Day 3: Two Holy sees and One Hundred and Four sore feet.

Today was a long day, but that is how I like it.  Technology makes this blog possible, but it also allows me to tabulate information like never before.  We left the hotel around 8am.  We returned around 11pm.  In that time period, your kids walked over 20,000 steps.  That equates to just under 9 miles for me.  It might be our busiest day on tour, but even though it was exhausting no one was complaining.

Okay, in years past I've tried to make the titles of each post something witty or humorous.  The only problem is that my captions are usually only witty or humorous to myself, or a small group of people on the tour with whom I've shared a joke or two.  Beginning today, for these whimsical looks at our day, I think I will begin explaining.  Tonight's title is pretty easy to understand if you like puns and have been to Rome.

I have begrudgingly earned a reputation at SHS for telling puns.  I don't know where, or when, I earned it, but I have the badge nonetheless.  The Vatican is the Holy See of the Catholic church.  We visited it today.  [That part was easy] The Colosseum was our other major stop.  If you've "See"n it, then you know it has many "holes" in it....making it a holy see....get it, lol.  I am pretty good at these things and I am modest too.  My math is terrible, but I think 52 travelers, each with two feet, adds up to 104.  Not as funny, but I didn't want to have to take any more steps today, even if they were used to explain another pun.

It's 12:15am and there are now a herd of Italian middle schoolers hanging outside of my hotel window.  This night should go swimmingly.

This morning, we met for breakfast at our hotel.  It wasn't a large spread, but everything I had tasted really good.

The Hotel Villa Artemis in Nemi, Italy...our home for the past two nights.

A portion of our breakfast spread.  

 The kids I talked to were raving about the freshly squeezed juices and the Nutella Croissants.  I even heard some kids saying that they were going to get up early to make sure they had some croissants.  The joke here is that all of us will be up by 6am to get ready for tomorrow.

We finished up our breakfasts and hopped on the bus.  Our first stop was the Vatican.  We had an appointment so the normal wait period was greatly reduced for us.  John, our Tour Director, passed out Whisper headsets and told us we'd be using them all week long.  This allows all 50 of us to hear a tour guide without them screaming. We would use a separate set for the Vatican, but the principle was the same.  Our guide was Elaina.  She talked quickly and carried a stick with a big red scarf hanging on it. It was so that we could find her in the sea of people awaiting us.

Waiting...

...but not in that line.

Elaina showing us some maps and paintings before we entered.

Inside the Vatican, I didn't really take too many pictures. It was so busy, that I really didn't want to get distracted and have us lose anyone.  We did our normal crowd control apparatus.  A chaperon, or two, up front, most at the rear.  As the group makes its way through somewhere, the few in the rear rotate with a couple milling about the middle.  The whole time, a couple adults in the rear are solely making sure everyone knows where we are headed.  It hasn't failed us yet.  The kids, however, never seemed to stop taking pictures.  Be sure to ask to see them!!!

Many of the kids were super impressed with the paintings on the ceiling that simply looked 3D.  They had depth and matched the columns coming up from the floor.  Watching different sets of kids realize it throughout the tour was wonderful. I kept on thinking if this is impressing them, what about the Sistine Chapel.

I don't think it failed in their expectations.  The chapel is much bigger than most people imagine and the whole thing was painted by Michelangelo.  They don't allow talking or pictures...so I shouldn't talk about the picture I took inside.

Bad picture.

 After the Vatican, we followed the queue into St. Peter's Basilica.  It is also much larger than people think, but this time, they let us take pictures. It is also not nearly as crowded as the museum, but we still maintained our vigilance watching the kids.

The top of the dome is over 400 feet tall.

The designs are so intricate.  I am always impressed with churches in Europe.

Praanav enjoyed his visit to the Basilica very much!!!

Our group, with Elaina on the left, posing in front of St. Peter's.

  I was a little surprised. I thought we had a good chance to speak with the Pope today, but he never called for us.  I sent him a tweet last week, but I can imagine he has a busy schedule.  Oh well, maybe next time.

