Europe 2010 - Part 1
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 04:21
I was in Greece and Italy from June 24- July 3, on tour with some of my students and a handful of adults/parents. My friends always say, "you're so lucky; you get to travel for free." True, but not entirely. I pay with stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep, all in trying to keep things free of problems. There are always kids not getting along, or adults making the entire group late. The one good thing about this particular tour was that we had no one was pick pocketed!
I've been here before, but here are Some highlights from this trip (other pictures also available at www.polychoir.com):
Wei at the Parthenon
On the Greek Island day cruise (going to Hydra)
On Hydra
The ruins at Delphi
Sorrento, Italy
Some of the best mozzarella I've ever had (made fresh on the farm we visited)
Pompeii
The abbey of Montecassino
The Spanish Steps
The [very crowded] Trevi Fountain
The Flavian Amphitheater
St. Peter's by night
St. Peter's Basilica
After our performance/participation at the 5pm Mass at St. Peter's
Wide angle shot of the Pantheon
My first "real" food of the tour - Gnocchi with fresh summer truffles
Beef carpaccio
Our last concert in Gallicano, and our awesome tour manager, Anna
Athens, January 2010Sunday, 14 March 2010 12:36
(two months late...) I had a (very) short business trip to Athens during the last weekend of January. I know, "What? You're a teacher. What kind of business trips do you take?" I reply--"The free kinds." :)
I was there from Friday morning through Monday morning, but the travel time was almost as long as my actual time in Athens.
Time in Country - a little less than 72 hours Time in Transit - 38 hours
Despite this schedule, I shouldn't complain. I had a completely free day on Sunday to myself, and most of Friday. The rest of the time was spent orienting myself with the city, and primarily, inspecting several potential performances venues for Poly's performance tour this summer. On Sunday, I actually found a Baptist church service in English to attend. It was small, but nice.
Yosemite, New Year's (Dec '09)Wednesday, 10 February 2010 13:13
I love that Vanessa loves REI as much as I do. I've been gradually getting her to leave behind her urban upbringing and embrace the outdoors. I've been introducing her to hiking, camping, and now snowshoeing! Yosemite was beautiful, with fresh snow (some rain on the valley floor), and a distinct lack of smog. Were there through New Year's Eve, happily spent indoors watching our new friends (no more Dick Clark), Anderson Cooper alongside Kathy Griffin at Times Square. Awkward. It was nice to be away from crazy drunk drivers and have some time to ourselves. I love Yosemite--don't you?
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