Stonehill College Alumni Travel

2011: Munich III

2011-10-09T10:14:00.004-04:00

The official tour took us to Marktl and Altotting. Some skipped the formal program to visit museums (BMW for example) or explore the city further on their own.

Marktl is the birthplace of Pope Benedict. We viewed a short movie and then walked around inside the home, which he lived in until he was just a few years old. We then went around the corner to the quaint little church where he was baptized. Several of us stopped in the information center for hot coffee.

Then off to Altotting - site of the statue of the Black Madonna. The chapel housing the statue is situated in the center of the town square. Its perimeter is adorned with paintings, drawings, and words of devotion and gratitude brought by those on pilgrimage who prayed to the Madonna and experienced miracles. The shrine is visited by millions of people.

We then had time for lunch (and shopping) in this little town before returning to Munich.

Tonight we have our farewell dinner and tomorrow we have an early wake up to begin our journey home.

2011: Munich II

2011-10-09T10:09:00.004-04:00

We awoke and boarded the bus for a city tour of Munich with our local guide. We swung by museums and squares and got a very good overview of the city's history and beauty. We got off the bus and headed to the city center: Marienplatz, where the beautifu City Hall stands (and holds the famous Glockenspiel). We also went into the cathedral which had pictures of its destruction at the end of the war - although both of its towers remained intact.

We than had free time for lunch - and, of course, shopping - before meeting up again to board the bus. The bus took us to Dachau, site of the first Nazi Concentration Camp. Not sure any of us can describe the experience in words. This visit ended with Fr. Kevin offering Mass in the Chapel on site.

2011: Munich

2011-10-09T09:57:00.004-04:00

Sorry for the delay in posting: technical difficulties. We have arrived in Munich - along with some cold temperatures and rain.

We left Salzburg and headed up into the mountains to visit Eagle's Nest. Unfortunately, icy conditions prohibited us from going up to the retreat. Instead we saw the documentation area which allowed us access into part of the actual undergraound bunkers used by the Nazis. The presentations and displays were very moving.

We then departed for a beautiful little village town, Prien. Situated right on Lake Chiemsee, the town boasts buildings decorated with murals. We boarded the ferry and headed over the lake to 'men's island' to visit a palace of King Ludwig II - who was a bit (or more than a bit) crazy. The palace was ornate and over-done. The entire palace was Ludwig's monument to Louis XIV of France. So it is very similar to Versailles. In fact, four rooms were never intended to be used -- they were part replicas of rooms in the French palace, inlcuding the hall of mirrors.

We made it back to the ferry in time, boarded the bus and departed for Munich. Where most of us tried (some successfully) to eat and drink at the famous Hofbrahaus. The place was jam packed!

2011 - Day 5: Salzburg

2011-10-07T01:47:00.004-04:00

We left Vienna (early again) but enjoyed another pitch-perfect day of great weather!

En route to Salzburg we stopped in Melk to visit the very impressive Melk Abbey. Run by the Benedictines, the abbey has been here for hundreds of years. It currently serves as a museum of its own history as well as the history of the Benedictines in the area, a church and a school. 30 monks are in residence at the abbey. It offered gorgeous views of the town , river and countryside, lovely courtyards, religious relics and archives, a grand library and a spectacular church!

We boarded our motorcoach and headed west for Salzburg, where we met local guide Gabi for a short city tour. The tour included a visit to Mozart's home, and many of the sites from the Sound of Music movie. This is a quaint little town with mazes of little alleys and streets spanning both sides of the river.

Kevin again shared a lot of his knowledge with us on the bus - offering two presentations about the area (including one on Adolf Hitler as we passed by his birthplace) and some of his current reseach.

Tomorrow we head to Germany.

2011: Day 4 - Vienna

2011-10-05T10:55:00.003-04:00

Another great day!

We had a 6am wake up call - but it paid off!
Our tour director, Robert, secured the first reservations of the day at Shronbrunn Palace - which meant we were the only guests in the Palace for the most part. We went room to room with our own local guide, Gabi, for a nearly private tour! A one-of-a-kind experience for sure. The Palace and Gardens were beautiful. 1,441 rooms and acres and acres of grounds. We learned about Mary Theresa (and all of her 16 children). This was the summer palace for the Hapsburg dynasty.

We then switched gears and went to see modern art at KunstHausWien - what a creative artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser was. And a man who epitomized eco-friendly living and work. A very different experience after our tour of the Palace.

Next was a driving tour of some of the city's monuments, etc. with a stop for lunch along the way. We ended with a walking tour to additional historic spots and a tour of the downtown palace - the winter residence of the Hapsburg clan - and currently where the Austrian President is. {There was actually a visiting dignatary - we saw the motorcade and another country's flag in the courtyard (researching which country the flag belonged to).}

Then free time to explore some more - perhaps some shopping, some Sacher Torte, a stroll through one of the parks, or a glass of Austrian wine or beer. Tonight we head out into the coutryside for an Austrian wine dinner - looking forward to it!

Weather has been pitch-perfect thus far and no rain in the forecast for tomorrow as we make our way to Salzburg.

Hello to everyone back home!

2011 - Day 3 Vienna

2011-10-04T12:36:00.004-04:00

This morning we had an early wake up call, a nice breakfast and said goodbye to the wonderful city of Prague.

We had a nearly-full day of bus riding as we made our way to Vienna. (The highway construction not only caused a bit of delay; but also reminded us of home :) .)

We stopped in Brno to grab lunch and spend the last of our Czech money before crossing the border into Austria. There we checked into our Hilton Hotel - just a short walk from city center. Some began exploring on their own and others caught up on sleep and rest.

We'll head out tonight for a concert of Strauss and Mozart compositions in a Viennese Palace.

On route to Vienna our tour director Robert shared some of his knowledge of the area, including some history of Napoleon. But, the highlight was Professor Kevin Spicer sharing some of his expertise on the area and how its rulers and citizens were involved with the Holocaust. He didn't even make it back to his seat in the middle of the bus before being stopped by travelers looking to chat about his comments and studies. We look forward to hearing from Kevin in a few days when we have more extended time on the bus!

Tomorrow is a FULL day. Wake up call at 6am for a 7:30am departure from the hotel. Robert tells us we have the first reservation of the day to tour Scronnonbrunn Palace - with more than 1,400 rooms, we'll need all the time we can get! We also see a few more of city's sights before getting some free time in the afternoon (which means shopping for many!).

2011 - Day 2 Prague

2011-10-03T17:25:00.004-04:00

Thanks to our readers for leaving comments! Folks got a kick out of it and say hello back.

Today could not have been better!! We had a reasonable wake up call and a great breakfast in the hotel before departing for a walking tour of Prague with our local guide Alex.

She took us to so many places and shared many stories (and even a few singing notes!) Charles Bridge was spectacular! The astrological clock tower was fun and impressive. All the alleyways, stone roads and walkways and the 1,000 spires! Architecture and history galore....

We also visited the Jewish Heritage Museum and cemetery. The museum was very moving with thousands of family names as well as children's sketches and coloring.

Then we had FREE TIME to explore this wonderful city on our own. Folks split up and grabbed some lunch (and maybe a local pilsner), did more sightseeing (some went up the tower), and perhaps a little shopping.

Many of us enjoyed a wonderful evening riverboat cruise. A bonus was that the entire boat was just for us!! A nice variety of foods on the buffet and a great night to go to the open-air second level for picturesque views of the city lit up at night.

We said goodbye to Alex and prepare for our 6:00am wake up call - as tomorrow we head to Vienna!

PS - the weather also could not have been better - 70-75 and not a cloud in the sky!!!

2011 Day 1 - Prague

2011-10-02T17:22:00.004-04:00

We have arrived - and with all our luggage, too!

Got to Logan airport to learn of a 3 hour delay, which would have resulted in a missed connection in Paris. BUT, a terrific team for Air France moved all 30 of us to a Luftansa flight with a connection through Frankfurt and we arrived in Prague just 10 minutes later than scheduled - thanks to their staff!!!

We were met by our tour director Robert and local guide Alex. They got us settled on the bus and provided a brief introduction of this wonderful city. We then headed to the Palace - nine times larger than Buckingham, it is the largest in all of Europe! And what splendid views of the city it provided from its balconies. We also toured the St. Vitus Cathedral. Even though the crowds were tough to navigate, we got to enjoy the beauty.

Then on to the hotel - which is terrific and perfectly situated near Old Town. Some grabbed a light lunch, some napped, and others began exploring. It was a beautiful day - sunny and about 75 degrees!

Fr. Kevin offered Mass in the outdoor veranda. After which we had our welcome meeting and headed to dinner.

Dinner was TERRIFIC! Great food (obviously, great company!) and some entertainment as well. The folklore show even got some of us singing, dancing or playing instruments! The food and drink were good too.

Tomorrow we will take a walking tour of Old Town and the Jewish Quarter. Then enjoy an afternoon of free time after which many of us will board a ship for an evening dinner cruise.

Everyone says hello to loved ones at home.

PS - we all sang happy Birthday to Barbara - and got all the other dinner guests involved too!

2011 Central European Cities Tour

2011-09-29T12:04:00.002-04:00

In just two days, 32 alumni and friends will depart for the 5th Alumni Travel Program and will visit the historic cities of Prague, Vienna and Munich.
Stay tuned for our online travel journal and follow along our adventure!!

2011-09-08T14:10:00.001-04:00

Just 23 days until departure on our Central European Cities Tour!

Greece 2010 - Delphi

2010-12-28T14:22:00.005-05:00

We boarded the motorcoach and left the hotel for a scenic drive to Delphi. Again, we were treated to Andi's stories and knowledge - how does she know so much about everything?!?!?!

We walked through Delphi, seeing where the oracle had been, as well as many lesser-known components of the site - a stadium included. The hill was steep to the top; but worth the views of the area.

The museum here was also great and many of us were able to spend time enjoying the antiquities.

We left the site to get lunch, which included rooster, and enjoy a spectacular view from the restaurant.

Greece 2010 - Athens II

2010-12-28T14:13:00.002-05:00

We were treated to a full day of FREE TIME in Athens - with lots of options to occupy our time.

Andi hosted an optional excursion, which about a dozen of us joined (and loved!).

The rest took to the streets for exploration on a beautiful day. Some bought tickets for the "jump-off" bus tour and got to see many of the sites. Others went by foot and saw many of the same sites (but endured a full day of walking). The sites included Parliament, the Plaka, Temple of Zeus, Hadrian's Arch and/or Library, the ancient Agora, the beautiful city Gardens and the Olympic Stadium.

More toured museums on their own, went shopping or spent a day of leisure in Athens. All reported back having a great day.