After the Vatican, we grabbed some lunch and went shopping.  Some kids bought gifts for home, so I won't spoil the surprise.  Most of us got pizza, I think, but hey, when in Rome...right.  Afterwards, we went by Bus to the Colosseum.  Our tour guide for this part of the day was Susan (I think, my Whisper headset was left on the bus).  We entered through security and made our way to the second level.  We stopped for photos and reflected on the stories that must have come from the building's history.  A lot of kids were asking questions.  I love that part of touring.  They realize they may never be back.  They get curious.  They combine those two elements to overcome shyness.  Angelo asked a really good question about the Popes taking the marble from the arena to build their churches throughout the city. I made my think for a bit.  Nicely done.

A colossal selfie.

Mikayla in deep thought during one of our guide's talks.

Happy to be in Roma!!!

Erin within the arena.  The bottom part would have been covered with a wooden floor.

Angelo and Jeff.  You can see some restoration work behind them.

Panorama

Duel Camera pic from my phone. Facebook friends will recognize this App as how I seemingly am on every Jumbotron

The group!!!

Liv and Ari.

Darian, Nick, and Pedro.

  Just up the hill from the Colosseum is the Imperial forum.  We made our way there, but had to have a couple of stops.  It had been a long day and some needed to use the facilities, while others were thirsty, and one of us made a shocking discovery.  It seems that Nick A. is a bit of an inventor and wanted to leave his mark on Rome. I was hoping he would do this in the fall, but he was able to spring into action while we waited for others.  Nick discovered gravity!!!  While sitting on a railing, he kind of lost his balance and got a little scrape on his arm.  He asked me for a paragraph, lol, and as you can imagine, he is in good spirits.  [On a side note, I thought it humorous that his mom noticed a bandage on his arm from a Facebook photo]  We checked it out before bedtime and it is healing nicely.

Ari filling up her water bottle with free Roman water.  One of the many perks of the city.

An old sign, translated it says, Don't sit on railings!!!

A forum picture.

The group listening to Susan, I think.

The Vestal temple ruins.  They have an interesting story.

I liked this angle.

 After the forum trip concluded, we headed to dinner across town. To our surprise, dinner was Pizza...hey, when in Rome, right?

My pie!  We each got our own!!!

Strangely Jello-like.  I thought it good. 

When we finished our meal, we once again drove on the bus to a different section of Rome.  This wasn't really on our itinerary, but John thought we should see the Spanish Steps and Trevi fountain at night.  The Steps are under renovation, but some kids got great shots of the Roman skyline.

As I walked down the stairs, I thought that I have been lax in one of my most treasured passtimes.  I used to be a master impressionist...comedian, not painter.  So, at the bottom of the stairs, I decided to do my Nick A. impression.  I missed the 136th step and tumbled to the ground.  Just like Nick A, I got right up and brushed off the dust.  I then realized I needed a Cappuccino.  It was delicious.

The Barista made me photograph it, lol. He's humble too.

  We met and continued our journey to the Trevi Fountain. John was great.  He stopped us and reminded us about keeping our possessions close and being watchful of each other.  The fountain is very busy and tonight was no exception.  The kids all tossed some spare change into the bustling waters below in hopes of one day returning to Rome, finding their true love, or just having their wish come true...Ironically, I think for many, their wishes are coming true on this trip.  They are so energetic and polite.  They have great attitudes and are mindful of their peers.  It is a wonderful group...Thank You, Parents and Guardians!!!

