Travel+Blogs

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July 11, 2009 -- Well, the last few days have seemed like a blur. We hit a chocolate factory, Hard Rock Cafe, bike riding in the Netherlands, Cheese and Clog Making, Anne Frank Museum, all while never seeming to know where we were or were headed. Would have loved a map. We made it though, the kids (and adults) are all very anxious to be heading home, we have a very early start and will have a day full of travel. Everyone is in and should be getting all packed up. I will see you at the airport around 5.======

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July 9, 2009 -- Welcome to Belgium. We started with a long drive this morning, from Paris to Bastogne. We tried for a bathroom stop but it was only the old border control place. We went to a museum and saw Easy Company's Foxholes (Band of Brothers). I thought it was very cool, hope the kids did too. We had a pool at our hotel and the kids were able to swim. I think they loved it! Tomorrow we go to a chocolate factory and then head to Amsterdam.======

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July 8, 2009 -- Au revoir Paris! We came, we saw, we conquered. We rolled into Paris yesterday about 11:30, we had a great lunch and awesome desert. We were wisked off to Le Tour de Eiffel. Amazing views. Went over to Notre Dame in the afternoon, I gave the kiddos a brief introduction to the Cathedral and showed most of them Point Zero. The city center of Paris. Legend has it that if you step on it, you will return to Paris. I stepped on it last year and I am back, I think we'll all be back someday. The only bad part about yesterday was a mix-up at the hotel. They had our reservation wrong. It took a bit to sort it out, but in the end it was a good day. For me the highlight was actually having Kori experience his birthday in Paris. Being able to go to the Eiffel Tower was pretty cool. At dinner, our Delegation Manager brought out a tart with a sparkler on it. Today was more Paris. We started at the Louvre, we had a quiz so the group went to all the major things. To see everything there would take 4 months our tour guide said. We had a guided bus tour. We then went to the Ard de Triumph! We finished off the day with a trip to Montmarte where the artists live and work. Great two days. Tomorrow we head for Belgium. Early start 6:30 we leave. I'll try to upload more pictures tomorrow night.======

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July 6, 2009 -- Well, a tired group of 49 people made it to Caen, France and are ready for bed. After 2 days at UKSA (pictures to come), we loaded up on to two boats one for us and another delegation and one for our luggage and headed to Portsmouth, England. The around 11 PM we loaded on to a ferry to take a trek similar to that which a group of brave men did 65 years and one month ago today. After disembarking at 5 AM (short night) we went to a memorial museum and then to Ponte du Hoc where a brave group of Army Rangers won a battle with the Germans without reinforcements. Then we went down to Omaha beach and ended up ar the American Cemetary at Omaha beach. One of the directors met us, we laid a wreath, listened to the Star Spangeled Banner played over bells, and then listened to Taps. We had a guide for today who told the kids a ton of stuff, unfortunately we were so sleepy I think we missed a ton of it. All in all it is a good trip we have going. We are headed to Paris tomorrow. Le Tower de Eiffel here we come!!!======

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July 4, 2009 -- Happy 4th of July! We are in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. We started our first day at the UKSA. Just to catch you up. We had an awesome tour of London on the coach and foot, then we watched the changing of the guard. We viewed the crown jewels and toured the tower of London. We ended the day by going to a play "Woman in Black" it would be sort of like a psychological horror. The play was amazing (in my opinion) and the students really liked it. It was a very late night as we had to take the walk/take the subway back. We got back to the hotel around midnight and then had to be going the next morning by 7:30. We finished London by meeting a former Member of Parliament and touring the Winston Churchills War Cabinet bunker. We then left London for the Isle of Wight. We have two days here where the students will Kayak, sail, windsurf and build rafts. There are several other delegations here and they have a big 4th of July lunch planned for everybody. Check out the pictures as I have updated Ireland and have included some pictures for England in a new album. My battery died halfway through our full-on day so I don't have too many pictures, but other leaders are going to share. Have a wicked holiday! Cheers!======

