This April, I was given the most wonderful opportunity to chaperone Cottage Hill's senior class trip to Europe at an incredible price. I had never been across the ocean; the farthest I had traveled was to Mexico my senior year in high school. Although Shawn could not go with me, I felt like this was a wonderful opportunity to get to know some of the students better and to see other parts of the world. It was AMAZING!
We started our 11 day journey flying out of Mobile to Atlanta, then from Atlanta to Paris. In Paris, we stayed 4 days exploring Norte Dame, and all the other famous sites in Paris. We stayed in a hotel that had a motor home bathroom (tiny!) and bunk beds. We had a total of 17 people on the trip: 5 adults and 12 students. They were the most wonderful group of students to have on a trip like that...totally trustworthy, fun, and most of all, not complainers. We packed lightly in packs and carried only the necessities (4 pairs of clothes). We explored as much as we could of Paris in 4 days, eating as many pastries and french bread sandwiches as possible. My favorite eatery was actually a Greek restaurant in the Latin quarter near Norte Dam. We all danced with the Greek band "0pa!" and got to break plates for good luck. The artist's district was wonderful with people from all over the globe. All the students got their portrait done by charcole and pencil artists. We also took a day trip to the coast of Normandy and got to see and learn about the Allied invasion on Omaha and Utah beaches. It definitely made me appreciate the courage and sacrifice of our soldiers. Overall, Paris was old, beautiful (in its own way), crowded, and spectacular. Besides the shortage of cold water, ice, and deodorant-wearing citizens, it was lovely. I was particularly sad that I didn't get to smooch my honey in front of the Eifel Tower...=(
We took an overnight train from Paris to Berlin, Germany. This was a fun experience, but I suggest to any to take a sleeping pill before if you expect to sleep. The 'bump, bump' of old train tracks didn't allow for peaceful sleeping. Me and 2 other chaperones stayed up late chatting in the dining cart...I felt like I was in an old 1940s movie. Berlin was FREEZING. One night it got down to 35 and we only had long-sleeve t-shirts and a light jacket! Berlin was very clean and the people were nice and smelled alot better than Parisians...they even line up on escalators! There were very few old buildings in Berlin. We stayed in a wonderful hotel that had much appreciated down comforters and pillows, a game room, free full breakfast, and an incredible tanning bed! We visited the Berlin wall, the delicious German chocolate store, and Checkpoint Charlie museum, and the Sony Center. We also visited Schauchsenhausen Concentration Camp, the first Nazi camp constructed before the war. Good thing we didn't visit Berlin in June...that is when Berlin hosts the Love Parade...the biggest homosexual festival in Europe!
After a 2 day visit in Berlin, we were off to Amsterdam. This was my very favorite city in Europe. Although you walk out of the train station and smell weed coming from the "coffee shops," the charm of the old dutch houses and canals was lovely! We stayed 3 nights in a Christian youth hostel called "The Shelter." It was very refreshing to be around other Christian young people who worked at the hostel. We really did feel at home there. Amerstadam had the best shopping of any of the cities! I came to the realization that if I lived in Europe, I would live in Germany, shop in Amsterdam, and vacation in Paris. We shopped and browsed the city trying to stay out of the bicycle lane (if you get in the lane and cause a crash, it's the walker's fault!) and avoid the infamous "Red light district". We toured Anne Frank's house, ate at Hard Rock, and best of all, visited Kukenhof (a famous tulip festival in Harlem). As a biology person, I have to say that I had never even imagined that there could be flowers this beautiful! It really was a touch of heaven! We did have a little excitement the last night in our hostel...we had some unexpected visitors: several mice had made their home in the walls and decided to join us in our bunks! We sure didn't get much sleep that night!
I'm so glad the Lord blessed me with the opportunity to go to Europe. It is amazing to me that God knows and sees all the people on this earth and knows even the number of hairs on their head. God created so many different kinds of people, and the big realization for me is that so many of them do not know Him. Europe is a lost continent and needs a Savior. I was glad to meet the youth hostel workers and see their ministry and also the ministry of young lady in Berlin to turkish immigrants. They definitely need our prayers.
