Our last day in Amsterdam was mostly spent reading and sleeping in Vondelpark, we met as a group in the Amsterdam restaurant at the hostel and took the tram line 1 back to Central Station. We bought pizza for the group, with our left over euro change. All the kids boarded the train this time!

We all were out as soon as the sun went down, and we woke up to the most gorgeous view of the mountains and river as the train followed the river to Prague. The river was so glassy, I wanted to waterski on it!

At 9:30 am we woke up the kids, and at 11 we entered the Holesovice train station. It took longer to take two subways, than just walking, to our hotel. But we learned the subway system, and we also learned that the train police do not care if we are in town 10 minutes, and from America. “YOU ARE IN CZECH NOW!” they told me, as they tried to get 700kc from each kid, cuz I didn’t know that not only do you have to purchase the ticket, you must validate it from this random validation machine (kinda reminded me of a movie theater, where you have no idea where the machine is). In any case, I was able to plead ignorant and we “got away”. Found a tanned bum to guide us to our hostel, and found shelter in the cool entry way on Dlouha street at Traveler’s Hostel. The rooms are not ready yet, so I sent the kids out to money exchange and eat, and we will meet back here at 2, pass out room keys, and then go on our 4 pm bike tour. After the bike tour, we will go to a restaurant near Wenselas Statue and National Muzeum.

There is so much to discover here, as the kids have no idea what they are in store for…All they do know is that Hitler didn’t bomb it here, because he believed it to be the most beautiful city in Europe. (not that I want to admit I have any ideas in common with that man), but let’s just say, there are breathtaking views. I am excited to take them across Charles Bridge, and also to the Castle!

We will go over the prices for food and drinks, so they are not taken for a ride, they also will be told not to pull out large bills. We will continue to watch your kids! Seeing them stick their heads out the train windows, and have the European air breeze through their hair, brought their youth back into their souls, a good night’s sleep on the train (everyone had at least 10 hours of sleep, rocking like a baby on the train). has allowed them to feel rested.

Little Emma had a small case of tiredness, which showed in her eyes watering, and runny nose, but I haven’t heard of any other cases of illness.

I will write again soon.

Hello!
We took the train out of Gare Du Nord in Paris, sat in two train cars, and slept or listened to ipods as the train traveled through France, Brussels and into Holland. (John stayed back in Paris with Evan and Max Groel, as they missed the train, but they boarded the next train and met us an hour later).

Upon arriving in Amsterdam, Raquel met us with tram passes, so we easily exited the train station, hopped one tram, and exited at Prisenstraat. We walked down the main strip to Keerkstraat, walked two blocks down and entered our hotels. Went straight up to our room, and dressed in white, for Sensation rave at the Amsterdam Arena. Seven of us needed to scalp tickets, and most were able to buy the tickets, only two were bad buys, but those of us who were able to get in met eachother at the right of the main dj stage and danced techno for the next five hours. We left at sunrise, took taxis back to hotel, bought food and slept until 12:30pm.

We met in the lobby at 1 pm, walked along the beautiful canals to the oldest Pancake Bakery. The pancakes were made like crepes, but everyone were able to order a different type, such as strawberries and cream, chicken, onions and cheese, greek style, nutella and peaches, and 20 other types. After everyone filled their tummies, we walked to Dam Square and only 3 wanted to take the scheduled bike tour at 4, as most people were still sore from dancing. So, the rest decided go to Van Gogh museum and Rijksmuseum. We then met in the lobby at 10:30 to walk as a group through the Red Light District, then to another dance club.

Tomorrow the plan is to visit Anne Frank’s Huis, or take a four hour country bike tour, then free time to shop before we meet at 3:45 to take a 4 pm city bike tour. Then at 7 pm dinner to try the authentic Dutch meal of Hufspot (mashed meat, potatoes and carrots) which I have found to be hard to find, because most Dutch people do not enjoy Dutch food, but instead lean towards Mediterranean food.

After dinner, we plan to have our own private canal sunset boat ride for our 4th of July celebration.

