Day 9: The Sun Never Sets on Sachem Nation

Okay,  I know I am a couple of days late with my final blog entry for #Eurotrip18, but I have been trying to stay active and avoid jet lag.  I was concerned that sitting in front of the computer to generate some thoughts would knock me out...it still might, lol.

Two days ago, I awoke in London, England and started the long journey home.  It was about 6am in England when I called the two rooms to make sure the girls were up.  All of them were awake and finishing up some last minute packing.  At 6:45, we met in the lobby to await our coach ride to Heathrow.  Joseph had departed around 3 hours before to bring the group from Maine to the train station, but he informed us that Gabriel (another Tour Director) would be making our transfer with us.  Gabriel arrived on time and our coach showed shortly thereafter.  It was a quick ride to the airport and we said our goodbyes to the boys from Connecticut.  We walked to the Air Canada agents and checked in for our flights.

We made our way through security without a hitch and found ourselves in Terminal 2 waiting for our flight.  We had time to kill which allowed everyone to grab a coffee or some breakfast.  We boarded our flight to Canada on time and prepared for departure. It was a fairly uneventful trip.  I watched two movies and played some Angry Birds.  The girls all seemed to get a little sleep.  We landed in Halifax with a weather report that included intermittent snow fall.  I was wearing shorts.

The airport in Halifax is quite small.  The food court included only four restaurants. Laura and I ordered from A&W and the others all ordered pizza (figures, lol).  Time passed and we passed through security for our flight to Boston. Flying Air Canada allowed us to pass through US Customs while in Canada which made our arrival to Logan easier.  We were on a tiny plane.  Only about 100 passengers.  The flight was just about a hour long.  We landed and made our way to the baggage claim where we were greeted by some very grateful parents.  The bags came and we left.  Eurotrip18 was finished.

But is a trip ever really finished?  I say this because whenever I am abroad, I find myself chatting with other travelers.  We share stories from the "road."  It is one of the best parts of travel, to me.  On this trip, we met a ton of great people.  Travel allows us to do that.  I entitled today's blog, "The Sun Never Sets on Sachem Nation" as a tribute to this concept.  I heard the phrase, applied to England, many times over.  I heard it on this trip.  I don't remember when, but it definitely came up in conversation. 

Saugus High School, in the past 15 years, has sent kids all over the world...that is not hyperbole.  We have had our kids on every continent except Australia and Antarctica...but some of our veteran travelers have made their way to Australia.  As I type this, around 20 Sachems are arriving from their Hawaiian adventure.  The sun really doesn't set on places where Sachems have been.  Hawaii, China, Africa, Europe, the Galapagos Islands, Belize...and more.  Each of these trips have concluded, but they haven't really ended.  They appear online via Timehop and Facebook.  They show up in conversation among fellow travelers.  They appear in dreams of those who have traveled and those who wish to travel.

I will always remember this particular trip.  Not for the destinations, but for the people.  Of course, the 6 girls from Saugus High were amazing.  They were everything a Group Leader would want.  They were respectful and timely.  They shared with each other and the others.  They went to bed on time (mostly) and were quiet when they needed to be.  They were curious.  They asked questions even if they thought the questions were stupid.   I will remember them individually for their contributions to our overall experience.  I will also remember them as a group...the highlight of my experience. I tend to write vaguely about the kids on this blog.  Usually only referencing someone by name if the situation requires it.  In one way, it is a security thing, but in another way, it is because the experiences are shared among us all. 

This trip was special because of some of the other folks we met along the way.  Most importantly, Joseph, our Tour Director.

I stole this photo from a Joseph Beattie Fan Page.

Joseph Beattie, in real life, is a little older than this picture might indicate.  A few years ago, in England, he would be recognized on the street.  He is a pretty accomplished actor.  While we haven't seen him in anything recently for reasons that I choose to keep private, Joseph is making his way in front of the camera again.  I hope he makes it back into the limelight.  He deserves it.  He made this experience what it was.  Yeah, as the chaperone of a group of girls, having a heart throb as your tour director is a little distracting, but his good looks were nothing compared to his humanity.  He related to each kids, each group, each chaperon, and all of us.  I spent more than a few hours just chatting with him in the lobbies of the hotels we stayed in as I wrote this blog.  For a successful actor, he was quite a regular guy. 

