Delphi

The trip to Delphi today was spectacular. We finally had a chance to see the Greek countryside and it was beautiful. After we got out of Athens, we were quickly surrounded by fields ringed with mountains. As we got close to Delphi, we stopped for lunch and then took the winding mountain road through a little village to Delphi.

The site itself was remarkable. The museum had some famous statues and it was great to get up close with things we only see in Art History books, especially the Charioteer, a fifth century bronze is wonderful condition - the bronze eyelashes are still there. We next started the hike up to the sacred area and saw the Temple of Apollo, the Theater and the Stadium. The kids ran a quick race; I sat and watched.

We'll be on the flight from Milan to Boston by the time most of you wake up tomorrow. You can follow our progress again using the Alitalia website.

I look forward to seeing you at Logan tomorrow.

One Day to Go

Today we spent on board the good ship Georgios, sailing the Saronic Gulf with stops at the islands of Poros, Hydra, and Aegina. While the stops ashore were nice, with time to stroll and shop in some very charming seaside towns, some among the group found the time aboard the ship long and uncomfortable. However, A fine dinner in the Plaka, along with the accompaniment of traditional Greek Bouzouki music, restored our energy. We look forward to our visit tomorrow (our last day) to the awe-inspiring site of Delphi---home of the famed Oracle of Apollo.

Last Day in Athens

Today is our final day in Athens. Tomorrow we go on a cruise in the Saronic Gulf (Egina, Hydra and Poros). While everyone is excited, they have just realized that we'll need to be up and out by 7AM, so we'll have breakfast checkin at 6:30. There is a bus ride to the Piraeus, so people can sleep a bit, but then we'll be on the cruise until 7PM.

Today we visited the Agora where Dr. Hartnett read from Plato's Apology and Mr. O'Donnell talked about Athenian democracy and ostracism. Before we climbed the Areopagus, Rev. LaMacchia talked to the group about St. Paul's time in Athens. We also visited the Stadium and Ms. McCann talked about the ancient and modern Olympics. We had lunch and had some free time in Plaka after watching the changing of the guard at the Parliament Building.

This afternoon, we had a rest before the trip out to the new Olympic Stadium for a soccer game tonight. I don't know much about Greek soccer, but everyone is very excited. I'll let you know tomorrow afternoon how the trip went.

Sunday

We've gotten tickets for a soccer game tomorrow, so even though we're going to the Agora in the morning, the highlight of the day will be at night when we head out to Olympic Stadium for a Panathenikos game against a team from Crete. We'll go by train and plan to leave a bit early to avoid the crowds on the way home.

You may have read about some riots here in Athens. While they are close to us, we have avoided them. Most have been scheduled for later in the evening, after we're already at dinner or back in the hotel.

Here's a picture of the group addressed by Dr. Hartnett at the theater in Ostia, our last site in Italy. More pictures will go up as soon as we get back.

Acropolis

Today we visited the Acropolis and while it was remarkable to walk up to the Parthenon and look out over Athens, the weather has changed and it is quite a bit colder than it was in Rome. The students enjoyed an afternoon in the Plaka for lunch and shopping and right now, they are taking a break before dinner. We'll be eating at 8, which is late for us but early for the Athenians, who prefer to start at about 9.

Everyone is doing well, although there are some blisters and general tiredness. I hope that the cruise on Monday will revive everyone for the trip to Delphi Tuesday, our final day here.

Safe in Athens

We're all in Athens. The trip from Rome, while early (we left at 6AM), was easy. We have a nice hotel here and after a few minutes at the hotel to drop off our bags, we had lunch (most people had Greek salads) and set out. Dr. Hartnett took the group to the Pnyx for an orientation to the city and now we're going to the National Archaeological Museum. Dinner is at 8 for an authentic ancient Greek meal with no utensils, arranged by Mrs. Tamvakologos.

The students are excited about tomorrow's trip to the Acropolis, in part because we'll have a bus (no more walking).

A Note from Ashlinn

Today we are waiting at 5:40 in the morning so that we can go to the airport and fly over to Athens. The flight to athens will be about 3 hours and we will get there around 8:30 Athens time. When we arrive in Athens we will probably return to the hotel so that we can unpack a little and then Mr. Conti will bring us around Athens and make us walk around for awhile allowing us to see the local city we are staying in for the next couple of days.

