Friday, May 1: Dateline LONDON
This is just a short note to let you know that all students arrived on time and in good shape! The weather today in London is FANTASTIC!!! Thought we were still in Florida with our sunglasses and summer clothes.
Our hotel is a lovely bed and breakfast in a converted townhouse—actually two townhouses. The rooms are small, but have large windows and are very sunny. Staff are very friendly and helpful, and we’re just a 3 minute walk from the Paddington “tube” (ie subway) station.
Your kids are already seasoned “tube” riders. Took the tube to meet our guide for the “Royal Walk Tour” which included the Changing of the Guard and the interior of Westminster Abbey. Then we had lunch at Victoria Railway Station before heading back to the hotel to relax and get ready for this evening.
We had dinner in a café located in the crypt of the Church of St. Martin’s in the Field in Trafalgar Square before heading across the Thames to ride the London Eye Ferris Wheel. The sun was setting as the students boarded the ferris wheel for the 30 minute ride, and the sky was splashed with bright pink clouds.
We’ve seen and done a lot for just one day and are all tired, but it’s that “happy tired” when you’ve exhausted yourself doing something special.
Saturday, May 2: Dateline LONDON
We are all happy and healthy and the weather continues to be spectacular. Up early for a full day. First, a light breakfast in the hotel and then off to our London orientation tour on the open top bus. Perfect blue skies and a great day for photos. The students had the afternoon free, and we met for dinner at a restaurant in Covent Garden. The “garden” is not really a garden anymore, but rather a trendy boutique/restaurant area with street musicians, magicians, and much more.
Sunday, May 3: Dateline LONDON
Today, the students spent the morning at the Tower of London seeing the crown jewels and enjoying a tour given by the Beefeater Guards. The Guards are selected through a competitive audition process and then get to live inside the Tower. We had lunch at Trafalgar Square and then the students were off to museums and historic sites and a little shopping. Everyone remains happy and healthy. This is really a great group of students, and they’re making the most of every minute.
This is just a short note to let you know that all students arrived on time and in good shape! The weather today in London is FANTASTIC!!! Thought we were still in Florida with our sunglasses and summer clothes.
Our hotel is a lovely bed and breakfast in a converted townhouse—actually two townhouses. The rooms are small, but have large windows and are very sunny. Staff are very friendly and helpful, and we’re just a 3 minute walk from the Paddington “tube” (ie subway) station.
Your kids are already seasoned “tube” riders. Took the tube to meet our guide for the “Royal Walk Tour” which included the Changing of the Guard and the interior of Westminster Abbey. Then we had lunch at Victoria Railway Station before heading back to the hotel to relax and get ready for this evening.
We had dinner in a café located in the crypt of the Church of St. Martin’s in the Field in Trafalgar Square before heading across the Thames to ride the London Eye Ferris Wheel. The sun was setting as the students boarded the ferris wheel for the 30 minute ride, and the sky was splashed with bright pink clouds.
We’ve seen and done a lot for just one day and are all tired, but it’s that “happy tired” when you’ve exhausted yourself doing something special.
Saturday, May 2: Dateline LONDON
We are all happy and healthy and the weather continues to be spectacular. Up early for a full day. First, a light breakfast in the hotel and then off to our London orientation tour on the open top bus. Perfect blue skies and a great day for photos. The students had the afternoon free, and we met for dinner at a restaurant in Covent Garden. The “garden” is not really a garden anymore, but rather a trendy boutique/restaurant area with street musicians, magicians, and much more.
Sunday, May 3: Dateline LONDON
Today, the students spent the morning at the Tower of London seeing the crown jewels and enjoying a tour given by the Beefeater Guards. The Guards are selected through a competitive audition process and then get to live inside the Tower. We had lunch at Trafalgar Square and then the students were off to museums and historic sites and a little shopping. Everyone remains happy and healthy. This is really a great group of students, and they’re making the most of every minute.
Monday, May 4: Dateline London
We were up early and off to Paddington Railway Station where your students boarded the train for Windsor Castle. It is the summer and weekend home of the royal family, and is really in fantastic condition having been renovated about ten years ago after a major fire. Late that evening, we went to the Tower of London to view the Changing of the Key ceremony. It has taken place every night for more than 700 years without interruption even during the German bombing of London in World War II. The tower is eerie at night, and there are lots of stories of ghosts. Fortunately, we saw no ghosts, but did enjoy the ceremony.
