Day 3: It's Like An Architectural Lasagna

We logged in over 20,000 steps today!  My watch calculated that as 10.5 miles. It was an amazing day.  We saw all of Rome's 3000 year old history throughout our walk.  As we visited ancient Rome, this afternoon, our tour guide, Jon Luigi, made a comment that the kids loved especially considering our dinner last night.  He said that the Forum is an Ancient Architectural Lasagna.  The reason is because the city is so old that some parts have been built over seven times. The city doesn't have a true underground system because everywhere they dig, they find a new treasure from the past...but, I am getting ahead of ourselves.

We woke this morning to find a special visitor had provided some treats to our travelers.  I have no idea who did this, but I hope it helped some of the kids feel better because they missed a family tradition at home.

We then headed down for breakfast.  It was a simple buffet style breakfast common to Europe.  The coffee was pretty good, but I had a Nutella/chocolate filled croissant.  I also had two ham and cheese sandwiches.  For those new the blog and who haven't seen a European breakfast spread, cold cuts are common.  There were other pastries available, yogurt, and scrambled eggs.  It was a good way to start the day.  A bunch of the kids decided to dress nicely for Easter too.  They looked nice, but by the end of the day it was a little too chilly for them.  Tomorrow, when we head to Pompeii, I think many will pack some extra layers just in case.  I was wearing another pair of convertibles; so I was comfortable for the whole day. 

Our first stop today was a public park overlooking Rome.  In the distance, you can see the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.  On the way to the park, we saw hundreds of people making their way to the Vatican for Mass.  The park was really nice and after visiting, we began our descent down into Rome.  We started in one of my favorite spots in the city...the Piazza de Populo.

Our trek continued through Rome with a goal of seeing some of the same sites as yesterday, but before we did, we went to one of the more popular and well known Gelato spots for a treat.  I was actually very surprised so much was open today.  Rome is 80% Catholic, but many of the shops and restaurants were open.  I had originally been worried it might be closed down completely, but we had no issue finding open stores.

Pistachio and White Chocolate, yummy

After getting full on Gelatos of all flavors, we made our way to the Pantheon.  Here, many of us grabbed a small takeaway lunch while others sat for a more complete meal.  I ate all of my white pizza with sausage without taking a picture :(.  It was really good.  

We walked up these stairs designed by Michaelangelo and posed for some pictures in front of the Wedding Cake.  That's the local nickname of Monument for Victor Emanuelle II.  The Roman people don't really like this building, but I think it is pretty impressive.  Just behind it lays the Imperial Forum and the Coliseum.

Our formal tour began at the foot of what was originally called, "The Flavian Amphitheater."  Now, nearly 2000 years later, it is the Coliseum.  Our tour guide for this part of the day was Jon Luigi.  We were told afterwards that he comes from a long line of tour guides.  His passion for the past and communicating it others was 100% contagious.  He moved us through both ancient locations with a narrative that was informative and entertaining.  

After the Coliseum, we entered into the Forum.  Both locations are open air, but in order to enter, you need to go through security which was undercover.  This was the only real difference I've noticed at this point because of Covid.  When we go to the Vatican, I am sure it will feel different as well.  

I remember visiting the Forum many years ago. I had just started working in Saugus and, as part of my Master's Degree, I took a course at Salem State that included a week in Rome.  It was such an amazing experience.  Visiting the forum with Jon Luigi and the kids today, reminded me of that first visit.  It reaffirmed my desire to study and teach history.  I hope it inspired a few of our Eurotrippers to want to dig into the past for their careers.  Jon Luigi's passion for Rome also touched on the important work of archeology. I kept on wanting to talk to the kids about the original Iron Works project, but I definitely didn't want to disrupt Jon Luigi's presentation.

The security line for the Forum

One of the temples...if you look at the height of the entrance, you can see the 7 layers of Architectural Lasagna.  