I also spent a bit of time chatting with Sean, our Irish driver, and he was another reason why this trip was so great.  He set the perfect tone with the kids and make his bus our home.  He left his four children (including infant twins) at his home with his wife while we were there.  I never really thought of the personal lives of our European friends as much as had on this trip. 

The other two schools had some really great kids and chaperons too.  I hope to cross paths with them again.  As we arrived at Heathrow and collected our personal belongings, one of the Connecticut teachers approached me.  She thanked me for helping with their kids and she complimented our girls.  She said that our school should be proud of the kids we have exploring this world.   Her sentiments did not go unnoticed.  We Believe in Sachem Pride because it is real.  Our kids, especially when abroad, exemplify the type of character that our residents can be proud of.  I've heard these thoughts expressed in Central America and all over Europe.  A whole generation of travelers have departed from Saugus High School and they've spread all over this planet.  They have brought with them the right attitudes and behaviors and they've earned the respect of the folks they've met. 

I don't know when I will go overseas with kids again.  These trips are taxing and I am not getting younger.  I experienced a few very difficult years riddled with charges from town officials about my role on these trips.  It has worn me down...but as much as that is true, our kids have risen to the occasion to reinvigorate my spirits.  I am hopeful to take another eager bunch to some new place...time will tell where we go, but when we get there, we will learn.

Thanks for the kind words and comments over the past few days.  I hope I helped bring this trip to life for the friends and families of the girls and of myself.  I appreciate that folks have taken time to read these blogs. 

Day 8: Look kids....Big Ben and the Parliament

Wow,

It is quarter to one and I am still wide awake.  We've had an amazing day albeit a long one.

One of our first Eurotrip18 Photos...a week ago, but if feels much longer.

We woke in London today and went down for breakfast.  I wasn't very hungry, but I checked out the spread for the kids.  It was our traditional fare of cereal and sandwich meat, lol.  I did scamper out of the hotel for a morning walk and found a Starbucks (even though I saw one of London's few Dunks, I could not stop) where I ordered a black ice coffee.  It had been a while.

After breakfast, we boarded the coach for a guided tour of London.  Lucy, our tour guide, seemed familiar.  I bet she worked with Saugus before, but I didn't check.  She was fun and spunky, but we hit really bad traffic and the driver wasn't really up to the task.  She pointed out that which she could, but I think we might have missed some things (totally not her fault, half the city was shut down for the Commonwealth of Nations meeting).  Adding to the frustration was the weather.  We eventually hit 84 degrees today.  I know you are probably upset with me saying it was frustrating, but it made the long day even more exhausting. 

The Royal Mounted Patrol horses have a balcony?

A non-ostentatious memorial to Prince Albert 

Parliament building under construction.

A different angle of the Parliament from the Bus

After our bus tour, we hit up McDonalds for a quick lunch.  I really don't like visiting the Golden Arches while abroad, but we had a lot to do in the 4 hours of free time that we had in front of us.  Well fed....well, fed...we took off to take on the city.  We walked over 8 miles today (yesterday, too).  Our first destination was the Parliament building.  Inside the clock tower of the Parliament building is Big Ben.  It's the nickname of the bell resting inside.  We took some photos of the tower (under construction) and crossed the Thames for the London Eye.

The Eye was built for the millennium and was supposed to be deconstructed after 5 years, but the people loved it so much (and it makes lots of money), so we were able to see how long the queue would be...it turned out to only be about 20 minutes.  We would have waited a bit longer, but we were randomly selected to go to the fast track lane.  It made the rest of the day possible.  A few of us aren't really fans of heights and it took a little courage and convincing for us to hop on, but we did.

When we were at the peak of the giant Ferris Wheel, we could clearly see Buckingham Palace.  The meetings had the roadway all blocked off and we didn't see it during our tour, but we had plans to walk there.  It was a lengthy walk along the Princess of Wales Garden, but we enjoyed the sounds of nature and the causal attitude of the Londoners enjoying the nice day.  We arrived at the Palace to see that the Queen was in residence, but we didn't see her.  More pictures and then we continued.

