Italy / Greece - July 5

Check out all the Greece/Italy pictures!

2010-07-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

We've posted hundreds of pictures from our 15-day adventure in the heart of the Mediterrenean. These images capture every captivating event we enjoyed--from Greek dancing on Day 1, to the fast-paced and exciting scavenger hunt in Rome during our final full day! You'll find them all by clicking on the pictures tab on the top of the Greece/Italy blog. Enjoy!

Rome scavenger hunt video

2010-07-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

Exploring the eternal city of Rome

2010-07-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

What a magical way to end an amazing 15-day journey to the heart of the Mediterranean--with an exciting, self-guided tour or Rome. Armed with treasure maps, water bottles and cameras, students split into four groups to discovery the iconic landmarks of this historic city, including the Colisseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, and more. It was truly a fascinating way to experience Italy's bustling capital. Prizes awaited scavenger hunters at the finish line, and the winning group got an extra something special: T-shirts from the Hard Rock Cafe-Rome, the meeting place for our last dinner together. The lifetime of memories we created during our visit to Greece and Italy are priceless! Thanks to everybody who made this journey such an awesome, mind-blowing adventure!

Finding solitude in the holiest of all places

2010-07-18T12:22:00.001-07:00

No matter what your religious beliefs are, you can't help but feel a deep spiritual connection when entering Italy's most sacred landmark: The Vatican, capital a Catholicism and the wold's smallest state. Our normally lively (and talkative) group was uncharacteristically quiet as our tour guide explained life at the Vatican -- both today and in centuries past. Awe-stricken, we admired the masterpieces of St. Peter's Cathedral, including Michelanelo's glorius Sistine Chapel, and were later honored to meet with a ranking Catholic priest who answered all our questions, and then with a member of the Swiss guard, whose vital mission is to protect the Pope.

Uncovering the buried mysteries of Pompeii

2010-07-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

Walking through the streets of this ancient city south of Rome was both fascinating and eerie. Some 16 centuries ago, in 79 A.D., this town of about 250,000 people became instantly extinct when nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted, burying everything in nearly 40 feet of volcanic ash. The explosion happened so suddenly and unexpectedly that the townspeople were caught off guard and died quickly from the volcanic fumes. Many were intombed in ash, their bodies preserved like ceramic statues. The buried town was discovered in the 17th century and excavation efforts since that time have revealed its many secrets. Exploring the cobble stone streets, ancient dwellings and sacred temples of Pompeii was like taking our own private journey in a Discovery Student Adventures time machine!

We didn't just hike Mount Etna, we CONQUERED it!

2010-07-17T09:44:00.001-07:00

It's one thing to stand at the base of a massive volcano and admire its sheer size. It's a whole other thing trekking to the summit, feeling the its lava-like heat on the soles of your shoes and breathing the steamy vapors spewing from the crater. The views from the summit at just over 10,000 feet were unimaginably cool!

Reaching the top of this monster mountain was not enough for us adventurers. Would we hitch a ride back to the bottom? Forget it! We did an about-face at the summit and barreled down the steep slopes, plunging our shoes deep into the course volcanic sand that quickly filled our shoes and skinned our knees as some of us not-so-graceful hikers experienced a tumble or two. After this extreme adventure, we're ready for just about anything life throws at us!

Nicole Prainito

In my freshman English class we read "The Odyssey," which is a very, very old epic poem about a hero named Odysseus. In this story, he encounters a Cyclops named Polyphemus who loves and owns a giant herd of sheep. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that Mount Etna was the home of this monster -- and that is exactly where my friends and I went. We trekked all the way up to the very peak, and then came all the way back down. Although we did not meet any mythical creatures on our adventure, standing at the edge of a crater on the top of the second most active volcano in the world, you can't help but think that it was created by the hands of a monster. And when we got to the bottom of the mountain, we saw a sheep running down the mountain "Baaah"-ing the whole way down as if he was talking to his heard that was waiting for him at the bottom of the mountain, warning them that the monster is not far away. This was a very exciting activity for me, especially after making a connection between this and school! It still seems surreal that we actually went that far up a VOLCANO! This was an accomplishment that I will remember and be proud of for the rest of my life!

