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The Grand Tour
By Mr. Girard | June 23, 2008
The tour next year will cover much the same ground that is traditionally associated with the Grand Tour, a rite of young European aristocrats that dates back several centuries. It’s exemplified by George Gordon, Lord Byron, in his epic poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage (full text of the poem). The New York Times’ Frugal Traveler elaborates on the tradition in “What is the Grand Tour?” as he recounts his own tour this summer.
The Frugal Traveler checked in from Paris, “Making Friends (and Dinner) in Paris” (where I know a few CDO students spent time this summer the French Club), and he recently reported from Rome,
“Wandering Beyond Classic Rome”.
In Italy we’ll also be spending time in Venice, where author David Kocieniewski took a chance touring unconventionally: “On Venice’s Grand Canal in a Kayak”. And what’s more conventional than to do what attracts many young travelers to Amsterdam? Of course, something we can’t and won’t do next year, but certainly there’s more to experience in the Dutch capital than a cafe filled with a bunch of bloodshot dullards: “10 Things to do in Amsterdam BESIDES Smoking Pot”. (Keep in mind though, number three on the list is out and we won’t be sticking around in the evening for numbers four or five.)
Even before Paris, though, even before Amsterdam, and even before Venice and Rome, we’ll begin our journey in London where we’ll be spending time in the Underground, so you might prepare yourself by reading how people are on in the Tube, “London blogger exposes life on the Underground”.
All of these cities have variously been stops on the traditional Grand Tour, and we’ll be enjoying them all on tour next year.