Hey everyone! I'm sure most of you know- but I am leaving on Thursday to go to EUROPE!!!!! I am so blessed to have this wonderful opportunity to go with the school on the Western Religious History tour. I've been preparing for quite a while.....first we had to read a humanities book and take twenty one online tests about it. We also wrote papers on specific topics. And now for the last two weeks, I've been in Rexburg for a preparation class. It is Monday through Friday from 8 to 4:30. We have sections of Old Testament, New Testament, The Reformation and Arts. It has been an amazing experience for me to learn so much about the history of Europe and the process that the people there went through to prepare the way for the restoration of the gospel. In just these last few weeks, my testimony has grown so much. I can't even imagine what it will be like to actually be in all these places I have been studying about.
There are about forty kids going on the tour and four BYU-I professors. The teachers are amazing and there are a lot of really fun people going on the tour. One of my best friends Jenessa is going with me which is going to make it even more exciting! I can't believe I am actually going. And the cool part, is that with all this studying and learning, I am actually going to know the history about the things I am seeing. This will make the trip so much more interesting and beneficial. I have loved this opportunity to learn about different cultures and religions and the way that they view the world.
Here's an itinerary of the places I will be going and the things I will be seeing.
Thursday, Sept. 25th Salt Lake City to Rome
10:00 a.m.—Meet at the
1:30 p.m.—Leave for Rome
Friday, Sept. 26th Arrive in Rome
10:45 a.m.—Arrive in
12:00 noon—Hotel Check-in
1:00 p.m.—Lunch
2:00 p.m.—Walk to the Forum
4:00 p.m.—Walk to
5:00 p.m.—Walk to the Colleseum
7:00 p.m.—Walk to the Trevi Fountain
8:00 p.m.—Dinner at the Pantheon
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Saturday, Sept. 27th Rome
6:30 a.m.—Bernini’s Ecstasy of St.Teresa (Santa Maria Della Vittoria)
8:00 a.m.—Michelangelo’s Astronomy Church (Santa Maria Delgi Angeli)
10:00 a.m.—The Sacred Steps ( Scala Santa)
11:00 a.m.—St. John’s Lateran (San Giovanni in Laterano)
1:00 p.m.—Metro to Spagna (Spanish Steps), Exchange Money, Lunch
2:00 p.m.—Walk to the Galleria Borghese
3:00 p.m.—Tour the Galleria Borghese (Reservation for 2 hours only)
5:00 p.m.—View of
6:00 p.m.—Walk to
7:00 p.m.—Visit Santa Maria Del Popolo (Caravaggio’s Peter and Paul)
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Sunday, Sept. 28th Rome
8:00 a.m.—Walk to the
9:00 a.m.—Visit the Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel (Last Sunday of Month Free)
1:00 p.m.—Lunch
2:00 p.m.—Visit St. Peter’s Basilica
4:00 p.m.—Walk to Piazza Navona
5:00 p.m.—Dinner at Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, etc. etc.
7:00 p.m.—Visit the Pantheon
9:00 p.m.—Hotel for Sacrament Meeting
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Monday, Sept. 29th Rome to Pisa. Pisa to Florence
8:00 a.m.—Leave for
1:00 p.m.—Arrive in
3:00 p.m.—Leave for
5:00 p.m.—Arrive in
7:00 p.m.—Free Time, Dinner
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Tuesday, Sept. 30th Florence
9:00 a.m.—Walk to the
10:00 a.m.—Tour of the
12:00 a.m.—Lunch
12:45 p.m.—Tour of the
3:00 p.m.—Tour of the Doors of
5:00 p.m.—Free time—Dinner, Flea Market, Michelangelo’s Hill
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Wednesday, Oct. 1st Florence to Ravenna: 135 km- 2:30 hrs; Ravenna to Padova: 135 km- 2:30 hrs
7:00 a.m.—Leave for
9:30 a.m.—Arrive in
10:00 a.m.—Visit San Apollinare in Classe Mosaics and Early Lunch
11:00 a.m.—Visit San Apollinare Nuovo Basilica Mosaics
12:00 Noon—Walk to Arian Baptistry and San Vitale Mosaics
1:00 p.m.—Load Bus and Leave for Padova
3:30 p.m.—Arrive in Padova
4:00 p.m.—Visit Basilica of
5:00 p.m.—Dinner and Visit Cathedral Baptistry
6:00 p.m.—Walk to Scrovegni Chapel (Cappella Degli Scrovegni)
6:30 p.m.—Half of the Group Visit the Scrovegni Chapel; Paintings by Giotto
6:45 p.m.—The Other Half of the group Visit the Scrovegni Chapel; Paintings by Giotto
7:00 p.m.—Load the Bus and Travel to Hotel
7:30 p.m.—Hotel Check-in and Free Time
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Thursday, Oct. 2nd Padova to Venice: 40 km- 45 min.
