Day 20 - August 3rd - Homeward Bound
The group leaders, local tour guide and bus driver pose for a final picture before heading home.
"I have to fit all that stuff in that little suitcase?"
At 10:45 PM, the students arrived in Westfield to a rousing welcome!
Bobbi is happy to be home!
At 7:29 PM EDT, flight 420 landed at Logan Airport in Boston!
As of 5:14 PM EDT, flight 420 is just coming over Newfoundland.
As of 2:13 PM EDT, flight 420 has crossed Ireland and is now over the Atlantic.
As of 1:32 PM EDT, flight 420 is flying over Ireland.
At 11:55 AM EDT, Lufthansa flight 420 took off from Frankfurt, Germany bound for Boston.
At 8:35 AM EDT, Lufthansa flight 3845 took off from Rome bound for Frankfurt, Germany.
Bobbi emailed me and has already placed her order for some McDonalds food tonight. ;-)
Day 19 - August 2nd - Rome, Italy
The Coliseum in Rome.
Bobbi (second from left) learns how to fight like a Roman gladiator!
Even the leaders get to join in the fun!
The student ambassadors pose for a group photo on their last day of their European adventure.
Today the student ambassadors got a taste of what Roman life was like two thousand years ago, as they visited the Roman Forum and the Coliseum. They had a typical lunch that an ancient gladiator would have had. In the afternoon they explored Rome's city center.
Tomorrow they pack their bags and bid farewell to Europe!
Day 18 - August 1st - Vatican City and Rome, Italy
Bobbi gets ready for a scavenger hunt in Rome.
Vatican City.
The high altar in St. Peter's Basilica.
After having a bit of fun with a scavenger hunt this morning, the student ambassadors visited Vatican City. They explored St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine chapel. Their day ended with an educational meeting where they learned about Catholicism in Italy and the organization of the Vatican.
Bobbi called to say she is enjoying the food and all the sights in Italy. She is looking forward to coming home in less than 48 hours!
Day 17 - July 31st - Florence, Italy
Michelangelo's famous statue, David.
The Duomo, fourth largest cathedral in Europe.
The best known treasure of Florence, the Ponte Vecchio.
After leaving Venice, the group travelled to the city of Firenze (Florence) where they walked through the city center. They visited the Duomo, the fourth largest cathedral in Europe, and the Accademia Gallery, which houses Michelangelo's famous statue, David. The student ambassadors then travelled to Montecatini where they spent the night.
The group travelled to Rome, their final European destination, to spend the night.
Day 16 - July 30th - Pisa, Italy
Bobbi in front of the most famous building in Pisa, the Leaning Tower.
The Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa.
As part of their experience, the student ambassadors perform community service by helping to clean up a forest road in Pisa.
Today the student ambassadors explored the city of Pisa which has some of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Italy. Probably the most famous building is the Leaning Tower, which started to tilt before the third level was finished in 1274.
Tomorrow the group will travel to their final European destination, Rome.
Day 15 - July 29th - Venice, Italy
The beautiful city of Venice.
Bobbi (seated second from the left) goes for a gondola ride.
Travelling down one of the many water streets in Venice.
The group receives a glass-blowing demonstration at the Veccia Murano glass factory in Venice.
Today the student ambassadors visited Venice. They enjoyed a gondola ride, and a glass demonstration at the Veccia Murano glass factory. Later in the day they were able to explore the city of Venice.
Day 14 - July 28th - Sirnitz, Austria and Jesolo, Italy
Time for some fun! Bobbi (in the white and blue striped shirt on the left) tosses a boot to her partner in a relay race.
Bobbi and some friends enjoy their lunch after working hard on the farm this morning!
The group gets some dancing in before their long bus ride to the Italian coast.
The coastal town of Jesolo, Italy is our destination for the evening.