Tuesday, May 5: Dateline London
Up early again! This time for a quick tube ride to St. Paul’s Cathedral for a fantastic guided tour. The rest of the day was free until we met for a fantastic dinner in Covent Garden. Early to bed because tomorrow is a 7:45 a.m. departure for St. Pancras Rail Station where we will catch the Eurostar to Paris!
We were up early and off to Paddington Railway Station where your students boarded the train for Windsor Castle. It is the summer and weekend home of the royal family, and is really in fantastic condition having been renovated about ten years ago after a major fire. Late that evening, we went to the Tower of London to view the Changing of the Key ceremony. It has taken place every night for more than 700 years without interruption even during the German bombing of London in World War II. The tower is eerie at night, and there are lots of stories of ghosts. Fortunately, we saw no ghosts, but did enjoy the ceremony.
Tuesday, May 5: Dateline London
Up early again! This time for a quick tube ride to St. Paul’s Cathedral for a fantastic guided tour. The rest of the day was free until we met for a fantastic dinner in Covent Garden. Early to bed because tomorrow is a 7:45 a.m. departure for St. Pancras Rail Station where we will catch the Eurostar to Paris!
Wednesday, May 6: Dateline London to Paris
Everyone showed up for the hotel van exactly on time and we were off to St. Pancras Rail Station to board the Eurostar high-speed train to Paris. It is really fantastic service. Heart of London to the heart of Paris in 2 hours and 11 minutes. We had a “mini car” assigned just to our group. That was nice. Boarding the Eurostar is like boarding an international flight. First there are the security checks and then passport control. And then it’s off at over 100 miles per hour with only twenty minutes under the English Channel (which is simply called “The Channel” by the French).
Our first day in Paris was fantastic. Weather was really beautiful! We had an “interesting” experience with the hotel van. We had ordered a minivan to take the luggage to the hotel. (I always take the “Metro”—subway—with the students to orient them to the Paris system and send the luggage along in a van.) Well…something got lost in translation because the “van” turned out to be a very small SUV. The driver argued. I kept flashing my confirmation in front of him. He stalled. I argued. We both called the van company headquarters. Finally, we stuffed all large suitcases into the van and it looked like a bunker inside with only enough space for the driver. We took a couple of small bags with us on the subway and alas, we all arrived at the hotel in good shape and none the worse for our experience.
Then we were off to a tour of Notre Dame, which also had a bit lost in translation, but who cares? We’re in Paris. Next was dinner at a typical French café and then up the Eiffel Tower. (Check out our photo at the Tower toasting our arrival in Paris. It’s only apple juice and not champagne, but it looks pretty real in the photo!) We then took a late night cruise on the Seine River so we could see the magnificent architecture of the Louvre, D’Orsay, and Notre Dame all lit up. Wow! What a start.
Thursday, May 7: Dateline Paris
Had a lecture at the American University of Paris on how Muslim immigration has impacted French politics. Basically, citizens of the former French colonies can immigrate to France with very few restrictions so the population has become increasingly multicultural. You never know what you’re going to get when you reserve a guest speaker, but this professor was really top notch and very well prepared for the lecture.
Back on the Metro to the Garnier Opera house (site of the musical “Phantom of the Opera”). We enjoyed the architecture from outside, but it was closed for visitors that day. Had lunch at the top of the largest department store in Paris—Galleries Lafayette—and then onto the open-top bus for the orientation tour of Paris.
Later that night, it was dinner at a restaurant on Rue Mouffetard, a quaint street in the Latin Quarter where the universities are located. We capped the night off by attending a typical French follies show. Seats were very close to the stage and the announcer kept welcoming the “University of South Florida” over the public address system. Pretty cool, and we’re pretty tired.
Friday, May 8: Dateline Paris
Today was a free day for all students except those taking a one-day excursion to the D Day beaches of Normandy. What an incredible experience! We saw the cliffs that some of the American GI’s had to scale with the Germans waiting for them at the top. No protection whatsoever for our troops. The seas were rough that day and so the troops were already weak from the effects of sea sickness. It was raining and the cloud cover was so thick that the bomber pilots couldn’t see the German bunkers and missed their targets. The airborne units began parachuting in shortly after midnight before the invasion, and those pilots couldn’t see their targets either so the paratroopers were dropped all over the place. The casualties were painfully high, and we saw cross after cross after cross at the American cemetery that overlooks Omaha Beach. We picked up a few stones from the beach. I chose red stones to remind me of how much American blood was shed on that beach in the cause of liberty.