It was at the Trevi that I found myself most reflective of past trips to Rome.  I know Angela had had a moment earlier near the Spanish Steps.  She showed a store that sold gloves and explained that every time she visited Rome, our former colleague and friend, Nancy Lemoine, would ask her to buy a pair for her.  We lost Nancy, after a brave fight, three years ago...tonight.  We, Angela and I, were both on tours hundreds of miles from home (and each other) and it was one of the single most difficult nights of my life.  How do you tell your students that one of their teachers had passed away....somethings we cannot prepare for.  At the Trevi, I thought of my last visit there, about 12 years ago.  I was with Nancy, and we heard a church bell start ringing.  Another began to ring, and then more...and more...and more.  It was a signal that a new Pope had been elected.  I remember standing near a shoe store and the owner came out to us. He yelled something to the effect of "They chose a new Pope."  It was in English...at least I remember it in English, but perhaps I just automatically translated it.  Nancy and I went to him and he explained it was Ratzenberger...the German.  Tonight, while watching kids making wishes, and standing by the very same shoe store, I wished for one more tour with Nancy.  Somehow, I think, she is probably with us.

Ms. Payne making a wish!

Liv wished from both shoulders!!!

Pranaav checking his distance!!!

A traveler made a request for this special picture at one of the world's most Romantic spots.

The beautiful Trevi fountain.

To some, a shoe store, to me a memory that will last forever.

The Trevi from where I first heard the bells toll.

Well, it's just past 1am now.  The middle schoolers have gone to bed.  A few dogs are barking and the hum of traffic is passing by my window.  I've wiped away a few tears (of which I never thought I'd see tonight) and I have a little too much caffeine.  Our wake-up call is 6am and we depart for Naples and Capri around 715.  I'm told the pace of the tour will slow down a bit, from here on out, but the new experiences will pick up quickly.  We have our first ferry, the ruins of Pompeii, and I'm guessing a couple of more Pizzas in our horizon.

I never really plan these posts out...I start typing and remembering.  I leave things out and I spell things wrongly.  I just kind of go with it...sometimes, I am quick.  Sometimes, I take my time.  I got emotional while writing this, but I was not so at the fountain. I started the blog off trying to be funny and making references to sore feet.  I ended up a little more introspective than I imagined...but that's a good thing.

Good night everyone...until tomorrow.

Mr. Lavoie taking a minute or two to remember his past.

Day Two: Gelato, Cappuccino, and Pizza, Oh my!!!

Today, we landed in Rome.

My group landed first.  We met an EF representative at the airport and she introduced us to John, our Tour Director.  John explained that we would be boarding our bus and heading out to Ostia.  Ostia was the location of the ancient port city that served Rome's needs.  I, of course, geeked out.  I often tell kids, when thinking of traveling, to purposely not do something you want to do.  If you leave something off of your itinerary, then you always have a reason to come back.  Well, a little over 10 years ago, I opted out of a visit to Ostia.  I figured I'd be back.  Today, I was headed there...As a lover of history, this ancient port city would be right up my alley.  We didn't go to Ostia Antiqua, however, instead, we went to the beachfront of the modern city.  We had a few moments for lunch.  Our options varied.  Many of the students ordered their first Italian Pizza.  I heard Darian say it was the best he has ever had.  A few kids complimented their lunch with some Gelato.  I veered down the road a bit to find a kebab stand.  [Frequent Blog readers will remember previous posts about kebabs]  For 6 Euro, I got a full kebab sandwich, french fries, and a Fanta.  I know I will have more opportunity for Kebabs in Greece, but it is my favorite European street food.  I will probably get a few more this trip!

After most of us had finished lunch, we walked down to the pier for some photos.

A couple of kids posing for a picture, but the group grew in numbers pretty quickly! 

A serious pose from a serious group of world travelers.

A serious group of travelers trying to be goofy.

We got back onto our bus and headed back to the airport to pick-up our friends.  Along the way, John announced that the ruins of Ostia would be on our right...I chose the right side of the bus!!!

Not all of us saw the ruins, however, as many had already taken advantage of the Italian traffic to take a quick nap.  I will probably begin tweeting a series of pictures of travelers sleeping under the hashtag of #SleepingSachems soon.  I just wanted to have the whole group together before I started...

and now...

the whole group is together.

Sorry its fuzzy, we hit a bump!