Taking pictures outside of Buckingham Palace

Trying to call home

Buckingham Palace

Flowers outside of Buckingham Palace

We were meeting the other groups at Picadilly Circus before dinner at Wagamamas.  It is an international chain which apparently had been at Market St. for a brief period of time.  Most of the kids really enjoyed their meal, but I think everyone enjoyed the ice cream for dessert (except Laura who have hers to a new friend from Maine).  Dinner complete, we spent a little time walking around the neighborhood in preparation for the Tube ride to the theater district.

Arriving in the West End, we were able to access the theater through a special group entrance (fire exit, lol) and take our seats.  The performers nailed it and the kids were thoroughly entertained.  I think a couple of the girls may have cried.  We boarded the bus at 1015 and headed back to the hotel.  The kids on the bus (all three schools) have become accustom to singing during our rides.  Joseph requested that the kids only select songs that had a connection to the trip or was meaningful in some manner.  The obliged and sang-a-long to a number of great tunes.  As we arrived at the hotel, many of the kids were in tears.

Tomorrow morning at 4am, the group from Maine will leave with Joseph to go to France.  Our group and the group from Connecticut will depart at 645am and head towards Heathrow.  We have plenty of time to make our gate in preparation for the long trip home. 

This trip has been really special for me.  These 6 girls have been amazing.  They have never been late to a meeting time (I hope not to jinx us).  They have never been caught talking over a tour guide or Joseph.  They have said "Thank You" and "Please" even then it wasn't necessary.  They have really made the trip extra special.  It is the smallest group I've ever traveled with and it was totally worth it.  I will probably write a little bit more on one of the flights tomorrow or when I get home, but I wanted to say what a pleasure the past week has been for me.  They've been pleading with me to plan a trip for next year, but I really think I need at least a year off...but we will see.

(PS. I am having similar photo troubles for the blog. I think most of them posted on Facebook though)

Day 7: Shakespeare and London. What a great combination!

Our Jack the Ripper Tour Group

First, let me apologize, well over half of my pictures from today are lost in my phone somewhere.  If I access the phone's memory, I can see the photographs, but I cannot seem to transfer them into any usable format for this blog.  It has consumed way too much of my time tonight and I hope you all understand.

Frustration aside, we woke this morning in Coventry and had a proper English breakfast...buffet.  We had quite a few options that included bacon, sausages, eggs (scrambled or fried), potatoes (two ways), and much, much more.  I only had one plate, but I think we might have had some kids grab seconds.  After breakfast, we boarded the bus and headed off towards Stratford-upon-Avon.  Our first stop was the house of Anne Hathaway.  Don't get too excited, it isn't the house of the popular movie star, but instead the family home of William Shakespeare's wife.  The house was originally built in the mid-1400s, but what we saw was mostly built in the late 1500s.  The time period isn't that far off from the founding of Saugus!

It was a nice house and garden.  I took some of my best pictures there, lol.

After Anne's house, we headed towards William's house.  The house was definitely old, but was really cool to walk through.  I was able to tell the girls the origins of the "sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite" phrase.  Outside of the residence, we saw some players reciting Romeo and Juliet...but they expertly reversed the roles. Juliet looked an awful lot like me...just check out the picture below.

We had a lunch break in Stratford-upon-Avon. Some of the girls went to a little cafe, others hit up Subway, and I grabbed a kabob sandwich.  It wasn't even photo-worthy, lol.  We stopped along Henley St. and posed for photos by the Jester statue.  When the whole group reconvened, we departed for London.

Our hotel is a Ramada and has some modern amenities, but it is still a bus ride away from the downtown area.  Joseph directed us to the Westminster Chapel...not the Abbey. We had a bit of free time and so we took off into the church.

St. Patrick's Chapel within the Cathedral

Eventually, we all got back together and headed off to dinner.  We had fish and chips.  Not everyone tried as much as I would have liked to see, but those who ate it liked it more than they thought.  I even ate my entire dinner.

