Exploring Europe, Spartan Style.
Artwork by Rebecca Holt
Europe: a land of opportunity, the first colony that colonized us all, accompanied with a truly interesting mix of our modern society and medieval history. As of last year, Spartans looking to travel abroad have found the opportunity through TJ’s own Eurotrip.
Last year Spartans’ travel opportunities centered in Switzerland and Italy (mainly Rome), which of course makes sense to History Teacher Kim Holtmann’s Ancient History Class scholars. “It was great. Most of the class is centered around Roman history,” Holtmann states. And the trip really did go that well. “The spots on this year’s trip filled long before the current students had any idea it existed! All the kids that did not go last year signed up this year,” said Holtmann.
This year students had a selection of travel choices to choose from and some serious decisions to make. Due to the popularity of this past year’s trip the class will now be taking two separate expeditions. Over Spring Break, March 25th to April 3rd, students will find themselves exploring the ancient streets of Greece and its surrounding islands, meeting history head-on by visiting places like the Parthenon and the Palace at Knossos.
About the Greece trip, Holtmann said, “It will be a wonderful learning experience for the students and myself; seeing where democracy in Western Civilization began.” Traveling during spring break, the students will embark on a cruise back in time, back to the roots of modern democracy, all in the beautiful Mediterranean setting of the Greek islands. And in case anyone is down for missing the boat, there are still a few spots open for this trip, and the applications are always welcomed. See Kimberly Holtmann in room 237 for more information on this opportunity.
The second trip, occurring over the first week of summer, June 1st through June 10th, will find Spartans exploring London, Paris, Madrid, and Toledo (which is a stellar example of a preserved medieval town in Spain today). Initially preserved by the Moors, Toledo found members of several faiths living peacefully within its borders. Followers of Islam, Byzantine Christianity, and Catholicism all made their livings here.
The trip starts with an overnight flight to London. No brakes (or breaks) once they land, either, as they almost immediately receive a formal tour of the city. After the tour winds down the group will head back to their hotel and rest before, as Holtmann shares, “Literally they will be on a full-sprint through the entire city of London.” Catching such lovely sites as Grosvenor Square (also known as “Little America”), Hyde Park, and even the house where President Eisenhower lived. Aside from the free time in London the kids will get on their second day, the most exciting part of the trip is said to be the overnight train trip. “We will be taking a trip, overnight, to Paris. The most interesting part will be who fully survives the trek,” Holtmann laughs. “You are basically shoulder to shoulder with your neighbor during the day in your seating area. At night though, obviously enough, the chairs fold straight back to accommodate the sleepy passengers.” And as the chug-chug of the train comes to a slow, the kids will embark on yet another range of new experiences in the City of Romance: Paris, France.
Junior’s Nicole Brown, Marelle Davey, Sean Gonzalez, and Hayden Johnson, all alumni of last year’s trip, were eager to share their experience. “The trip overall was one of the best cultural experiences I have ever had the pleasure of having,” said Marelle.
As the gang reminisced about their good old Eurotrip fun, they chimed in with some quirky memories. “Being attacked by pigeons in Venice was, and still remains, the highlight of my entire life,” Nicole Brown said amidst laughter.
Sean Gonzalez shared his opinion as well. “Switzerland is by far the most homey and realistic place I have ever been to. It is beautiful, and I was so glad to be seeing it with all of my friends on the trip,” Gonzalez states.
From the mythical islands of Greece to the cobble-stone romantic streets of Paris, France and London, England, these Spartans will certainly come back enlightened. Europe can only hope to be ready for the gang of TJ’s Spartans as they arrive again for a short time on its soil.