Our bus driver took us into the heart of Rome.  On our way, we passed the remnants of the Circus Maximus and the Imperial Palace.  Our destination was the Pantheon.  Originally meant to serve the many gods of Roman Antiquity, it now stands as a Catholic Church.  It is unique for several reasons.  It was the largest concrete domed structure in the World until the Louisiana Superdome was built.  It also holds the remains of some important Italians, including one superhero.  Raphael is an important member of the Teenage Mut...oops, got him confused for a second.  Raphael is an important Renaissance artists, sculptor, etc.  The Pantheon also has a whole in its ceiling.  This allows the all mighty to see what is happening, but it also allows Mother Nature to rain down inside the church.  Our trip was great.  A few of us chatted about how something like that could be built and others posed for pictures with friends.

The Circus Maximus held chariot races like those seen in Ben-Hur

Driving towards the Imperial Palace.

The door to the Pantheon with SHS walking through.

The all seeing eye?

Street musician playing the Pantheon

 We then ROMEd through some streets to come to the Piazza Navonna.  There we took some photos with the Statue of Four Rivers and some of our friends.

John giving the group some instructions.

The four gods represent four major rivers on different continents.

A very important Gelato stop.

Hanging out by the fountain.

A group of seniors posing for the photo-op.

While not a complete day, we have had a tremendous taste of Italy already.  This blog has been powered by a plethora of Italian coffees and chocolates.  Our kids have been powered by a variety of Gelato flavors and a multitude of pizza slices.  Both groups had travel times of over 10 hours and many had been working on limited sleep.  Like many of these tours, however, everyone seemed to maintain a positive attitude. I cannot accurately recount the number of times someone has said, "I can't believe I am in Italy."  I stopped one group, who were literally pinching themselves, to remind them it was not a dream and to live every moment.

The food has been quick and to the point.  It has served its purpose and left many wanting more...well, we got that tonight at our hotel.  Hidden deep in the hills surrounding Rome near the Nemi Lake, we found our first hotel.  It is more like a Villa and many people milling about were dressed to the nines.  Our dinner tonight earned raved reviews from the kids.  We started with a six layer lasagna.  I don't usually eat lasagna, but I tried the regular (with beef) and the veggie.  I think I like the veggie better.  It wasn't too saucy.  The next course was a strange combination of bread, croquettes, and french fries.  The bread was really bruschetta.  I enjoyed this course too.  Next, they brought out a salad for us to share.  I liked it a lot.  Finally, we had some Tiramisu.  It was the first time trying it for some kids and they seemed to like it.  I reminded them that there was a Gelato flaver for Tiramisu.

Course 4: Tiramisu 

Course 3: Salad

Course 2: French fries?  Everything was Italian.

Course 1: Lasagna

It is about 10:30.  The halls of our hotel are quieting down.  Most of the kids are exhausted.  All of the chaperons are too.  I am going to be checking on some rooms and taking a little nap.  I am thinking I will get more sleep than I did on the ride over here.  Tomorrow, we have a very busy day.  We are visiting the Vatican and the Colosseum.   At night, we will be visiting the Spanish Steps and the Trevi fountain.  Our ETA to the hotel is 10pm. I am hoping to be a little more clear of thought tomorrow and that my post will be a bit more entertaining.  I usually spend time, while on tour, thinking about what I should write, how I should write it, and does it fit into a bigger picture...today, I am am so sleepy, that I cannot provide deep rhetorical insight.  Tomorrow, perhaps!

Thanks for the comments via Facebook and on this blog.  I am glad to see people still reading it!!!  We had over 400 page views today.  Those stats and your thoughts make it all worth it in the end.  

Mr. Lavoie, currently in a hillside villa overlooking the eternal city. 

Day One: It was a Good Day to be a Sachem

It is 10:45 back in Boston.

I have no idea what time it currently is, because we are flying over the Atlantic.  The screen on my seat doesn't include date-lines.  It does inform me that we have 6 hours until we touch down in Rome.  Most of the kids have eaten, and are getting ready for some sleep.  This is our first real blog post, so, it will include a little bit of everything that I love best.