All the students love Amsterdam, love the beauty of the canals and brick houses, and also the have noticed that the locals are super nice to Americans (unlike the reception they received from the Spanish and French). It is much colder here than Paris, but the sun is out, and it is not uncomfortable.

The group seems like they’ve become one big family, and really work well together with planning where and when to meet for their excursions.

On a side note: Raquel, (the other chaperone, who is our hotel and bus pass person, who goes to the city ahead of us to set up our rooms, gets the room keys, meets us at the train and gives us bus passes, then leads us to the hotel from the train,) brother just died, so she will be flying home on Tuesday.

John and I will be easily be able to navigate her duties, as we are working well together, and the kids are so easy, that we will have their support as well. We will miss Raquel, but we give her our blessings, as she will be her nephew’s new sole parent in this loss of her brother. I hope this blog finds your families healthy, and I will continue watching your children closely, as life is precious, and I am so very thankful we have had a very enjoyable and safe trip.

I will write again when we get to Prague!

Hello All;
So it hqs just tqken ,e 5 minutes to log onto this foreign keyboqrd at an internet cafe around the corner fro, our hotel: Forgive the spelling errors, but the keyboard is different and Im being chqrged to fix them. LOL;

We arrived in Paris at the austilitz train station right after 12. Raquel greeted us with fresh nectarines. As the kids enjoyed the sweetness; we walked to the subway; took it straight to the hotel: only had to walk a few blocks. i wqtched as the kids looked around them in awe:
Our rooms were not reqdy, so they went out and found some food. then came back to rooms of 2 qnd 3 beds.

We had an hour to get ready for the eiffel tower walked 3 blocks to the grassy area under the towers shadow: they appeased me with a round of council and we shared about our best memories so far (throwing chips on Groel, chest while he was sleeping so the pigeons would jump on him,), and our regrets: (packing too much and sleeping in for the Dali tour zere the top 2):

then the kids ran up the stairs to the eiffel and ,et at 7 to go on a four hour bike ride with a new york tour guide named Simon: it was wonderful to ride down st germain under the tree lined bouvelards: no accidents, and no run in with taxis, just one or two red lights and honking horns: there are many more mopeds here then i remember from previous tours: the last hour of the tour was a boat ride on teh river Seine: we begqn at 10 qnd were able to pass the Ile De La Cite and view Saint Chapelle and Notre Dqme from a south view. On the turn back up the river it was dark and we watched the eiffel tower light up and twinkle; i took tons of pictures as their Paris excitement was growing. After the tour, it was close to midnight and that is when the anxiety set in.
Even though it was midnight and My body was ready for bed? they had other ideas. Our hotel; unfortunately had a 1-7 am curfew where the front doors would be locked: Oh how i watched them scurry around like ants trying to find ways around this rule. Alas, they were all in by 1.

The next morning we met as a group we passed out 2 day subway passes, i tqught them the subway system zhich zqs very similiar to Barcelona. and brought them on a subway to Notre Dame. We took a couple group pictures and everyone went inside.
Then they grouped up and some went to the Louvre; so,e to teh Pompidou. some to the Musee D,Orsay; some strolled down Des Champs elysees. We qll met back at the hotel at 7 and took the subway up to Montmartre to have dinner in teh famous Plce du Tertre zhere the painters and portraits are done. After Marlee sang to us at dinner; sang to the restaurant actually. and Alex and Justine danced with the Parisian host DJa nice lovely two step, we got gelatos and walked to the steps of Sacre Couer to watch teh beautiful view of the city and watch the City of Lights actually turn into the City of Lights/ As we were waiting; there was a soccor expert doing the ,ost a,azing tricks with a soccer ball while on a fence 200 feet above teh ground. amazing; ask your kid about that one:
We then took a walk down Boulevardde Clichy where all the sex shops are to see the Moulin Rouge. I think we lost some boys in the shows? but by this time I just had my eyes on the girls. I brought them safely back to the hotel before our 1 am curfew.
The next morning? today, Raquel has taken 11 kids to Versailles; 5 will follow later (they wanted to sleep in° and I FINALLY SLEPT IN? qctuqlly? I greeted them at 9 am then went bqck to sleep. I hqd a little time to write this before i tqke q group to Pere Lachaise; a cemetary where Jim Morrison and Edith Piaf are buried:
Tonight q few kids want to try the steak restaurant Entre Cote; and others want to sleep:
Tomorrow we will meet in teh lobby with our bags at check out at 10 go eat lunch at a cafe. then board an afternoon train to Amsterdam.

