Saturday, March 21, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
New pictures of Italy and Greece
http://picasaweb.google.com/mayfieldscott2007/ItalyGreece?feat=directlink
Saturday, March 14, 2009
In Athens
Hello Everyone,
Well it seems a little silly at this point to use this blog. To say that having a blog during this trip and doing regular contributions to it has been challenging for lack of impolite words. I did get an opportunity to see that a few of you have baled me out by communicating to others and it is very appreciated by me. I do plan on putting more images and video on this site so that others can view them. I also plan on putting together the traditional trip DVD.
I was able to post what text I had to the site last nite before my computer died. I also uploaded some sample pics of places we've been. Other than the disappointing blog this trip has been fantastic...maybe one of our best ever. The sites, the weather, the people directly and indirectly associated with this tour have all worked for one fun trip.
The consensus is that yesterday's visit to Delphi was the highlight of the trip. The little town's cultural and historical significance to Western Civilization. The ruins and the museum was inspiring. Many of us during the last couple of days in Greece have really enjoyed the food. Personally, I have never eaten as much even if combined my dining experiences during Thanksgiving and Christmas combined! I am now a huge fan of Greek food. So parents if you are worried about your children not eating enought is not a problem on this leg.
Today we drove the 3 hr. drive from Delphi to Athens. The countryside drive was beautiful and unique with it's rolling hills, farms and agriculture.
I think with the remaining time I have I'll attempt to load more photos for you to view. If you don't see any on this blog then you know I ran to another problem...upload speed.
Take care and thanks again for your patience.
Scott
Well it seems a little silly at this point to use this blog. To say that having a blog during this trip and doing regular contributions to it has been challenging for lack of impolite words. I did get an opportunity to see that a few of you have baled me out by communicating to others and it is very appreciated by me. I do plan on putting more images and video on this site so that others can view them. I also plan on putting together the traditional trip DVD.
I was able to post what text I had to the site last nite before my computer died. I also uploaded some sample pics of places we've been. Other than the disappointing blog this trip has been fantastic...maybe one of our best ever. The sites, the weather, the people directly and indirectly associated with this tour have all worked for one fun trip.
The consensus is that yesterday's visit to Delphi was the highlight of the trip. The little town's cultural and historical significance to Western Civilization. The ruins and the museum was inspiring. Many of us during the last couple of days in Greece have really enjoyed the food. Personally, I have never eaten as much even if combined my dining experiences during Thanksgiving and Christmas combined! I am now a huge fan of Greek food. So parents if you are worried about your children not eating enought is not a problem on this leg.
Today we drove the 3 hr. drive from Delphi to Athens. The countryside drive was beautiful and unique with it's rolling hills, farms and agriculture.
I think with the remaining time I have I'll attempt to load more photos for you to view. If you don't see any on this blog then you know I ran to another problem...upload speed.
Take care and thanks again for your patience.
Scott
Friday, March 13, 2009
Finally!
Ostia and Rome
Ever since we arrived to Rome we have been very busy and very tired but in a good way. It’s expected to feel a little out of sorts when you travel a Sunday, you can expect some of our traveling party where not too excited to adventure to a ruin: even a ruin as grand as Ostia Antigua. After a very short drive from the airport we dropped out of the bus and into one of Rome’s best weather days of the year. Ostia is one of the best kept secrets to the tourist world. Acres of some of the best preserved Roman history were literally at our feet to wander and explore. Most of the kids forgot about how tired they were and immediately found the place as wonderful as our experienced chaperones did.
After our two hour visit we hopped back on the bus to take the trip to our hotel La Meridienne in the village called Palestrina about 30 miles S.E. of Rome. Winding roads in the dusk of Rome revealed the beauty of this hilly landscape of olive trees, quaint shops and vista views.
We stumbled out of the bus wiping the sleep from our eyes to meet up together for dinner at 8:30. Our splintered travel group where one hundred strong of South wolverines once again. After dinner, bed checks by the chaperones were just a formality. Sleep found all quickly.
After a 5:45 wake-up call, we were ready for breakfast and a traffic congested Monday morning drive of 2 hours to Vatican City. If it is possible, the day was even more beautiful than the previous one. The drive in might have been long but there was plenty to see. The daily life of Romans was revealed to us along the highway. Speeding mopeds and smart cars worked their way around our bus as they hurried to work.
In the Vatican City we lined up to meet our day guide Maria who handed us whispers to hear her presentation. We then began our marvelous journey through the halls of priceless paintings, marble sculptures and tapestries that led to the culminating event of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basillica.
After a break for lunch we went on to the Coliseum and the Forum. This was full day of walking in the glorious Roman sun. Many of us took advantage of the weather and took many pictures of this unique tourist attraction. People were out in numbers to enjoy the day.
Our 3rd day in Rome we had the opportunity to go just a little deeper into Rome and have some time to explore some of it on our own. After a longer bus ride to Rome from our hotel we arrived to Piaza De Popla. We assembled then marched down the narrow crowded streets to the Spanish Steps and took a group photo. After we caught our breath we took another collective stroll to the Trevi Fountain. I have been to this fountain several times but we found it this time to be the least crowded. Again, the day couldn’t have been dialed up any better as we experienced our 3rd day in a row of divine weather. Laura, our most patient tour director for EF, finally gave everyone the words most have been waiting for: “free time.” Most of the students wasted no time as they hit the shops for souvenirs. We all scattered through the streets of Rome. Becky Gerik, Chris Scott and I went to different shops to look at the wares. I was personally in a hunt for a doll for the doll collection my wife and daughter enjoy but I didn’t find what I was looking for. What I am constantly in the hunt for in Rome or anywhere on these trips for that matter is the perfect photo. In that, I was quite fortunate. The day produced many good shots.
Caprice
We woke up to an early breakfast to prepare our next leg to a new destination: Caprice. None of us have ever been here before but I have done some internet searches and knew that we were in for something special.
Ever since we arrived to Rome we have been very busy and very tired but in a good way. It’s expected to feel a little out of sorts when you travel a Sunday, you can expect some of our traveling party where not too excited to adventure to a ruin: even a ruin as grand as Ostia Antigua. After a very short drive from the airport we dropped out of the bus and into one of Rome’s best weather days of the year. Ostia is one of the best kept secrets to the tourist world. Acres of some of the best preserved Roman history were literally at our feet to wander and explore. Most of the kids forgot about how tired they were and immediately found the place as wonderful as our experienced chaperones did.
After our two hour visit we hopped back on the bus to take the trip to our hotel La Meridienne in the village called Palestrina about 30 miles S.E. of Rome. Winding roads in the dusk of Rome revealed the beauty of this hilly landscape of olive trees, quaint shops and vista views.
We stumbled out of the bus wiping the sleep from our eyes to meet up together for dinner at 8:30. Our splintered travel group where one hundred strong of South wolverines once again. After dinner, bed checks by the chaperones were just a formality. Sleep found all quickly.
After a 5:45 wake-up call, we were ready for breakfast and a traffic congested Monday morning drive of 2 hours to Vatican City. If it is possible, the day was even more beautiful than the previous one. The drive in might have been long but there was plenty to see. The daily life of Romans was revealed to us along the highway. Speeding mopeds and smart cars worked their way around our bus as they hurried to work.
In the Vatican City we lined up to meet our day guide Maria who handed us whispers to hear her presentation. We then began our marvelous journey through the halls of priceless paintings, marble sculptures and tapestries that led to the culminating event of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basillica.
After a break for lunch we went on to the Coliseum and the Forum. This was full day of walking in the glorious Roman sun. Many of us took advantage of the weather and took many pictures of this unique tourist attraction. People were out in numbers to enjoy the day.
Our 3rd day in Rome we had the opportunity to go just a little deeper into Rome and have some time to explore some of it on our own. After a longer bus ride to Rome from our hotel we arrived to Piaza De Popla. We assembled then marched down the narrow crowded streets to the Spanish Steps and took a group photo. After we caught our breath we took another collective stroll to the Trevi Fountain. I have been to this fountain several times but we found it this time to be the least crowded. Again, the day couldn’t have been dialed up any better as we experienced our 3rd day in a row of divine weather. Laura, our most patient tour director for EF, finally gave everyone the words most have been waiting for: “free time.” Most of the students wasted no time as they hit the shops for souvenirs. We all scattered through the streets of Rome. Becky Gerik, Chris Scott and I went to different shops to look at the wares. I was personally in a hunt for a doll for the doll collection my wife and daughter enjoy but I didn’t find what I was looking for. What I am constantly in the hunt for in Rome or anywhere on these trips for that matter is the perfect photo. In that, I was quite fortunate. The day produced many good shots.
Caprice
We woke up to an early breakfast to prepare our next leg to a new destination: Caprice. None of us have ever been here before but I have done some internet searches and knew that we were in for something special.
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