My Dad dropped Ms. Payne and I off at Logan at 11:15am.  We quickly checked-in and presented our luggage to the baggage counter.  It was not long afterwards that the kids started showing up.  It was also not long afterwards that I realized how far the Sachem family truly extended.  I had received an email from Joann Giuffrida the other day.  She is the mother of a former Eurotripper and she works for Delta Airlines.  She had said if we needed any assistance to call her, but I didn't really want to be a burden.  Well...we hit a little snag trying to check in some of the kids.  But, before I could grab my cell phone and dig out the number, Joann was there.  She told me how to fix out issue and then told me that she would be helping us out with putting the bags through security.  She didn't have to help.  She had told me that she begins her day at 2am...and yet, she was there.  I am so appreciative of her help.  It made the whole process even better knowing that we had someone watching over us.

Through security we went.  Slowly, but surely, one by one, we took off our shoes and raised our hands above our heads.  We put our personal belongings in a tray and our backpacks on a conveyor belt...and then we had made it.  Our gate was A11, but we had some time.  The kids went off and got some last minute snacks, or a coffee, before our departure.  All was well.  I was chatting with a couple of kids when I noticed a Delta representative standing over us.  This man was looking at me and I was about to ask if I could help him with anything when I realized it was another former Eurotripper.  He had traveled with me 10 years ago.  He has been working for Delta and traveling the world for a long time since that trip, but he told me it was because of his high school adventures in Europe that he continues to work for the airline.  It was fortuitous that Alex stopped by when he did, because Liv came up to me with a little worry in her voice.  She had just realized that she had left her wallet in the backseat of her car.  Her mom, she said, was on the way back to Logan.  I told her not to worry and that I would go back through security to get it, but Alex stepped in to offer some assistance.  He didn't have to help, but he did.  He walked with me to the ticket counter area where we met Liv's mom, and then he took me to the front of the line at security.  The process took only a couple of minutes and our first (and hopefully last) crisis was averted.

We all congregated near gate A11 when my name was called over the PA.  The agent at our gate explained that we had a small plane and that students with large carry-ons would need to have a "bag check."  It was most of us, lol.  She also told me that she was a friend of Joann and that she would have us board first.  I've never flown first-class in a traditional sense, so boarding first, was pretty cool.  Making it cooler, however, was that our group was announced...and all the kids seemed to cheer.  On board the plane, we quickly settled into our seats for our short flight to JFK.  The pilot expertly flew and landed the plane and we were safely on ground before many of us could even dream of a nap.

At JFK, we had a long lay-over.  There are many different restaurants and snack places.  I think most of the kids went to the Shake Shack.  I went with my buddy Praanav to McDonalds.  We saw a couple of our friends there too.  Pranaav and I eventually made our way to our new gate and we met all of the other kids and chaperons.  The hours seemed to fly by as the kids took advantage of this unique experience by "face timing" with their friends back home and discussing how they could change their seats to be with a friend on the long-haul.  Our flight number was called and we let the real first class passengers board the flight first.  We were the last ones, for the most part, to board the plane.  The kids settled down and buckled their belts.  We had a slight delay, but eventually departed.  In the air, I played trivia with Joe and Lexie.  I won't tell you who won the first game, but I will tell you that he was a two-time SBEC team trivia champion.  Lexie won the second game in an epic comeback.  We would have played another game, but dinner was about to be served.

I love food.  I love food too much.  I actually enjoy airplane food.  I was so pleasantly surprised to see three different options tonight.  There was a pasta option, a hot chicken option, and a cold chicken and kale salad option.  I am not sure I've ever tried Kale before...and so, I thought, why not be adventurous.  Kale is basically lettuce.  I am not saying that in a disparaging way.  I love lettuce.  The salad was really pretty good.  It was a grilled chicken breast, served sliced over a bed of Kale.  There was a light dressing, cranberries, apples, and nuts accompanying the Kale.  I devoured it.  From what I heard the pasta, was pretty good too. The dinner also came with some cheese (Monteray Jack), bread, and a brownie.  I saved my brownie for a reward for finishing this blog.

