Thursday, June 9, 2011

What a Trip Home!

We said Arriverderci Roma and wished Tricia, Martha and Sarah, and John, Becca and Jenny continued travel adventures on their journeys to other European sights. 

Leaving from Leonardo da Vinci airport in Roma.

While waiting to board the first Lufthansa flight, the 10 scouts went shopping and found a t-shirt that cost 200 euros.  Ali was right about the beautiful and expensive shops at the Rome Airport which cater to maintaining a beautiful image.   Many slept on the two hr flight to Frankfurt.   Scott McGregor was our fearless leader directing us around what looked like a shopping mall as we made our way to the gate for our international flight home.  About halfway there, one scout discovered that her passport was left behind and then she, Bob and Maria got to experience German problem solving, being ushered first to ticket counter, then lost and found , and then back to the ticket counter.   As the clock was ticking down with 30 mins left until the flight departed the gate, a supervisor made some great command decisions, went away and reappeared with the missing passport!   Maria will never forget the ticket agent telling her that all the problems she had this morning were with Americans!!!!Then scout, Bob and Maria showed their physical fitness by running to the gate, stopping only for security and passport control and making it with 10 mins to spare.   At one point, Maria was so turned around she and scout started up an escalator for the lounge, mistaking it for the gate.   What must have looked so comical was how they descended an ascending escalator -- something you only see done with flare in the movies!   We made it look easy!! We made it to Denver after 9 hours of flying and after clearing customs and getting to the gate, the girls headed for the food court and McDonalds.   Right now, we are trying to retrieve a camera left behind on the international flight.   Wish us success.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Trip Update

And it's a beautiful morning in the Tuscany hills above Firenze, the Italian name of Florence.  Had a very long day yesterday, including breakfast in Florence, touring Florence, much of the group going to Pisa under threatening weather.  On the way back to Florence we ran into a big storm and an even bigger traffic jam.  Our normal trip should have been 1 hour- took us 2 and a half.  The group not going to Pisa spent the afternoon in Florence and got a bit soggy.  Had a great dinner in a local Florence restaurant then on to our hotel about 11pm.   The Arno river, the river flowing through Florence was flooding last night because of the storms.  So I guess we are not missing out too much on what is happening in some areas around Omaha/Council Bluffs...

Today we will finish breakfast then head to Assisi to see the Basilica and the city, then travel to Rome, dinner, and a hotel.

Tomorrow will be the big sights in Rome...

Inside the cathedral at Pisa.




The cathedral and bell tower at Pisa, otherwise known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa.


ANDIAMO !!
(Let's Go !!)




Forecast for today is really warm with a good chance for rain.

More tomorrow from the Eternal City....

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Tuesday in London

All flights left as scheduled. The aircrews loved the girl scout cookies and we received many acknowledgements over the intercom. For the first group, the Captain walked back and personally thanked everyone and gave his business card. The second group arranged a Happy Birthday acknowledgement to Makenzie. Once into Heathrow, the first group met the Tour Director Ali and the Alaska group, then had several hours to enjoy exploring London. The London Tube was a great experience and fairly easy to navigate. All the groups congregated at Mr. Fish for a traditional fish and chips dinner. Those who still had lots of energy enjoyed a ride on the London Eye.

Day 4 morning

Enjoying a wonderful breakfast of croissants, cheese, fruit and baguettes and crepes. We will be off in about an hour on our driving tour of Paris, then to Versailles. After Versailles, we will visit Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter and eat dinner at a restaurant called Hippopatamus. Dinner is supposed to be pork, but since we love dessert first, we will drool over the chocolate mousse we were to have. After dinner is our visit to the Louvre. Weather today is hot and windy. Energy levels are still going strong.p

Day Three And We're Still Running !!

Been keeping some long days and wireless issues, so we are posting just a bit this evening (at midnight after our activities...). 

We left London on tine via the Eurostar "bullet train".  Lived up to its name - got us from London to Paris in 2 hours and twenty minutes.  Got to our hotel then went into town to see Montmarte and visit the Church of the Sacre Couer (Sacred Heart).  Had a nice dinner of Flammekeuchel (will have to verify the spelling).

Then off to the train/subway for a short trip to the Eiffel Tower.  Was magnificent.  Boarded a boat for the Tour of the Seine (the main river running thru Paris).  As we finished the boat tour they lit up the Eiffel Tour...




Troop 45483 Scouts in front of the lit up Eiffel Tower, June 2, 2011

Monday, May 30, 2011

And They're Off!

I just saw the first group of six travelers off.   We took a bunch of pictures with luggage and without and in front of the United Airlines Ticket Counter.   Girls need to make sure that they FILL OUT their EF luggage tags.   The purple travel shirts look great and several people stopped to chat with our group about where in Europe we're going.   The TSA eyed that case of Girl Scout cookies and suggested doing a taste test.  I told them I would be back in a few hours with my larger group and they said they would be waiting!!!

Today is Makenzie Zima's 17th Birthday.  What a great way to spend your birthday and hopefully it will be a very memorable one for you.  Happy Birthday Makenzie.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Group Departure Tomorrow!

Our parents and scouts are busy getting packed for our trip tomorrow.  Please remember to pack lightly.  You will want to leave room for all those souvenirs!! Those taking duffel-type bags instead of wheeled luggage should get a shoulder strap attachment so the bag can be lugged around like a backpack. See you at Eppley Airfield tomorrow. 

Saturday, May 28, 2011

EF TourLink Travel Journal

Welcome to EF Educational Tours TourLink
It's here! A new way for you and your students to stay connected with family and friends back home while on your London, Paris, Florence and Rome trip!
If you're interested in meeting the other group leaders you're traveling with, please contact your tour consultant.
Activate your TourLink Travel Journal today

With TourLink Travel Journal, you and your students can:

Share photos, videos, and blogs

Stay connected with other travellers


Invite family and friends to follow your trip

Get the FREE TourLink Travel Journal app for your mobile device

While on tour, we recommend connecting with free Wi-Fi to avoid expensive roaming charges. Please contact your mobile provider to check your data plan.

EF e-mailed the above invitation to every traveler approximately 30 days ago.   You do need to check to see if your e-mail filtered this as spam.   There is a 4 min 27 sec video you can download on how to use the travel journal and turn it into a book memoir at the end of the trip.    We will continue to use the blog on our troop website as well because that is the easiest way for troop parents to be informed of our activities while traveling..

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Won't stop us !!

Beautiful night photo of volcano


Ash track as of a several days ago..


Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Iceland Volcanic Eruption WILL NOT affect trip

Dear Europe Group,

The trip will go as scheduled on Monday, May 30th.   The ash from the Iceland volcanic eruptions will not affect our trip.   Regarding the trip itinerary, because it is so jam-packed, there will not be much free time.  The group leader of the Wichita Group, Ed Belsan, and I are going to try to fit in side trips that may be of interest to you.  

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Europe Group Leaving in 11 Days!

We are nearing our final preparations for departure.  At the airport, I will give each traveler a purple "travel" t-shirt.  Yes, we are the Purple Group.   Each traveler will also receive an Ekit Phone Card and pink duct tape to put on the outside of the luggage.   The Emergency Phone Chain Chart has been e-mailed to every parent with instructions about how information will be disseminated.   We have information about two of the three groups we are consolidated with.   One is a group of 11 from Wichita Kansas with a very experienced Group Leader Ed Belsan; the other is a group of 10 from a small Christian School from Alaska and Group Leader Linda Lewellyn.   I hope that some of my girl scouts will accompany me on the Ghost Walk in London and the London Eye.  I am really looking forward to gelato, gelato, gelato and being treated to more gelato by my children Jenny and Joe and husband Bob (I hope they have been saving their euros!).   It's so exciting that departure time is almost here!!!!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Final Prep Meeting

Group Meeting on 15 May:   Our last group meeting is scheduled for Sunday, 15 May at 2:30 P.M.  I do apologize if this conflicts with graduations, etc.  May is a very busy month and I tried to avoid meeting on Mother’s Day the weekend before; the third week of May is full of Council program training and activities that I am involved in; and then we leave the very next weekend.    So, if at all possible, please try to attend or have at least one family representative attend the meeting on the 15th.  

The girls are asked to bring their packed suitcase to the meeting.  

At the meeting, I will pass out your EF backpacks; you will receive a packing lesson from Offutt AFB Travel Consultant Jennifer Miller; we will go over electronics and money briefly; and I need to collect all tour director tips and paperwork at this time.   I will also provide information about the group we are consolidated with. 

 IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT I GET SIGNED PERMISSION FORMS FOR EVERY MINOR TRAVELER; TWO PASSPORT PHOTOS, COPIES OF THE FRONT AND BARCODE OF PASSPORT; AND TOUR DIRECTOR TIPS AT THIS MEETING.  

Please don’t forget to check our troop website for information about our trip.  Information from all the previous group meetings and general information has been posted to help you prepare for travel.  It is a great resource and can be accessed at:  https://sites.google.com/site/troop5483europetrip2011/home

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Trip Update

Departure date has changed to the end of May.  Check with the Troop leader for exact date and flight schedules...

Last pre-trip meeting is scheduled for May 15, at 2:30pm.  Check your e-mail for details...

Friday, January 28, 2011

First Post

Welcome to the BLOG for Girl Scout Troop 45483!

We will use this periodically to communicate with scouts, parents, relatives, and the world.  It will be heavily used during our upcoming trip to Europe in June!

Follow us for updates....  or e-mail us at troop45483 (at) cox.net ... (replace the (at) with the @ sign)