TravelStream™ news feed for member kellenberg on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/kellenberg en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 22 Aug 2005 07:38:21 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1124052420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1124052420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1124052420/tpod.html Mon, 22 Aug 2005 07:38:21 -0400 KMHS 2005 USA Study Tour

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Uniondale, New York, United States

Day 50




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Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Day 49



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Williamsburg, Virginia, United States

Day 48

Today we woke up with a frenzie in Newport News State Park. We quickly packed, ate, and clambered onto the buses, eager to head to Busch Gardens.

First, however, we visited Yorktown, Virginia. This was the sight of the last decisive battle of the American Revolution, with the Continental Army and it's French allies defeating the British, causing them to surrender. Chris S. and Bridget finished Alyssas', Steve L's, Doug's, and Kasey's interviews at parts of the museum grounds, in the steamy, stifling heat. The group saw the Indian restoration, which was on the same site, and the museum describing the life of the soldiers and civilians during the war and it's major battles and people.

Afterwards, we travelled to Busch Gardens. Everyone was incredibly excited for the rides, the games, the shopping, and the food! We stopped for a group picture right inside the park, but then dispersed, ready to make the most of the vast park.

Many experienced B.G.'s newest ride, DarKastle, first, to get its very long time- consuming line out of the way. From there, the park had four awesome roller coasters, 3 water rides, and many, many other rides amongst the "countries" of Ireland, France, New France, Germany, Scotland, England, Italy, and Ancient Rome. People reported back that they ate ice cream in Germany, pizza and spaghetti in Italy, corned beef and potatoes in Ireland, croissants and pastries in the streets of France, and drinks...everywhere, in this humid 98 degree weather. Arcades and carnival games were frequented, and many bought professional photographs from the rides, and souvenirs from many shops. The 9 hours went too quickly , and sooner then we expected we had to converge back at the Globe Theatre in England. We returned to camp, and for the first time the whole trip a great majority of us slept without a sleeping bag or cover of any kind ( much to the bugs' delight).

Journal Crew

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]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123792260/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123792260/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123792260/tpod.html Mon, 22 Aug 2005 07:33:11 -0400 KMHS 2005 USA Study Tour

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Jamestown, Virginia, United States

Day 47

We woke up around 7:00 this morning. We had our usual breakfast and we departed at eight thirty. We drove to Jamestown, Virginia. When we got there, we went to an outside exhibit. The first section of the exhibit featured Native American houses and huts. Bear skin, cups, baskets, and other Indian trinkets were located in these houses.

We then set forth to three ships anchored near the harbor. We were allowed to go in the ships and test out the beds which were very small, and steer the steering wheel. Two men then demonstrated a cannon fire after describing the several weapons and ammo used on the boat and the cannon they were using to fire. When the cannon fire demonstration began, we all covered our ears and waited impatiently for the cannon to fire. The cannon fire was extremely loud. You could feel the vibrations through the wooden floor.

After the cannon fire we walked to an elderly, energetic man who openly described how the early settlers navigated through the Atlantic ocean. These methods were fairly accurate considering the army teaches these methods. We then walked to the settlement. A huge wooden wall surrounded this huge land. A young man told us of the vast artillery used in the colonial period. He even demonstrated a musket fire which was as loud as the canon fire. When we finished the tour we drove to Newport News Park. Journal crew quickly set up the tarps and dinner crew prepared our final camp-cooked meal, Shrimp Linguini (a choice chosen by Alyssa). A batch of chicken was made for Shajuan who is allergic to shrimp.After dinner, we surprised Alyssa with her favorite dessert, ice cream cake. Happy Birthday Alyssa. After we devoured our ice cream cake we rolled out our sleeping bags and slowly fell asleep.

Journal Crew

Link to (yesterday's and) today's photos
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123705440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123705440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123705440/tpod.html Mon, 22 Aug 2005 07:32:26 -0400 KMHS 2005 USA Study Tour

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Charleston, West Virginia, United States

Day 46

Today the majority of students unfortunately slept in past 7:00, our wake- up call. As a result, Mr. Troy woke a good 15 or 20 people at about 7:40, not in time for them to eat the French Toast Bro. Roger had prepared or to shower in the dorms of the high school we had slept in. So we extended out departure time from 8 :00 to 9:00, and everyone hurried to clean, pack, eat, and shower.

Today was again by definition a 'drive day', and we spent close to 12 hours in the buses,travelling 620 miles. The morning was uneventful, and we pulled over quickly at a rest stop to eat lunch in the shade (the temperature was between 92- 98 degrees most of the day). We drove again without stop until about 5:00, and then pulled over into a center of typical fast food restaurants. The idea was to let everyone disperse and use the bathrooms at many different places in order to cut back on time, but each and every person also came back with food- even all the moderators. So considering that every person had gotten themselves dinner, we didn't stop for the chicken noodle concoction we had been planning on preparing for dinner, and instead, drove the rest of the night until we reached the campsite.

