Hillside s 2015 Europe Tour

Transcription

1 Hillside s 2015 Europe Tour In July 2015, Jean Sherrard, Jess Mabe, and Robin Walz will be leading the fifth Hillside Europe Tour. Join us for a thrilling two week exploration of two great cities, London and Paris and environs. Cultural, historical, and artistic riches await. SAFETY Compared to most U.S. cities, both London and Paris are remarkably Hillside s 2010 tour group near Notre Dame safe, day or night. Both cities are considerably more kid- friendly than virtually any comparable stateside venue. Regardless, we will take care to ensure that everyone is safe and sound at all times. COST We estimate the cost of the trip to be around $5,000. As in the past, this amount covers everything; all travel, room and board, all group activities and entrance/admission fees. Unlike student travel companies, we only charge for the actual cost of the trip and do not make a profit from the tour. DATES Please let us know soon if you are interested. An initial payment of $2,500 will be due Friday, November 14th. We try to keep our group size small (12-16). This trip is designed for current 8 th graders and above. Trip dates: two weeks beginning mid-july. LONDON In London, the weather may be unpredictable, but the theatre is among the best on the planet. And the choices are staggering: Shakespeare, performed Elizabethanstyle on the banks of the Thames in the acclaimed reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, and by the Royal Shakespeare Company in breathtaking modern productions. Exciting contemporary productions from the West End. Dozens of experimental productions from London s vibrant theatrical fringe. Across the Thames from Big Ben We will attend at least three productions as a group, and tailor more for those who just can t get enough. Not to mention the great museums, churches, parks, and history. A few highlights:

2 Westminster Abbey, more of a huge national tomb than a church, filled with the bones of slaughtered kings, queens, and great poets. The Natural History Museum, containing one of the greatest assemblages in the world of natural wonders. Dinosaurs come to life! Kew Gardens, a vast and amazing complex containing the world s largest collection of living plants. Hillside groundlings at the Globe Theatre The British Museum: the greatest collection of looted art and artifacts from ancient civilizations around the world a fantastic field trip for a survey of history that includes fierce Assyrian lions and fiercer Assyrian kings, the Cylinder of Cyrus, and Viking plunder. They ve got the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles, and they won t give them back! St. Paul s Cathedral; its massive glorious dome defines the city s skyline and survived V- 1 rockets. We ll climb to the top for one of the world s great views. The Tower, a stone s throw from St. Paul s. Lots of tourists, but spine- tingling fun nonetheless as well as Henry VIII's armor and the crown jewels. And we haven t even mentioned Britain s national dish: curry! Then there s so much else to see and do in and out of London. Miscellany includes: Afternoons browsing Tower of London Beafeater London s famous outdoor markets from Brick Lane to Penny Lane. From the latest fashion knock- offs to a first- edition of Great Expectations - these are the streets "where the riches of ages are stowed." Ghost tours at dusk, wandering the ancient spooky streets of London town as night falls. A day in the country, strolling old Roman roads past druid ruins and burial sites. Possible trips to Oxford, Arundel Castle, Chichester, or to the incredible Roman excavations at Fishbourne. The Greenwich Observatory, where time begins. Speakers' Corner And don t forget Speaker s Corner, an age- old open- air forum in Hyde Park, where any and all opinions can be expressed (and often are). You can argue the merits of abolishing the monarchy, of Islamic revolution, or the end of time.