Greece 2010 - Delos

2010-10-11T02:35:00.004-04:00

On October 8th about 7 of our group joined about 60 other passengers from the ship for an optional excurson as soon as we docked in Mykonos to go aboard the tender,the Orca, and make the 30 minute crossing to the uninhabited island of Delos. We arrived about 4pm,and hour after the island "closed" for visitors. Roxane, the guide for English speakers (about 30 of us) informed us that we had the special priviledge of an off-hours visit to the ruins of one of ncient Greece's most sacred sanctuaries. This meant no one at all (except the caretakers) besides us had the freedom to follow along with Roxane or to roam at will among the classical temples devoted to Leto, the mother of twins Apollo and Artemis.

The bareen island is overlooked by a mountain whose stairway to the tp looked inviting to those of us inclined to such folley - too bad (maybe?) there was no time, and we had plenty of other distractions - the herd-scented air under a blue sky (although it was windy) and Hellenic Greek mansions whose central courtyards still contained mosaics and stairs to a lost second story.

We sat in the theater - what Greek ruins lacks a theater?! Peeked into ancient kitchens - it appears the Greeks only grilled or boiled their food. (Frying they considered unhealthy!)

Particularly interesting to me was the sacred lake, now just damp, with a date palm in the middle, recalling the moment when Leto grabbed it as she gave birth to her divine twins.

By 6pm, in the twilight, the Orca returned us to the fleshpots of Mykonos and later, dinner on the Cristal.

Thanks to guest blogger, Prof. Mry Joan Leith for this entry!

Greece 2010 - Athens 1

2010-10-10T11:15:00.003-04:00

Early wake up calls and our final morning gathering in the Metropolitan Ballroom on the ship before disembarking in the port of Piraeus. We met our local guide Andi, oarded our bus and headed off to downtown Athens.

We enjoyed a sightseeing tour of the city - a great we to become acclimated to the new city. Our tour ended at the Acropolis, where we got off the bus and tour the site. Except for some wind on the top of the mountain, it was perfect. The ruins/excavation is awe-inspiring and the views overlooking the city were fantastic!

We returned to the bus, checked into our hotel - the Classical Imperial Athens- first class all the way - and then met up with Andi again for a tour of th Acropolis Museum. What a marvel just the building is. the glass floors outside (and in!) gave a fascinating perspective of the excavated ruins right under foot.

We then went our own ways and enjoyed the city, our hotel (and it's squigee-less bathrooms) and dinner in local tavernas.

Greece 2010 - Santorini

2010-10-08T07:46:00.004-04:00

We boarded the boat after finishing in Crete and sailed the afternoon away until we reached Santorini. Some of us booked an optional excursion run by the ship and enjoyed a great tour - which allowed them to see the island from both sides.

Others opted to explore on their own. For the first time on the trip we needed to take tender boats from the ship to the shore. Then we looked nearly straight up the mountainside to see where the village was we wanted to tour. Our options were to ride a donkey up the mountain, walk up the mountain (on the same path used by the donkeys) or ride the cable car.

Once at the top, we enjoyed the most picturesque views found in the world. The winding side streets were lined with shops and cafes. But most importantly, the taverns were right on the cliff's edge with spectacular views of sunset each night. Breathtaking!

Greece 2010 - Crete

2010-10-08T07:23:00.005-04:00

Our morning departure brought us to the island of Crete. The largest of the Greek islands, supposed birthplace of Zeus, and home to the "bottomless lake". We remain unconvinced that Crete is in the Mediterranean Sea and not the Aegean... those living on the island call it the 5th largest island in the Mediterranean.

We met our local guide Andonus and boarded a bus for an hour's drive through the hillside to reach the famous Palace of Knossos.

The Palace was home to King Minos and the excavation site is very impressive.

Greece 2010 - Rhodes

2010-10-06T10:08:00.006-04:00

Rhodes may be one of the most beautiful places on the planet! Of course, it helps when you have great company and another day of perfect weather. Again - just over 80 degrees with not a cloud in the sky.

We began this AM at 7:00 when we gathered to depart for our excursions. Our guide Maria was super smart and switched our order to avoid the congestion of the other tour buses. There were 35 buses headed on excursions (from a number of ships) and 30 of them headed to Lindos first. We, instead, remained close to the port and took a tour of the medieval walled city of Rhodes. Very cool!

We then boarded the bus for about an hour's drive to Lindos. Along the way we passed some new hotels going up right on the beaches - book your vacation now! Maria shared some of the history of Rhodes and of the Acropolis of Lindos, our destination.

A few of us rode the burros up the mountain part of the way. Some stayed part-way up and enjoyed the shops and taverns. The rest climbed the sometimes treacherous steps and paths to the top. Every single turn offered another beautiful view of the sea or of the landscape. Extraordinary!

We returned to the port, dropped off some belongings and had the afternoon free to ourselves. Some enjoyed lunch on the ship, others returned to the walled city (now come to life with all the streets lined with shops, etc), some relaxed on the ship and enjoyed the beautiful day. There was a lot of shopping going on!!! Poor Lorena hurt her leg yesterday and did not join the group - we hope she has recovered and joins us for Crete tomorrow AM!

Tonight we have a complimentary cocktail party before dinner and it is "elegant" attire - so expect to see photos of us looking our best!!

Greece 2010 - Kusadasi

2010-10-05T17:56:00.005-04:00

We had some down time after Patmos and took advantage. Mary Joan shared her thoughts about the Grotto of St. John, spoke about our next stop, Ephesus, and then shared some info about her current research (and book!).

We had a few hours more to enjoy lunch, catch a nap, grab a lounge chair on one of the ship's decks or gather and chat. Super relaxing and very enjoyable.

Then we left the ship upon arrival in Kusadasi (ku-sha-da-c). We took a 20 minute bus ride to Ephesus to visit the ancient Roman ruins. An entire city had been built and established here - a major city. Many world rulers - Antony & Cleopatra for example - visited the city during their time.

The excavations were amazing. Not just a column here and there - but miles of ruins. We completely got a sense for the entire city's layout and complexities for its time. The library and the stadium were most impressive. Words can do no justice - photos will need to be added!

We returned to the ship for Greek Night! Dinner menu items featured traditional Greek favorites and many of us went to the showroom for the Greek Dancing and Singing Show.

Since dinner began at 9:15pm and the show at 11:00pm - it was a full day for all. But a terrific one, especially since mother nature has continued to smile on us --- another 80 degree day with not a cloud in the sky!!!!

Greece 2010 - Patmos

2010-10-05T17:48:00.004-04:00

We had early morning wake up calls for a departure meeting at 7:00am. We boarded a shuttle with our local guide Dimitrius (very close to our traveling sisters the Demetrius's). Dimitrius was a terrific guide. He was very knowledgeable, kept us at a good pace and was extra nice to Joe!

Our first stop was at the Grotto of St. John. This is essentially a cave - THE cave where St. John the apostle (either the Divine or the Theologian - ask Mary Joan to explain) wrote the Book of Revelation. While very modest it was very impressive - an honor to see.

From there the bus brought us up higher on the mountain to the Monastery - almost. There were lots of steps - ancient steps with no handrails and very uneven - but we all made it. And glad we did!

The first room was overwhelmingly beautiful with frescoes and portraits of saints dating back as far as the 12th century. We moved from room to room. Heard about the earthquake which fractured frescoes - only to reveal older ones beneath. Then we made out way to the museum (and past the Chamberlain-brother look-alike!) where Dimitrius explained a number of important items.

We stopped after making our way back down the hill for a group photo (coming soon!) and then boarded the bus back to the port where we had a little time to stroll, shop and sample some of the foods recommended by our guide.

Greece 2010 - Mykonos

2010-10-04T17:58:00.006-04:00

What a BEAUTIFUL day!! We had temps of about 80 degrees with not a cloud in the sky!!!

We awoke and had breakfast on board the ship before our meeting. The cruise director, Elisabeth, joined us for the life jacket/emergency meeting and she reviewed some basic ship info. We then reviewed some items on our Stonehill-list and had about 5 hours to enjoy the beautiful day on board our ship.

Some of our activities included: grabbing a chair on one of the many decks for sun and/or reading, a cooking demonstration by a singing chef, a Mr. Cruise Ship contest (we had no entries!), bingo, trivia and more! We also had a few options for lunch on board - and it was very good!

We then headed to the decks for a view of Mykonos as we neared shore and "parked". We gathered in the Metropolis Lounge and awaited our time for disembarkation. Buses brought us closer to the main section of the island so we could explore.

Many of our group took an optional excursion to Delios - Mary Joan is hard at work at a blog entry to tell us how that went!

They say that the Mykonos residents earn 80% of their living for the year during tourist season - and we can see why! These beautiful winding streets are lined with shops and tavernas and bars and more shops. From exquisite jewelry (someone spotted a necklace price at $25,040 Euro and someone else spotted a piece in the case they liked - until the $3,000 Euro price tag was revealed) and hand-made items to the typical souvenir spots.

The famous windmills of Mykonos were not to be missed - many have great photos! (By the way, technological difficulties do not allow us to post our photos for now - as soon as we have been granted access, look for our pictures!) And the sunset was one to behold!

Most of the day was spent at our own pace which was a nice change from the travels of yesterday. It made for a very relaxing and enjoyable first day in Greece for all!

Tomorrow we visit two islands and have excursions on both - so watch for some great posts (and hopefully some pics!).

Everyone says hello to family and friends back home - wish you were here!

Arriving in Turkey

2010-10-03T16:03:00.004-04:00

We gathered (some of us on the shuttle from campus) at Logan and boarded our Swiss Air flight to Europe. We made it nearly an hour ahead of schedule and then waiting for our transfer in Zurich - with the oddest/archaic terminal system ever!

We then made it to Istanbul, Turkey to begin our trip! After some delays with our visas and nearly missing the boat - we made it to the port and boarded our ship - the Cristal.

With just enough time to change, we made it to dinner. Which was better than expected!
Some headed right to bed others are taking some time to explore the ship.

Tomorrow we dock in Mykonos but begin with a group meeting in the AM.

We're sure to have some great stories to share! Hope everyone is well at home!!!!

2010 - Grecian Odyssey

2010-09-03T15:41:00.003-04:00

The fourth installment of the Stonehill Alumni Travel Program is called "Grecian Odyssey" and will be held in October 2010.

A sell-out crowd of nearly 50 alumni and friends will take part in this journey, which includes 5 nights touring the Greek isles on a cruise ship and three nights in a hotel in Athens.

Our faculty guide will be Associate Professor of Religious Studies Mary Joan Leith.

Stay tuned to follow our journey through Greece!

London & Paris - arrival home

2009-10-19T14:01:00.004-04:00

Well, we made it home - and arrived at Logan airport to see snow in the air and on the ground. We were not expecting this!

What a great trip we all had. There were so many highlights. During our trip home we chatted about everyone's best part of the trip and the answers varied: the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the theatres in London, Windsor Castle, Versailles....

We ceratinly had a jam-packed vacation and got to see so many of the wonderful things both these great cities have to offer.