Jon Luigi, in blue, sitting on a rock discussing the story of Marc Antony and Cleopatra

When we wrapped up in the Forum, we left through an exit that I had never taken before and it presented us with a magical view of the Flavian Amphitheater.  It was crazy busy earlier, but now, two hours later, it was just us.  You can see the photo at the beginning of the blog, but Jon Luigi also graced us with a great shot!!!

It was then time for a quick bus ride, a little free time, and dinner.  We headed back towards the Piazza Navonna.  Our dinner was at a small restaurant just down from the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.  Our dinner was a little more conventional than traditional Italian.  It was Bruschetta for our appetizer. We followed that with Pollo Arrosto con Peperoni Marinara.  Finally, for dessert, we had an Apricot Tart known as a Crostata.

One of the things I really like about these trips is watching the kids eat dinner.  I'm not weird, I will explain.  I enjoy watching them unwind after a full day of touring. Seeing them smile, sharing memories just made, and laughing about their adventure.  It is so refreshing to see after the past two years.  I am pretty sure many of the kids had had several samples of Gelato today and some might have snacks during free time, but it was clear this meal was not as delicious as last night's embellishment, lol. That said, it isn't always about the quantity of what you eat, but the quality of who you eat with.  Tonight's dinner filled me up with good spirits...and it was something I definitely wanted witness again.

Tomorrow we make an early start for Pompeii.  Joanna and Flavia are worried about some traffic for our almost three hour long drive.  We depart from the hotel at 7:30am.  Our time in Rome is half completed.  We still have a lot to see and do, but I am pretty sure that everyone is having a great time. The drive will allow for some additional relaxation and reading.  I will be making room checks in a few minutes and hope that the kids are worn out, lol.  We will be recharged tomorrow, for sure.  

Mr. Lavoie, currently coming to the realization that the sunscreen he brought with him today only works if you apply it on your skin! Let's hope the great weather continues!!!

Day Two: If you walk around Rome all day...are you Roman?

 The hour is reaching about 9 o'clock in Rome.  I have been up, with the exception of interrupted airplane cat naps, since 6am on Friday.  My body isn't made for this stuff, lol, but I feel much better knowing that the kids are basically in the same boat.  We are all exhausted.  It's been a long day and half and the heat here in Rome hasn't helped fuel our exhaustion.  It reached 78' today.  Unseasonably warm with unseasonably high crowds. That said, it was a great day in the eternal city.

We landed in France ahead of schedule by about 30 minutes.  It gave us even more time to switch gates and grab a snack.  I was very pleased to see that the kids didn't all fall into foods that they were comfortable with.  I was even more excited to see them taking the risks of ordering for themselves at the coffee shop.  Knowing the weather in Rome was so hot, I was happy to be wearing convertible pants.  I just unzipped the legs and, boom, I had shorts on!!!

The flight to Rome was smoother than our transatlantic flight.  I know I slipped into sleep mode a couple of times.  I am pretty sure the kids did too.  When we landed in Rome, the weather was what we expected.  I was a little surprised at how relaxed the Italian passport control was, but it helped facilitate our exit...so, I won't go further.  After we grabbed our luggage, we went to meet Joanna.  She is our Tour Director and is with us every step of the way moving forward.  With her, on this trip, is Flavia.  She is training to become a TD and I can already tell, early on, that she will be fine.  They led us to our bus and Rosario, our driver.  He doesn't speak much English, but I could tell he appreciated the help we gave while loading and unloading.

On the bus, we headed into the city.  It had been several years since my last visit to Rome, but I still feel as though I remember it well enough to guide us.  In that respect, it reminds me of Dublin and Boston...big cities, but walkable ones. Our goal today wasn't really to dig into the history and culture of the city.  That is coming.  Our goal was to keep us awake until...about now, lol.  This way, we all fall asleep and awake tomorrow on Roman time without an adverse jetlag kind of feeling.

Joanna took us to the Spanish steps to start.  We had lunch in that area. I ate a spicy salami pizza, but some of the kids had four star sounding dinners.  