This morning the group visited a mill and farm to gather all the ingredients for their lunch. In the afternoon the student ambassadors travelled to Jesolo, Italy for a welcome break with a swim in the Adriatic Sea!
Day 13 - July 27th - Sirnitz, Austria
A group of student ambassadors become noblewomen.
Hmmm...wonder what he did to deserve this?
The group is welcomed to the town of Sirnitz and receives a hand-made plaque to commerorate the occasion.
Our colorful hotel for the night in St. Veit, Carinthia.
After breakfast in Vienna, the group departed for the small town of Friesach which once was a key location on the Venice-Vienna trade route. They enjoyed a medieval lunch at the Friesach Castle. Later, the student ambassadors were formally welcomed by the residents and officials of the town of Sirnitz, where they had a BBQ supper!
Day 12 - July 26th - Vienna, Austria
The student ambassadors are all dressed up for the evening concert.
This morning the group toured Vienna. In the afternoon, the student ambassadors were honored to meet and have a discussion with a concentration camp survivor. In the evening, the ambassadors attended a concert at a famous Vienna concert house.
Day 11 - July 25th - Mauthausen concentration camp and Vienna, Austria
The ambassadors visit the Mauthausen concentration camp.
Later in the day it was time for some fun at the Prater Amusement Park.
A view of Vienna from the ferris wheel at Prater Amusement Park.
Even the leaders get to have fun - here Erin Youmans is about to ride a rollercoaster.
The day began with a visit to the Mauthausen concentration camp, where the student ambassadors glimpsed a darker side of European history. Later in the day, the group traveled to Vienna and spent some time at the Prater Amusement Park, which was used for a scene in the James Bond film, "The Living Daylights."
Day 10 - July 24th - Salzburg, Austria
Statue of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Salzburg, Austria.
The Hellbrunn water castle.
Having a little fun deep in the salt mines at Hallein!
After saying goodbye to their home stay families, the group travelled to Salzburg, Austria, the city of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They visited the salt mines in Hallein, where they journeyed deep underground on a mine trolley. In the afternoon they explored the city of Salzburg, and ended at the Hellbrunn water castle, with its many trick fountains and water-powered figures.
Day 9 - July 23rd - Home Stay in Munich, Germany
The student ambassadors and their German classmates take a break from studying to enjoy a snack together.
The student ambassadors spent their final day with their home stay families. Tomorrow they will say goodbye and head to Salzburg, Austria.
Bobbi emailed me from her home stay tonight. Here is her summary of today:
"In my home stay family, I have a brother Paul and a sister Helen. We went to school today from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. All the classes were in German except for English class. ;-) After that Paul, Tyrone, Maurice and I went all the way up to the top of the Olympic tower. The view was beautiful, but I forgot my camera! We had Cokes at a revolving restaurant and later rode bikes around town. I fell asleep on the bus tour of Munich."
Day 8 - July 22nd - Home Stay in Munich, Germany
Bobbi, Paul, Tyrone, Maurice and Helen. Paul and Helen are Bobbi's home-stay siblings, Maurice is Tyrone's home-stay brother.
Today was the first full day the student ambassadors spent with their home stay families.
It appears so far that most (if not all) of the students are by themselves at their home stays. So far all of the students that have spoken with their parents say they will be going to a German school on Monday.
I have not heard from Bobbi since she arrived at her home stay, but I have sent her an email, so hopefully she will be able to respond soon.
Day 7 - July 21st - Innsbruck, Austria and Home Stay in Germany
The student ambassadors test their baking talents by preparing Apfelstrudel.
Today the group travelled to Innsbruck, Austria and stopped for lunch at the Villa Blanka, where they baked their own Apfelstrudell for dessert! This afternoon they arrived at their home stay families in Munich, Germany.
According to one of the parents, their daughter said that there are enough home stay families so that each student ambassador will be staying with a different family. Also, the children there are still in school, so Monday the student ambassadors will get to see what school in Germany is like. Cool!