Danielle Carr

Because I am such a competitive athlete, victory is something I always strive for. When reaching the top of Mount Etna, the victorious feeling inside of my bones was stronger then ever. I climbed to the top of a volcano's peak with my four best friends. It's an experience I will never forget it! My children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will ALL hear about. We worked together to get through the hard parts. I have rocks in my knees to prove how challenging the climb really was, Anna does as well! It was definitely worth it and will forever remain forever in my positive memories!

Kicking up some serious volcanic ash on Mount Etna!

2010-07-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

Tackling the relentless inclines of a volcano on mountain bikes was every bit as rewarding as it was challenging. After some operation and safety instruction from our expert guide Pepe', we strapped on our helmets and headed for the hills. Our trek began at an elevation of 5,100 feet at our rustic lodge, Rifugio Ariel. Pedaling upwards, we quickly learned that knowing how to operate the gears is a MUST if you plan on keeping yourself upright. After some early struggles, we settled into our seats and climbed, climbed, climbed!

The volcanic landscape was breathtaking and we stopped several times to take in the panoramic views. After climbing to nearly 6,000 feet, we decided it was time to give our legs a break and we descended, wind in our faces and dust at our backs. It was the perfect introduction to Mount Etna, one of Europe's most active volcanoes. What an experience!

Cara Boxer

Me and my friends have always wanted to go an adventurous bike ride, so when I found out we were going to bike ride up Mount Etna I knew I would enjoy it. It may have been one of the hardest things in my life, but the experience was worth every ounce of pain I felt. When I look back on it now, I can officially say I will never forget any of the memories that I shared with everyone on this trip. I wanted an adventure and I definitely got what I asked for!

Showing off our artistic flair -- Sicilian style!

2010-07-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

Under the watchful eyes of local artisits, students and teachers transformed simple white plates into colorful works of art at an authentic Sicilian pottery shop and learned about the production of ceremics, an activity famous in the beautiful town of Caltagirone. Michelangelo would be proud!

Rockin' the boat!

2010-07-16T13:24:00.001-07:00

Amid flashing disco lights and heart-pounding music, we made a huge splash on the ferry's dance floor that the passengers are probably still talking about! What began as a small Discovery dance quickly escalated into a full-blown party as scores of strangers joined in on the fun and helped us celebrate. What a crazy-cool way to end our unforgettable stay in Sicily! Bring on ROME!

VIP access on the ferry to Naples, Italy!

2010-07-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Our Discovery gang was treated to an exclusive, behnind-the-scenes look at the nerve center of our ferry as we pulled away from the port in Palmero, Italy, enroute back to Naples on the mainland. We didn't get to pull any levers or fiddle with any gadgets, but we did to meet the captain and his crew and observe as they carefully manuevered the boat into the open sea. The view from the control tower was awesome ... and only Discovery Student Adventures was there!

Rip-roaring river rafting photos

2010-07-14T09:04:00.000-07:00

You've seen the awesome video, now check out our pictures!

Rafting Rocked! Read the comments, then watch the video below!

2010-07-13T11:24:00.001-07:00

Cara B.

Ever since I was little I've always wanted to come to Italy and do something adventurous. White water rafting was something unforgettable and amazingly especially because I was in a raft with 4 of my best friends. Today couldn't get any better between going down intense water rapids and being able to jump out of our raft and go swimming in the Lao river. I could honestly say today was one of the funnest days of my life and I hope to do it again really soon. I will remember everything about today and share these memories for the rest of my life!

Nicole P.

Today was an absolute blast! White water rafting has officially declared this trip an adventure! The night before, I was soooo afraid of the raft tipping over and falling into the water or smashing up against a rock, but after experiencing it I can't wait to go again! One of the reasons I had so much fun is because our instructor was great! He was funny and really nice, he showed us exactly how to hold the paddle and what to do when the raft gets caught up on a rock and how to prevent tipping over.I was sad when we got to the end of the rapids and gave our last paddle high-five. I will remember this adventure forever and I cant wait to go mountain biking!

Alyssa T.