When dinner concluded, our whole group separated into two.  Some of the kids went to a Harry Potter Walking Tour and others on the Jack the Ripper Tour. The Saugus contingent all settled on Jack the Ripper. They were not disappointed.  Fred Strangbone, our guide, is amazing. I've had the pleasure of touring with him four times and the kids have always loved his performance.  It is a combination of humor, quirkiness, and horror. 

Our night came to a close with nearly 8 miles under our belt today.  We've had a lot of bus time on this trip, but today, we worked off those late night pizza slices. I wish I had more photos for everyone, but I couldn't make it happen.  I am sorry.

When I first started this blog, I think I always explained to parents that we were at the mercy of my technological expertise...tonight, I am disappointed that things didn't work out.  I hope to figure out the issue tomorrow...and will make changes along the way.  Thanks for understanding everyone.

Day 6: We Had A Wales Of A Time Today

The Welsh Flag is among my favorite.

Well, we hit a bit of traffic on the motorway today.  We were delayed to our hotel by two hours.  The hotel maintains a dinner buffet and so, we were still able to eat a warm meal.  The options included a carving station with beef or turkey, fish, beef and gravy, a few sets of vegetables, and desserts.  I had had a filling lunch and didn't eat much, but I believe the kids ate well...but I am getting ahead of myself.

We had to wake up really early today.  Our departure time from the hotel was 6:20 and so, I called everyone at 5:30am to see if they were up.  They were.  We packed the bus and grabbed a bag breakfast from the hotel.  The drive to the ferry terminal was about 40 minutes long and we arrived on time.  We said goodbye to Sean and began our boarding process.  The ferry was nice in that there were plenty of open spaces, a cafe, a theater, and a quiet room.  We grabbed a corner for our stuff and hunkered down.  The ride was supposed to take 3 and half hours, but our trip was delayed a bit.  We had had some really bad weather the night before and the residuals were impacting the Irish Sea.  We expected some chop.  Most of the girls went right to sleep.

After a bit, Laura and I (the only ones awake at the time) decided to go out on the deck for some fresh air.  The seas were a bit rough and everyone was feeling the effects.  We departed on our adventure to high winds with a definite sea mist.  We walked up the stairs to go to the top deck, but it was locked...so we headed down two decks to check out what was being offered to the guests.  From our direction, we walked past the staging area for emergencies.  This part of the deck is open to the air from the port and starboard sides.  The wind was whipping through and we both had a hard time getting to the door.  When we tried the handle, it was locked.  I try not to panic, or show panic, on these trips, but I was a little nervous.  We went back to where we had come from and the door fortunately worked.

It was only after returning to our seats that we heard folks saying that the crew had made an announcement that the decks were closed, oops.

The rest of the journey passed and we disembarked the ship, collected our bags, and met Andrew our new bus driver.  Sean was so good, but we are keeping an open mind.  As we left the parking lot, we saw a sign for a restaurant/inn.  It reminded us of home.

About an hour after passing The Boston, we arrived at Beaumaris.  It is a small village on the coast of Wales.  It is also the location of a really nice castle.  We knew we were limited for time, but we scampered off for lunch.  The girls all ate at the Pier House Bistro.  Some had haddock and others pasta, but all seemed to enjoy their lunch.  I stopped off at a little restaurant.  I was looking specifically for Welsh Rarebit...pronounced, "Rabbit."  It was delicious...it is basically a grilled cheese, lol.

Welsh Rarebit with a side of Cheesy Chips

After lunch, I was going to meet the girls at the Castle.  I entered the grounds and started exploring.  After a few minutes, I began to wonder where they were...but I received a text letting me know that their restaurant experience was taking longer than anticipated.  These things happen, so I tried to grab a couple of pictures for them.

The moat

Between the perimeter wall and the castle.

One of the tower stairs

A murder hole...used to defend the Castle if attacked.

While the girls ended up missing the castle, they got a good sense of Welsh culture and cuisine.  Their restaurant experience was a nice one and we soon headed off.  Before departing for England, however, we had one more stop.

The world has a lot of interesting places with interesting names.  In Wales, one can find the longest city name on the planet.  If my memory serves me correct, Andrew said it has 68 syllables.  The train stop also has a gift store.  The girls looked around and we eventually boarded our bus.  I told them a quick story about my previous visit. [Author's note: I've tried not to compare these two trips too much...on this blog and in person, but this story includes both trips]  The night before our ferry ride five years ago was a very long night.  None of our group got more than a couple of hours of sleep.  Many tried to recover on the ferry, but I could not sleep.  When we arrived at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, I was pretty much out of it.  As many explored the gift store, I walked across the street.  There was a small fish and chip place.  I entered to find a little old woman. I ordered fish and chips (I don't like fish, lol) and ate quickly.  I don't remember if I liked it or not, but I know I felt some peace in the shop.  Today, I walked across the street too.  As I entered the same shop, I saw a young man working the fry basket.  I wasn't ordering food (I had just eaten), but I thought I'd buy a drink.  I waited a second for the fry guy to turn around, but a door opened, and the little old lady came walking out.  I politely asked for a diet coke and she obliged.  She then asked if I wanted anything else.  I declined, but told her that I had visited five years before.  I informed her that I ordered fish and chips and that I liked it very much (An expression of my overall visit to her shop...not an outright lie). I don't know why I like to return to places that I've visited before, but there was something special about walking through those doors today.  I hope the old woman felt it too.

We began the long ride to Coventry.  It wasn't supposed to take too long, but there was unexpected traffic along the route.  All of the kids were patient and understanding (well, mostly they were sleeping).  Eventually, we arrived at the hotel and had our buffet dinner.  The girls are all hanging about the lobby, as I type, ordering a late night snack, lol.  We eat well on these trips...and we make memories.

The girls in Wales.

One of the conversation pieces we just had was about Wales.  While we were only there for a bit, the girls all mentioned how cute it was. They all agreed that they'd like to go back.  Perhaps in a few years, when the girls are a bit older, they will find themselves walking the streets of Beaumaris finally getting to visit the castle.  Maybe they will even grab lunch at the Pier House Bistro.  Will the comfort of being somewhere familiar hit them the same way it hit me, I hope so.  That feeling is one of the reasons why I pack a suitcase and see the world.  I long ago realized that people all over are more alike than different.  Our languages and accents might be a bit off, but our lives are all impacted by things outside of our control...the death of a loved one, traffic on the motorway, or the choppy Irish sea, but humanity abounds on this pale blue dot.  I often explain why I think that one must travel to learn; this is my explanation.

Thanks for reading...good night from Coventry!

Day 5: Dublin has the best Craic!

Don't be alarmed.  Craic means fun.  After one gains the gift of gab from kissing the Blarney Stone, they are almost guaranteed to become even more fun, tell better jokes, and keep a positive attitude.  Our day in Dublin started at the Wilton Hotel.  I had mentioned that it was a little more posh than the Kingscourt.  The rooms are more spacious and the bathrooms are nearly three times the sizes as those in Killarney.  One of our rooms has bunk beds, lol.  I assumed the breakfast would be more extravagant as well.  It was...but not by much, haha.  We still had our bottemless bowl of cereal, but we could accompany that with unlimited bread and coldcuts.  Frequent readers of this blog will remember that bread, cheese, and deli meats are common breakfast items in Europe.  Today, I had two small ham/cheese sammies.  In addition to our sandwiches and cereal, the kids could choose from a wide sample of fruits.  Overall, I think the breakfast quality was fairly similar, but we totally had more options here.

Yesterday, I had mentioned that I was working on another video.  I was able to convert and edit it last night...some of you might have already seen it, but I am adding it below for easier access and more complete record keeping.

The video is of the girls climbing the wishing steps on the grounds of Blarney Castle.  I honestly don't remember if I explained it or not, but I am going to do it now regardless.  The wishing steps are in a whole other world...and I think many Blarney visitors never even see them.  A wandering adventurer can stumble upon landscape that is reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings or some other fantasy world.  You definitely saw some pictures yesterday.  Amidst these interesting geological features stand the wishing steps.  Nearly 30 stone steps enclosed in a rock.  The steps are daunting on a lovely summers day, but you can imagine when a slick of Irish mist has settled upon them.  In a typical overcast/rainy day in Ireland, an ominous aura floats about the entrances to the steps.  Legend has it that only the bravest can complete an old task for the Blarney witch.  She lives nearby and has struck a deal with the landlord.  She can steal wood for her fireplace, but only if she promises to grant one wish to anyone who navigates these perilous steps.  "It can't be that easy," you say...you are right.  One needs to walk up the staircase with their eyes closed...thinking only of their wish.  Once they've reached the top, they must then turn around three times....still with their eyes closed....and still thinking of their wish.  They must then navigate down the stairs...again with their eyes closed...again thinking of their wish...but backwards.  As I do not believe in things like granted wishes and witches, I decided not to participate.  The girls, however, didn't chicken out like me and they handled the task with grace and ease.

Below are the clips I have from this task.  One is edited into two minutes.  I recommend that one.  The other is the raw footage.  It is 10 minutes.  You might be able to hear me giving directions to the girls to ensure their safety.  I don't recommend that one...because watching six people walk up and down stairs is as exciting as you might think...of course, I don't mind if you do watch it...that's why I am posting it.

(The raw footage will go here when it actually uploads)

I never asked the girls what they wished for. Part of the legend is that you cannot tell. I made a wish, though....it was that these kids continue having a great time and that Dublin wouldn't disappoint.  After breakfast, it was time to see if my wish would come true.

We left the hotel around 9am.  We left a little later than I expected, but Joseph explained that it was to avoid traffic.  Makes sense...it's Monday after all (it is, right?).  Our bus made the quick trip into town and parked alongside Trinity College.  There we picked up our local tour guide.  His name is James Creegan.  We had been told he was quite handsome and some of the girls on this trip agreed.  I think it is funny that they grabbed a picture of him, but what they won't know until reading this is that I did too.

History Heartthrob James Creegan

James comes from a long line of local guides.  Apparently he is a third, or fourth, generation storyteller.  He is young, but also knowledgeable.  I didn't really have a good seat on the coach for many pictures, but James crafted a tale of his city that kept the attention of all of our kids.  Our bus tour of the city lasted about 1 hour.  We also had time to get out of the bus and take a couple of pictures of some cool things.  The first stop was along a small street of Georgian homes.  The houses reminded me of the brownstones up on Beacon Hill or down in DC/Georgetown.  That said, these are a bit older.  The houses here also have decorative doors.  They are kind of famous...you can buy a poster called, "The Doors of Dublin" at the many gift stores.  You can also buy one with the pubs, lol, but I am not going there on this blog.   

The most famous door in Dublin 

A few other doors, I was too lazy to cross the street, but the girls did.

  

After the doors, we headed to St. Patrick's Cathedral.  The tour James led here was amazing.  I hope I am as good of a teacher as he is as a tour guide.  He explained the history of the man (St. Patrick), the Church, and those who made an impact on the church's history when it fell into disrepair.  I was enthralled when he told the story of the Butlers and the FitzGeralds (think Hatfields and McCoys) who had a bloody knife fight at the foot of the Altar within the church.  

St. Patrick's Cathedral

The Door of Reconciliation. Where the Butlers and FitzGeralds declared a truce among their families...for about a week.

The newest addition to the church.  Parishioners and visitors can write message to those impacted by war and leave them on the Tree of Remembrance.  

Within the church

On the grounds of the Cathedral.

The Cathedral

The next stop on the trip was the Phoenix Park.  It is the largest national park in Europe (I think) but it has two houses within it.  The President of Ireland lives there and so does the Ambassador to Ireland from the United States.  The connections between our two histories is so prevalent.  Many times, on European travels, people say you should hide that you are American.  I think that is a bit overstated, but I can understand the caution.  In Ireland, however, I've seen no Anti-American hostilities.  At the Phoenix Park, we saw the residences, some Gaelic sports fields, and the Pope's Hill.