Everyone has made plans to share photos and remain in touch. Rumors of a traveler-Reunion are also abound! Thanks to everyone for such an enjoyable time, and to our readers for following along with us!

Paris - Farewell Dinner & Cruise

2009-10-19T13:53:00.003-04:00

For our final evening together we gathered at a downtown restaurant (La Fermette Marbeuf), for a terrific French dinner.

Following dinner we headed toward the docks near the Eiffel tower and boarded a barge to set sail on a night cruise down the Seine River.

With music playing over the sound system or a handheld speaker to listen to the guided tour, we all enjoyed seeing Paris by night. If we weren't impressed by the city by then - this cruise certainly put us over the top! Under the bridges, past the Louvre and Notre Dame, the lights were brilliant and there couldn't have been a better conclusion to our journey.

On the way back to the hotel, our driver took us on a loop to see all the sites we had seen by day in their evening splendor. Most of us gathered in the hotel bar for a nightcap, to reminisce about all the things we've enjoyed on the trip and enjoy each other's company (and singing talents!) some more.

Paris - Montmartre

2009-10-19T13:45:00.003-04:00

We had free time for our final afternoon in Paris and many of us headed to the Montmartre section. This is the last village of Paris and home to the famous basilica Sacre Coeur.

This artsy village is situated on a high and was home to many artists, including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The market area of the village is lined with local artists working and selling in the open air.

There were many shops in the area as well - which helped us get some more of our souvenir shopping done!

Paris - Giverny

2009-10-19T13:35:00.003-04:00

Givery - home of Claude Monet, and inspiration for so many of his masterpieces - is where we headed for our final morning of touring.

Our guide, Chris, shared lots of information about the town, Monet and the impressionist movement before dropping us off to tour the grounds on our own.

The water garden (featured in "Water Lilies") was terrific. Many of us said that we'd never look at the painting the same way after being there, standing on the bridge and looking across the pond.

The gardens were breathtaking! While we visited during the off-season and some of the blooms had wilted, the scope of the gardens was nearly overwhelming. Lots of photo-taking, as we roamed the grounds and noted the variety of flowers, trees, and bushes.

Monet's home was also open for touring. Clearly an artist's home, with brightly colored walls and lots of windows for light. Interestingly, the home was decorated with hundreds of Japanese art - which apparently served as inspiration for Monet.

What a beautiful place to visit! A relaxing morning for all.

Paris - Louvre

2009-10-16T17:22:00.005-04:00

After Notre Dame we had some free time in Paris!!

While we split into groups everyone visited the Louvre. A ENORMOUS museum featuring more than 35,000 pieces in its collection - including the Mona Lisa! This painting was a gift to Louis XIV from da Vinci upon his death and was housed at Versailles for years and is now part of the Louvre's permanent collection. The crowds here were the biggest!

Another highlight was seeing the Venus de Milo! There's no way we could have seen everything - but everything we saw was beautiful!

Other free time activities included stopping by the Shakespeare and Co. Bookshop, shopping on the Champs Elysees, and some great dinners.

We even saw some of Paris by night!! Another great day!

Paris - City Bus Tour

2009-10-16T17:12:00.004-04:00

Valerie again escorted us out of Versailles and back into Paris. We drove by many historic places and stopped at a few.

We stopped at the Eiffel Tower and almost left Isabelle out of the photo, as she was already off shopping. However, she made it in time for the group photo, which was breathtaking regardless of the chilly and cloudy day. After, we drove by the Concorde de la Place, Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs Elysees (the 2nd most expensive street in the world - 2nd to 5th Avenue in New York) - all the women were smiling at their husbands!

We also stopped by the residence of the French President and stopped for pictures at the site where Napoleon is buried - it is an entire military museum dedicated to him. We also drove by "The Thinker".

At the end of the trip, we got off at the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was another amazing sight. Many of us travelled in and lit candles, but the mere presence was breathtaking.

-Submitted by Guest Blogger Jenn

Paris - Versailles

2009-10-16T16:57:00.005-04:00

After a "petit" breakfast, we boarded on the bus for Versailles, with many tired faces. Our tour guide, Valerie led us out of the city and into the town Versailles, which is the oldest section of Paris. The town is mostly residential, with a 30 minute train commute to Paris.

We got to the palace and were simply amazed by the size. Valerie "whispered" in our ears as she gave a tour of the palace.

Just three kings lived in the palace - Louis XIV (Sun King), Louis XV (his grandson) and Louis XVI (great-grandson of the Sun King who was married to Marie Antoinette).

The palace was lavish and ornate. Clearly the Sun King was trying to impress the other rulers across the world (and his palace has been copied many times over).

Most impressive was the Hall of Mirrors - extraordinary!!!!

We also saw the Private and Public bedrooms of the king and the queen.

Once we left the palace we toured the grounds which were equally impressive! The fountains were not working (out of season) but everything was so beautiful and almost overwhelming!

Such a great experience!!!

Paris - first day

2009-10-15T18:44:00.005-04:00

Everyone headed to the Eiffel Tower via the Metro and got spectacular views. Whether you stayed on the ground and took in the tower or rode the elevators to the middle or top landing - the sights were amazing!

Everyone also got to visit the Musee d'Orsay. Absolutely incredible what pieces of art were on display... original Rembrandts, Van Goghs, Monets, Manets, Pissaros were all on the same floor of the museum!!!! And the building itself is an old train station that was beautiful in its own right.

We split up and had dinner on our own - hopefully everyone enjoyed some French desserts!

Tomorrow morning we head to Versailles!

London & Paris

2009-10-15T18:36:00.006-04:00

This morning we checked out of our London hotel and headed to the train station where we boarded the Eurostar and headed to Paris.

Seems simple enough. Not quite. We piled our bags right at the entrance to the platform our train was assigned to. Not only did our platform get reassigned and we needed to hussle to the next escalator; but they boarded 10 minutes early - at least they tried to...
Cars 2 and 3 had some electronic problems and needed to be closed, and yes, we had seats in car 2. They did not reissue tickets with new seats - instead it was a free-for-all. We all worked together with our director Chris and got the luggage on board and stowed. Then half of us found seats. The rest of us waited to be seated after the train was moving...

BUT, once everyone had seats it was a great ride. Fairly smooth and really quick. Just over 2 hours London to Paris. Lots of scenery along the countryside and we went under the water in the Chunnel!

We arrived in Paris on time and checked into our great new hotel. Then off for free time. First stop the Eiffel Tower!

London - Inherit the Wind

2009-10-14T21:00:00.005-04:00

Tonight several of us took in another performance at a London theatre. This time around it was "Inherit the Wind" at the Old Vic.

One of the stars was none other than Kevin Spacey - who was great as the defense attorney - who serves as artistic director at the theatre.

We marveled at how deep the stage was, how many cast members were in this production, the amount of humor brought into the script, and the wonderful acting.

On the Tube ride back to the hotel a few mentioned how interesting it was that the Stonehill group saw this production - a show grappling with finding balance between science and religion...

Tomorrow its off to the Eurostar for our departure to Paris. While we have had so many great times in London, we look forward to the next leg of our journey!

London - Leeds Castle

2009-10-14T20:54:00.006-04:00

Our afternoon was a visit to Leeds Castle - which is NOT in Leeds.

This medieval castle was formerly a private home and was left by its last owner as a trust to be open to visitors. Interestingly, the widow of the owning family was American and she made huge improvements and modernizations to the castle before deeding it to the trust.

While the inside was interesting - so many artifacts and pieces of art - the outside gorunds were spectacular!

Acres of land with ponds, streams, varieties of trees, plants and flowers and lots of animal life (dozens of peacocks, black swan, sheep, etc). The grounds also host a golf course which some were playing as we roamed about.

On a beautiful spring or summer day many of us agreed we'd love to grab a good book and pull up a blanket somewhere here and simply enjoy the serenity and beauty.

London - Canterbury

2009-10-14T20:46:00.005-04:00

Most of us headed out for our optional excursion today - Canterbury and Leeds Castle. Others took in the sites of downtown London - like the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace!

The 2 hour drive to Canterbury was very scenic once we hit the country. The town itself is a marvel.

A highlight is the cathedral; site of Thomas Becket's (St. Thomas of Canterbury) murder, as well as his crypt (until it was destroyed). The gothic architecture is awesome at this cathedral - one of the few in England in this style and it features the infamous flying buttresses.

The cathedral was huge - if you sat in the main seating area for Mass you'd never see (or hear) the celebrant. Everything was very elaborate.

There was a side door with a courtyard and a beautiful garden. Sheila, Maureen and Susan all discovered it first and then tried directing everyone else there. A favorite of their's was the yellow rose (I forget the exact name - but they'll remember!).

The town itself was terrific and we had lots of free time to explore (and stop by some of the little shops!). Little pubs, craft stores, linen, outdoor markets, restaurants, and even a Subway lined these ancient streets.

A great morning - made even better by our driver Allan, who pulled the bus up as close as possible to town center - saving us about 30 minutes of walking time.

London - dinner with students

2009-10-13T20:40:00.005-04:00

Tonight we were joined at dinner by several current Stonehill students spending the semester in England.

As we have had a few very busy days (nearly running on empty), their energy and enthusiasm was contagious and we found ourselves re-energized!

The students are studying at several colleges in England or are interning in London for the semester. Everyone enjoyed hearing their stories. We are impressed with their experiences!

They, in turn, were thrilled for a meal that they did not have to prepare themselves (a few noted how much they miss the Caf food!).

They were also willing to share some tips for what to do with free time, etc.

Also joining us were Shannon, Shelby and Rion - all graduated in May and have moved to London! Their experiences are equally impressive - and they got to offer tips to the current students as well. A great day all around!

Tomorrow our bus departs at 8:00 for Canterbury - so we need to get some sleep.....

London - Stonehenge

2009-10-13T20:37:00.006-04:00

From Bath we departed to visit the ancient Stonehenge.

On the drive Katie offered a mini-lecture of sorts about Jane Austin. The information was terrific - informative and fun. She talked about Austin's life and also some of her works. She also answered our questions - what a treat!! Thanks Katie!

Everyone has seen photos and heard legends (some new legends mentioned for their construction: Merlin or the devil) of Stonehenge.

While we could not go up to the stones themselves, we did get a self-guided tour again and were able to take some great photos. One shot we took was of Ted and Isabel in their Stonehill gear!!

London - Bath

2009-10-13T20:34:00.006-04:00

We left this morning for the town of Bath.

What a lovely (British use this word often) town!!!! Could have spent many more hours there....

The highlight was the Roman Baths with the hot springs, which we learned about from our director Chris and from the self guided tour of the baths. Very very cool!

We ate lunch on our own and then spent a little time roaming the town (some shopping was done). We drove by Jane Austin's home and had a photo stop at the Royal Crescent (now apartments; one resident is Nick Cage). A great morning!!