The day was not over yet for some people. While Bridget distracted Alyssa by continuously putting the same Daddy- Long-Legs spiders all over her sleeping bag and pad,Lauren and Meg decorated Alyssa's bus seat with some help from Shajuan, Joe, and Patricia for her birthday tomorrow. Alyssa turns 17! Bus 003 had generously hidden Alssya's gifts in a tin pail in their bus, and everyone signed it for her to remember us by.

Journal Crew

Link to today's (and tomorrow's) photos
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123643820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123643820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123643820/tpod.html Mon, 22 Aug 2005 07:31:20 -0400 KMHS 2005 USA Study Tour

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St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Day 45

Today we were given a late departure time (10:00 am) and not the usual wake-up call. From 9:45 and earlier we could do anything we desired in this Quality Inn. For breakfast we made our own waffles with the waffle maker and ate foods including bagels, cereal, coffee, hot cocoa, tea, and apple juice. Then we sadly forfeited our hotel card keys and drove to St. Louis, Missouri. On the way we stopped at a Hy-Vee grocery store to do some shopping. A group of us were secretly trying to get goods for Alyssa's approaching birthday.

Bro. Nigel and the video crew also began taping our final interviews today - to be used in the edited video of our trip. Everyone of us will be asked the same 18 questions - many of which will be used throughout the video.

The buses then left the supermarket and we drove to the famous St. Louis Arch - Gateway to the West. we entered the building quickly to meet our scheduled appointment on time. When we got to the North Tram we were divided into groups of five and we waited near the small size doors aligned on a diagonal slant. When we were given permission to do so we climbed into our seat. As we began to escalate up towards the peak of the arc (we were inside the arc). When we reached the apex of the Arch we walked to the small rectangular windows and peered through them. A river, buildings, a church, the shadow of the arch reflected in the water and our two schools buses were all visible through this point. When we returned to the base of the arch we received thirty minutes to shop for souvenirs, purchase pictures taken by the tram, and visit the Museum of Westward Expansion located in the base of the building.

We left the Gateway Arch and headed towards Chaminade College Prep. HS, a Marianist HS in St. Louis. When we arrived we were met by a security guard and his son who showed us around and let us into the cafeteria where we would be spending the night. This particular school had a huge TV near the cafeteria, red couches, soda, snack and ice cream machines, a swimming pool, a chapel, a track and field, and eight tennis courts. we ate some delicious chicken shis-kabob, salad and rice prepared by our dinner crew. Then Mr. Troy treated us to an after dinner snack and "The Nutty Professor". Mr Troy cut the movie short because of an early wake up call tomorrow. Enjoying our second day indoors, we happily fell fast asleep.

Journal Crew

Link to today's photos
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123556520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123556520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123556520/tpod.html Sat, 20 Aug 2005 16:28:05 -0400 KMHS 2005 USA Study Tour

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Lawrence, Kansas, United States

Day 44

Today we woke especially early, at 4:30, in order to get a head start on our long drive across the states of Colorado and Kansas, heading for the Eisenhower Library. We were out by 5:00, and drove in rare, blissful silence until around 9:00, when we stopped for breakfast at McDonald's. When hot cakes and sausages and Egg McMuffins galore had been devoured, we headed back to the buses to continue our drive, all of us still a bit groggy.

We drove to the library in stifling heat, to which we had to become accustomed again, reluctantly, having been in much cooler weather for the past week or two. It hit 98 degrees shortly before noon, and continued at that temperature through to 4:15, which was when we reached Eisenhower Library. The library itself was extraordinary, and Mr. Troy even admitted he had always liked it the best out of all the Presediential Libraries he had visited. The focus was for the first time not on the President's entire life, but on the major events during his life and what role he played in shaping them. There was a very short portrayal of his young life and entrance into the United States Military Academy, but since his house was on the property, the museum soon focused on the events leading up to World War II, and had a long, special exhibition on the people, major battles, and new inventions and tactics used during the war. Then the museum flowed into Eisenhower's campaign and entrance into the presidency, and of course, depicted his major acts and challenges as the President of the United States. The end of the museum focused on the changes that occurred in the decades following Eisenhower's Presidency and World War II, namely the Space Age, environmental concerns, social changes, and technological advances.