Yesterday, we got to Italy via ferry. I was so excited to go because I've always wanted to go, and who wouldn't want to go to Italy? Today, we went white water rafting, and it was very interesting and fun. At first I was nervous because I've only gone once before, and the water seenmed rough. But after we got through the first few rapids and looked at the beautiful scene in front of us, I relaxed and enjoyed it. It was so much fun, and I hope I will be able to do it again someday.

Toni V.

I would never of thought that I would be visiting Italy and I am completely thrilled that i got the opportunity to do so, especially white water rafting and it was crazy. I've always wanted to do it and it was finally accomplished. It was scary at first but, I learned you need to go big or go home!

Anita H.

Today we went white water rafting in italy. At first I was pretty nervous to go but then when I got in the raft I started havin so much fun. We got splashed with the water when we went down the rougher parts and we crashed into the rocks and we all fell into each other. It was a really good experience and I'm glad I got the chance to do it.

Niko H.

Today when we were in Italy we went white water rafting it wasn't any thing new to me, but there was some part that scared me. But it was a blast!

Anna P.

Today was probably the biggest adventure we have went on yet. In the beginning we weren't quite used to paddling, or working together but as time went on, and the rapids got bigger we stepped up our game. The best part of this was probably when my raft got stuck inbetween two rocks and our instructor called out, "high-side left,"which meant we all had to get to the left side so the raft wouldn't flip over. Water got everywhere and we were all laughing and having a great time. Jimbo got it on tape, and Lyndsey even fell out, but I'll let her tell you about that! This was an experience of a lifetime that I definetely want to do again.

Alexa S.

White water rafting was probably one of the most exciting things I have ever done! On my raft was Anna, Cara, Lyndsey, Danielle, and Jimbo. The most memorable experience on this rafting adventure was definitley when our instrustor let all of us jump onto the Lao River to swim and float around! It was so great! We were all laughing and doing silly things for Jimbo to record and all of a suden there was a drop! We all went down and our backs hit into a few rocks! It was so great because nobody expected it and Jimbo got it all on tape! It was an amazing day which I will never forget!

Lyndsey C.

Today was the most fun of them all! White water rafting was beyond exhilerating! I was very scared in the beginning but then I got much more used to it. Unfortunately, during one of the more intense parts, a branch got stuck on my face and flung me out of the raft! Since I was comfortable with my instructor, I didn't even panic! It was actually fun! Luckily, Jimbo was there to save the day to pull me back in. I'm left with a swollen face, but it was well worth the fun! I can't wait to do it again in the near future!

Danielle C.

My friends and I have been counting down the days until our rafting adventures for months with very high expectations. I begun to fear my expections were a little bit too high, but I learned today how wrong I was. Between the adrenaline rushing and the sound of the raft bouncing against the water this experience is truly an unforgetable one. I am so lucky to have shared it with my bestfriends and Jimbo, of course! I hope mountain biking is as adventurous and EXTREME!

Mrs. Rizzo Troxell

Words cannot explain Italy...it is an awe-inspiring experience that unites culture, tradition, my own family history and GREAT eating! Not only did we discover Italy, but new friends and relationships...Tomorrow we are going on the adventure I've been waiting for...mountain biking!! Although I do have a "bucket list" my plate is full with Italy, the teachers and the students smiles:)

Rafting down the mighty Lao River

2010-07-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

Ready for a taste of Italy!

2010-07-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

Before our Superfast ferry even docked at the bustling port in Bari, Discovery Adventurers were bubbling with anticipation over what lie ahead. And Day 1 in this magnificent country shaped like a boot was an absolute kick!

We scrambled onto our awaiting motor coach and headed straight for stunning Alberobello, the amazing city of the Trulli huts. Topped with curious teepee-like roofs, these unique dwellings, commonly called Ice Cream Houses, have an interesting history. In the 17th century, the king of Naples demanded a tax be collected on all houses built of concrete. To avoid the taxes, builder Gian Girolomo II used this design on the roofs so the shingles would hold themselves in place without concrete, therefore avoiding the tax.

After a fascinating tour of Alberobello, hungry explorers broke in their Italian tastebuds at an authentic Italian pizzarie. When the orders arrived, our eyes were nearly as big as our plates. Each serving was a full-size pizza and we chose between Meditterenean or salami. Delicious!

