EF Tour #: France, Germany, and the Netherlands

Transcription

1 EF Tour #: France, Germany, and the Netherlands The Travel Club at The Centre for is organizing an April 2015 school trip to France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The basic premise of the Travel Club is that the World is our Classroom. There is no better way to learn about globalization, culture, nationalism, art, architecture, history, geography, and sociology, than to experience the world firsthand. Yes, we will be visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris pictured above. The Travel Club is organized and led by me: Allan Brennan- Vice Principal at the Centre for I have led six international school trips prior to this tour. The number of teacher chaperones will be determined by the number of students traveling. We will be employing the services of Education First Tours (EF Tours). We will be traveling over Easter break (April 1 to April ). These dates are approximate. Students are taken on a first-come-first-serve basis. The purpose of this brochure is to find out if you are interested. The cost of this tour for students in grades ten to twelve is $ This amount is paid directly to EF Tours. EF Tours has a wealth of travel experience with international travel for students. Hotels, travel, and tours are very safe and are fully insured. See right for a photo of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. We will visit this attraction on Day 2. Page 1 of 16

2 This price includes: Round-trip Airfare Full-time bilingual EF Tour Director Tour Director will lead sightseeing and walking tours Transportation: Round-trip flight Deluxe motor coach (bus) and Train (1 night) Accommodations: 9 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms Meals: European breakfast and dinner daily Visits to special attractions with tour guide: Notre Dame Cathedral Checkpoint Charlie Museum Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Anne Frank House Apeldoorn Palace National Liberation Museum Groesbeek Cemetery Ypres Salient Flanders s Field Museum The Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial Vimy Ridge Memorial Site of the Battle of Neuve Chapelle/Hitler s Bunker Beaumont Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Juno Beach Centre Notre Dame Cathedral Three sightseeing tours lead by licensed local guides 1 sightseeing tour lead by your tour director 2 walking tours with local guide (10 Days) April 1- April 10 (2015). This date is approximate. Page 2 of 16

3 Day-by-Day Itinerary Explore the German capital of Berlin, visit the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, and then travel by train to Amsterdam and see Anne Frank House. Visit Paris, the city of lights! Study the monuments across these regions, like the Vimy Memorial and the Juno Beach Centre, which remind us of the massive costs of the two World Wars. Set foot on the European battlefields where Canadian soldiers built their heroic reputation fighting against tyranny. Day 1: Overnight flight to Berlin, Germany Your adventure begins as you board your flight to Germany. We touchdown in Berlin, the country s capital and cultural center. After clearing customs and immigration we will meet our guide, who will remain with us throughout our stay. Day 2: Touch down in the capital of reunified Germany. It took nearly a decade, from 1989 to 1999, to move the former capital of Bonn to the slowly reconstructed Berlin. Since the Berlin Wall came down in late 1989, the city has continued to evolve into a thriving metropolis. After clearing customs, you are greeted by your EF Tour Director, who will remain with you throughout your stay. Stroll among the cafés, restaurants and embassies of the elegant, tree-lined Unter den Linden, sometimes known as the Champs-Élysées of Berlin. Your tour director shows you the city s most famous sites as you continue to the Reichstag, Germany s Parliament. The building, constructed in the late 19 th century, was the seat of the Weimar Republic government until it was seized by the Nazis in Sir Norman Foster s glass dome, added to the top of the Reichstag between 1995 and 1999, is now one of the city s most recognizable landmarks, offering fantastic views of Berlin. Reichstag above Page 3 of 16

4 A typical EF hotel in Berlin below: Web site: Day 3: Ride past the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche (left unrestored as a reminder of the ravages of war) and down the glittery Kurfürstendamm, Berlin s liveliest street. Pass the Rathaus Schoenberg, where 1.5 million West Berliners flocked to hear President Kennedy s famous Ich bin ein Berliner speech in Arrive at the Brandenburg Gate, once the symbol of the undeclared Cold War, and now the symbol of a reunited Berlin. It was at this gate that the famous images of East and West Berliners dancing atop the crumbling Berlin Wall were filmed and broadcast around the world. As you see where the Berlin Wall actually stood, imagine the bleak watchtowers and piercing spotlights that guarded the border until November On the site where Checkpoint Charlie once guarded the border between East and West Germany, you ll visit a museum devoted to the era of the Berlin Wall. Inspect the escape cars once used to cross the border. See if you can find the secret compartment where escapees hid. Then view a photo exhibit that evocatively portrays the 30-year separation of East and West Germany, reunified in See Checkpoint Charlie picture above. Page 4 of 16

5 Visit the Sachsenhausen Nazi Concentration Camp, originally established in 1936 for political prisoners and enemies of Hitler s regime. An estimated 30,000 people died here between the opening of the camp and the end of the war in Sachsenhausen was used as a model for the concentration camps the Nazis built as the war progressed. Though not originally intended as an extermination camp, the SS practiced the techniques of mass murder at Sachsenhausen they were to eventually use on a massive scale throughout the territories they came to control. During the war, Heinkel aircraft were built at the camp using slave labour, though reports say some of these planes crashed without explanation during the Battle of Stalingrad. The crashes were attributed to sabotage during the manufacturing process. Sachsenhausen was liberated by the Soviets at the end of The Second World War, though the communist secret police kept using the camp until 1950 for their own political prisoners. One well-known inmate of the camp during the war was Reverend Martin Niemöller, author of the thoughtprovoking poem, First they came. Day 4: Amsterdam Region Travel by train to Amsterdam, where a local guide shows you its most famous sights on a walk through the city. Pass the Westerkerk (West Church), where the remains of Rembrandt and his son are buried. The church also held the wedding of Queen Beatrix in Continue to lively Dam Square, a dam around the Amstel River created in the 13th century to prevent the Zuiderzee Sea from flooding the city. Now this bustling tourist area boasts the impressive Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace), once the home of the Dutch Royal Family; the National Monument; and the Nieuwekerk (New Church), where members of the Dutch Royal Family are officially inaugurated. See the Begijnhof, a lovely 14th-century courtyard built as a sanctuary for the Begijnhofites, a Catholic sisterhood. Walk across the lifting bridge to Page 5 of 16

6 Waterlooplein. Marvel at the views of the Amstel River as you cross the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge). Although magere means skinny in Dutch and the bridge was quite thin when built, rumour says the bridge was actually named for the Magere sisters, living on opposite sides of the river, who built the bridge to make it easier to visit each other. Finally, you will see Rembrandtplein (see picture right), a square packed with terrace cafés, diamond shops, nightclubs and hotels. Visit the Anne Frank House (see Anne below), where the young Jewish girl hid with her family from the Nazis between 1942 and 1944 and the place where she wrote her poignant diary. When the Germans invaded the Netherlands, persecution of the Jews began immediately. As the terror escalated, the Nazis began deporting Jews east to the extermination camps. Soon after the occupation began, Anne s father realized the danger his family was in and moved them to hidden rooms at the top of his company s building. In 1944, an informant tipped off the Nazis about the Franks hiding place and they were sent to concentration camps. Anne, her mother and her sister Margot were transported to Bergen Belsen, where 100,000 people died throughout the war. Tragically, her mother succumbed to starvation while Anne and Margot both died of Typhus, a disease they contracted due to the horrendous conditions in the camp. Anne s father survived the infamous death camp Auschwitz. He ensured his young daughter s voice would survive by publishing her diary after the war. Now transformed into a museum, students will have a chance to walk in her footsteps and see the small apartment where the Frank family lived during the war, as well as the tiny and cramped hiding place located at the top of a set of stairs behind a bookcase. Page 6 of 16

7 A typical EF hotel in the Netherlands below: Web site: zee/ijmke/hoteldetail/photos-tours Day 5: Amsterdam Region Take a moment to reflect on the 2,338 Canadian lives lost during the Second World War that are buried in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery. Many of them were killed during battles in Germany but were transferred to Groesbeek after General H.D.G. Crerar, head of the First Canadian Army, ordered that no Canadian soldiers killed during the Rhineland battles be interred on German soil. Dutch children maintain the soldiers graves in remembrance, as they do for the Canadian fallen throughout the Netherlands. The National Liberation Museum brings the past to life. Typical 1940's dioramas, displays, models, original film footage, speeches and music take you back to the liberation of the Netherlands and Europe. The museum demonstrates the real significance of freedom, democracy and human rights. Attend Easter Mass and then enjoy some free time in Amsterdam. Page 7 of 16