London - an evening in London

2009-10-12T20:18:00.005-04:00

After the Globe Theatre we had free time to explore the city.
Some of us went to the Tate Modern Museum for viewing, others went to Harrods for shopping, others circled back and revisited some of the places we had seen by bus on the sightseeing tour the other day, for learning. All of us certainly took lots of pictures for capturing the moments!

A number of us met up at Gordon's Wine Bar (a recommendation of Katie's, as she has known this establishment for years and it is close to the National Theatre). Great wine, some food and terrific story-telling wrapped up a terrific day in London.

But we weren't done yet - 12 of us moved on tho the National Theatre to catch a performance of "Our Class". We made it to the theatre and headed to the Cottlesloe stage, which is a black box theater (new to some of us). The actors were so close!!

The performance was fantastic! Gripping story and wonderful acting all the way through. And while terrific, it was certainly a drama - very intense, moving stories, and dark themes kept the crowd interested and even brought about some tears. Thanks to Katie for the suggestion!! It was a wonderful night at the theatre.

Can't wait to hear what the others did with their night! Tomorrow we're off to Stonehenge and Bath and then will have dinner with some of the current Stonehill students in England for the semester.

London - Costume Demo

2009-10-12T20:14:00.004-04:00

While at the Globe Theatre, we had the chance t go through its museum and also to see a costume demonstration.

Not only was this entertaining and very informative - but our very own Jenn got to be the "actress"!

The costumers dressed Jenn in the costume of Ophelia. From tunic and corset to hat and shoes the costumers dressed Jenn as they would dress the actress playing Ophelia. In doing so, they also explained what the garments were and why they were important to the costume and the character.

Thanks to Jenn for being such a good sport - and a great Ophelia!!!

London - Globe Theatre

2009-10-12T20:07:00.006-04:00

We had the chance to tour the Globe Theatre - modeled after the original which had burned on the exact site. How exciting to see the replicated stage where Shakespeare's works were performed. Although we learned that there were 4 theatres which hosted Shakespeare's plays in London - the Rose (just two plays), the Swan, the Globe, and the Hope (which was so unsuccessful at theatre performances it was converted into a bear fighting ring).

The Globe was simple; but impressive at the same time. We even wanted to hop up on the stage itself! Our tour guide, David, was terrific. Many of us thought he was an actor with the theatre - but he indicated that he prefers to direct... He answered our questions and he shared some of the worst questions the guides at the Globe have gotten: who painted the sky on the ceiling? (there is no ceiling, it is an open-air theatre), is the theatre air conditioned? (again - open air!) and more than once, they've been asked if Shakespeare attends the performances (hopefully this speaks for itself).

London - Windsor

2009-10-12T19:55:00.006-04:00

We enjoyed a breakfast buffet in the hotel and boarded the bus to drive just 20 miles west of London to Windsor for our morning tour of Windsor Castle.

Along the drive our guide Barry (a surprise replacement who we enjoyed yesterday!) shared more stories of British history and provided an overview of the Castle.

The grounds of the castle are beautiful. Barry coaxed our driver to avoid the rules and drop us off just a short walk from the entrance. On our way in Barry showed us a view of Eton College and shared some background on this historic place. We also noticed that the Queen's flag was flying over the castle - indicating that she, in fact, was in residence today!

Once inside we received self-guided headsets (of sorts) and we were able to enjoy the castle at our own pace. Spectacular can't even describe it!

From the Art Gallery to the China Gallery, up the Grand Staircase and into the Grand Vestibule... we made our way through all the the now-public areas of the Castle. Some highlights were the Waterloo Chamber, the Bed Chambers, Garter Throne Room, and St George's Hall (which will host the State dinner when the Inian Prime Minister visits).

A few of us even saw staff members walking the corgies! We learned about the fire and the restoration project, which was completed in 1997 (just 5 years after the fire) in time to commemorate the Queen's 50th wedding anniversary.

Just outside the main castle, we visited St. George's Chapel - where 10 British kings and 9 queens have been laid to rest. The choir room/area was especially beautiful.

The town of Windsor was very quaint and we wished we had more time to stroll the streets.

London - City Tour

2009-10-11T12:19:00.006-04:00

Chris introduced us to our local guide for the day, Barry (from Bristol) and driver, Alan, and we headed out for a tour of London.

Throughout the afternoon Barry shared laughs, history, political commentary and his affinity for London. We learned that London is the smallest major city in the world - just one square mile - and that Trafalgar Square is right in its center.

We stopped at St. Paul's (the people's church), crossed over the London Bridge and the Tower Bridge with spectacular views of Parliament and Big Ben, heard about the London Dungeon, the Crown Jewels housed in the Tower of London, passed Lloyd's of London, the Bank of England, new Scotland Yard, Somerset House, the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Palace (home of Princess Diana while she was married to Charles and also after their divorce).

We saw two different protest groups - one opposing the war in Iraq and one in favor of climate change. The climate change protesters were hard-core: they climbed the slate roofs of Westminster to hang their banners and sit on the rooftop!

Barry shared a ton of information with us. Everything was covered from Henry VIII, to the Magna Carta; William Fiske to the role of the Lord Mayor of London.

While we weren't able to stop at all the sites, this tour was a great introduction to London and has gotten folks thinking about how they want to spend their free time later in the week.

We returned to the hotel and checked into our rooms. We have about an hour and a half and then we meet for dinner at a local restaurant.

London - Charles Dickens Museum

2009-10-11T12:10:00.004-04:00

Chris led us to the local Tube station and showed us the ropes so we will feel comfortable using the system on our own later in the week and we arrived in the area near the Charles Dickens House Museum.

We arrived at what had been Dickens' home and took self-guided tours throughout. Some of us caught the introductory movie (others were afraid sitting in the dark room on little sleep would cause snoring!).

The museum was great - a very impressive library housing the National Dickens Collection, lots of photographs, sketches, hand-written notes, mini-biographies and even playbills were showcased.

We then had some free time to get some lunch and roam the area, which was very nice even though a number of shops and restaurants were closed for Sunday. We met back up at the Museum and boarded our shuttle for a tour of the city.

London - we made it

2009-10-11T12:03:00.004-04:00

Hello to everyone back home! We all made the journey to London and while most of us did not catch much sleep on the overnight flight, we arrived ahead of schedule! We went through customs, got our bags, waited for the dot2dot bus (with the grumpy desk clerk!) and headed to our hotel.

We drove into the Kensington section of London and arrived at the Kensington Close Hotel - which is in a terrific location and seems to be top notch so far. We left our bags with the porters and joined our local tour director, Chris, for coffee and tea at an overview meeting. Chris highlighted a very busy first day for us and then we headed out on foot to the local Tube station.

London & Paris Preview

2009-09-29T11:05:00.003-04:00

On October 10th the third Stonehill College Alumni Travel Program will depart for a "Literary Tour of London & Paris".

Academic Vice President and Provost Katie Conboy will serve as faculty guide and join the group of alumni and friends as they tour historic and literary sites in both cities and surrounding areas.

Some highlights include a guided tour at the Charles Dickens House Museum and a makeup and costume demonstration at the Globe Theatre. Group members will take excursions to Versailles, Stonehenge, Windsor, Giverny, Cantebury and more.

While in London, the gorup will be joined at dinner by current Stonehill students who are studying or interning in England for the semester as well as some recent graduates who have relocated to London. Some travelers have already planned to attend an evening or two at the theatre.

The trip will conclude in Paris and our final evening will feature a special farewell dinner and a cruise along the Seine.

Watch for updates on the online travel journal as the Alumni Travel Program visits London & Paris.

Making it Home - Barely

2008-10-14T14:37:00.000-04:00

Our 3AM wake up call came and everyone was on the bus for the 4AM departure to the airport in Milan. We did not hit any traffic and arrived with plenty of time to arrive at the airline check-in counter and wait for it to open.

As they open and the first of our group start checking in; we get the news that they cannot supply boarding passes for our second flight (we flew from Milan to Dublin and then from Dublin to Boston) and that we would need to get these boarding passes from the check-in counter in Dublin.

Now, we had realized that we had just 1 hour from the time our first flight was scheduled to land and the time our second flight was supposed to depart. We had already prepared ourselves to be organized and efficient (with no restroom breaks) at the Dublin airport. Now we needed to schedule a stop at the counter to get boarding passes.

So the strategizing began. Everyone who needed to visit the tax free office left the gate and went back ot the Milan airport entrance to prepare their paperwork (and then go through security again). We tried speaking to all the agents about arrival gates and departure gates and where the ticket counter would be in Dublin - to no effect as no one in Milan was familiar with the Dublin airport and barely spoke English. A few of us tried getting information from the flight attendants on board the first flight (while they did call ahead to let the ground crew know 41 of us were coming in on the flight; they did not offer much knowledge and didn't seem as concerned as we were).

We landed in Dublin about 10 minutes ahead of schedule - giving us 70 minutes before next take off...

The group of us must have been a sight to see. Literally racing from one terminal toward the baggage area where the counter was to pick up boarding passes. Following the signs, we forged ahead - only to be stopped in a line. This was Irish Customs and we needed to wait our turn.

Down long hallways, stairs and escalators, we made our way to the baggage area and found the ticket counter. They had pre-printed our passes so it didn't take as long as it might have for 41 of us to get set. But they did hand us a US Customs card and indicated that needed to be completed before we reached the gate.

Off we went - where is Terminal B? More stairs and hallways. Already exhausted from a week of touring Italy and a 3AM wake-up call; we were determined and kept a quick pace.

Rounding a corner, we find ourselves in yet another line - say it ain't so! Yes, we have to go through security and we were not prepared for this. In our efficianecy, we had packed all of belongings. Many had bottles of water or soda in bags (dig them out and throw them away). No one had their ziplock toiletry bags ready for inspection (dig through the carry-ons and throw them in the plastic bins).

Many of us had issues at the security line; but to not embarrass anyone else, I will share my own story at this point: I had waited for everyone else back in Terminal A and had remained in the back of our line throughout the "airport run" so I was one the last to make it to security. Like everyone else, I had thrown away my water, taken off my shoes, belt and watch and had managed to get the laptop out of the bag for inspection. Walking through the metal detector, I set it off. They asked me to go through again - and again. I was asked to step t the side and was patted down while the security team used their metal-detecting wands. Finally, the guards gave up and said to just go on through..... Now I am even more behind the group and can't even see the others running down the corridors toward potential freedom. I put my shoes halfway on, throw my belt, watch and phone in my bag without zipping it up and carried the laptop in my other hand. I'm now part of the line of Stonehill travelers racing down the hall - literally racing. Without a belt my pants begin to slide and I realize that choosing to carry the computer was a bad idea!

I caught up to my friends at what? Another line! We now have to go through US Customs - oh yeah, have remembered to find a pen and fill out your cards? More important things first, as we tie our shoes, put on our belts and secure our carry-on belongings. Through the check we go. Almost there. Just through that door and we find our plane.

