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.

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. 

EF TourLink Travel Journal

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.

With TourLink Travel Journal, you and your students can:

Share photos, videos, and blogs Learn more › Stay connected with other travellers Learn more › Invite family and friends to follow your trip Learn more › 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..

Won't stop us !!

Beautiful night photo of volcano

Ash track as of a several days ago..

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.  

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!!!!