TravBuddy.com: sshephard's England, France, Switzerland & Italy 2007 travel blog Copyright 2005 TravBuddy LLC http://www.travbuddy.com/blogs/5754 This blog is about the trip to England, France, Switzerland and Italy which I and six students from Watertown Senior High School made in June, 2007. Because we didn't leave until June 13, many of the first blog entries are a little about the art of travel. en-us Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:22:46 PST Home! http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Home-Watertown-30 Thu, 28 Jun 2007 18:22:46 PST Home! Watertown, South Dakota, Jun 28, 2007

8:20 PM: Yes, back in Watertown, SD! We had a wonderful trip - in spite of the detours. But I already miss my homies.

]]> Are They Mountain Peaks or Is It A Giant Tent City? http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Are-They-Mountain-Peaks-or-Is-It-A-Giant-Tent-City-Denver-29 Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:50:56 PST Are They Mountain Peaks or Is It A Giant Tent City? Denver, Colorado, Jun 28, 2007

I think I know they answer already. But when you fly into Denver International Airport, I think the pointy white structures rising up out of the hi...

]]> The Country Mice Miss Their Flight! http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/The-Country-Mice-Miss-Their-Flight-Cincinnati-28 Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:31:05 PST The Country Mice Miss Their Flight! Cincinnati, Ohio, Jun 28, 2007

4:02 AM: Sheraton Cincinnati Airport. It is ironic that the best room I have had on the whole trip is the room that I didn’t ask for. Becau...

]]> Roma, Sumus Amor http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Roma-Sumus-Amor-Rome-27 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:45:11 PST Roma, Sumus Amor Rome, Italy, Jun 27, 2007

This was a last full day in Europe and we had it to ourselves. We could have chosen to take an all day excursion to Pompeii for $100 but I thought ...

]]> Firenze - A Beautiful Flower http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Firenze-A-Beautiful-Flower-Florence-26 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:57:54 PST Firenze - A Beautiful Flower Florence, Italy, Jun 22, 2007

This was an intense day - David, walking, double espresso, gelato, staw market, Ponte Vecchio, more walking, Giotto's Bell Tower, more walking, r...

]]> Photos From Verona http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Photos-From-Verona-Verona-25 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:01 PST Photos From Verona Verona, Italy, Jun 22, 2007

No words, just photos. There are stories. Perhaps they will come later.

]]> Venice, Italy http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Venice-Italy-Venice-24 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST Venice, Italy Venice, Italy, Jun 22, 2007

We’re on the road again having left Venice about two hours ago. I’m guessing we are two hours away from Florence, our stop for the next cou...

]]> Raining In Lucerene http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Raining-In-Lucerene-Lucerne-23 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:00:00 PST Raining In Lucerene Lucerne, Switzerland, Jun 21, 2007

6:30 AM: I wont write much this morning because i am using a swiss laptop (mine is in the bag) and even simple things, such as capitalization, are ...

]]> Who Could Complain About This? http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Who-Could-Complain-About-This-Lucerne-22 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:11:00 PST Who Could Complain About This? Lucerne, Switzerland, Jun 20, 2007

I was talking to Linda, our CHA tour leader, on the bus yesterday and she said that in all of her years of leading groups, adults tend to be ...

]]> Paris to Lucerne http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Paris-to-Lucerne-Lucerne-21 Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:20:00 PST Paris to Lucerne Lucerne, Switzerland, Jun 19, 2007

I am watching a hawk soar in circles above the treetops. I could be on top of the place I call “My Rock” in the Black Hills in the western part...

]]> Paris Photos http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Paris-Photos-Paris-20 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:21:27 PST Paris Photos Paris, France, Jun 18, 2007

No words today. Just images.

]]> On the Way to Paris http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/On-the-Way-to-Paris-Calais-19 Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:08:31 PST On the Way to Paris Calais, France, Jun 17, 2007

10:58 AM (French Time): The Eurostar we are on is hurtling through the French countryside, having just emerged from the Chunnel. 150 mph? I don’t...

]]> A Day of Contrasts http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/A-Day-of-Contrasts-London-18 Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:18:45 PST A Day of Contrasts London, England, Jun 16, 2007

I know that in all of my travels I have never had a day quite like this. Today I loved London and I hated it. Here's an example:Early in the ...

]]> Getting Our Money's Worth http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Getting-Our-Moneys-Worth-London-17 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:41:17 PST Getting Our Money's Worth London, England, Jun 15, 2007

It is 10:24 PM here in London and I am about 15 minutes  away from bed time. For me, this is late. But it's been that kind of day - very ful...

]]> London: A Little Rain and A Lot of Walking http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/London-A-Little-Rain-and-A-Lot-of-Walking-London-16 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:19:36 PST London: A Little Rain and A Lot of Walking London, England, Jun 14, 2007

About one hour out, they served breakfast. It consisted of a warm croissant, a stubby little cold banana, orange juice and coffee or tea. The col...