A Note from Dessi

Today we went to see the Pope in Vatican City and also to the Sistine Chapel. The Pope also gave a shout out to St. Marks School, and we stood up and shouted. The Sistine Chapel was overwhelming with all the pictures on the ceiling looking over you almost as if they were about to fall down onto the floor. It was quite enormous as well with swarms of people coming in and out. There was also a huge crowd at the Papal audience. We also saw St. Peter's Basilica, which is the biggest church in the universe. It also had many statues and paintings all around it, as well as being laid out in the shape of a cross with a gigantic high altar.

Vatican Day

We're off to the Vatican today for a Papal Audience in the morning and museums in the afternoon. The students will, I hope, appreciate the experience. I know they'll appreciate the slow pace of the day, even if we do have to get an early start.

Last night was my favorite dinner in Rome and I think the students liked it as well. We went to Orso 80 where the antipast includes 16 different options, all brought to your table until you're overwhelmed. After a short break, everyone was ready for pasta and then a quick walk to Giolitti for gelato.

All Here

The whole group is now here in Rome as the two varsity basketball players arrived safely this morning. We're off now to San Clemente, a church close to the hotel, and a brief break at the Spanish Steps before dinner.

Tomorrow is a busy day with an early start. Our audience with the Pope is in the morning and we'll take the Rome Metro for the first time. In the afternoon, we will see the Vatican Museums. This is also the best time to send postcards (at the Vatican postoffice), so everyone will be writing notes after dinner tonight.

A Note from Sara

Oh, hello everyone, I didn't see you there. I am writing to you from the lobby of our Hotel in Italy, and is it about 9:25... just about. We had a lovely day today, waking up well rested and getting sraight down to business at the Forum. We saw the temple of Jupiter Stator (Jupiter the Protector), which is the exact place where Cicero gave the very speech that Latin III read. Well, Mr. Conti is rushing me so I have to wrap this up, but we're all healthy and happy and full of gelato. BYE!!! (Mrs. Cavanaugh, you're son says Hi).

A Note from Trevor

Hello,

Currently, most of the kids are either passed out in their rooms or sitting together talking. This is the first real break we have had so far, and everyone is enjoying it. After waking up at 9, by personal alarm clock or Mr.Conti, the kids ate breakfast in the hotel and departed to the city at 9:30. We visited the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, and the House Augustus. I was the first person to misplace something, my camera, but was able to run back to the American Express office to retrieve it successfully. Tonight we taking a brief 25 minute walk to a church (St. John Lateran) then to dinner. Rest will be needed tonight to revive the kids from their zombie-like phase.

Arrived in Rome

Just about an hour ago, we arrived at our hotel in Rome. Despite a long wait at the airport in Rome for our baggage, the trip was uneventful and everyone is safe and sound. After a brief rest, we will head off to lunch and a visit to the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Capitlone Museums, followed by dinner. I expect that we will just make it back to the hotel before everyone collapses.

I'll let you know tomorrow about the first full day and try to add some pictures and a student reaction to the trip so far.

Away We Go!

We'll depart today at 3:30 from the Front Circle, thanks to Mr. Large, Ms. McBride and Ms. Sanchez, who will be driving us to the airport. Our flight departs at 6PM and arrives in Milan at 7:35AM. You can track the flight using the Alitalia website. It has left early each day this week and arrived early as well, so I hope that we will make our connection to Rome.
We'll send an update as soon as we can after we arrive.

Contacts and Last-minute Suggestions

You should receive an email from Dr. Hartnett with emergency cellphone numbers for the group while we're in Europe. There are 866 (toll-free) numbers you can use if you have to reach us, although you can also call the hotels directly.

We'll update the blog when we arrive to let you know that the trip went well. If you'd like your child to contact you as well, please talk to him or her about that before we go. It will be easy enough for us to take a quick email break on the first day. We'll be six hours ahead in Rome, seven in Athens.

There's still time to finish last-minute preparations, but not much. This is a very busy week at school with the play, tests, quizzes, papers, basketball and hockey games, and spring tryouts. If you need help with anything, please let us know.

Weather and Packing

Our arrival day is on the ten-day forecast at weather.com
and you might want to look before you pack. Rome will be in the 60s most days, although it could get into the 70s. Athens will be at least that warm. We recommend that people pack clothing they can layer as the weather will change during the day and we won't go back to the hotel until dinner or later.

It will probably rain at some point and it is important to have either a waterproof jacket or an umbrella. We haven't ever had downpours on the trip, but a spring shower or two is almost certain.

Travel Plans

We met as a group last night to discuss some details about our trip, including information about allergies, passports and luggage. The guidelines on luggage have changed recently and information is available on the Massport website. Two important changes are the rules about liquids in carry-on bags and the screening of all checked bags. Everyone needs to read these before we go.

