World Travel Club

Spain: Madrid and Andalusia, June 2009

In June of 2009 we will be heading to sunny Spain! Fund raising opportunities are now available for interested students who have signed up for the trip. Please contact Mr. McCullough about the upcoming fundraising opportunities.

The itinerary is to include Madrid (with visits to the Prado, Puerto del Sol, and Plaza Mayor), Toledo (with visits to the famous cathedral, Church of Santo Tomé, and St. Mary's Synagogue), Consuegra & Granada (which will include seeing Don Quixote's windmills, the Alhambra Palace, and the Royal Chapel), Costa del Sol (free day on the beach or side trip to Morocco, Africa), Seville (with a tour of the Alcázar, Seville Cathedral, Giralda Tower, Torre del Oro, Plaza de Toros, and Barrio de Santo Cruz), & Córdoba (we will see the Mezquita). We are even trying to arrange for an optional excursion to see a bull fight in Madrid! (Click for complete itinerary)

We expect this trip to fill up fast, so if you would like to join us and/or want to get a jumpstart on the fund raising, please sign up quickly! The trip is open to present and future Lancers (must be at least 12 years old at time of departure), families, alumni, and friends of La Salle. To sign up, go to www.eftours.com, click "For Students/Parents," and enter Tour ID #467985; then follow the on-screen instructions. Only $95 is required to lock in your spot. For more information, contact Jacob McCullough (jmccullough@lasallehs.net).

Past Trips

Italy, 2005 (pictures): In the summer of 2005, 44 members of the La Salle community embarked on an amazing adventure to Italy. Lancers, along with family and friends, began their trip in Rome, where they took in the wonders of the Forum and the Coliseum at sunset; ate gelatti at the Trevi Fountain; and soaked in the glory of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica.

From there it was on to Tuscany. In Assisi, the group wandered the cobbled picturesque roads, enjoying the geraniums dangling from every window and balcony, shopping for pottery, and marvelling at the architectural grandeur of the cathedral built in honor of St. Francis. And then...Florence! The art capital mesmerized with its architectural grace and statues dating from the Renaissance at every turn. The visit to the city was only outdone by the visit to the Tuscan countryside overlooking Florence.

Next, the group travelled north to the romantic city of Venice, where they chased pigeons through Piazza San Marco, took a gondola ride, and walked across the Bridge of Sighs.

Finally, the travelers headed to Milan to view its world famous Duomo and shop in one of the fashion capitals of the world.

France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, 2006 (pictures): When Mr. Farfsing, Mr. McCullough, and Mr. Winiarski first began making plans to take students abroad, they thought it would be an every-other-year venture. However, demand for a 2006 trip was very high once word spread about the success of the Italy trip. So without delay, another trip was planned. Every available spot was soon filled by 48 eager travellers which now included alumni as well as students and their families and friends!

The trip began in Paris with a cruise on the Seine. Next the travelers visited Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the palace at Versailles. From Paris it was on to Bern, Swizerland via Europe's fastest train, the TGV.

Bern proved to be beautiful, with its pristine river and mountain vistas. After lunch and shopping the group was off to Engelberg, a quaint mountain village nestled in the Alps. As evening came along, the locals came out to perform traditional Alpine dancing and play Alpine horns in the park. But as much as everyone was enjoying the charm of Engelberg the surrounding mountains beckoned. The next morning began with a cable ride to the top of Mt. Pilatus. The views were obstructed somewhat by the clouds, but it was invigorating and exhillerating, nonetheless. A cog car delivered the travelers to the base of the mountain and Lake Lucerne. And then, after a short cruise by boat: Lucerne! Lucerne's Kapelbruck Bridge captivated the imagination with its flowing flowers, and swans drifted by in the crystal waters that traverse the city.

Soon it was time to leave Switzerland and head to Innsbruck, Austria, home of the famous golden roof. Like Switzerland, Austria continued to astound with mountain views in all directions.

After a brief stop in Leichtenstein for some shopping a passport stamp, it was on to Bavaria and the Romantic Road that would lead to Munich. Stops included Oberammergau, home of the world famous Passion Play, Neuschwanstein Castle--often called the Cinderella Castle, and Weiss Kirke, one of Germany's finest examples of baroque architecture.

Last, the group enjoyed several days in Munich.  Here they saw firsthand the destruction of World War II in the repaired brickwork of the churches and museums; wandered through the vast halls of the Hofbrauhaus where the Nazi Party met in its early days; and walked the grounds of Nymphenburg Palace, home of Bavarian royalty for the last three centuries.

The trip was truly an amazing experience.