Over a million Irish folks gathered here to hear Pope John Paul II speak in 1979

  

We left Phoenix Park and James at Trinity College.  We walked into the old library and saw many old religious artifacts.  One of them is the Book of Kells, it is one of the oldest manuscripts (complete with calligraphy) that historians have found of early Christianity.  There are no pictures allowed.  We could take pictures in the research wing of the library.

This library inspired the Jedi Archives in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones

The harp of Brian Boru, the king of Ireland around 1,000 AD)

When the kids started talking, I told them to mind their Ps and Qs.

When our tour of Trinity finished, we departed from the other two groups.  Joseph was going to give them a hand in navigating the city.  I have been to Dublin a few times and know it well...as such, I asked the girls if they wanted his tour or mine, lol.  They chose mine.  We went to Grafton St. for lunch.  The girls stepped way out of their comfort zone.  They ate at a Scottish place.  The fare was skinny potato spears and ground beef within baked flour patties.  They really liked it...I hope this chain makes it to America one day.  It was called, "McDonalds."  I stepped into a foodie place and had a bop. I forgot to take a picture.  It was basically a Bufallo chicken sandwich, but more fancy.

We gathered again on Grafton St.  (It is like an upscale Fanueil Hall) and departed towards Temple Bar.

The Temple Bar region is the heart of Dublin.  Artists of all types have made their mark in its vicinity.  There are also a number of bars/pubs in this section of the city.  The most famous is ironically called Temple Bar.  We walked along the cobblestone road and I told them about some of my past experiences here.  

A few years back, I came to Dublin with my Parents.  This was our first stop. My mother still claims its the best Irish Coffee she has ever had...it is tough to argue with her on that point.

After leaving Temple Bar, we crossed the O'Connell Bridge and walked down O'Connell Street. James had told us the history of Daniel O'Connell and the Easter Uprising (two separate events).  We saw the results of that uprising on the statues and pillars along the street.  We made our way down Henry St.  It is another shopping district, but not as expensive as Grafton St.  Dublin is divided by the River Liffey.  The South Side (Grafton St.) used to be more wealthy.  The North Side (Henry St.) is more my style, lol.  A few years ago, my luggage was lost.  I bought replacement cloths from stores on Henry St.

In our pre-trip meetings, I had mentioned that I spent some time at a coffee shop called Insomnia.  I said it was fitting because I don't really sleep much.  The kids remembered that and they wanted to go to Insomnia too.  It isn't a really unique place...kind of like Dublin's Dunkin Donuts...which is probably why it feels like home.

Staying awake all night...not.

After a couple cups of Joe, we headed off to meet with Joseph and the rest of the groups.  We were having dinner on O'Connell St. 

 Dinner was a deconstructed chicken and mushroom pie.  It was really good.  Every meal here has felt home cooked.  That isn't that common on student trips, but we have eaten really well.

For dessert, we had apple slices.  It was a version of Apple Pie.  It was also really good.  I ate about four hours ago and am still full.  

Our Dublin experience came to a close.  We boarded our bus and Sean took us back to the hotel.  Tomorrow morning, at 6am, we depart for our ferry and the UK.  We will leave Sean behind and have a new bus driver.  He has been amazing.  His craic made this portion of the trip extraordinary.  The kids will surely miss him. 

I've often compared Dublin to Boston.  Five years ago, my Dublin experience was riddled with sorrow and tragedy.  We were just coming to terms with the Boston Marathon bombing when we learned of the passing of Nancy Lemoine, a SHS teacher, mentor, and friend.  This experience was so different than what I can remember from that one...I often reread my blogs from April of 2013...and among those tragedies, I find peace in the way our kids handled themselves.  The kids on this trip have not had to endure such tragedies, but I cannot be more proud of who they have been.  We all have things going on at home in our personal lives (or professional), but the essence of travel if finding a way to compartmentalize those concerns to live in the moment.  I am besides myself with how good these six young ladies have been (he types with his fingers crossed) and although our trip is more than halfway completed, I am excited for the next few days.

Thanks again for reading...I appreciate it.