I entitled today's blog, It was a Good Day to be a Sachem.  It's a wicked bad title.  It's a wicked bad title because there are so many good days to be a Sachem.  I remember one day, last year, while exploring a D-Day invasion museum, there was a section of the museum dedicated to the Holocaust.  A couple of kids started asking questions about it.  Before I could answer, Tayla, Joann's daughter, began to answer their questions.  Tayla had been to Dachau and Auschwitz the year before and it was clear she had been touched by those memories.  I have thought of that exchange often over the past few months and the past few days.  I can remember, too, about 10 years ago, walking across the Charles Bridge in Prague with Alex, and his fellow travelers, and sharing stories from the road.  I didn't blog back then, but the memories are still present.  It is a good day to be a Sachem, because we rarely forget the community that molds us, that shapes us into who we will become.  Tayla, and Alex, and these kids with me now...are the true models a school should be measured by.  I love my job because of who these kids are and what they are able to accomplish.  In our short time together, I have seen so many kids helping each other out, even if they aren't the closest of friends while walking the halls of SHS.  These trips bring out something special in them and I think that is why I get so many parents and former students who reach out to whenever we begin a new journey.

It is not lost on me that the other half of our groups is somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean.  We are taking two paths, but they will converge. We will be one again.  In a few short hours, we will meet up and have another great day.  My t-shirt says "We Believe" on the front.  On the back, it reminds us that "We are all Sachems."  I am anxious to meet up with the other group.  There are a lot of Seniors in that group and I don't really know many of them.  I wasn't teaching when they entered our school and I missed out on meeting some great kids.  Pranaav has promised to introduce me to some of his favorites.

Well, there are normally more pictures on this blog, but I didn't have a chance to upload those that I took.  There are some on the Facebook page (Link available on the previous post), Twitter, and Instagram.  I downloaded one to the computer while we were delayed.  It was of a few of us boarding this flight.  Our adventure about to begin with memories yet filled.

Who knows, in 10 years, one of those kids could find me in an airport about to depart to another destination.  They might reach out and lend a helping hand even when it is not necessary.  Maybe it will be one of their parents, going above and beyond for kids who are not their own.  Regardless, when I look at this photo, and think of the here and now...or of the future, I know one thing for sure.

It is a good day to be a Sachem.

Good Night America.

Mr. Lavoie, about to turn off his laptop and try his luck at sleeping...like the rest of the plane.

Things to think about when your European Trip starts in less than a week

It is customary for me to write a little test blog before I travel to Europe.  This post is that test, but it also a way for me to introduce myself to many the parents and friends of our Eurotrip16 Travelers.

I am Richard Lavoie.  I have been teaching at Saugus High School for 16 years, but I was also a student here. It was sitting in the classrooms of SHS that I first discovered a passion for the past and where I met some phenomenal teachers.  It was as a Junior in high school that I embarked on my first true International adventure.  I was able to participate in a three week foreign exchange with students from France.  It literally changed my life.

My adventure, back then, was different than the trip we are about to head out upon, but the outcomes may be life-changing nonetheless.  I vaguely remember sitting in meetings with my parents, listening to teachers talk about what we would see, how we should pack, and how this trip would inspire us.  I am sure I was told to keep a journal and to stop and take moments in.  I may not have been the best student, back then, but I know that the trip made me into who I've become.  Traveling can change us in unexpected ways.

In a few days, over 40 students from Saugus High School will forever be changed by a journey into our past.  They will explore new cultures, try new foods, and meet amazing people.  They may not change the way that I changed, but they will change.  This blog, for those new to reading it, will try to capture that change.  I try to look at those who are traveling and I try to listen to their conversations.  If one can be transformed by our experiences, I hope to be witness to those transformations.  For many of our kids, this is not only their first trip out of the country, it is also their first real significant trip away from home without their parents, or family.  I am hoping to digitally connect us in a way that minimizes the hardship that some might feel.