Everyone showed up for the hotel van exactly on time and we were off to St. Pancras Rail Station to board the Eurostar high-speed train to Paris. It is really fantastic service. Heart of London to the heart of Paris in 2 hours and 11 minutes. We had a “mini car” assigned just to our group. That was nice. Boarding the Eurostar is like boarding an international flight. First there are the security checks and then passport control. And then it’s off at over 100 miles per hour with only twenty minutes under the English Channel (which is simply called “The Channel” by the French).
Our first day in Paris was fantastic. Weather was really beautiful! We had an “interesting” experience with the hotel van. We had ordered a minivan to take the luggage to the hotel. (I always take the “Metro”—subway—with the students to orient them to the Paris system and send the luggage along in a van.) Well…something got lost in translation because the “van” turned out to be a very small SUV. The driver argued. I kept flashing my confirmation in front of him. He stalled. I argued. We both called the van company headquarters. Finally, we stuffed all large suitcases into the van and it looked like a bunker inside with only enough space for the driver. We took a couple of small bags with us on the subway and alas, we all arrived at the hotel in good shape and none the worse for our experience.
Then we were off to a tour of Notre Dame, which also had a bit lost in translation, but who cares? We’re in Paris. Next was dinner at a typical French café and then up the Eiffel Tower. (Check out our photo at the Tower toasting our arrival in Paris. It’s only apple juice and not champagne, but it looks pretty real in the photo!) We then took a late night cruise on the Seine River so we could see the magnificent architecture of the Louvre, D’Orsay, and Notre Dame all lit up. Wow! What a start.
Thursday, May 7: Dateline Paris
Had a lecture at the American University of Paris on how Muslim immigration has impacted French politics. Basically, citizens of the former French colonies can immigrate to France with very few restrictions so the population has become increasingly multicultural. You never know what you’re going to get when you reserve a guest speaker, but this professor was really top notch and very well prepared for the lecture.
Back on the Metro to the Garnier Opera house (site of the musical “Phantom of the Opera”). We enjoyed the architecture from outside, but it was closed for visitors that day. Had lunch at the top of the largest department store in Paris—Galleries Lafayette—and then onto the open-top bus for the orientation tour of Paris.
Later that night, it was dinner at a restaurant on Rue Mouffetard, a quaint street in the Latin Quarter where the universities are located. We capped the night off by attending a typical French follies show. Seats were very close to the stage and the announcer kept welcoming the “University of South Florida” over the public address system. Pretty cool, and we’re pretty tired.
Friday, May 8: Dateline Paris
Today was a free day for all students except those taking a one-day excursion to the D Day beaches of Normandy. What an incredible experience! We saw the cliffs that some of the American GI’s had to scale with the Germans waiting for them at the top. No protection whatsoever for our troops. The seas were rough that day and so the troops were already weak from the effects of sea sickness. It was raining and the cloud cover was so thick that the bomber pilots couldn’t see the German bunkers and missed their targets. The airborne units began parachuting in shortly after midnight before the invasion, and those pilots couldn’t see their targets either so the paratroopers were dropped all over the place. The casualties were painfully high, and we saw cross after cross after cross at the American cemetery that overlooks Omaha Beach. We picked up a few stones from the beach. I chose red stones to remind me of how much American blood was shed on that beach in the cause of liberty.
Saturday, May 9: Dateline Paris
This is a free day for students. Some slept in while others were up early to get the most out of their last day in Paris. They visited museums, walked along the Seine, stopped in at the famous Shakespeare and Company Bookstore (famous as a gathering place for the "Lost Generation" of American expatriate writers living in Paris between World War I and World War II), and of course, enjoyed some French pastries.
We are tired, but happy. It has been a very successful study abroad trip, and we will board our flight tomorrow with regret that our tour is finished, but with the anticipation of seeing our friends and families at Tampa International Airport.
I would like to thank each of you for supporting your students. They are a remarkable group of young people who are good American citizens and now good citizens of the world!
Best regards,
Dr. Merrick