We exited the Library, and Mr. Troy called us in for a quick meeting. He solemnly announced to a stunned audience that we would be staying in a HOTEL tonight. We broke out into cheers, which were quickly hushed, but then we roared again when he said he was ordering pizza, too! We piled onto the buses in tremendously great moods, incredibly excited. The past study tours had stayed in hotels 3 to 5 times, but as we were closing in on the last 5 days, we figured that we wouldn't have the experience. We pulled into a Quality Inn and shared rooms with our tent buddies. We could go in the pool, shower indoors, watch TV, and sleep in beds (MATTRESSES) for the first time in 45 days. We weren't allowed out of our rooms past ten, but all of us enjoyed our room companions' company in comfortable beds with full stomachs.

Journal Crew

Link to today's photos
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123472820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123472820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123472820/tpod.html Fri, 12 Aug 2005 07:37:33 -0400 KMHS 2005 USA Study Tour

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Rocky Mt. NP, Colorado, United States

Day 43

This morning we woke up to the cold, frigid air of the Rocky Mountains - 48 degrees!!!. There was a deer walking only thirty feet from our campsite. We ate breakfast at 8:00 am and departed for Bear Lake where we would embark on our final hike scheduled for the trip. We excitedly laced up our hiking boots and began our brief 1.8 mile hike to Emerald Lake. On the way we passed a lake filled with small, green lily pads and trout. Then we walked on sandy colored rock jutting out of the mountain side, allowing all who stood there to enjoy the magnificent splendor of the white snow covered mountains with tall trees standing near the mountains. It was indeed a sight worth stopping for. We pressed on and observed the natural waterfalls that washed into the lake below. Then we hiked to Dream Lake, a pool of water with a green and reddish color - perfectly mirror-like calm water. When we saw this lake, it appeared to be something of myth or story.

We then reached our destination, Emerald lake. While crossing over some rocks, Joe slipped and fell into the dark green pool that was two feet deep at the edge. The soaked Joe wanted to go back in but he feared he was restricted from doing so. Emerald lake was surrounded by mountains on all sides and inhabited by a few ducks and their ducklings. On one corner of the lake a thin, stream-like waterfall cascaded down the mountain side into the beautiful Emerald Lake. After we sat and marveled at the beauty of Emerald lake for a while, we headed back stopping to witness Kelly perform a cartwheel on a narrow bridge. A nearby lady gave Kelly a ten. Bro Nigel was encountered by a grouse and her 3 young chicks as we hiked back down. They crossed the path and continued to a nearby stream. We then hiked down to the shuttle buses and went to our buses to have lunch.

After lunch we headed for the Alpine Visitor Center to get our NP passports stamped, to buy souvenirs, and to climb to a viewpoint at the top of the hills. This was both the highest altitude at which we drove during the trip, 12,183 ft and also the highest altitude we would have hiked to, 12,005 ft. A little less than half of us took on the challenge of walking the 500 foot ascent to the high point, but when we did it was certainly worthwhile. The vistas all around were magnificent - and breath-taking in both senses of that word. We were surrounded by various mountain peaks and valleys, numerous ice fields and wonderful alpine treeless fields.

When we finished this site we drove to Estes park for another four hours of free time. Chris D, accompanied by Steve L. , Chris S, and Shajuan purchased a bottle of dangerously spicy hot sauce, a special edition of Dave's Hot Sause. This bottle was contained in a wooden coffin box with a yellow caution sign wrapped around it. After Chris D signed a release form for the hot sauce, the pleased seller then gave Chris D a free bottle of water. Meg S, Meg D, Doug, Steve C, Katie C, Katie F, Kasey, Amy, Kelly, Patricia and Liz went mini-golfing. Alyssa, Joe and Dan went on slides, bumper boats and go-carts. Alyssa won all races offered in those events. Meg and Lauren ate at a pizza restaurant named the Taste of Chicago. Ms. Stiglic, Ms. Schulman, and Carolyn dined at Casa Grande restaurant, again. While we students enjoyed our relaxing leisure time, Bro Roger and Bro Nigel embarked on a more religious retreat. They visited the Church of Saint Malo, where our former holy father, Pope John Paul II, spent a whole day when he visited Denver in 1993.

When our period of free time ended, back at camp, Mr. Troy generously opened up his barber shop located in the bathroom of Rocky Mountain NP. Mr. Troy gave quality haircuts to Chris D, Steve L. Joe, and Shajuan. Meanwhile, a few of us dispensed the many puddles left on our tarps from the daytime rainstorm. Some slept on the bus because their sleeping items were thoroughly drenched. After Mr. Troy finished cutting hair we all climbed into bed and fell sound asleep under the numerous, shiny stars.