Day 6 - July 20th - Lucerne and Zurich, Switzerland
The Kapellbrücke, a wooden bridge spanning Lake Lucerne.
Today the group stopped in Lucerne, Switzerland. They split up into small groups to buy part of the lunch for the entire group. After lunch, they strolled on the Kapellbrücke, a wooden bridge spanning Lake Lucerne. Later in the day they explored downtown Zurich, which is where they will stay for the night.
Bobbi called home around 3:00 PM EDT. She said that the plane ride was loooonnngg, the Eiffel Tower was high and she has tried many different foods. She purchased some Swiss chocolate today, but she wouldn't say what she bought at the Hard Rock Cafe in Paris on Tuesday. Yesterday she took part in a soccer game with some local French children, but her team lost.
Tomorrow they begin their 3 day home stay in Munich.
Day 5 - July 19th - Strasbourg, France
Bobbi (seated on the left) watches as several of the other student ambassadors play a game of baseball with some French students.
After travelling through the Champagne region of France, famous for its fine wines, the group explored the city of Strasbourg.
The student ambassadors are pretty tired after their long bus ride today. When they arrived in Strasbourg, they played baseball and soccer with some local French children.
Bobbi tried to call home today. I'm not sure why the call didn't go through. Hopefully we'll hear from her tomorrow.
Day 4 - July 18th - Paris and Troyes, France
The Louvre Pyramid.
Michelangelo's David.
Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci.
The Apothicairerie in Troyes.
This morning the group visited the Musée du Louvre in Paris. They viewed Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece, Mona Lisa. After that there was a long bus ride to Troyes, France where they will spend the night.
I have not heard from Bobbi yet, but several other parents have heard from their children and all are saying they're having a fantastic time and are getting along well!
Day 3 - July 17th - Paris, France
The Basilique du Sacré Coeur.
The Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.
The group poses for a photo in front of the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.
The Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
The Château de Versailles.
Inside the Château de Versailles.
Bobbi says Paris is OK!
This morning was spent seeing some of the sights in Paris, including: the Basilique du Sacré Coeur, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the shops of the Opera Quarter. After lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, the delegation broke up into small groups to explore the historic Montmartre area, which was a haven for artists and writers before WWI. The final stop of the day was at the Château de Versailles.
I received a phone call from the delegation leader's daughter at about 2:45 PM telling me that everyone is doing well, there are no problems to report and they're all having a great time!
Day 2 - July 16th - Paris, France
At 6:34 AM EDT, Bobbi's flight landed in Paris, France. Their European discovery is underway!
First stop, the Eiffel Tower!
The view from the top!
I made it!
This afternoon was spent touring the Eiffel Tower in Paris. One of the student ambassadors called home and said, "We're doing fine...just got back from the Eiffel Tower...everything is great."
Day 1 - July 15th - Departing for Europe
Paige and Bobbi are excited about the trip!
38 student ambassadors from Western Mass. pose for a group photo.
We're on our way to Europe!
We arrived in Westfield at 1:15 PM. There were about a dozen of the student ambassadors already there. After the entire group arrived, there was an opportunity for the parents to take pictures of all the ambassadors together. There was just enough time to squeeze in a few pictures when the skies opened up and everyone ran for cover. The rain stopped in a few short minutes. Around 2:00 PM the Peter Pan bus arrived. After the student ambassadors and the leaders loaded their luggage onto the bus, there was another group photo next to the bus. The ambassadors then said their last goodbyes to their family members before boarding the bus.
Bobbi held it together up until the last hug, then she broke down into tears. After a pep talk from Mom & Dad, she boarded the bus and began her journey to Europe.
Lufthansa Flight 425 departed from Logan Airport in Boston at 8:36 PM EDT. They are expected to arrive in Munich, Germany at 3:50 AM EDT. From there they will get a connecting flight to Paris, France and are expected to arrive at 6:20 AM EDT.