8 Day 6: Vimy Region (France) Continue your journey through rural Belgium and France with a visit to the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres, named after the poem written by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, where you ll learn more about World War I and the important role Canada played in the Allied victory. The Menin Gate monument at the eastern exit of Ypres was built to mark one of the starting points to the front line of the First World War. There, you ll witness the Last Post Ceremony, which has honoured those lost in World War I each night at 8pm since Day 7: Vimy Region (France) Travel to France s serene region of Vimy. Now peaceful, the area s unassuming beauty holds the memory of one of Canada s greatest military achievements. Vimy Ridge was originally given to Canada by the French for the great sacrifice made here by Canadian soldiers. Make your way to the top of Hill 145 and the towering memorial, which has since become a symbol of the peacekeeping efforts of the Canadian Armed Forces. Walk along Vimy Ridge, where in 1917, Canadian troops came together to accomplish what larger British and French forces had failed to. It would become a defining moment in WWI. See where these brave soldiers charged over the ridge, marching under continuous, heavy fire and cleverly isolating the German troops in their dugouts. A soaring, white marble monument, dedicated in 1936 by King Edward VIII, now marks Hill 145, the place where the capture of Vimy Ridge ended in a bayonet charge against machine-gun nests. Learn more about this stunning victory that Brigadier- General A.E. Ross called the birth of a nation. Page 8 of 16

9 Take a Parks Canada guided tour of the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, the largest of the five memorials established in France and Belgium in memory of major actions fought by the 1 st Battalion of the Newfoundland Regiment. This site commemorates all Newfoundlanders who fought in the First World War, particularly those with no known grave. See the bronze caribou monument, a representation of the emblem of the Newfoundland Regiment. In any national story there are moments and places, sometimes far from home, which in retrospect can be seen as fixed points about which the course of history turns, moments which distinguish that nation forever. Those who seek the foundations of Canada s distinction would do well to begin here at Vimy. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 9th April 2007 Day 8: Normandy Region (France) A scenic drive along the Norman coast will take you to the beaches that saw the famous D-Day landing. Explore the area where the First Canadian Army came ashore, still marked with dugouts and bunkers. Look out over the sheer cliffs and imagine the difficulty of the Anglo- American-Canadian forces aerial ascent. At the Beny-sur- Mer war cemetery, pay homage to the soldiers, including a tragic case of three brothers from Nova Scotia, who gave their lives that day. Finally, visit the Juno Beach Centre (below), a cultural centre and museum documenting the Canadian war effort. You ll also have a chance to stop in Arromanches where you can see the Mulberry harbours temporarily built to offload cargo onto the beaches of Normandy during World War II or visit the nearby Musée du débarquement, before continuing on to Paris. Page 9 of 16

10 Juno Beach Today Day 9: Paris, France Juno Beach when the Allies landed during WWII Discover the city on the Seine, beginning with the imposing Arc de Triomphe, commemorating Napoleon s Grande Armée. The triumphal arch is in honour of those who fought for France, in particular, those who fought during the Napoleonic Wars. Engraved on the inside and at the top of the arch are all of the names of the generals and wars fought. There are inscriptions in the ground underneath the vault of the arch which include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I where the Memorial Flame burns. Take a drive down the elegant Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde. The 3300-year-old pink granite obelisk with the gilded top in the middle of Place de la Concorde once stood in the Temple of Ramses at Thebes (today s Luxor) and was given to France in 1831 by Muhammad Ali, viceroy and pasha of Egypt. The female statues adorning the four corners of the square represent France s eight largest cities. Page 10 of 16

11 Pass the Conciergerie, where prisoners of the Revolution spent their final days, and see Les Invalides, Louis XIV s grand retirement home for wounded soldiers. You ll also see the École Militaire, where Napoleon graduated to lieutenant and was told he d go far if circumstances allowed. Make a photo stop to marvel at the Eiffel Tower the 6,000-ton centerpiece for the 1889 World s Fair. See us in 2006 in the picture at right You ll hear the story of how this impressive but once highly controversial symbol of Paris was spared the wrecking ball in Pass the Opéra Garnier, where the famous Phantom of the Opera haunted his dear Christine, and marvel at Église de la Madeleine, designed as a temple of glory for Napoleon s army. Built between 1163 and 1361 over the remains of an ancient Roman temple, it was at Notre Dame Cathedral that Napoleon crowned himself emperor in Explore the sculptured façade of this site that Victor Hugo once described as a vast symphony in stone. Hugo s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame helped inspire a 23-year restoration of the cathedral that began in Step inside to admire the stained-glass rose windows and seemingly weightless vaulted ceilings. A typical EF hotel in Paris below left - The Citadines. Arc de Triomphe in Paris at right above. Triomphe in Paris Page 11 of 16