Journal Crew

Link to today's photos
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123386180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123386180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123386180/tpod.html Fri, 12 Aug 2005 07:19:50 -0400 KMHS 2005 USA Study Tour

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Rocky Mt. NP, Colorado, United States

Day 42

We woke up today at our very nice campsite and those who didn't have a chance last evening took showers. Also at our disposal were a mailbox and an Internet outlet to update the web page journal and pictures. We left relatively late, around 9:15, in good moods, and set off on a few hours' drive to Estes Park (the name of a town) right outside of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

We reached the outskirts of Estes Park about 1 p.m. and proceeded to go food shopping, use the UPS store to mail things home, and do our laundry. Around 4:00, the first group to finish laundry went with Mr. Troy, Ms. Shulman, and Ms. de Elia to the campsite to set up camp, and the other half stayed with Bro. Nigel and Ms. Stiglic to finish washing and drying, planning to meet up at the Our Lady of the Mountains' Catholic Church for 4:30 Mass. Bro. Roger in the meantime met up with his brother and his family to go hiking. They met us later on at the Church for Mass.

Bro. Nigel and Miss Stiglic's smaller group reached the church first, around 4:20, but due to the overflow congregation, they were not able to sit in the actual church. There was a rather large room off the church's left side which opened up to the pews, though, and they sat there with a good number of other people and could easily see the service.

A minute or two before Mass started, a women sacristan rushed over and asked if there were anyone was able to serve Mass. Bridget and Frank were hurried to the back and put on cassocks, and the Mass proceeded. To our surprise the main celebrant, Fr. John, was a Marianist from the University of Dayton!!! He introduced himself and our little group. Our group was also awarded the "prize" for having come the farthest - we were given postcards and Holy Chocolate bars. Mr. Troy's group walked in a bit later on, not too late, but the usher had nowhere to seat them. Much to Bridget and Frank's amusement, the large group were led past the entire congregation to the altar pews directly across from their servers' chairs.

At the end of the Mass, Bro. Roger introduced his family to us - his brother's family lives just outside of Denver and drove up to see him. Afterward, while Bro. Roger went out with his brother's family, we were given free time in Estes Park, a large tourist town. We ate dinner, shopped, and some went to the 'amusement park" in town, where people could do bumper boating, indoor rock climbing, and go cart racing. Bro. Nigel happily went to his second (and third) Rock Store of the trip, and made some purchases to augment the school's collection. At 9:00, we met up at the movie theatre with a large variation of purchases, including 'Hike Naked- it adds color to your cheek' stickers (Meg and Lauren), a life-size battery operated feathered chicken (Bridget), a pretty big fossil (Amy), plastic bows and arrows and cap guns (Chris S., Doug, Steve L., Steve C., Brian), an old fashioned western-styled picture (Doug and Steve), and $94 worth of hemp clothing and incense (Chirs D.). Just to add, Chris S., Doug, Brian and the Steves bought the bows and arrows and cap guns not just for random ammo, but to re-enact a Cowboys and Indian fight at our campsite. Having thoroughly disgusted our moderators, we happily piled onto the buses and went to our campsite, preparing to rise early for our last hike of the trip, which is tomorrow.

Journal Crew

Link to today's photos
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123299540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123299540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kellenberg/2005-studytour/1123299540/tpod.html Fri, 12 Aug 2005 07:15:27 -0400 KMHS 2005 USA Study Tour

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Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States

Day 41

Bus 004 woke up a half-hour early at 6:30 to wash the dinner dishes we didn't get to from the previous day. At 7:00 we all, including bus 003 helped ourselves to breakfast. Bro. Nigel displayed the rocks and minerals that he had gotten from a local rock store and a kind, elderly park volunteer named Bud joined us for breakfast. He complemented our trip and our good behavior as a group. He then described to our group some interesting attractions near Custard State Park. Some were definitely sites we would have seen on this trip if our itinerary was not already planned and if we had the time.

We bid Bud our good-byes and drove across the state to our next destination, the Badlands. These sacred lands are home to many Native Americans whose history and mythology thrives in these areas. We stopped at a Visitor Center to stamp our National Park Pasports and to marvel at the artifacts and historical facts in display, especially a lot of information about the massacre at Wounded Knee.

We then drove through the Badlands and continued our long, grueling drive day ending back in Wyoming. We went shopping and soon afterwards we went to the KOA campsite. when we got there, some of us played in the three-year-old playground while some continued to practice Frisbee (you'd think they be experts by now!!!), and others talked or wrote in their journals until dinner crew finished cooking hamburgers and hot dogs. We ate dinner and helped ourselves to leftover pudding. Then Ms. Stiglic and Bro. Nigel lead the reflection prayer with an Indian prayer about all being one people with one Spirit, a song titled "Deliver Me From Me", and a responsorial. When the prayers ended, we took showers and we fell fast asleep.

Journal Crew

Link to today's photos
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