Afgain? i am sorry i havent written. its hard to get away; or actually its hard to leave teh fun:

but i knoz you all want to hear how happy they are. again i need to say that this is the best group ive brought: you reqlly shuld be pourd of the adults you have raised: thank you for such an easy time.
What a beautiful adventure teh kids have been having in Paris!
I qm sick that i cqnt edit this; but i am now at 41 minutes§§§§§

Au Revoir

It´s an indecisive morning/afternoon.
Only 6 made it for the 7am wake-up call to go to the Dali Museum. The rest barely made it for the 9:30 check out wake up call. Seems that they decided to make their last night in Barcelona memorable, and visited in room 402 until sunrise. The laughter could be heard from the first floor, but it seems the night desk watch is used to such hoolabaloo, as they were never asked to stop their fun and games.

I did hear one of the boys say that missing the Dali would be a regret of his life, and so I suggested that they try to still accomplish the feat, if they took the 11:25 train to Figerous and then have a shortened visit inside the museum by 3 pm, they could still make our 7 pm meeting time to catch our night train to Paris. The idea was thought about, but the fear that the line to get inside the museum would be too long, so they decided to take Mr. Keenan´s advice and visit Casa Mila, a Gaudi house.
I watched them head down Carrer de Ferran as I headed in to write this blog. We decided to wait for the Dali 6 and then will walk up to visit Parc Guell a park designed by Gaudi. All legs are worn out, so we will see how our planned naps in the park rejuvenate us to walk back for our meeting time.

I will bbm Gwen to make a call that we made it to the Paris hotel without any difficulties. We are expected to arrive the Paris Austerlitz train station at 12:20 pm. Wed. June 30th, after a 15 hour train ride, just in time for a full day of: check in, Eiffel Tower, Bike Tour, Night Seine River Boat ride.

Hola!

What a day! It is 10 pm here, but the sun just set 30 minutes ago, so it feels like 7 pm.
All the kids were in the lobby at noon for a group trip to the beach. We decided against Sitges, as they found out it was a homosexual nude beach (mostly old men)…Evan and Ashli mentioned a Tosa Del Mar beach, but it was a different train and 15 euro round trip, so we decided to use our metro subway passes and took a red bus line to the beach….only to discover it was the same beach the bike tour led us to. So, we found a different beach 10 minutes up the yellow subway line to Porblenue (sp?) and found a less populated beach. Again, the water was warm and everyone was able to layout and rest for awhile…then the tummies started getting hungry and so they walked up the avenue and bought falafels.

After the beach, most decided to clean up, walk around Barcelona more and since they had spread out to about 5 groups, they wanted to try to get everyone together for dinner.

Saba´s cousin introduced them to a Tapas restaurant, but it was too expensive, so they found directions close to the hotel of a street of tapas, so we are all headed for dinner there (yes it is after 10 pm!).

Tomorrow we will take a train to Figures and discover the Dali Museum and castle on the hill.

From all of my experience (Ty) of traveling with kids. This is the nicest group ever. They are thankful, excited, motivated to see, relaxed about missed busses, or walking the wrong way for blocks, and the most respectful of tour meeting times. I am really happy with their attitudes and their longevity to last dancing all night and walking all day. (it is only the 4th day, but SO FAR SO GOOD!)

Haven´t heard any juicy gossip, but I guess, even if I had, I probably shouldn´t tell ya all….

Please comment on these blogs to let me know you are reading them, and what other kind of information you would like to know!