My apologies that this first blog post on program is coming a week into our 20 day program. We have been up and running since we left LA and KS!
After arriving in London on Day 2, we met our delegation manager, Matias. (He is the one who keeps us on schedule and facilitates the many actives and opportunities we have on this program.) We boarded our coach bus and were off to the London Eye! The delegates loved getting a bird's eye view of Central London - it was a great way to get them excited about our time in London.
Day 3 found us with a tour guide and getting an introduction to the beautiful city. We visited St. Paul's Cathedral (it's free-standing dome is the second largest in the world, only second to the St. Peter's in the Vatican). We then raced to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. The delegates were fascinated with the ceremonious tradition. We had a lunch of fish and chips (when in London!) and then had the UNIQUE opportunity of meeting with Patrick Nichols, an ex-MP (Member of Parliament).
After our meeting with Patrick, delegates welcomed some free time in Covent Garden for some shopping before we headed to London's West End for our musical, "War Horse." (It is definitely a must-see if you're in London or when to comes to the States - absolutely breathtaking and moving performance about WWII!)
We started Day 4 with a visit to the Tower of London and got to see a myriad of treasures, including the Crown Jewels! The kids were pretty excited/grossed out/surprised about the torture devices they used during the time of King Henry VIII and his predecessors! The Tower of London still keeps ravens on the grounds today...clipped wings and all!
After the Tower we took a short bus ride out to the "country" and visited Hampton Court - King Henry VIII's summer home. Like many of the former royal houses we have been visiting, Hampton Court was beautifully landscaped, large enough to house several dozen families, and shrouded with a veil of opulence.
After roaming the grounds of Hampton Court, we set boarded our overnight ferry to France. The delegates were tired but excited to be on an overnight ferry - the first for many of them! Though we were late to bed and early to rise the next day, it's safe to say very few of them got the recommended amount of sleep that night.
We welcomed Day 5 in Caen, France and headed to the American Cemetery in Normandy. We were privileged to be able to have a very special ceremony at the cemetery and then had the opportunity to explore the grounds. It was a very moving experience.
Our delegates then explored Omaha Beach and got to collect a vile of sand from the beach to take home. They really enjoyed that. After a picnic lunch, we explored the Memorial Museum. The students learned about the atrocities of WWII from both German and Allied Forces perspectives.
Stay tuned for the next part of our adventure...
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