Team AZ Travel Journal

Tour Information Meeting

Mr. Girard — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:22 +0000

Greetings potential travelers and parents. This post is to remind you that I’ll be holding information meetings for the 2011 European Capitals tour on Tuesday, March 23, and Wednesday, March 24, from 7:00–8:00 pm in my classroom, T-12, at Canyon del Oro High School.

At the meeting we’ll discuss general tour details, how this package compares to tours offered by other educational travel purveyors, and I’ll certainly talk about the cost, which includes a $150 discount for all new travelers who enroll by Wednesday, March 31.

If you’re interested, please contact me and let me know what night I can expect you so I can prepare enough materials. Until then, as you obviously already know, you can find more information on Current Tour page of this website.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Metro Ticket X-Wing Fighter

Mr. Girard — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0000

What to do with all those miscellaneous souvenir slips of paper you’ll collect next year on tour? Here’s a neat idea from the mind of Hubert de Lartigue I came across on the Internets for the patient and clever Star Wars fan who finds his or her pocket full of Paris Metro Ticket stubs: “Pas à pas d’un chasseur X” or “Step by step of an X-wing fighter”.

It’s 448 days before we make the jump to hyperspace for Europe, and you better be ready because this tour ain’t like dusting crops, boys and girls.

Delizioso!

Mr. Girard — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 02:26:10 +0000

It’s 455 days until we depart for Europe, Team AZ, but beware, all is not well on the Continent. Just as the French are coming to terms with their latest cultural challenge, so are the Italians now dealing with their own crisis of cultural conscience: “McItaly burger controversial in home country”.

I don’t know what the Italians are up-in-arms about. Sounds and looks fabulous to me, and personally I look forward to sampling this Mediterranean delicacy.

Unusual, Weird, and Bizarre

Mr. Girard — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:00:25 +0000

I don’t always post the links I collect in my travels on the Interests in a timely manner, but here are some I think are interesting. Maybe they’ll inspire you to visit.

The first lists “10 Unusual Playgrounds from Around the World”. Number 3, Clemyjontri Park in Virginia, isn’t so much unusual as it is inclusive so kids with disabilities can play.

The second details the “Top 10 World’s Weirdest Festivals” (according to AskMen.com). Find me at number 10, the Gilroy Garlic Festival, and number 2, the Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling Festival. Delicious!

And finally, here’re Eleven Bizarre Things You Can Do on Vacation. Note that cheese-rolling in Gloucester made this list, too, but Zorbing looks pretty bitchin’.

With all this fun, here’s some advice about what to avoid when you’re traveling: Kissing, chewing—the ‘germiest ‘ tourist attractions.

We’re 476 days out from the tour, Team AZ 3. It seems a long time away still, but we’ll be leaving on a jet plane before you know it.

Showcase 2009: Greece

Mr. Girard — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:57:46 +0000

We docked very early at Igoumenitsa, Greece the morning after our overnight ferry from Italy, and immediately we were off to the Meteora region in the north central part of the country. Meteora’s home to the famous rock-top monasteries; I always use For Your Eyes Only as a reference for those who may know movie. We enjoyed the tour and then relaxed in the sleepy town of Kalambaka, where we stayed overnight.

We left Kalambaka and headed to central Greece to see Delphi, the site of the storied Oracle. Here’s Team AZ trudging up the hill to the amphitheater.

It was hot and sweaty, but the mountains of Greece are absolutely stunning. After a tasty frozen treat from the site’s museum soon we on our way to Athens and our Aegean cruise.

Adventure

Mr. Girard — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:00:01 +0000

I came across this video several weeks ago, but just never got around to posting it, so I figured I would now along with some other sites you might find interesting.

The video’s from “The Cockpit Chronicles with Kent Wien”, and it’s a view of London that you may get to experience is we depart the States early enough when we travel in 2011.

If you’re thinking adventurously now, here’s some places to visit maybe after the we get back from Europe: “5 Travel Destinations for Super-Adventurous Tourists” and “Lost cities of the world”.

Talk to you soon.

Globetrotter

Mr. Girard — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:00:20 +0000

Here’s a brief update with two neat sites I came across in my travels through this series of tubes known as the Internets. BeautifulPlacestoVisit.com hosts photos of, well, beautiful places to visit. One of my favorite series on the list, Mount Everest Base Camp, Nepal and Tibet. I vowed around this time two years ago that Debabu or Zufan (or both) and I would make the trek in 20 years. We’ve got 18 years to get ready, but I don’t think I could get away with wearing a kilt on the climb.

The other site hosts a game, Globetrotter XL, that tests your knowledge of geography. It’s hard, but some of our tour destinations might pop-up in your play like it did mine.

Showcase 2009: Pompeii

Mr. Girard — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:00:13 +0000

From Rome we headed south to Sorrento and Pompeii, the next destinations on our 2009 tour. Our hotel in Sorrento was on the beach; the latter left something to be desired but the town was a nice break in the tour. We found a nice gelato shop not far from our lodgings and enjoyed the view of the Bay of Naples. Here’s a portion of Team AZ taking in the last rays of sunlight above the water.

The next day we toured Pompeii under the watch of Vesuvius. (Here’s a nice, quick primer on Pompeii from The Telegraph. )

We left Pompeii later that morning for an overnight ferry to Greece. More photos from Meteora and Delphi next.

European Capitals Discount

Mr. Girard — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:00:10 +0000

With 560 days left until Team AZ departs for Europe, EF is offering a discount to potential travelers: $200 off the tour for those who enroll by December 15. This is a great opportunity for those looking for an even greater value for the tour. Follow the links on the Current Tour page for more information or contact or call me with questions.

Food the World Over

Mr. Girard — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:00:34 +0000

America’s greatest export, the Big Mac, is will soon be available at one of France’s most cherished cultural landmarks and plenty of Parisians aren’t happy about it: “McDonald’s restaurants to open at the Louvre”. While a taste of America might be tempting while away from home, local cuisine is cheaper than fast food and not lest satisfying. Indeed, these beef and lamb gyros I gorged myself on in Athens were about the best I’d ever had. Delicious.

Writing of dining, here’s a link to the to “The 50 best things to eat in the world, and where to eat them”. London, Paris, Florence, Barcelona, all stops on our current tour, are on the list. And London and Paris have restaurants that are counted among “The 15 Most Stunning Dining Experiences in the World”.