]]> Finally, We Are On the Way! http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Finally-We-Are-On-the-Way-Minneapolis-14 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:29:10 PST Finally, We Are On the Way! Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jun 13, 2007

Today is my wife’s birthday and I am celebrating it by going to Europe (though she is staying behind.) I and my small group have made our way fro...

]]> Country Mice On the Way to England http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Country-Mice-On-the-Way-to-England-Cincinnati-15 Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:14:54 PST Country Mice On the Way to England Cincinnati, Ohio, Jun 13, 2007

I am calling this entry location “Cincinnati,” though that’s not exactly accurate because we are actually somewhere over Newfoundland or ...

]]> Hotel Names http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Hotel-Names-Watertown-13 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:48:17 PST Hotel Names Watertown, South Dakota, Jun 11, 2007

For those of my travelers who might be interested, here are the hotels we will be staying at:6/13/2007 ...

]]> Travel Packing 2 http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Travel-Packing-2-Watertown-12 Mon, 21 May 2007 04:12:48 PST Travel Packing 2 Watertown, South Dakota, May 21, 2007

This will probably be my last entry in this blog for a couple weeks. When we leave Watertown on June 13th, I'll start it again. How much I post d...

]]> 31 Days, 9 Hours, 37 Minutes http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/31-Days-9-Hours-37-Minutes-Watertown-11 Sun, 13 May 2007 10:18:02 PST 31 Days, 9 Hours, 37 Minutes Watertown, South Dakota, May 13, 2007

I have a countdown clock on my computer and the title of this blog entry is how long before we leave for England. We started planning this trip...

]]> Pluggin In http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Pluggin-In-Watertown-10 Wed, 09 May 2007 03:10:21 PST Pluggin In Watertown, South Dakota, May 09, 2007

I am not exactly a minimalist traveler. I have learned to reduce the amount of clothing I take but I seem to make up for that with an increas...

]]> Nuts & Bolts (Nothing Too Profound Here) http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Nuts-Bolts-Nothing-Too-Profound-Here-Watertown-9 Sat, 05 May 2007 18:24:22 PST Nuts & Bolts (Nothing Too Profound Here) Watertown, South Dakota, May 05, 2007

I have been exploring our flights for our upcoming trip and I thought I would pass on a couple web links.Delta Baggage InformationSecurity ...

]]> Do You Speak American? http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Do-You-Speak-American-Watertown-8 Fri, 04 May 2007 03:50:49 PST Do You Speak American? Watertown, South Dakota, May 04, 2007

English is my native language and the only languages that I've had formal training in are Latin and classical Greek. Both of these are so-cal...

]]> McDonald's, KFC and Other Delicacies http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/McDonalds-KFC-and-Other-Delicacies-Watertown-7 Thu, 03 May 2007 04:56:36 PST McDonald's, KFC and Other Delicacies Watertown, South Dakota, May 03, 2007

One of the reasons I travel is to experience the differences that other places present. Therefore, I have a personal rule not to eat in establi...

]]> See America First? http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/See-America-First-Watertown-6 Wed, 02 May 2007 04:12:54 PST See America First? Watertown, South Dakota, May 02, 2007

I hear people ask why anyone would want to travel overseas when there is so much to see in their own backyard. Being a US citizen, I have h...

]]> Travel Photography, Part I http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Travel-Photography-Part-I-Watertown-5 Tue, 01 May 2007 03:24:24 PST Travel Photography, Part I Watertown, South Dakota, May 01, 2007

Besides being a high school history teacher, I am also a photographer. I don't buy souvenirs on my trips. Instead, I take photos. Years ago whe...

]]> Pickpockets, Thieves and Concerns For Personal Safety http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Hello-Watertown-4 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 08:30:54 PST Pickpockets, Thieves and Concerns For Personal Safety Watertown, South Dakota, Apr 30, 2007

I am often asked if it is safe to travel in Europe. So many stories are told of marauding bands of pickpockets and thieves that I think peopl...

]]> Hello?!!! http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Hello-Watertown-4 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:39:43 PST Hello?!!! Watertown, South Dakota, Apr 30, 2007

I have no messages from my Watertown homies. Are you there?

]]> Flight Details http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/Flight-Details-Watertown-3 Sun, 29 Apr 2007 09:45:54 PST Flight Details Watertown, South Dakota, Apr 29, 2007

I now know the details of our flights to and from Europe in June and I thought I would share them for the benefit of my fellow travelers:Minneapoli...

]]> My First Travbuddy Entry http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/My-First-Travbuddy-Entry-Watertown-2 Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:12:49 PST My First Travbuddy Entry Watertown, South Dakota, Apr 28, 2007

Because I plan on updating this blog as we travel throughout Europe, I have switched to this site. I have found other travel blogs that I have ...

]]> My First Trip To Europe http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/5754/My-First-Trip-To-Europe-Watertown-1 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 03:16:19 PST My First Trip To Europe Watertown, South Dakota, Apr 27, 2007

When I was in junior high, I read a book about Michelangelo entitled The Agony & the Ecstacy. It was then and there that I fell in ...

]]>