As they pack, students need to remember that they will be responsible for their own luggage and need to be able to carry it themselves.

We confirmed with everyone that they will come with us to Logan Airport on March 3 in a bus from St. Mark's. We should arrive there just before 4PM and spend some time checking in. Everyone needs to be picked up on March 14.

We also reminded everyone that all St. Mark's rules apply while we are away, including rules about alcohol, tobacco, security and parietals.

Alitalia

All of our flights will be on Alitalia for this trip, both back and forth to the US and between Italy and Greece. The airline's website does allow you to follow our flights, as do many flight-tracking sites. Our departure is just three weeks away!

If you still have your child's passport, we would like to collect copies of the first pages to keep with us, just in case. One of the chaperones will have passport copies, medical forms and a cellphone at all times. We'll collect passport information from students next week.

About money

As we move closer to our departure, several people have asked about how students should bring spending money. This has gotten far easier recently, but we do have some suggestions.

• Students only need spending money for snacks and shopping. All trip costs, including meals and the occasional gelato, are included. Most students should be fine with $100-$200, depending on how much shopping they plan to do.
• The easiest and safest way to bring money is to get a prepaid credit card through Visa or American Express. You can load money onto the card and students can use them in stores for purchases and at ATMs for cash. They can also be reloaded from home should the need arise.
• Students can also bring traveler's checks. While we're in Rome and Athens, they will be able to use them at stores and exchange them for cash at banks, the American Express offices and exchange stores.
• American bank cards work in Italian and Greek ATMs so some people choose simply to get money this way while they travel. This is easy, but presents the same risks having a bank card at home does (full access to all of your account at any time.) If you do choose this option, please check with your bank that they participate in a network available in Italy and Greece and that your PIN will work in European ATMs.
• You should notify your banks and credit card companies about your travel plans. Many review foreign transactions and will decline charges overseas until they have confirmation that you really are in Europe. They'll note the dates and locations so that they'll know they can approve your charges.

Dr. Hartnett, Ms. McCann, Mr. O'Donnell and I will be there to help students navigate this, but haing a good understanding before they travel about money (how they use it and how much they can spend) is important.

Travel Plans and the House of Augustus

You should have received an email by now from Dr. Hartnett with information about flights and hotels. If you need additional information or haven't received the email, please let us know.

I have just heard from Rome that we will be able to go into the House of Augustus. This site on the Palatine Hill is closed to the public but we've gotten permission from the
Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma to spend an hour there on Monday. We'll be able to see the house Augustus had built in the first century BC and the nearby Temple of Apollo and the remains of the Hut of Romulus. While the house Augustus built is not as magestic as those built by later emperors, it is impressive and says something about this first leader of the Principate that he chose to build such a small house, surrounded by symbols of Rome's foundation and the gods. Only two rooms are open, the Room of the Masks and the Room of the Pine Garlands, both named after the decorations in the rooms and wonderful examples of Roman wall painting.

Still Planning

Dr. Hartnett, Mr. O'Donnell, Ms. McCann and I continue to work on the details of the itinerary, including who will talk where and where we'll eat. Here's the working itinerary:

March 3 - Depart Boston
March 4 - Arrive Rome and go on a walk to see major monuments, ending with the Capitoline Museum and dinner
March 5 - The Forum, Palatine and Colosseum
March 6 - Imperial and Augustan monuments before lunch and a church tour after
March 7 - The Vatican and dinner in Trastevere
March 8 - Ostia and an afternoon preparing for the trip to Athens
March 9 - Arrive in Athens about noon and walk through the city for orientation
March 10 - The Acropolis
March 11 - Museums and monuments
March 12 - Delphi
March 13 - Day-cruise to three islands
March 14 - Return to Boston

We've made a few changes, including a longer visit to the Vatican. Fr. LaMacchia (who will be joining us for his first trip to Rome) has arranged tickets for a Papal Audience at the Papal Audience Hall Wednesday morning.

Expect an email from Dr. Hartnett soon, including an 800 number you can use to reach us in Rome and Athens.

Preparations

We're just about ready for our departure for Rome on March 3. The transportation and hotels are booked: we'll be leaving Boston March 3 on Alitalia and arriving the next morning in Rome. We've missed the connection in Milan two of the previous trips, but I hope we'll make it this time. There will be a bus waiting to take us to the hotel, close to the Colosseum, where we'll stay for the first four nights.

One additional scheduling detail we just finalized is the day-long cuise in the Saronic Gulf for the final day in Athens. I'll post details later.