I'm having trouble getting pics up, but hopefully I'll be able to show you some of my favorite pics from the trip soon.
We started our 11 day journey flying out of Mobile to Atlanta, then from Atlanta to Paris. In Paris, we stayed 4 days exploring Norte Dame, and all the other famous sites in Paris. We stayed in a hotel that had a motor home bathroom (tiny!) and bunk beds. We had a total of 17 people on the trip: 5 adults and 12 students. They were the most wonderful group of students to have on a trip like that...totally trustworthy, fun, and most of all, not complainers. We packed lightly in packs and carried only the necessities (4 pairs of clothes). We explored as much as we could of Paris in 4 days, eating as many pastries and french bread sandwiches as possible. My favorite eatery was actually a Greek restaurant in the Latin quarter near Norte Dam. We all danced with the Greek band "0pa!" and got to break plates for good luck. The artist's district was wonderful with people from all over the globe. All the students got their portrait done by charcole and pencil artists. We also took a day trip to the coast of Normandy and got to see and learn about the Allied invasion on Omaha and Utah beaches. It definitely made me appreciate the courage and sacrifice of our soldiers. Overall, Paris was old, beautiful (in its own way), crowded, and spectacular. Besides the shortage of cold water, ice, and deodorant-wearing citizens, it was lovely. I was particularly sad that I didn't get to smooch my honey in front of the Eifel Tower...=(
We took an overnight train from Paris to Berlin, Germany. This was a fun experience, but I suggest to any to take a sleeping pill before if you expect to sleep. The 'bump, bump' of old train tracks didn't allow for peaceful sleeping. Me and 2 other chaperones stayed up late chatting in the dining cart...I felt like I was in an old 1940s movie. Berlin was FREEZING. One night it got down to 35 and we only had long-sleeve t-shirts and a light jacket! Berlin was very clean and the people were nice and smelled alot better than Parisians...they even line up on escalators! There were very few old buildings in Berlin. We stayed in a wonderful hotel that had much appreciated down comforters and pillows, a game room, free full breakfast, and an incredible tanning bed! We visited the Berlin wall, the delicious German chocolate store, and Checkpoint Charlie museum, and the Sony Center. We also visited Schauchsenhausen Concentration Camp, the first Nazi camp constructed before the war. Good thing we didn't visit Berlin in June...that is when Berlin hosts the Love Parade...the biggest homosexual festival in Europe!
After a 2 day visit in Berlin, we were off to Amsterdam. This was my very favorite city in Europe. Although you walk out of the train station and smell weed coming from the "coffee shops," the charm of the old dutch houses and canals was lovely! We stayed 3 nights in a Christian youth hostel called "The Shelter." It was very refreshing to be around other Christian young people who worked at the hostel. We really did feel at home there. Amerstadam had the best shopping of any of the cities! I came to the realization that if I lived in Europe, I would live in Germany, shop in Amsterdam, and vacation in Paris. We shopped and browsed the city trying to stay out of the bicycle lane (if you get in the lane and cause a crash, it's the walker's fault!) and avoid the infamous "Red light district". We toured Anne Frank's house, ate at Hard Rock, and best of all, visited Kukenhof (a famous tulip festival in Harlem). As a biology person, I have to say that I had never even imagined that there could be flowers this beautiful! It really was a touch of heaven! We did have a little excitement the last night in our hostel...we had some unexpected visitors: several mice had made their home in the walls and decided to join us in our bunks! We sure didn't get much sleep that night!
I'm so glad the Lord blessed me with the opportunity to go to Europe. It is amazing to me that God knows and sees all the people on this earth and knows even the number of hairs on their head. God created so many different kinds of people, and the big realization for me is that so many of them do not know Him. Europe is a lost continent and needs a Savior. I was glad to meet the youth hostel workers and see their ministry and also the ministry of young lady in Berlin to turkish immigrants. They definitely need our prayers.
I'm having trouble getting pics up, but hopefully I'll be able to show you some of my favorite pics from the trip soon.
My sweet 8 month old nephew Will