Nope. More stairs and another hallway. And finally to the gate attendant. We hand over our boarding passes, show our passports, and prove that we have completed our paperwork and onto the plane we go. The last of our group boarded the plane at 1:55pm - exactly 1 hour and 5 minutes after landing in Terminal A and exactly 5 minutes before the schedule departure.

How all 41 of us made it through that airport, I will never know. But we did it. And we did it without them holding the plane for us!

We arrived at Logan 30 minutes early. Said goodbye to some at the baggage claim and got on the courtesy shuttle back to campus (which had heard of the early landing and was waiting for us when we arrived). Safely back to Stonehill, the remainder of us said goodbye and wished other well (and some rest and relaxation!).

Farewell Dinner

2008-10-14T14:32:00.000-04:00

After a very enjoyable day in Siena and San Gimignano we freshened up and headed to the local restaurant for our Farewell Dinner.

We said our goodbyes and thank you's to Karin, who offered some very lovely words about our group, our trip and about Italy.

About midway through our meal a group at one table began tapping their glasses to get everyone's attention and Frank stood up to offer a toast. Others followed suit with several of our travelers offering words of thanks, comraderie, enjoyment and enthusiasm.

It was such a nice tribute to our group and to Stonehill.

San Gimignano

2008-10-12T12:30:00.000-04:00

A great bus ride (thanks Sergio!) through Tuscany - seeing an American cemetery for veterans and lots of vineyards. Beautiful!

Up the mountain to the lovely San Gimignano. Another quaint town with lots of character - and plenty of shops. Everything from fine leather, wine, jewelry and delis.

Everyone enjoyed having a very relaxing and enjoyable day today. We will head down the street for our final group dinner and then up extra early (3am wake up call) to make it to the airport in Milan in time for our flight.

We'll see everyone soon!

Siena

2008-10-12T12:26:00.001-04:00

Today we headed to wine country (or part of it anyway).

We stopped first in Siena. Many of us attended Sunday Mass at St. Catherine's. Although it wasn't in the main church it was very nice to participate. We later got to tour the main church with Karrin and saw more beautiful altars, frescos, staues, etc.

We walked through the town with Karrin, seeing many great vistas and sites and we saw the first Bank building ever!

The Plaza in Siena was amazing. It had a lovely fountain but was just huge and carried with it the image of Italy most of us had in our minds back in the states. It was very quaint. So many of us would love to return here!

Venice

2008-10-12T12:16:00.000-04:00

This morning we woke up (early again) and headed to Venezia. We learned from Karrin how the city was formed and that it is actually 380 different islands with the city taking up just over 100 of them. Karrin asked who wanted to buy an island!

We met up with our local guide Rita and hit St. Mark's Plaza. Another beautiful spot! And then into Doge's Palace. The Doge had been "President" elected by councilors for a lifetime position - although simply a figurehead for the city. This is the most famous museum in Venice. We passed through the room with 4 doors, the Senate Room, the Department of Justice and the Prison. The winged lion is the symbol of St. Mark, and consequently, the symbol for Venice and was featured in several pieces throughout the museum. We saw another 24 hour clock here and visited the Great Council Hall. This is the biggest room in Europe without support columns. It also features the largest "Paradise" painting in the world.

We then went to St. Markàs Basilica - very ornate with lots of gold mosaics. The gold color comes from a mixture of gold leaf and glass. The Basilica had served as the private chapel for the Doge. This church is also called The Golden Basilica.

We had a group luncheon with great pasta, mystery meat, a nice dessert and som of the best wine yet.

Later many of us took a gondola ride through the Grand Canal. Others went shopping for more gifts (for ourselves and those at home). We then took the water taxi back to the bus and headed home for a late group dinner at 9:30 at the local restaurant.

Florence - Part 2

2008-10-10T17:18:00.001-04:00

After the Duomo, we saw the Baptistry, which was the original church until the Duomo was completed and was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. We then headed to a square filled with statues and broke for a 2 hour block of free time. Many enjoyed lunch and even more enjoyed the shopping in the fine stores and the marketplaces.

Upon regrouping we went to the Uffitzi Gallery. A highlight for anyone coming to Florence. We began in the ancient rooms with Alessandra "whispering" to us all the important facts and Allyson answering all of our questions.

We proceeded to the Botticelli room which houses "The Birth of Venus" and "Springtime", among others. We saw the only completed painting by da Vinci in Florence today as well as the only one of Michealangelo's in Florence as well.

The Raphael room was also a highlight, with the "Portrait of Pope Leo X" and how he was able to blend colors to create 3 shades of red to highlight fabrics and how this piece highlights his skill. We saw painting after painting and statue after statue - almost like artwork overload! It is hard to take it all in when you leave one of the most widely known pieces of art; only to turn the corner and see another one or two in the next room! Astounding and once in a lifetime!

We then had more free time and some returned to the Duomo to climb to the top of the dome and see some spectacular views of the city. It was less of a climb than it was for the group in Rome who climbed to the top of St. Peter's but it was still pretty high!

Most of us returned to the hotel via the bus with Karin but others stayed downtown to enjoyed the city more. Just before returning home after a nice dinner (restaurants don't even open for dinner until 7pm) a small group heard an opera singer on a street corner and enjoyed some time at JJ Cathedral - what turned out to be a hotspot for local students

Tomorrow we are off to Venice (wake up call at 5:45 and leave the hotel at 6:45AM) but it is sure to be great!

Everyone here says hello to family and friends!

Florence, Part One

2008-10-10T17:10:00.000-04:00

This morning we woke early, enjoyed breakfast and headed into the heart of Firenze. We started the day by wishing Angela Buon Cumpleannos!

We started with the Gallery Academia and saw Michaelangelo's "David". Most of us had seen photos of this stature or images on screen, etc but none have done it justice. The thing is HUGE. It now weighs in at 5 tons! It was carved of just one piece of marble. So how big was the original block of marble before he began chipping away? We learned about his technique and how he personally selected the blocks of marble from the quarry.

This gallery also had other pieces of art for us to view and learn about - but the highlight was the David.

Upon entering the city this AM, we encountered a lot of students. We found ourselves in the middle of a student protest!

We next made our way to the Duomo. The seat of the bishop in Florence, this cathedral is breathtaking! Marble floors that go on forever. The domed ceiling with frescos was magnifient. It even has a clock - a 24 hour clock!

We heard from our guide Alessandra, lit candles in prayer and were awed by the art (some done by Donatello himself).

Dinner with the Students

2008-10-09T15:46:00.000-04:00

Our first night in Florence and were were joined by six Stonehill students currently studying here!
All are great kids with some amazing stories of their study'abroad experience so far. We got to talk about Stonehill of today and share our stories from our student days. We also were able to tap into their knowledge and experience to take some tips for where to spend some of our down time here - including some local restaurants.

We certainly wish all 6 of them well!

Assisi

2008-10-09T15:43:00.000-04:00

Today we spent much of the day on the bus from Rome to Florence. But we had a great 3 hour stop in Assisi.

A quaint little town with lots of shops, some nice restaurants, terrific views of the countryside and, of course, the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. So beautiful!! Everyone enjoyed the time we had here and some say they could have spent days in this little town and never get bored!

Vatican Museum

2008-10-08T12:03:00.000-04:00

We enjoyed lunch on our own and some shopping before meeting our local guide, Antonio, for the beginning of our guided tour.

We began with the Vatican Museum - well, parts of it. The place is HUGE. Everywhere you turned, there was another beautifulstatue, painting, etc. From floor to ceiling the place was impressive.

We began in the Courtyard (one of them), then stopped at the staue of Apollo, which Michaelangelo used the face of as inspiration for Christ's face in his "Last Judgement". Antonio told us about how they made the staues and differences between Greek and Roman sculpture.

We walked down a hallway of tapestries. Raphael painted what he wanted these to look like (on cardboard) and sent them to the factory for production. Using the finest silks and materials, the replicated his visions and produced stunning floor to ceiling tapestries. The ceilings in this hall were painted with lots of shadowing - giving the illusion of sculpture on the ceiling - but were simply paintings. They reminded some of us of cameos - but on a much larger scale.

Off to the Sistine Chapel - No words we write can accurately describe this room. Speechless....

We then left the Museum and entered St. Peter's Basilica. The largest Catholic church in the world was truly enormous! Again, nearly every inch was covered by some work of art. The altar and marble canopy alone were a marvel to see (and we got the surprise of seeing what must have been an "altar boy" standing on the altar to check the feet-high candlesticks).

The group walked and walked, we saw some of the most impressive works of art in history, we enjoyed learning from Antonio as well as Allyson and we were nothing if not impressed. BUT, we battled crowds throughout the tour. Keeping up with Antonio was sometimes tough as our iterest was drawn to so many works through the tour. We did not even cover half the ground available and still saw so much. Even after all that walking about 6 of the group stayed behind with Allyson hoping to climb the 500+ steps to the dome in the Basilica and check out even more!

We'll enjoy dinner in our hotel and an early wake-up tomorrow as we head to Florence. everyone sends their love to family and friends back home (you were in our thoughts and prayers today as we shared time with the Pope and in the most famous church in the entire world.

Papal Audience

2008-10-08T11:57:00.000-04:00

The Pope is a Rock Star!

We rose early, ate a quick breakfast and headed into St. Peter's Square. Our tour manager Karin brought us right up front (maybe just 50 rows in front of us) and we waited for about 2 hours in the beautiful sun.

Then from behind the Basilica came the Pope Mobile and the crowd erupted. And, when we say crowd - we mean CROWD! There had to be more than 30,000 "pilgrims" in the Square. The Pope made a drive around the perimeter of the first rows of seats and then up onto the stage.

Cardinals and Bishops offered introductions in various languages with full crowd participation. Some groups had bands, some sang songs, many cheered as their group or country was mentioned. The Pope then offered greetings in each of the languages and followed with the "Our Father" en mass in Latin. The Pope then offered blessings on each of those present as well as our families and loved ones at home. He then blessed all of our momentos (many purchased from the Vatican Gift Shop).

It was surreal, peaceful and spiritual all at the same time. A GREAT way to begin our day!

2008-10-07T17:38:00.000-04:00

Day 2 - Rome with Allyson

After Marianna left us we were on our own for the rest of the day.

Thanks to Allyson (that's Professor Sheckler to you!) we were certainly not done with our sightseeing.

Most of us headed to the famous Piazza Espana to see and walk the Spanish Steps. The church at the top was beautiful and the views all around were great. We then broke for a few hours and enjoyed lunch (we were hungry from all our walking!) and some shopping.

Later in the day about 25 of us met back at the Steps for an education, as Allyson led us through the city to view some of the most famous and beautiful images...

