LONDON, PARIS, LUCERNE, & MUNICH - SUMMER 2019
"Good mornin', ya'll!" is what you would hear from many of the travelers on this tour as they were getting ready for the day's adventures. The energy of this group was awesome, and this might have been our best trip yet! The group included students from Da Vinci Design, Da Vinci Communications, and Mira Costa, which was the first time we had a non-DV school travel with us (lucky Andrew - and lucky us). We started the trip the off in London where we ate fish and chips in a basement cavern while celebrating Julian's birthday our first night. Then, we got to see the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament (which are under construction until 2025), and some street art at Leake Street.
After London, we headed to Paris where many of the travelers went thrift shopping, enjoyed people-watching while sipping on some delicious coffee or eating gelato, admired art in the Louvre, and went on a night cruise to see the Eiffel Tower lit up. You can also never have enough bread and cheese when visiting the city of love. We also got to see Montmartre, which is a hill top in Paris giving you the most spectacular view of the city (and a beautiful church). We then made it to Lucerne, Switzerland and the pace of our trip slowed greatly - we got to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the quietness of a town nestled right in the middle of the Swiss Alps. We also got to take a boat ride tot he the steepest railway car to go to the top of Mount Pilatus. There we got to go into the "dragon caves" and observe the breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps - no picture will ever do seeing those mountains in person. Some of us also bought some really delicious Swiss chocolate and the famous Swiss Army knives. We also found it to be true that a Big Mac in Switzerland cost about $13! On the way to Munich, we got to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, a 19th-century Romanesque Revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and in honor of Richard Wagner. Some travelers went down an epic slide, too! While the castle wasn't all that impressive, the place we had dinner that night was. We ate in this little small village town called Bad Bayersoien. The family's restaurant we ate in were so welcoming and told us the whole story about their village and why farming life is the best. The last leg of our trip was Munich, which was a fan favorite. Munich had a special buzz that many of the students really enjoyed. Whether students were riding rented bikes through the town, buying Birkenstocks, or jumping into the Isar River to cool down, everyone found Munich to be special. This will for sure be a place we go again on a future trip. Not only this, but we were able to see Dachau firsthand, which was very emotional for all of us and an amazing reminder of what humans are capable of. Our students want everyone to go to a concentration camp at some point in their lives because they felt the experience changed them. All in all, this trip was amazing because the students we traveled with really took in every moment in.
After London, we headed to Paris where many of the travelers went thrift shopping, enjoyed people-watching while sipping on some delicious coffee or eating gelato, admired art in the Louvre, and went on a night cruise to see the Eiffel Tower lit up. You can also never have enough bread and cheese when visiting the city of love. We also got to see Montmartre, which is a hill top in Paris giving you the most spectacular view of the city (and a beautiful church). We then made it to Lucerne, Switzerland and the pace of our trip slowed greatly - we got to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the quietness of a town nestled right in the middle of the Swiss Alps. We also got to take a boat ride tot he the steepest railway car to go to the top of Mount Pilatus. There we got to go into the "dragon caves" and observe the breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps - no picture will ever do seeing those mountains in person. Some of us also bought some really delicious Swiss chocolate and the famous Swiss Army knives. We also found it to be true that a Big Mac in Switzerland cost about $13! On the way to Munich, we got to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, a 19th-century Romanesque Revival palace on a rugged hill above the village of Hohenschwangau near Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and in honor of Richard Wagner. Some travelers went down an epic slide, too! While the castle wasn't all that impressive, the place we had dinner that night was. We ate in this little small village town called Bad Bayersoien. The family's restaurant we ate in were so welcoming and told us the whole story about their village and why farming life is the best. The last leg of our trip was Munich, which was a fan favorite. Munich had a special buzz that many of the students really enjoyed. Whether students were riding rented bikes through the town, buying Birkenstocks, or jumping into the Isar River to cool down, everyone found Munich to be special. This will for sure be a place we go again on a future trip. Not only this, but we were able to see Dachau firsthand, which was very emotional for all of us and an amazing reminder of what humans are capable of. Our students want everyone to go to a concentration camp at some point in their lives because they felt the experience changed them. All in all, this trip was amazing because the students we traveled with really took in every moment in.
GREECE & ITALY - WINTER 2017
We hit the ground running as we began to tour Greece on New Year's Eve. One of the experiences that none of us will forget was the special New Year's Eve celebration. We got to celebrate New Year's Eve in a Grecian banquet hall where we danced and ate until we rang in 2018. We learned how to say, "Opa!" and sing and dance to popular Grecian folk songs. Many of us got up and danced with strangers from all over the world! That wasn't all we did though. From touring the Vatican, to walking through the Roman Forum, to eating pizza on the top of one of the most beautiful islands, Capri, Italy and Greece had us all in awe. Everywhere we walked, we could feel antiquity becuase these were the same places that ancient philosophers pondered life's meaning and emperors contemplated battle. We also admired architects of the past as many of the ancient structures still stand today. We also reflected on the meaning of democracy as we walked through its birthplace. The whole trip was so rich in history and we felt it as we toured and learned how people lived during antiquity. Another successful trip is in the books!
DUBLIN, LONDON, & PARIS - WINTER 2016
It's hard to find the right words to explain how awesome the Dublin, London, and Paris trip was. We were a little nervous taking 40 kids overseas; however, we couldn't have had a better group. The laughter was strong, the jokes were always funny (unless they came from Kalma), and our smaller groups were full of pride (GBG, The Ho Ho Hos, Kevin's Krew, Kang, Dream Team, The Walkers). When we first arrived in Dublin, the students didn't really know what to expect, but very soon after exploring Temple Bar and St. Patrick's Cathedral, it was clear that this would be one of the favorite places they'd go. Believe it or not, one of the other favorite attractions was the Trinity Library (even though many of the students were so tired they decided to post up and nap). After Dublin, we made our way to Whales where we got to explore Beaumaris Castle and enjoy the niceties of a small coastal town. When we arrived in London, many students students were in awe of the London Eye, but were already over eating mashed potatoes for nearly every meal. There were a couple other main highlights from London. We spent Christmas Eve together in a Ramada in Hounslow, a borough of London proper. Students and teachers opened up surprise cards written from family members - many of us were brought to tears. We ended the trip exploring Leake Street, about a 300-meter long tunnel under the platforms and tracks of Waterloo station. It used to be a sketchy part of the city, but was reclaimed by Banksy and other graffiti artists in the mid-2000s. Our last stop was Paris. Many were happy we'd saved "the best for last." From the Eiffel Tower, to crepes, to Notre Dame; Paris truly encapsulated the beauty that was our entire trip.
PERÚ - SUMMER 2016
We traveled to Perú with little to no expectations for what we'd experience. Machu Picchu, Saksaywaman, Ollantaytambo, and Cuzco City were some of the highlights, but luckily for us, our service learning part of the trip was truly inspiring and life-changing. We had the opportunity to partner with Awamaki, a non-profit organization that works with women and their families in Ollantaytambo and surrounding communities through programs in women's cooperatives and sustainable tourism. We spent 2 days of our trip building a weaving center with the community members. We mixed cement, we dug ditches, we fetched water, we prepared meals, we laid bricks, we connected with another school from South Carolina and the community members we worked with side-by-side. Our small group of ten made life-long memories and for that we are all thankful. Until the next service learning trip.
COSTA RICA - SUMMER 2015
We discovered a perfect balance of adventure, service, and ecology in Costa Rica. We traveled to a coffee roastery in San José and enjoyed the delights at a pineapple and banana plantation in Sarapiquí. In Monteverde, we zip lined over a canopy for more than two miles before visiting a local school where we felt right at home. Everything about our trip to Costa Rica was beautiful. From the amazingly clean air, delicious coffee and gallo pinto (black beans and rice), to the incredible hospitality of the locals; our trip truly encapsulated the "pura vida" lifestyle. #iminlovewiththecosta