12 Day 10: Depart for Home * Participants are not permitted to consume, purchase, or possess, alcohol and/or tobacco of any kind* There are no tour extensions for students. We must depart from Calgary and return to Calgary together as one group. We will attend Mass over Easter weekend. Once again, the purpose of this brochure is to find out if you are interested. The cost of this tour for students in grades 10 to 12 is $ Monies are paid directly to EF Tours. Information regarding EF Tour s Booking Conditions, EF s All Inclusive Protection Plan (which each participant receives as part of their tour fees), and Release and Agreement can be found at the following EF Tours web link. Please read the financial, registration, and insurance details at this link prior to signing up for this trip. As well, EF s Booking Conditions, this EF Tours web link includes information regarding cancelations, refunds, insurance, and payment schedule etc. Please visit link at: Page 12 of 16

13 Need More Information I am happy to talk with you if you have any questions. If you would like to discuss our trip, please contact me, Mr. Allan Brennan, at one of the following contacts: To me in First Class just type Mr Brennan into the To box From a Telus, Hotmail, Shaw, or other non-first Class account you can send s to: cfleuropetrip2015@redeemer.ab.ca Phone me at: (403) ext (ext. 291) Fax: (403) Vice Principal St. Paul's Academy/ Centre for Learning@Home Page 13 of 16

14 If you are interested in signing up for our Europe trip adventure, you can enroll two different ways: 1) You can complete the registration process online by doing the following: - Go to: - Go to: Have a tour number in the blue box on the bottom right-hand corner of the EF Tours web page and enter the following tour number: Click, Enroll now - Complete the online registration form and you will be registered, or 2) You can phone in your registration to EF (Quote tour # ). Please be advised that you will need a deposit of at least $99.00 to officially register and thus secure a seat on this trip. If you like, you can organize a monthly payment plan with EF Tours. Please ask them for details when you phone. Applicants are taken on a first-come-first-serve basis. Tour fees program price: $ Total for students in grades 10 to 12: $ Student and Parent Testimonials from previous trips on next page. Page 14 of 16

15 The entire process of making the trip a reality was very rewarding for my son: Saving the money, the planning, the researching. In planning the Italy and France trip in 2013 Al Brennan was extremely comforting for the parents and participants. He walked us through every step of the way and left no stone unturned when it came to answering our questions or concerns. I was a little worried about my son being in a new element with unfamiliar faces, but this trip proved to be more than we bargained for. Our son blossomed and met many like-minded children with similar interests. He came home knowing that outside of school, there's this whole world of possibilities. I loved the tour. I have always wanted to travel to Italy and Greece and I m really glad I did this with you, Mr. Brennan. Greece was amazing but Rome was my favourite. The food was excellent and the sights were perfect. None of this could have been possible without out and your amazing teachers that introduced all of this to me. I made some great friends on this trip and our guide was great too. I would definitely recommend it. My son participated in the Costa Rica trip and had an amazing experience. I was very concerned to send him alone as he is introverted but Mr. Brennan, Mrs. Humphreys, and the other staff ensured that he was included and not left by himself. By the end of the trip he not only had a wonderful vacation and educational experience but I felt he grew socially and learned much about interactions with his peers. His goodbyes were very touching! I wanted to let you know how much my daughter enjoyed her trip to Costa Rica. I would like to thank you for giving me the confidence in you to trust you with one of the two people I love the most. I knew that my daughter was in very capable hands. I knew that you would ensure her safety and that is exactly what happened. My daughter learned a lot EF Tours is a fabulous organization and makes certain the students are taken care, and you, my friend, have proved that the students are actually cared for I would like to thank you in assisting my daughter in making life long memories in a very positive experience. Page 15 of 16

16 A typical Deluxe Motor Coach used by EF Tours below. Page 16 of 16