We began with the "bones museum" and have varying reactions to it. We visited the old Roman Baths converted to the Basilica with frescos designed by Michaelangelo himself. We also stopped at Basilica Maria Majore and made our way to St. Ignascious' Basilica. We found ourselves at the foot of the Monument to the Unkown Soldier along the way.

Some made it the entire walk and others stopped along the way to do other things (like take a nap at the hotel). Those who stuck through the entire walk (now being lovely termed, "Allyson's death march" as we walked from 9:00am until 7:30pm with just a stop for lunch), experienced not only the wonder of seeing everything but learning along the way.

Allyson tolerated our questions and offered so much information at each and every stop. All of us are grateful for her assistance and help throughout the afternoon.

Can't wait to hear everyone else's stories!

Day 2 - Rome Tour 1

2008-10-07T17:35:00.000-04:00

This morning we had wake-up calls at 6:30 and enjoyed breakfast at the hotel. We then boarded the motorcoach and met with our second local guide, Marianna.

Marianna took us on a walking tour of "ancient Rome". We visited the some great sites including the Pantheon (and witnessed the start of a wedding - at 11:00am on a Tuesday!) and the Trevi Fountain.

Both were beautiful to see. The weather was above 70 degrees and sunny (some of us needed sunscreen and all of us needed water to re-fuel).

2008-10-07T17:32:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the delay, a few technical gliches with the computer - but we are back up and ready to report.........

Last night after dinner (which was very nice!) we met up with our local guide Antonio for a bus tour of Rome by Night. The only stop was at the front of St. Peter's - nothing less than spectacular (pictured).

We then rode across the city seeing some of its most famous monuments, fountains and statues lit up at night. A terrific way to see the city!!

2008-10-06T10:21:00.000-04:00

Buon Giorno!

We all made it safely to Rome.

Special thanks to Fr. Jim Chichetto,CSC '64 who met about 30 of us on campus to offer a blessing before we left for the airport. All of us appreciated your kind words and prayers.

We left Boston on time and landed in Dublin ahead of schedule. The plane left Dublin on time and we hit Rome right on time. We were greeted by our tour manager Karin who ushered us to our bus and off we went.

30 minutes later we were in ancient Rome, turned a corner and and out of nowhere was the magnifient Colosseum. A local guide "whispered" in our ears as we explored the stadium after all others have been modeled. Absolutely spectacular!

We drove back to the outskirts of the city and checked in at our hotel. We'll meet for dinner in a few hours and then we'll be treated to a bus tour of Rome at night - the lights are supposed to be beautiful.

While excited to hear the Patriots won - disappointed to hear about the Red Sox missing the sweep.....

2008-10-01T11:52:00.000-04:00

"Masterpieces of Italy"

Following the success of the inaugural Alumni Travel Program to Ireland in 2007, the Stonehill COllege Office of Alumni Affairs is pleased to present our second educational destination: Italy.

“Masterpieces of Italy” is a 9-day, 7-night excursion through Italy. The trip will feature Florence, Venice, Assisi, San Gimignano, Siena, Rome and more!

With Assistant Professor Allyson Sheckler serving as our faculty guide, many of the trip’s highlights will include museum and cathedral visits to view famous works of art.

The forty-five participants will depart for Italy on October 5th and will use this blog to chronicle our journey. Below is a brief description of our itinerary.

Day 1
We will depart from Boston's Logan Airport, fly overnight, change planes in Dublin and arrive in Rome.

Day 2
We will be greeted by our local guide and motor coach driver upon arrival in Rome. From the airport we will begin our sightseeing with a half-day Anient Rome excursion. We will then check into our hotel, the Grand Hotel Tiberio, take some time to rest and then enjoy a Welcome Dinner.

Day 3
We will rise early, eat breakfast and enjoy the Modern Rome tour with our guide. Travelers will take the afternoon to explore the city on our own. We will gather back at the hotel for a group dinner followed by an Evening Tour of Rome on the motor coach.

Day 4
After breakfast we will head straight to Vatican City. The local guide will show us some of the highlights and we hope Pope Benedict XVI is not traveling so that we can participate in the weekly Papal Audience. We will enjoy lunch and dinner on our own to allow for final exploration of Rome before we depart in the morning.

Day 5
After an early breafast we will head north for Florence. Along the way there will be stops including Assisi. Upon arriving in Florence we will check into The Hotel Grifone and enjoy a group dinner with some of the Stonehill students studying there for the semester.

Day 6
We will spend the entire day sightseeing in Florence with time for individual activities and shopping.

Day 7
After an early breakfast we will head northeast to enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Venice with a group luncheon in the heart of the city. After time for individual sightseeing we will baord the moto coach for a late drive back to Florence. A boxed dinner will be provided on the drive back.

Day 8
A full day of the Tuscan landscape and italian wine country with stops in Chianti, Siena and San Gimignano. There will be opportunity to attend Sunday Mass at the Basilica of San Domenico in Siena. Upon return to Florence we will enojy our Farewell Dinner.

Day 9
After breakfast we will check out and make our way to Milan, where we will board our plane and begin our trip home.

Ireland 2007: Thank You

2008-02-14T11:24:00.001-05:00

We've been back home for about four months now, so this is long overdue - but THANK YOU to all the travelers who participated in Stonehill's first Alumni Travel Program!!

Thank you so much for your flexibility, your eagerness to learn, and your comraderie. I think all of us enjoyed each other's company nearly as much as we enjoyed seeing the Irish countryside.

A special thanks to Prof. Richard Finnegan for all of his insight along the way. The trip would not have been the same without you!

I have heard from so many of the Ireland travelers since the trip. From sharing photos with each other to catching up at a Stonehill event; and everyone has the same questions: When and where is the next trip??

So I am happy to announce the second Alumni Travel Program, "Masterpieces of Italy". This trip is also a 9-day, 7-night excursion. The trip will feature Florence, venice, Assisi, San Gimignano, Siena, Rome and more! With Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Allyson Sheckler serving as our faculty guide, many of the trip's highlights will include museum and cathedral visits to view famous works of art. Travelers will depart from Logan Airport on Sunday, october 5th and we will return to Boston on Monday, October 13th.

The specific itinerary is not 100% set at this point but we expect everything to be finalized within a few weeks. At that point we will begin taking reservations. Please call the Alumni Office at 508-565-1343 if you want to receive the registration materials and more detailed trip information.

Ireland 2007: Day 7 - Richard's Last Bus Lecture

2007-10-07T13:11:00.000-04:00

We made our final photo stop along the ocean side of Burren where many folks ventured out onto the limestone covering the earth to the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean.

All day it was interesting to see the different kinds of plants growing in the nooks of the limestone landscape as many in the group noted.

For our return to the Galway hotel Richard pulled up the "jump seat" once last time and discussed the role of women in Ireland and how it has evolved over the years. Just as we pulled in front of the hotel he was concluding his comments about the current role women play in Irish government (currently the second female President is serving her second term).

We'll meet up for dinner tonight in the hotel and Doris has secured wake up calls for us all at 6:15AM.

Ireland 2007: Day 7 - Cliffs part two

2007-10-07T13:02:00.000-04:00

To the right side of the area, we walked up to a tower and enjoyed some more views - including looking back to the left "dangerous" side.

Of course, it wouldn't be a suitable photo stop without a gift shop, and this area also had a few extra shops to browse in. Several enjoyed an ice cream!

We boarded the bus and Johnny headed us to the ocean side of the Burren for a reverse view. Per typical, Doris was very alert and pointed things out along the way - this time she noticed the llamas!

Ireland 2007: Day 7 - Cliffs of Moher

2007-10-07T12:57:00.001-04:00

The Cliffs of Moher are nothing less than spectacular! According to Doris, they say on an especially clear day you could see across to America!

To the left many dared to go beyond the "do not pass this point" sign and walk along the edge of the cliffs. The vantage point was incredible - look out into the Atlantic, across to the right side and the tower or down into the crashing waves.

Ireland 2007: Day 7 - bus rides

2007-10-07T12:40:00.000-04:00

We departed Kilfenora and its self-supported Burren Centre and completed our tour of the Burren on our way to the Cliffs of Moher.

We have spent a lot of time together on the motor coach throughout the trip and have made the best of the long stretches of time. Each morning we have quizzes (with some fantastic prizes) and get our sports updates from those up early enough to log onto a computer. As you've read, Richard has certainly made the long stretches pass quickly by sharing his knowledge of Ireland and answering our questions (no matter how odd).

On the ride today I shut my eyes (hoping to sneek a few minutes of sleep) and could hear the sounds of friendship and comraderie. Many pairs were chatting about life back home with the folks near them on the bus, laughter erupted sporadically as folks shared stories from previous days and others were conversing about the landscapes we were driving through or some of the knowledge we have gained along the way. A very nice moment which captured our group of travelers and how well we all get along.

Ireland 2007: Day 7 - The Burren

2007-10-07T12:27:00.000-04:00

We boarded the bus this morning and headed out to see the "limestone desert" the Burren. We drove through a few towns and Doris told us about the Oyster Festival in one.

We stopped at a burial temple for our first photo stop of the day. It was amazing to walk on the ground virtually covered in limestone. We had a group photo for our last full day together (uncomfortable for those sitting on the stone wall!).

Off to Kilfenora Village where many attended the 11:00am Mass in the Parish of St. Fachanan. Mass was very nice, very quick and we heard about the financial struggles of the parish.

Others roamed the litle village and everyone enjoyed lunch.

Ireland 2007: Day 6 - Hotel

2007-10-06T19:51:00.000-04:00

Alright, we've had some great times, activities, laughs and comforts - but the hotel in Galway is absolutely beautiful! The only drawback is that we are out of the city.... but we made the best of it by chatting in the hotel bar. All of us are looking forward to a great night's sleep in the VERY comfy beds.

But not so soon.... we had group dinner in the hotel. Preceded by an impromptu cocktail hour, we had dinner and were joined by some guests again. Six students currently studying in Galway took a cab out to see us and share their stories and Colleen Neeley '03 and her husband made the 3.5 hour drive from Cork. (Their months-old baby boy was upstairs in the hotel room with his aunt while they joined us.) Another good time had by all - many thanks to the students and alumni for joining us along the way!

We are all having a hard time believing we have just one more full day left. But it is sure to be memorable! Several of the students took a day trip to see the Burren today and think we'll love it tomorrow!

By the way, the fog lifted and we hit 20 degrees again today!

An overdue footnote: Katie and Kathy have had several close calls with motor vehicles and crossing streets but have certainly kept their senses of humor about it!

Ireland 2007: Day 6 - Richard

2007-10-06T19:36:00.000-04:00

We boarded the bus from the ruins to make the final leg of the journey to Galway. Richard hosted his daily bus lecture - this time an overview of Irish Literature.

A few suggested readings are "Ballroom of Desire," "Amongst Women," of any of the Rodney Doyle books. He began his chat by surveying the group - what category of sang terms used by young people does Doris fall into... the reply: Phashi.