****The writing of this blog was just interrupted by a room of kids who blew a fuse after shorting out their power cord.  Shout out to Rocco for fixing their power issues and to Google Translate for letting him and I work on the problem together****

As of yet, I have not caught any of the kids sneaking McDonalds. It doesn't mean it didn't happen, but it hasn't been witnessed yet.  Maybe this group will stay away from American style fast food.  After lunch, we continued our walk.  We saw a ton, but the truth is the city was packed!!! I've never seen Rome so busy.  We think it was a combination of three things; Easter weekend, the beautiful weather, and covid relief.  We made our way through the crowds but were able visit the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon.  

The Spanish Steps

Trevi Fountain

The Panteon

While Joanna isn't actually our Roman tour guide, it is clear to all that she knows her stuff.  She has been explaining to the kids all about Roman history.  The city has several different stages in its development and we got a glimpse of a few examples in just one afternoon.  The walking tour wrapped up at Piazza Navona. We will be there a few more times this week, as it is one of the spots Roasio can drop us off, but on the way to that beautiful square Joanna taught the kids and I something knew.  

You see, Rome has free drinking water flowing out of several spots throughout the city.  When you visit, an empty water bottle saves you money and quenches your thirst.  Because of the heat, she showed us at least three of these fountains today, but that isn't the lesson.  The lesson was how to drink from one of these old school filling stations.  I think I heard her calling it "pinch the nose." It is hard to explain, but the results are hilarious.

When you block the main spout of the faucet, a water stream shoots up. If you have just the right amount of pressure, it works perfectly.  If you block too much of the spout, the stream shoots about 4 feet.  More than a few of us attempted this today, but only a couple came away from the exercise in dry clothes.

Of course, before we headed to the hotel, we needed another break.  This time almost all of the kids (and chaperones) indulged in some delicious gelato.

Tonight's dinner was pretty good to be honest.  The first course was a medley of three appetizers.  We were presented with the most delicious insalata. Fresh greens, farm grown corn, and cracked black pepper with just the right amount of white wine vinegar and oil made this dish a highlight. It was so good, I forgot to take a photo.  The second amazing treat was freshly rolled and fried croquettes.  They had a beautiful golden crust, but were smooth and creamy upon inspection.  The seasoning was on point.  I was compelled to have two.  The final appetizer was the most amazing bruschetta with either tomato, oil, or locally sourced goat cheese.  Toasted to absolute perfection, these were a hit all around.

The main course was a multilayered lasagna.  While we are thousands of miles from home, it was reminiscent of a truly homecooked meal. The toasted cheese provided the perfect balance of texture to the creamy ricotta hiding between the pasta. The sauce was heavenly.  A divine blend of vine ripen tomatoes, herbs, and spices, slowly combined for hours, it painted a picture of love on a plate.  I was too embarrassed to ask for the recipe, as I know it must have been passed generationally within the same family since Caesar's time.

As if the chef knew of our hearty lunch, for dessert, we received the most delectable sampling of tiramisu one could imagine.  Slightly over two bites, this sweet treat was perfectly crafted.  The cocoa powder drizzle dusted the most amazing bitterness atop a creamy cushion of tasty goodness.  I am glad it was a smaller portion otherwise, I would still be eating more of it.

I've been working on the blog for about an hour so far (including the time it took to restore power to Room 215).  I am quite tired, but I don't think I am going straight to sleep.  I might actually try to read, for pleasure, for the first time in a while.  I've been so busy of late that the little things that I've always enjoyed have been put on the side.  Returning to Europe, with these kids, have awaken part of me that had to be shut down for a bit.  I am so happy that we are here and that all is going well.  I am looking forward to tomorrow's Easter walk through Rome and to Pompeii and the Vatican.  They say all roads lead to Rome...tonight at the Trevi fountain more than a few of the kids made a wish over their left shoulder symbolizing that they will be back to this beautiful city.  I hope they remember this journey, not just as a trip to Europe, but as a beacon that things are normalizing that they are playing a part of that process.  

The Hotel Papillo

Okay...that's it.  Thanks for reading tonight and I hope this blog brought you a little closer to our day.