3 PARIS Sure, they call it the City of Light for a reason, but during the summer, the sky stays light until 10:30 PM. And during those extra long days, there s just so much to do. Contrary to popular belief, the French are among the politest people anywhere, and given Jumping at Versailles half a chance they even adore tourists (well, maybe that s going a bit far). In preparation for our trip, we ll learn the secret codes that unlock and harness French civility. One of our hosts in Paris is photographer and native Parisienne Berangere Lomont. As in London, the drama is spectacular, but much of it happens outside the theaters. Amazing street performers from around the world abound in public squares throughout the city. Let s start with a few churches, museums, and palaces though. Sacre Coeur, the enormous glowing chapel on the hill. Every summer evening, young people from all over the world gather on its vast steps. We ll join them, as well as wander the beautiful butte of Montmartre. The Louvre, where you can spend a lifetime or a couple of hours. Join the crowds and greet Venus de Milo or Mona Lisa or the Sumerian On the steps of Sacre Coeur king Gudea, or Hammurabi and his code in person. For a break, head out the front door into the Tuileries Gardens, host to such a vast variety of human, animal and fish behavior, it s virtually impossible to describe. Notre Dame! You ve seen the movie, now visit the Hunchback. Seriously, this is another must see, if only for the awe- inspiring gargoyles guarding the towers. And just down the quaie glows the most glorious stained glass in the world at the Sainte Chappelle! Art and more art! Expressionist, Impressionist, Classical, Neo- Classical, you name it they ve got it. We ll be visiting (at least) the Musée d Orsay, with its stunning collection of moderns, and the Musée de Gargoyle s eye view from Notre Dame

4 Cluny, home to the Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries and assorted other medieval treasures. The Palace of Versailles, a monument to blind ego and absolutist excess. Not the most efficient or comfortable of palaces (its vast kitchens are ten minutes walk from its dining rooms, so the royal food was invariably eaten cold), Versailles is to France what the Pyramids are to Egypt. While there, we ll visit Marie Antoinette s quaint country village (inspired by the proto- romantic Rousseau), built so that she could pretend she was just another farm girl. But Paris is more than just the sum of its monuments. Throughout the year, and, in Cupid at Versailles particular, every summer, grand exhibitions are mounted, great theater from all over the world is performed, spectacles of all sorts abound. Our trip may also include: A walk through and around Beaubourg, also known as the Pompidou Center. Multimedia performance space, museum, and cultural playground, Beaubourg has more going on in a single day than entire cities have in a year. Its giant courtyard is a year- round circus, where magicians, fire- and glass- eaters, South American flute bands, and performers of all stripes entertain morning, noon, and night. A bone- chilling excursion under Paris into the Catacombs, where hundred of thousands of The Catacombs excess dead were placed in the 19 Century th because the cemeteries were overflowing. The creative gravediggers arranged the bones into the most remarkable structures! (This one is optional for more sensitive viewers) What would any visit to Paris be without a trip to the Eiffel Tower? Did we say to? We ll climb half way to the top for an astonishing bird s eye view from one of the wonders of the world. Eiffel Tower view And of course, last but not least, we ll encounter some of the delicious food found in France. From street foods and picnics to cafes, bistros and restaurants, we ll find wonderful things to munch on.

5 ONE MORE THING... Anything we ve left out that you would like to do or see? We re still in the planning stages, and would be happy to consider suggestions from interested parents and students. Our Paris youth hostel Questions? Comments? Contact Jean )

6 HILLSIDE STUDENT COMMUNITY SCHOOL European Tour 2015 Application Form Hillside s European Tour: In July 2015, Jean Sherrard, Jess Mabe, and Robin Walz will be leading the fifth Hillside European Tour. Join us for a thrilling two-week exploration of two great cities, London and Paris and environs. Cultural, historical, and artistic riches await. This tour is designed for students in the current 8 th grade and above. (Probable travel dates, to be confirmed: July 14-28) Cost: $5,000. As in the past, this amount covers everything; all travel, room and board, trip and travel insurance, all group activities and entrance/admission fees. We only charge for the actual cost of the trip and do not make a profit from the tour (minimum group size: 11). Important Registration Dates: Friday, October 31st This form must be submitted in paper form to the school or scanned and sent to jean@hillsidesc.org Friday, November 14th Initial payment of $2,500 due Student s Name: Parent/Guardian s Name: Contact information: Other information: