into Harrod's department store.  It is crowded and stuffy but full of weird stuff as well as overpriced purses and jewelry.  Molly observed that while there was a lot of money, the people weren't smiling.  We were, though, as we boarded the Tube to meet the rest for dinner.

Watching buskers

And swans

Harrod's

A Lego model of Harrod's inside Harrod's

Despite being worn out, majority of the group opted to go to the nearby carnival for what Crystal described as the "cherry on top" of the trip.  A few rounds of bumper cars and a carnival ride or two, then back on the tube.  We are now packed and showered.  Your kids have all begged us to lose their passports, but they are tired and in some ways ready to go home, too.  Tomorrow's flight will be a nice wind down, a chance to enjoy each other's company one last time, and hopefully an opportunity to catch some Zs!

Making faces at the reflections in the Tube

Good night!