On the drive we passed through Balliansloe - which happened to be hosting a horse fair. In addition to the hundreds of horses for sale (accompanied by the many buyers and sellers) there were a few scary amusement rides!

We reached Galway and enjoyed some lunch and shopping (surprise! - I'm sure all our readers are anxiously awaiting all these great gifts!). Several of us joined Richard and walked through University of Galway to the Irish Studies Centre where we were treated to a guest lecture by noted poet Dr. Louis de Paor, Director of the Centre for Irish Studies. By the way - a very nice campus that many Stonehill students experience each semester.

Our lecture began with information about the history of the Irish Language and specifically, Irish writing. Some general information about the most recent Irish census provided a backdrop for the lecture. The Dr. then read a few poems from influencial Irish poets Mac Piarais, Sean O'Riordain and Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill. He also explained the significance of their importance to this genre.

After answering questions, he concluded the session by reading one of his own poems. Again, a brilliant session. Many thanks to Richard for coordinating it!

We walked back to our home away from home and many stopped in the Cathedral - which was most impressive with its domed roof, interior columns and marble stations of the cross.

Ireland 2007: Day 6 - The Ruins

2007-10-06T19:18:00.000-04:00

We had 9:00am departure from the Dublin hotel and many were tired as their rooms were on the floor right above the hotel dance club - which attracted parties for much of the night. But we had our hot water showers and breakfast and off we went.

On our way across country to Galway we passed turf areas in the center of the country and made at stop at the Clonmacnoise Ruins. This historic site allowed us to visit the ruins of a monastic village dating back 2000 years. Although before we met up with our tour guide, Una, the ladies had a long wait for the toilets... and others enjoyed the quaint coffee shop. (By the way there is a gift shop here too!)

Words can't really describe this incredibly historic site - and it was our coolest morning yet in Ireland with the fog still rolling in - making the ruins and cemetery even more impressive.

Ireland 2007: Day 5 - Johnny Fox's

2007-10-06T17:39:00.000-04:00

Tonight we broke with tradition and had dinner away from our hotel. We headed up into the mountains outisde the city to Johnny Fox's for Whooly Night. After holding our breath as Johnny navigated through the narrowest of streets, which were also winding up the hills, we reached our destination.

We were sheparded into a music-hall like room with long tables and low, small stools. We were amazed that the waitresses could manage to make it through the aisles to take orders and serve. Food was plentiful and delicious - many of us enjoyed the lamb dish.

We were entertained by a band with a female vocalsit who was outstanding. It was great fun and interactive (Katie ended up clapping with the band). The showed then turned to Irish dancing. While overall very entertaining we noticed some flaws: the safety pins holding the pants on, the tall, mean-looking man hitting his head on the ceiling while jumping on a stool, the felt-like costumes and the lack of child-labor laws as the (very cute and talented) nine year old performed at 10:45pm.

Tonight was even more special because we were joined by some alumni who reside in Ireland as well as two current students interning in Dublin. Fr. Bart Salters, CSC '67, Mike Shea '85, Annelle '71 and Stephen '70 Rowen and Megan Fench '02 (who brought us a canister of chocolates to enjoy on our next day's bus ride - THANKS Megan!). Kathleen Comber '08 and Alison Glavin '09 were a delight to meet.

Ireland 2007: Day 5 - Guinness

2007-10-05T13:00:00.000-04:00

Just in case any of us hadn't tried a pint of Ireland's finest, we headed over to St. James' Gate for a tour of the Guinness property. The self-guided tour was fairly impressive, explaining how the drink is made (ask us what the 4 ingredients are) and its history.

We had a sample brew and then heaed to the top level for a complmentary pint in the Gravity bar - which was round and surrounded by glass panes - providing remarkable views of the entire city from nearly every vantage point.

While several of us were in the Gift Shop line, we encountered Megan McAlaugh '07 who had won a contest through a Boston radion station and was in Ireland collecting her prize. What a small world!

We then returned to the hotel (where we now have hot water) to rest up before heading a bit our of the city for dinner and entertainment at Johnny Fox's.

Ireland 2007: Day 5 - Book of Kells

2007-10-05T12:55:00.000-04:00

We departed UCD and headed back to downtown Dublin. Along the way Doris offered history on some of the buildings and sites we passed. She also pointed out some good "shopping zones".

We made our way to Trinity College and went in to see the book of Kells. Kept under glass (and lock and key with major security) this relic is truly a work of art! We then headed upstairs to the library which was longer than the entire first floor of Donahue Hall and lined with floor to ceiling (at least 20 feet high) book shelves, holding an imprssive collection of books and manuscripts.

We then had lunch on our own and spent free time in the city. The city itself is hustling and bustling - with just as many commuting issues as Boston. But it certainly is not as pretty as the parts of the country we toured through on the first leg of our journey.

Ireland 2007: Day 5 - Guest Speaker

2007-10-05T12:35:00.000-04:00

This morning we experienced our first minor catostrophe - the hotel had NO hot water. Which meant 90% of us were treated to "an exhilerating" wake up this morning, to quote Lisa. But we took it in stride, as this was one of our only glitches on the trip and the weather - for the 5th consecutive day was near 20 degrees (Celsius) - I'll let the readers do the math!

We headed out to Univeristy College - Dublin for our first guest lecture. Prof Finnegan had used his connections to get John Coakley, a VERY prominent political scientist and head of the Institute for Irish British Studies.

John began by providing a brief overview of the Irish Historical Revolution - beginning with 1169 and the Norman Settlement, through the Gaelic Revival of the 14th century and the English and Scottish settlements of the late 16th century. To illustrate his points he showed slides depicting various flags: The Cross of St. George and the Cross of St. Andrew (English and Scottish respectively) which blended into the flag of Great Britain in 1707. In 1801 it merged with the Cross of St. Patrick (Irish) - which became the Union Jack. This illustration captured his earlier remarks and illustrated them beautifully.

He also spoke a great deal about Irish Politics and a bit about the constitution adopted in 1937. The government roles created in the document are: Pesident (replacing the British king/queen), the Dail (replacing the House of Commons), the Senate (replacing the House of Lords) and the Taoseach (replacing the Prime Minister). A most unique point is that the Taoseach is responsible to the Dail - so the head of state can be dismissed by the parliament.

The Irish Party system inlcudes Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour as the 3 leading parties with some others on the outside (an example provided was Green Party). He covered some older isues in Irish politics and then focus on some of the current political issues: coping with Economic Growth (commuting and a health infrastructure), Immigration and Environment and Energy.

Ireland 2007: Day 4 - Random

2007-10-04T20:29:00.000-04:00

Many of you reading this know just a few of our travelers and the updates thus far have skipped much of our routine, so let me catch you up...

As you know, this is the inaugural Alumni Travel Program. We have 48 travelers. Our alumni range in class year from 1954 to 2005. We have alums who majored in business, in science, in healthcare and in english (to name just a few). Joining the alumni are spouses and significant others, as well as mothers, cousins, dads, friends and College employees.

We are a very ecclectic group and one thing that stands out is how well everyone is bonding. We have become our own little family here in Ireland. Just tonight I witnessed a few alumni waiting in the lobby because they wanted to be sure that a few of the single travelers had companionship for a night on the town.

Each morning we have a group breakfast and each evening we have a group dinner. Most of us have shared meals with completely different people each meal. In between meals we ride a motor coach bus and since day one, we have rotated seats so that we can enjoy getting to know others better. We have helped each other with photos and shopping bags and we have treated each other to a pint of Guiness. Just halfway complete and already folks are asking about keeping in touch, sharing photos and future trips together!

Ireland 2007: Day 4 - Cashell

2007-10-04T20:23:00.000-04:00

Doris chatted with us about the country's National Sport: Hurling (sounds a lot like Quiddich to many of us!) and how it dates back as far as Celtic times.

We then reached Cashell and stopped for lunch and took some time to see the very famous Rock of Cashell.

We reboarded the bus and began our 2.5 hour drive to Dublin, which was lengthened by a serious accident on the road leading to the highway. Johnny took control (and followed police orders) and got us through the detour and back on track. While waiting in the traffic, Richard answered some questions and discussed the Irish Rebellion.

On the tail end of our long drive we drove through Killdare and learned about St. Brigid and the story of her meadows. February 1st is her feast day and many of us decidedto take the day off this year in celebration!!!

We pulled into Dublin and enjoyed a group dinner once again. Most of us headed into the city (we're staying in a section known as Temple Bar) to check out the sights and sounds.

Ireland 2007: Day 4 - Lecture on the Bus

2007-10-04T20:18:00.000-04:00

Upon leaving Cobh we had an hour drive to Cashell and Prof Finnegan graced us with more of his knowledge.

He began by revisiting a few questions from yesterday about the Irish educational system, specifically the power the church exuded/exudes over it. He then turned his discussion to contemporary Ireland. Three components he cited as hugely impacting the growth of the country are Television, Travel and Tourism. All three brought new ideas to the Irish people, showing them a different way of life.

He also focused on some of the "hot button" issues to highlight political differences, including abortion and divorce. He wrapped up by commenting on the women's movement in Ireland and showing similarities between it and the civil rights movement in the States.

Again - many thanks to Richard!

Ireland 2007: Day 4, Early Risers

2007-10-04T20:11:00.000-04:00

This morning we had a group wake up call at 6:30AM to get an early start to a full day. Everyone enjoyed breakfast while the porters and Johnny loaded our luggage onto the motor coach. Those who went to see the Liam O'Connor show returned with rave reviews -- and agree.... he probably does have the fastest fingers in the world!

We began our drive with a few stories from Doris including the Salmon of Knowledge Legend while we drove through the town of Macroom.

We drove for about 90 minutes until we reached the town of Cobh (pronounced Cove). This little port has served as the epicenter of Irish emmigration for hunderds of years. They have converted an old railway station into a very moving immigration museum. Several in our group have relatives from Ireland and most likely, this is the last place those relatives were before heading to the states.

The town also houses St. Colman Cathedral and many visited here while others enjoyed - you guessed it - a few gift shops! This cathedral boasts 47 bells which ranks it among the most in all of Europe.

Ireland 2007: Day 3 - Conclusion

2007-10-03T16:57:00.001-04:00

We conlcuded our tour of the Ring of Kerry by driving by the Black Valley (named because it was one of the last regions to get electricity). We also passed the Gap of Dunlough and Ireland Lake.

We entered the National Park of Killarney - and witnessed the overgrowth of rhodadendron throughout much of the park (reminds many of the road on Stonehill's campus).

We stopped for a final photo shoot at Ladies View (named because Queen Victoria visited the spot with her ladies in waiting and admired it so much.

We swung around into downtown Killarney and several took horse and carriage rides throughout the National Park. Apparently Evie had a great bonding experience with a horse!!!! The ride was a bit cold but everyone enjoyed hearing the stories from the drivers (one of whom has been driving the carriages in the park for 45 years!).