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July 1, 2009 -- Hi from London, England!!! All of the students from Kansas/Oklahoma are having a great time! It has been a few nights since I have had internet access. We left Dublin and took a 2 hour ferry from Ireland to Wales. Welsh is very confusing. I will try to upload some more photos tomorrow night. We stayed in a hostel on the 29th and then in a kind of shabby hotel, but tonight we are in a really nice Ramada. Its our first hotel to have AC in the rooms and we do need it. The are experiencing a heat wave and it is very muggy. Highs in the 90s with a lot of humidity. Reminds me of Nebraska. The students have turned in their journals and I gave them back yesterday. I'll continue giving you a short overview of what is happening. I hope that is fine. Your esterday was an amazing day as we had our full-on experience. All but one delegate from combined group repelled down the castle tower. I must admit I was afraid, but it was super fun. After we finished full on we went to Warwick castle last night were the delegates were taught to fight a couple different ways and to wind a trebuchet (catapult). When Brianna was in the trebuchet wheel (like a huge hamster wheel) another girl fell and tripped up Brianna, who then landed on top of her in a huge heap. It was really quite funny to see. This morning we went back to Warwick to explore the castle more indepth. Jackson, Kori, and Brianna led a group of other delegates into "The Dungeon" and I tagged along. It was like a haunted house, really pretty fun/funny. We made it to London around 4 and hit a lot of traffic. We went up the London Eye and got great views and pictures of the city. We made it an early night for the delegates because tomorrow will be a very long day. We will be touring London and ending with attending a play. It will be a late night and the day is supposed to be warm. If I'm not too tired, I will get some pics online tomorrow night.======

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June 28, 2009 -- Hello all! We spent the day exploring Dublin, Ireland. Great city, we took a bus tour, statue hunt, and the delegates had free time to go shopping. Tomorrow we will be heading to a Gaelic Athletic museum, hopping on a ferry and saying good bye to Ireland and arriving in Wales to prepare for our Full-On day (repelling, etc.) The other leaders decided to collect journals tomorrow. I am hoping to have internet again and I can get their thoughts on here. The boys in the group have pretty much given each other nicknames, and the girls are all getting along and making new friends. We saw quite a few people wearing AC/DC shirts out and about today, some of the delegates wanted to go as well. Got my picture taken with a Leprechaun, he wouldn't tell me where his gold was. Check out my pictures (note: some are taken from the bus or a jaunty cart so they are pretty blurry.)======

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June 27, 2009 -- Well, we have had a busy four days already. Sorry that I couldn't update earlier, but the bed and breakfast that Kori, Jackson, Kaden (a NE delegate) and I stayed at did not have internet access. It was stunningly beautiful to see the sun set behind a mountain across Cahersiveen Bay. The delegates will get me their journals tomorrow (after a full day exploring and learning about Dublin) and I will be able to type up their accounts of the events that we have encountered. Some of my highlights would include: having a traditional Irish breakfast, a morning hike to see the birthplace of the liberator of Ireland, cutting pete, learning how to play Gaelic football (combining soccer, football, basketball, and volleyball), taking a boat ride over the lakes of Killarney, and taking a horse drawn jaunty cart/walking through the gap of Dunlow. The delegates are all making new friends and having a great time. More tomorrow!======

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June 18, 2009 -- In 5 days time we will be embarking on a memorable journey, a chance of a lifetime. As we are making our last second preparations and anxiously awaiting our adventure, remember the People to People Motto: Peace through Understanding. Let's change the world one handshake at a time!======

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May 14, 2009 -- I have sent an email to our teamed delegation leaders. We are teamed with a group from Northeast Nebraska, Northwest or Denver, and just north of Provo, Utah! The group from Nebraska is from about 35 miles away from my hometown! Kori -- How about celebrating your birthday in Paris, France!?!?!?! Pretty exciting.======