Back on the coach, we headed south, toward the heel of the famous boot, to the locally famous Dolco Pascoli cheese-making operation that's been run by the same family for centuries. Nestled in the towering mountains of the Pollino National Park, the location is home to towering mountains and lush green landscape. Students had a blast helping to churn different cheeses, latel it into baskets for draining, and learn about the entire cheese-making process. When our work was done, we sat down for a traditional Italian feast--fresh pasta! The culinary encore? You guessed it. Cheese made fresh at Dolco Pascoli!

Tomorrow, we're going river rafting, followed by a two-day adventure camping at the base of Mt. Etna where we'll go mountain biking, hiking, and exploring. So if you don't see a post in the next day or two, you'll know why. But don't let the blog go cold. Keep it alive by posting your comments. See you on the blog!

Goodbye Greece, watch out Italy!

2010-07-11T09:16:00.001-07:00

After 5 incredible days in Greece, we hopped on an overnight ferry to Italy Saturday afternoon on the famed, “Superfast” ferry.

Our final adventure in Greece was a community service project to help endangered Loggerhead Sea Turtles. It was an awe-inspiring experience - watch the video to see for yourself.

As we prepare for new adventures in Italy that are sure to create a lifetime of memories, check out these snapshots of some of our greatest moments in Greece.

See you Italy!

Taking the WOW factor to new extremes

2010-07-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Talk about a time warp. In just two days, Discovery students and teachers have traveled back in time 2,800 years to explore Greek history, scouted locations to do their part to protect the future of endangered sea turtles, and learned firsthand that the ancient Greeks probably don't get nearly enough credit for their ingenious inventions. It's a journey that keeps picking up speed as the days pass!

Yesterday, we visited the ancient town of Olympia, home of the first Olympic games in 776 B.C. We got a guided tour of this historic monument, walking through its ruins and we even included a spontaneous sprint-to-the-finish-line run (check out the cool video)! We also saw the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, as well as a 3rd century athletic museum. And we are just getting warmed up.

Next, we hopped onto a motor coach and traveled to the beautiful port of Katakolo as we visited the Museum of Ancient Greet Technology. The inventions of the ancient Greeks is nothing short of mind-boggling. From the first known robot (who poured wine and water for house guests), to an amazing alarm clock that kept perfect time using water. Fascinating stuff!

Tomorrow, we'll board a ferry (described by our knowlegle tour guide as "almost as nice a as luxury cruise liner) and head to Italy. See you there!

Where the Olympics Started....A long time ago....

2010-07-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Olympia

Phew! And we thought those Olympians ran hard

2010-07-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

It's been a whirlwind day for us Discovery Adventurers. We woke up in Athens, and we are now at hotel alongside a beautiful lake 240 miles away. It wasn't all about travel today, though. Along the way, we laced up our inquistiveness, along with our "ooohs" and "ahhhs" as we traveled through Olympia and explored the site of the very first Olympic Games in 776 B.C. What a feat! Then it was off to our beautiful hotel at Kaiafas Lake. And yes, to the students' (and teachers') delight, there's a ... POOL! They are water-logged and resting for tomorow's busy day. Time slipped away so quickly today, you're going to have to wait until tomorrow for the awesome pictures. I can't wait to share. See you all then!

Follow Me Contest Winner

2010-07-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to our Follow Me contest winner, Anna Pedersen. Anna received an Discovery Student Adventures engraved iPod Touch for gathering the most followers on this Italy/Greece travel blog. ROCK ON, Anna!

The Acropolis in Athens Greece

2010-07-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

If you've only seen this in books, you have no idea!

Acropolis was Awesome!

2010-07-07T12:33:00.000-07:00

Hello!
So yesterday was fun. It's always interesting to try to dance without sleeping for 24 hours. But the Greek dancing was awesome to learn, and I hope I will remember it for when I get home.
This morning after I eventually woke up, we went to the Acropolis. We did a lot of walking, too, which I am really not used to. All that walking was so worth it because everything was beautiful. The view, the architecture -- absolutely amazing. The history behind it was good to know, also. After we visisted that, we went shopping in the Plaka, the Athens marketplace. I bought a few things, and seeing the shopping place was cool.
I will be blogging again tomorrow night to tell you about things.
-- Alyssa

Dancing in Greece

2010-07-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

Check out this great video from our first day in Greece.

yasouh!