Mr.  Lavoie, currently at a desk in his hotel room deciding what to read and wondering if folks will realize that he may have embellished his food report a bit. 

Day One: Pirating internet never tasted so good!

So, this will be a short post tonight. We are currently in the air above the Atlantic. I'm using the free Internet on the plane that only works for messenger apps, but I think my blog app has fooled the server. Who knows if it'll post though...

The digital display at Logan was perfect in it's symbolism. We have about three hours left before landing in Paris. It was a little bumpy for a bit. The turbulence definitely wasn't pleasant, but we have calmed down for now...and dinner was just served.

I didn't grab a photo, because I was too hungry, but it was pretty good. I had the chicken. It was complimented with some mashed potatoes. I'm not going to say it was the best airline dish I've eaten, but I didn't leave any behind.

They've turned off the lights in the cabin and it's time to try to get some sleep. If this posts, you'll hear from me again around midnight our time... until then, good night.

Mr. Lavoie, currently in 32D finishing Spiderman before catching some Zzzsss.

Day One: Let the Journey Begin...

This is my second attempt at a blog tonight...the other attempt might end up posting when we land. It'll be funny because I thought I had worked around the "pay" internet to blog...but I hadn't.  I ended up paying after all.

Due to the way this internet is working, I am doubtful that I will get any pictures up tonight.  That's okay. I already posted some through Facebook and Instagram.  I will catch up in France as well.

Travel days are always hectic.  You never know what to expect, but you can certainly expect something unexpected.  Our group met at Terminal E and began preparing for the trip.  Once everyone had arrived, we planned on going through security, but we had a slight issue. One of our travelers was told by the ticket counter that their reservation was supposed to be for Thursday night. Obviously, that's an issue.  I immediately called EF and began the process of fixing the mistake when the ticket counter called us over.  They printed the ticket and we were on our way.  I think they had made a mistake, because the EF Reps called me back a few minutes later to say that their system seemed to check out.  Regardless, we were off through security.  It was actually pretty quick and painless.  We did have one lost ticket, but that too was promptly rectified.  

Our long wait seemed to fly by. Terminal E started getting busier and busier and the life of an airport resonated throughout.  There were a few other school groups there (one on the flight with us) and it was great to see so many excited kids.  A few of our kids got some food and some Starbucks...but I am a healthier guy and only bought a fruit cup, lol.  It was good, but not $7.99 good!!! The pizza some kids bought looked amazing, but I am saving my pizza for Italy.

Finally, 5pm came.  We boarded the flight and patiently awaited take off.  The ride was bumpy in the early going.  It wasn't anything that bad, but for inexperienced travelers, they might have been nervous.  After it smoothed out, the served dinner. I had the chicken.  It was Balsamic  and came with mashed potatoes and a pasta salad. There is something about airline food that intrigues me. I know it isn't tasty, but I devour it.  Tonight's dish was just that.  The potato was a lot to be desired, but I ate every last morsel.  (As I type this, I'm about to eat a King Size KitKat).  The dinner also came with a chocolate frosted yellow cake.  I can picture Gordon Ramsey critiquing this dessert.  I just can't type what he's saying, lol...and yet, I ate the whole thing. 

It is getting late here and I have a little bit of work to do before bed, so I am going to try and post this entry...for those still up at home, we land in Paris around midnight your time...I will make sure to post a picture when we have Wifi again.

Mr. Lavoie, currently sitting in seat 32D with a dimly lit computer, an extra large kitkat, and a broken set of airline headphones.

Eurotrip22: Twas the night before travel....

My last post was two months ago.  I can't believe how quickly those two months have passed.  Honestly, with everything we've been through over the past two years, I am actually shocked at how quickly time moves in general. When Covid first hit, it shut down a trip to Central Europe.  We had twelve students signed up for that one.  One of those students is joining us tomorrow.  I hope she feels the same excitement as I do. I also hope it seems the time has passed faster, now that we are looking backwards.