8:00 a.m.—Leave for
9:00 a.m.—Arrive at Boat
10:00 a.m.—Boat to
11:00 a.m.—Arrive in
12:00 Noon—Walk to Basilica of San Marco and St. Mark’s Square; Lunch; Tour Venice: Basilica of San Marco, Doge’s Palace, The Clock Tower, The Glass Factory, The Rialto Bridge, Gondola Ride
5:00 p.m.—Walk back to Load Boat
6:00 p.m.—Load Boat and Travel back to Bus
7:00 p.m.—Load Bus and Travel back to Hotel
8:00 p.m.—Arrive at Hotel in Padova, Free Time
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Friday, Oct. 3rd Venice/Padova to Salzburg: 407.4 km- 6 hrs
8:00 a.m.—Leave for
12:00 Noon—Lunch
2:00 p.m.—Salt Mines
4:00 p.m.—Hotel Check-in
5:00 p.m.—Free Time: Dinner,
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Saturday, Oct. 4th Salzburg
9:00 p.m.---Hellbrunn Water Gardens Palace, Sound of Music Gazebo and House
12:00 Noon—Lunch
1:00 p.m.—Free Time: Dinner, Mozart Concert, Bike Rides, Eagle’s Nest (45 min. drive)
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Sunday, Oct. 5th Salzburg
8:00 a.m.—Walk to
10:00 a.m.—Mozart Catholic Mass
12:00 Noon—Lunch
1:00 p.m.—Free Time: Sound of Music Tour
9:00 p.m.—Sacrament Meeting
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Monday, Oct. 6th Salzburg to Prague: 335.8 km- 4:30 hrs
8:00 a.m.—Leave for Mauthausen Concentration Camp- 147.2 km- 1:30 hrs
9:30 a.m.—Arrive at Mauthausen Concentration Camp
10:00 a.m.—Tour Mauthausen Concentration Camp
12:00 Noon—Lunch
1:00 p.m.—Travel to
4:30 p.m.—Arrive in
5:00 p.m.—Hotel Check-in, Dinner, Free Time
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Tuesday, Oct. 7th Prague
8:00 a.m.—Travel to
10:00 a.m.—Walk down The Golden Lane and the
11:00 a.m.—Walk across the
Astronomical Clock
12:00 Noon—Visit the
1:00 p.m.—Free Time: The
Pinkas Synagogue), Attend a Concert
9:00 p.m.—Meet Bus at
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Wednesday, Oct. 8th Prague to Wittenberg: 535.9 km- 5:31 hrs
7:00 a.m.—Leave for
1:00 p.m.—Arrive in
2:00 p.m.—
3:00 p.m.—Visit the
4:00 p.m.—Visit St. Mary’s
5:00 p.m.—Dinner in
7:00 p.m.—Free Time
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Thursday, Oct. 9th Wittenberg to Berlin: 187 km- 1:30 hrs; Fly to Copenhagen
8:00 a.m.—Leave for
10:00 a.m.—Arrive in
11:00 a.m.—Lunch, Visit the Berliner Dom
12:00 Noon—Visit the
2:00 p.m.—Visit Check Point Charlie and Remains of Berlin Wall
5:00 p.m.—Hotel Check-in, Dinner, Free Time
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Friday, Oct. 10th Berlin to Munich: 589.7 km- 5 hrs
8:00 a.m.—Leave for Munich
1:00 p.m.—Arrive in Munich, Lunch
2:00 p.m.—Hotel Mirabel Check-in
3:00 p.m.—Walk to Marienplatz; Free Time: Neues Rathaus (City Hall), Frauenkirche (Catholic Mass),
St. Michael’s, St. Peterskirche, The Residenz
5:00 p.m.—Meet at The City Hall for the Famed Glockenspiel (Huge Clock)
6:00 p.m.—Free Time: Dinner, Hofbrauhaus
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Saturday, Oct. 11th Munich
8:00 a.m.—Leave for Wieskirche
9:00 a.m.—Tour Wieskirche
10:00 a.m.—Drive to
11:00 a.m.—
1:00 p.m.—Lunch at Grocery Store (Buy Chocolate)
2:00 p.m.—Travel to Munich
4:00 p.m.—Free Time, Dinner
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Sunday, Oct. 12th Munich
8:00 a.m.---Walk to Frauenkirche for Catholic Mass
9:00 a.m.---Attend Mass
12:00 Noon---Lunch
1:00 p.m.---Free Time: Visit the Alte Pinakothek, Neue Pinakothek, Marienplatz, Neues Rathaus (City Hall), St. Michael’s, St. Peterskirche, The Residenz, Nymphenburg Palace, Olympic Park, City Park
5:00 p.m.---Dinner
9:00 p.m.---Sacrament meeting at Hotel
10:00 p.m.---Bed
Monday, Oct. 13th Munich to Geneva: 586 km- 5 hrs
7:00 a.m.—Leave for
1:00 a.m.—Arrive in
2:00 p.m.—Visit the Floral Clock, St. Peter’s Church, Russian Orthodox Church, and the Reformer’s Wall
5:00 p.m.—Hostel Check-in
6:00 p.m.—Free Time: Dinner, The Jet d’Eau Fountain, Botanical Gardens,
Tuesday, Oct. 14th Geneva to Paris: 537.6 km- 4:30 hrs
7:00 a.m.---Visit St. Peter’s Church
8:00 a.m.—Leave for Paris
1:00 p.m.—Arrive in Paris, Lunch
2:00 p.m.—Hotel Check-in
3:00 p.m.—Metro to Sacre Coeur
5:00 p.m.—Dinner
6:00 p.m.—Metro to
7:00 p.m.—Free Time
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Wednesday, Oct. 15th Paris
7:00 a.m.—Breakfast at McDonalds
8:00 a.m.—Walk to the Louvre
9:15 a.m.—Tour the Louvre, Lunch
1:30 p.m.—Walk to the Musee D’Orsay
2:00 p.m.—Tour the Musee D’Orsay
5:00 p.m.—Free Time: Arch de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Sainte Chapelle,
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Thursday, Oct. 16th Paris
8:00 a.m.—Load Bus and Travel to
9:00 a.m.—Tour
1:00 p.m.—Lunch
2:00 p.m.—Load Bus and return to Paris; Free Time: Arch de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, Sainte Chapelle, Champs Elysees, Seine River Cruise
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Friday, Oct. 17th Paris to Chartres: 80 km- 0:57 hrs; Chartres to Normandy: 313 km – 3:15 hrs;
7:30 a.m.—Leave for Chartres Cathedral- 80 km- 1 hour
8:30 a.m.—Tour Chartres Cathedral
10:00 a.m.—Travel to
2:00 p.m.—Travel to Normandy Beaches (
5:00 p.m.—Tour Normandy Beaches (Utah, Omaha, Pointe Du Hoc, American Cemetery=closes at 5 p.m.)
6:00 p.m.—Travel to
7:00 p.m.—Hotel Check-in, Dinner
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Saturday, Oct. 18th Caen to Calais: 340 km- 4:30 hrs; Calais to Dover: 7 km- 2 hrs; Dover to Canterbury:
25 km- 0:30 hrs;
7:00 a.m.—Leave for
11:30 a.m.—Board Ferry for
1:00 p.m.—Arrive in
1:30 p.m.—Drive to London
5:00 p.m.---Arrive in London, Good-bye to Peder and the Elbo Bus
5:30 p.m.—Hotel Umi Check-in
6:00 p.m.---Dinner and Free Time
9:00 p.m.---Special Meeting at Umi Hotel
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Sunday, Oct. 19th London
8:00 a.m.—Leave the Hotel, Travel the
8:30 a.m.—Walking Tour of
10:30 a.m.—Travel the
11:30 a.m.—Buckingham Palace, The Changing of the Guard
12:30 p.m.—Travel The Tube to Tower Hill
1:00 p.m.—Lunch
2:00 p.m.—Tour of the
4:30 p.m.—Free Time: Dinner, More Tower of London, British Library, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, Lambeth Palace, Westminster Abbey, Harry Potter Train Station, Abbey Road and Beatles, National Gallery of Art, Piccadily Square
9:00 p.m.---Sacrament Meeting at Umi Hotel
10:00 p.m.—Bed
Monday, Oct. 20th London
8:00 a.m.—Leave Westminster Hotel, Travel The Tube
8:30 a.m.—Visit Speaker’s Corner
9:00 a.m.—Travel The Tube to
9:30 a.m.—Walking Tour of
1:00 p.m.—Lunch
2:00 p.m.—Free Time: British Library, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, Lambeth Palace, Westminster Abbey, Harry Potter Train Station, Abbey Road and Beatles, National Gallery of Art, Piccadily Square, Play
10:00 p.m.—Hotel
Tuesday, Oct. 21st Fly to Salt Lake City
6:00 a.m.—Leave Umi Hotel for London Temple
7:00 a.m.—Walk Grounds of
7:30 a.m.—Travel to
8:00 a.m.—Check-in to
10:25 a.m.—Fly to Cincinnatti (8:55 hrs)
2:20 p.m.—Arrive in Cincinnatti
5:05 p.m.—Leave Cincinnatti for Salt Lake City
6:49 p.m.—Arrive in