2010-07-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hello from Greece! It is very hot here! But we are having a great time experiencing the Greek culture. The dancing lessons were exhilerating-our instructors kept talling us us "Bravo!" We are thinking about trying out for the "So you think you can dance" show when we get back to the States.
The Plaka is a the marketplace where there was a shoe store every ten feet. Some of us couldn't pull ourselves away!
We have been practicing how to say "Thank-you" in Greek, but it's kind of tricky. Everyone has been very helpful and patient with us, though.
The Greek keep things simple when they say hello and goodbye - same word: Yasouh!

So this is what if feels like to be on top of the world!

2010-07-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

Wow -- or even awe-inspiring -- can't begin to explain the Acropolis. It is truly amazing. Combine that with an expert guide who knows this iconic world attraction like that back of his hand and today was unbelievable. We spent two hours exploring this fascinating Greek wonderland, learning about its ancient history and taking a million pictures from every possible location. The sprawling city of Athens surrounds the Acropolis, making for even more great photo ops. Standing at the base of the Parthenon gave me chills -- despite humid temperatures in the 90s! We started the day with an interesting dicussion with a Greek mytholody expert who explained the history, and personalities, of each Greek god. Everybody got to weigh in and ask our expert questions. We all saw parts of a few gods in ourselves. Incredible day. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!

Foot-stompin' fun!

2010-07-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

Our dance instructors were very impressed with our students' (and teachers') quick feet and graceful moves! After some lessons, they performed an amazing sequence of traditional dances from every part of Greece.

We're just getting started in Greece!

2010-07-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

We all made it. A bit weary after long travels, but we were ready to put on our dancing sandals and learn some traditional Greek folklore dance today from some amazing dance instructors at a public school in downtown Athens. Each of us even received an official certificate of completion. Then it was back to the hotel for a delicious four-course meal of pizza, fresh salad prepared with all local ingredients, delicious burger patties grilled the Greek way, and even dessert. Tomorrow, we're off to explore the majestic Acropolis. Stay tuned ...

Touchdown (bit late...)

2010-07-06T11:18:00.000-07:00

We have touchdown in Athens!
Following months of anticipation, MOST of our travelers have arrived in beautiful Athens, Greece, and will spend the next 15 days exploring Greece and Italy. They were warmly welcomed by their in-country tour guide and then jumped immediately into their adventure, visiting the world-famous Parthenon. And now they are diving into the world of Greek mythology!
Our group learned about the myths and legends of the ancient Greeks, and the origins of their cult and ritual practices. They are attending a performance of an ancient Greek tragedy in a modern theater, an example of how Greece’s history and future shape this iconic culture today.

More to come later from the travelers and teachers!

Hello Europe!

2010-07-05T22:28:00.000-07:00

I have arrived in Amsterdam safely and soundly! After a brief layover here, I'll meet up with the group in Athens this afternoon. Looking forward to meeting everybody. Get ready for some very cool pictures -- and lots of them -- coming soon.

Watch out Greece/Italy ... Here we come!

2010-07-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe our adventure has finally arrived ... almost. Fourth of July may still be two days away, but fireworks of excitement are already burning in my brain as I get ready to visit Europe for the first time. Can't wait to meet you all and give you a huge Discovery welcome! We're going to have an outrageously awesome time, so hang on!

Can't wait for this incredible adventure!

2010-06-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

What a fantastic way to experience Europe for the first time--with Discovery Student Adventures. Twenty-five days and counting! Woo-hoo!!

First Follow Me Contest Winner Announced

2010-06-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Madison M.! She is our Follow Me Contest winner for our June 8th trip to Costa Rica. Way to go, Madison! Students, you too can earn a chance to win a free iPod Touch. Just get as many people as you can to register to follow your blog by directing them to DiscoveryStudentsAdventures.com/destinations/blogs. Let them know what dates you are traveling and ask them to register to follow you on your adventures this summer. Good luck!!!