By this time tomorrow, we should be en route over the Atlantic.  29 students and 5 chaperones.  We are headed to two places that I care about deeply.  France started my international travel when I was a junior at Saugus High School and Italy started my career, lol, as an international tour guide for my students.  I didn't run that trip, but it was still my first time traveling with students and helping them to see the world.

I have a motto that I use to think about travel.  It comes from Mark Twain, he wrote "One Must Travel To Learn."  I have truly tried to embrace that philosophy and to teach that lesson to the students in my classroom and to those who travel the world with me.  I try to stay humble and to show gratitude and in this initial blog for Eurotrip22, I want to do both...I'd like to thank Kevin Fontanella for starting international travel at SHS.  I also want to thank Angela Morando for setting the highest of standards for all of us teachers who have embarked on similar journeys.  Together, SHS teachers have taken hundreds of kids to four continents and over twenty-five countries.  This would not be possible without strong advocates of student travel who have sat, and continue to sit, on our School Committee.  It would also not be possible without the continued support of our administration over the years.  Many folks don't realize that I am the teachers' union president for Saugus...these folks and I don't agree on everything, but we all agree that One Must Travel to Learn.  For the support these people, collectively, have shown over the years, I say thank you.

The Saugus High School Alumni Association is among our strongest supporters.  Over the years, their generosity has selflessly touched the lives of thousands of SHS students.  For me, a proud alumnus of the Class of 95, I am eternally grateful for their help in providing sweatshirts, raincoats, dry wick t-shirts, and other forms of support over the years.  Their donations have helped me keep track of our travelers in busy Metro cars, along bustling Flower Markets, and even on Mediterranean Cruise Ships.  They don't just agree that One Must Travel To Learn; they make it happen on a regular basis.  Also helping us, is so many ways, are the folks at Old School Apparel.  They've given me price breaks and dealt with my scatterbrain every winter that we've traveled.  Their commitment to quality and their community is unmatched.  Every time I go into their offices, I see a printout of one of our shirts hanging proudly on their wall.  They make my vision a reality.  If One Must Travel To Learn, these folks make us look good while we are doing it.

Tomorrow, I am the luckiest teacher in the United States...which is ironic because we will be leaving the United States, lol.  I get to show 29 students that the world is filled with much more good than bad...and my, do we need that lesson right now.  I will show them how to order ice cream in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower or which Gelato is the best (it's pistachio, btw).  I am sure that more than a few of them will order a Doner Kebab near St. Michel or laugh a little at the ancient graffiti in the Coliseum or Pompeii.  They will gasp in awe at famous landmarks and wonder how people without the technological advances of today could build such things.  For many, the Vatican museum and the Louvre will be their first exposure to art hanging on the wall.  I can't wait to show them favorites and hear why certain pieces are theirs.  We will stumble over French and Italian phrases, but we will succeed in meeting people from far away places.  We will be reminded that goodness exists in the eyes and smiles of those whose language is foreign to our ears.  Tomorrow, I get to travel to learn with some of the best our town has to offer.  I don't take this responsibility lightly...It has become a passion project of mine.

It's about 10pm in Saugus.  I'll most likely buy the wifi on the plane (if available) and post again tomorrow evening, but my next big post, with pictures and all of the flare will probably be from Rome and roughly 10pm local time.  I hope that this blog will continue to show folks back in Saugus what we do while on tour and how it is so much more than just a trip.  I have a bit of a tradition, in the sense that I sign off each night with a statement explaining where in the world I am...hence the name of this blog.  In reality, I am all over the place tonight...lol.  I am just making sure that I don't forget anything...I hope you'll understand.  Please read the blog each night, share it with family and friends, and feel free to comment. I will be posting pictures via Instagram and Facebook and the kids have convinced me to give TikTok a try.  The accounts are below...

Mr. Lavoie, currently packing his bag one final time and trying to explain to his pup that he isn't going away forever!

Instagram: MrLavoieSHS

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lavoie76

Twitter: History01906

TikTok: OneMustTravelToLearn