Others skipped the carriage ride and stopped in St. Mary's Church or enjoyed some time downtown during the day.

After dinner a few folks headed back to town to enjoy a performance by "Liam" who claims to have the fastest fingers in the world - according to Guiness Book of World Records. Can't wait til they return and I hear how the show was!

Happy Anniversary to our companion Kathy and her husband (back home). Best Wishes from all your fellow travelers!!!

Ireland 2007: Day 3 - Prof Finnegan

2007-10-03T16:49:00.000-04:00

We reboarded the bus in Sneem and Richard took the microphone once again. Today he spoke about clans (over 600 of them throughout the country when they existed). He focused on the clan names and their origins. He also shared the explanations of "lace curtains" and "Two Toilet" Irish.

He then spoke at length about the educational system in Ireland. Set up in 1853 by the English, Ireland's ed. system is one of the earliest in the world. He also shared how the system has changed (and grown so remarkably) over the years. He fielded questions from the travelers - several regarding higher education in the country. Once again - very enlightening comments!

A message home from a guest journalist: Peter '70 writes, "A special HI to Jocelyn's mom and dad, Dan, Pam, Don and Mark. We're having a terrific time. The sights are beautiful!! Love, Peter and Jocelyn." While he was the only official entry - I know everyone shares his sentiments and send their best to loved ones at home (and can't wait to them you what a great time we're having!!!!).

Ireland 2007: Day 3 - Part II

2007-10-03T16:44:00.001-04:00

We left Waterville and drove up into the mountains to see spectacular views! It was clear enough that we were able to see the Skellig Islands.

We stopped for more photos at Cooma Cista to look out on Skellig's Bay - more glorious views! Actually the entire day was filled with sight after sight of tremendous scenery. Extra fun was had when Johnny began dancing with Pam and Joanne to the music of an accordian player! They were pretty good, too.

A visit to the town of Sneem showed off a lively main street with all the store fronts painted in bright colors. Many enjoyed homemade ice cream - others enjoyed shopping! The church in Sneem has a fish atop its steeple - in memory of the Irish famine, as the waterfront town was able to sustain its population by living off the water.

Ireland 2007: Day 3 - Part I

2007-10-03T16:35:00.001-04:00

Good evening everyone at home!

We woke up to (or went to bed at - depending on time of arrival back from the pubs) our first taste of Irish rain. We ate our breakfast and boarded the bus to some rain and barely a patch of blue in the sky. Although Doris had mentioned that if we could see a patch of blue big enough to make a pair of pants - we had a chance at good weather. And sure enough, it ended up being a beautiful day (windy and cooler than our first 2 days) but we were thrilled the clouds parted.

We headed out to tour the Ring of Kerry. We went through the town of Killorglan and heard about the Puck Fair held each August and the billy goat king. And as a special treat we drove right by the hotel run by Dorothy's cousin! Then we stopped at the Red Fox and many enjoyed an Irish Coffee (ask them what time it was!). Upon return to the bus we sang along to "Molly Malone". Doris also recommends a book, "Jack's World" by Sean Sheehan - which is newly published.

We had a photo stop along the road and could see across the water to Inch Beach and the Dingle Penninsula where we had been just yesterday. We then drove through the Birthplace of Daniel O'Connor and stopped to shoot more photos at the ruins of the home he was born in. We then headed to Waterville for lunch and enjoyed photos with Charlie Chaplin and more walks along the Irish beach.

Ireland 2007: Day 2 - maybe 3 now

2007-10-02T19:42:00.000-04:00

Alright, it is 0:40AM and we know this is the post you've been waiting for!

I just arrived back at the hotel from the pubs (yes, plural) and I am NOT the last to arrive back! I know several travelers have found "late night" spots to enjoy. Many of us found our way to the main section of Killarney and enjoyed a variety of local musical entertainment. It was great fun! (By the way, I've promised not to post any photos from the pub scene as many have mentioned the addage: What happens in Ireland, stays in Ireland.)

Great story though... Jen has been researching (mostly her grandfather has been researching) family history. In one of the pubs tonight, she mentioned this to a man who happened to be in the Irish military. He is familiar with the story she knows a part of and offered to research for her. So he accepted her email address and recorded the info she knows - promises to get back to her within 2 weeks. How great!?!? Even better... she offered to buy him a "pint" for his help. He would not accept - saying that it is bad luck to accept a drink from a lady without first buying her one. So he bought her a drink - and then he bought the rest of us one as well!

The group from Class of '05 just returned and say hello to everyone. But they are not the last to return to the hotel tonight.....

Ireland 2007: Day 2, the Beach

2007-10-02T15:37:00.000-04:00

Yes, we went to the BEACH! We stopped at Inch Beach (also used in the film Ryan's Daughter). A few of us scaled (literally) the rocks to make it to the sandy beaches. Others enjoyed the beautful vistas. Tom even went in the water!!!!

On our trip home we heard some old wives tales including this gem from our driver Johnny: "If you are going fishing and you come upon a red haired woman. And she is whistling. Turn back home. You won't be catching anything today."

I invited my fellow travelers to share their thoughts for the journal - but had no takers yet.... All of us enjoyed another great meal to wrap up a terrific day of sightseeing and comraderie.

Everyone says hello to their loved ones at home and a few ask that the respective caretakers remember to feed the pets left behind!

Off to the singing pubs of Killarney......

Ireland 2007: Day 2, First Lecture

2007-10-02T15:29:00.001-04:00

After lunch, Professor Finnegan treated us by explaining the historical relationship between the East and West parts of the country.

In the 1500s (by the way I'm paraphrasing) the English came for the third time and enacted the Penal Laws - which deprived the native Celtic people of property, land, service in govt., etc. Unless the natives converted to Protestantism, they lost everything. 90% of the land prior to the "invasion" was owned by Celts and by the time the famine came along 90% was owned by Church of England Protestants.

Post-famine, the natives sought out their own identity and they used the following to build a story of Irish history and an Irish Nationalism: Celtic heritage, Roman Catholicism and the Irish Language (Gaelic). Ultimately in 1922 the country achieved autonomy from Britain. Although a vast majority of the emigrees during the famine were from the west (which is the part of the country still speaking Gaelic), which explains why the native language is no longer predominant. We also heard about the role that monasteries played in Irish history. (Again I paraphrase and do not do Richard justice!) His comments were very enlightening and he entertained questions from his audience.

Ireland 2007: Day 2, Dingle

2007-10-02T15:24:00.000-04:00

On our way to the town of Dingle we were informed that many feature films were made in this area (including Ryan's Daughter and Far and Away). We pulled off the road for a few photo ops - including a stop at the famous beehive huts and a pleasant visit with Maura (who had a cameo in Far and Away!).

Continuing on, our next stop was to photo the "Three Sisters" and Mount Brandon (made famous by our very own Chet Raymo).

We enjoyed lunch and a few hours of leisure in Dingle. (Much shopping was done!) We also enjoyed a cathedral, the fishing docks and stories of hot whiskey.

On a side note: Ask some of us about our samples of ice cream - Peter and Jocelyn split the five-flavor special!

Ireland 2007: Day 2, Tralee

2007-10-02T15:19:00.000-04:00

Greetings Readers!

After a lovely dinner at the hotel last night several of us ventured out to explore the pubs of Killarney.... we then met up for breakfast before our full day touring the Dingle Penninsula.

First we drove through the town of Tralee and heard from Doris about the Rose of Tralee - the contest which was most recently won by the New York Rose. She then treated us to the song! We also heard the story of St. Brendan and got a post-trip reading list addition: The Brendan Voyage.

We also were filled in on some of the history of whiskey in Ireland: first produced by Irish monks. And the line, "Irish invented whiskey.... the Scotch are still practicing!"

We then de-boarded our home away from home for our first group photo in front of the "Valley of the Mad Men".

Ireland 2007: Day One - Adare and Killarney

2007-10-01T11:15:00.001-04:00

We then headed to the small town of Adare. With thatched roofs on cottages and rows of shops, most of us enjoyed lunch in one of the local establishments. By the way, there was more shopping - and perhaps another Guiness.

We then boarded our home away from home (luxury motor coach) and drove about 90 minutes to Killarney. Folks are now checking into their rooms (ask us about the lights and how many Stonehill alums it takes to find the solution!) and resting before our first communal dinner.

From there some will retire for the evening (we're running on fumes) and others will take a short walk into the heart of Killarney to sample the singing pubs that the area is known for.

The weather today has been PERFECT. After hearing about the summer-long rains, we had not one drop, with very few clouds. The blue sky over the horizon of green pastures and fields made the time in our motor coach fly by.

Everyone sends their love to family back home. A few messages: Do your homework (you know who you are), Pick up your room (you too!), and watch all the Sox and Pats games for us!!

Ireland 2007: Day One, Bunratty

2007-10-01T11:11:00.000-04:00

After fueling up in Limerick we headed to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. We got our workouts in by climbing the stairs of this impressive castle and enjoyed the interesting homes and cottages in the Folk Park.

Some found their way to the shops while others decided to have a real "Irish Breakfast" and greeted the bartender at Durty Nellie's when he opened up shop at 10:30!

By now we are all familiar with our guide, Doris, and driver, Johnny (who entertained us all with a song). Doris and Johnny are shown in the photo.

Ireland 2007: Day One Arrival

2007-10-01T11:03:00.001-04:00

Greetings to everyone back home! All 48 travelers arrived in at Shannon Airport this AM (6:10am to be precise) and had our first day of sightseeing. Although one bag decided to go directly to Dublin and we are awaiting its return to our group.

Special thanks to Alumni Chaplain Fr. Genaro who greeted about 30 of us as we departed from Stonehill's campus on a courtesy shuttle to the airport. He offered a special blessing and provided us each with a St. Patrick prayer card.

Check in for our Aer Lingus flight went smoothly and our flight left Logan at 7:25pm. The overnight flight left a number of us weary so we made an extra stop in Limerick to grab some breakfast (and caffeine). Although we were most of the folks up and about at 8:00am in the town as the photos will show .

Ireland 2007: Introduction

2007-08-29T16:10:00.000-04:00

The first Alumni Travel Program, Ireland 2007, is slated for September 30 - October 8th. Forty-eight travelers will depart Boston and head to the Emerald Isle. We are fortunate to have Richard Finnegan '64, director of the College's Irish Studies Program, serve as our faculty guide.

The trip will include stops in Adare, Killarney, the Dingle Penninsula, the Ring of Kerry, Cobh, Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, and Burren.

On June 6th many of our travelers gathered for a special meet and greet reception in Donahue Hall on the College's campus. This event was a great opportunity for us to meet each other and chat with Prof. Finnegan, who provided reading lists and movie suggestions for those interested. Our travelers include alumni who graduated in the 1950s through the Class of 2005. This diversity should allow for some great interactions throughout the trip.