I've been writing this blog for over three years now.  I've shared some amazing highlights and retold some somber moments.  I try to think of some points before we depart, but for most of the trips I've been on, the stories tell themselves.  I can predict what we will see, and when we will see it, but I cannot predict how we will feel when we see it.  We tell the kids to write down their feelings so that they may remember their thoughts, and while I hope they do, I am sure some do not.  I am happy that this blog becomes a place thayt they can reference later on...to remember how they felt when they saw the Eiffel Tower, or swam with sharks in Belize, or walked through the halls of the Sistine Chapel.

Each night, when we return to our hotel, I will sit near the lobby...or some other visible spot.  I take out my laptop and I start to write.  Often enough, I run into wifi problems and it is difficult to upload photos.  I try to go over the day's events.  I try to personalize each post and include some anecdotes of individual travelers.  It is very difficult to include everyone, and for that I apologize, but I will try.  Italy and Greece are about 6 hours ahead of Boston.  If I am writing around 10pm, and I don't have many issues, then you can expect a new post around bedtime.  From comments I've heard, most people wait until the morning before they read about the previous day.

I usually write about three things. I write about our kids and what they are seeing, obviously, but I also write about what we are eating (the good and the bad).  I try to ask the kids to try new things and then recount their approval or disdain.  I also try to write about more intrinsic stuff.  I examine things and try to think deeper about what is going on.  I think, at times, we don't do that enough.  It is that vein, that I sometimes get long-winded.  No one has really ever complained about it, but I am a little self-conscious about my ramblings.  I am not self-conscious, however, about my spelling and/or grammar.  In my normal life, I try to minimize my mistakes, on tour, writing late at night, I am less worried about it.  I will apologize a couple times, but I'm not going to promise that I won't make mistakes...they will happen, lol.  

As a large portion of this trip is in Greece and Greece is known for philosophy, it makes sense to remind everyone about my travel philosophy.  I stole it, with the assistance of Ms. Payne, from Mark Twain.  It's been my motto for a few years and its taken me to more countries than states.  I firmly believe that "One Must Travel To Learn."

 
I stress to those who are traveling that each moment is something they can learn from, but for those at home, you also learn through travel.  Each time you open a good book and lose yourself to the words penned within its pages, you travel to another time, another place.  You learn from the author's experiences, or their dreams.  You may not be on this trip with us, but I hope that you will travel with us...that you will learn with us.  I hope that you will take a moment, at some point, and consider writing me a quick note.  I thrive off of the kind words I've received from parents, friends, grandparents, former students, and current students who couldn't make it away with us.  I hope, too, that you will share this blog with others who might be interested in our travels.  In the scope of making the world a little smaller and our trip a little bigger, I have some other ways to follow us as we go.  First, I post many more pictures to Facebook than I do this blog.  To see the album, please follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154770872165760&type=1&l=0f921bd2d4

Second, you can follow us on Twitter. My twitter account is History01906.  I usually use the following hashtags: #Eurotrip16 and/or #OneMustTravelToLearn.  I most often announce a new blog post on Twitter and then Facebook. Link: https://twitter.com/history01906

Lastly, I am trying something new this year.  I will be instagramming the trip too.  My account is mrlavoieshs. I'll probably use the same hashtags. Link: https://www.instagram.com/mrlavoieshs/

As my final thought, or test, I would like to leave a you with a quick moment from my first high school trip to Rome.  You see, it was 10 years ago, and I came upon a great realization in life, but especially when traveling.  We were in Rome shortly after the death of Pope John Paul II.  The church bells started ringing and a new Pope had been elected.  As we stopped for a quick cup of coffee, across the street from our cafe, I saw a TV news crew out of Boston.  We decided to make our own luck and call out to them.  Of course, they loved meeting us and decided to put us on the news.  You can find us around the 2:00 minute mark.  You never know what is going to happen when abroad, but if you decide to make something happen it can become all the more memorable.

Have a wonderful night and thank you for your time.  My next real post will be from the Air or in Rome and our trip will be underway.

Mr. Lavoie, sitting amidst many piles of clothes and travel accessories trying to prioritize and pack.