We woke up and had to pack up for our train to Paris. Half the group had the hostel’s carbo-breakfast, the other half went to the waffle house around the corner. My waffle with fruit and whipped cream was the best thing I ate in London.

Took the double decker bus to the surprisingly beautiful train station. The train ride took us through the english countryside, through the channel and through france. Most of us slept through the ride. When I woke up we were surrounded in graffiti. Gelber was enthused.

Took the metro to our hotel. The Carlton’s was a huge upgrade from the london hostel. We cleaned ourseves up and ate dinner at a local italian spot. Pasta for everyone. After dinner we hiked up the hills of MontMartre and sat on the steps in front of the Sacre Coeur church. As the sun set, the lights of Paris began to flicker on. The breathtaking sight excited us all to begin exploring.

There were so many ideas about what to do today that the group decided to split up into four/five groups today.

One group began their adventures for their first optional day in London waking up early to catch an 830 train out of the Harry Potter Victoria Station to the English Countryside to see the awe inspiring and magnificently placed 18 foot high blue hanging stones presently known to be called STONEHENGE which were believed to be carried by raft down from Wales, not only to mark the sun’s calendar. but also to hold the posiiton of authrity amongst the 3000 BC land owners. The bus ride was napiful both ways.Rich$mond looked like upper New York.

Once back in town the 5 girls Plus Ty tool the tube to the Tower of London, bought icecream cones and walked across the Tower bridge to find Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. Henry the Eighth is presently being shown. We were able hop theough a few fountains to cool off as we continued walking down Fleet Streey passing Trafalgar Sq. Into Piccadilly Circus, only to rush back to the hotel to clean up before Indian Food for Dinner.

The second group of 4 boys stayed at the hotel until Bauer arrived from LA. Then they took an hour train ride to BrighTon. Alex set himself a spot to paint DEKA in the most beautifully done wall piece I have ever seen, I hope to find a way to post that picture! While he was hard at work for 3 hours the other 3 walked around the beach and watched England lose the World Cup in a Pub.
They scurried home as fast as the train let them in time to have Curry for dinner.

The third group
Chose an easier day, Trafalgar Square after sleeping in to see the Rosetta Stone at the National Gallery. Then to a relatives home for dinner. Then back to the rooms to cool off before visiting a dance club.

The last two groups melded into one sortof.
This group slept in. Two boys headed off for Piccadilly Square while the girls stayed around Bayswater and ate a nice lunch. Then they met up with the boys at Will Call for the Hyde Park Concert: Hard Rock Calling to see Paul Mc Cartney! Then stopped for Hookah ( I just got a bbm invite lol).then they will decide to meet up with the dancing girls or not, but io am sure my phone will be buzzn with new updates momentarily. BBM has allowed all of us to keep in touch on the hour all day today!!!
But like me, tired and tired, there are a bunch of us barely standing after Veyas too them to the largest ferris Wheel in the world to see all of London in the LoNDon Eye.

Tomorrow we are to meet in the lobby at 10 am to catch our train to Paris!
Keepin my fingers crossed thaty noone lost a room key as there was a 50 lb deposit I had to give…other than that I am headed for a deep sleep!
Marcella writes:
. Boy,it was a long day!.
7 girls one bath room…
40 minutes to shower and get ready for dinner…
Loads of fun!!
London eye tonight and train to Paris tomorrow!

(Ready to get away from the pounds!!!!)

A FULL first day for IKOSI DEKA.
Arrived safely at Heathrow airport. Sailed through customs. Easy enoughj to find the TUBE another thing altogether to follow the color lines. Got on a green line instead of the yellow and ended up missing our 11 am Bike Tour. Yet, our rooms weren’t clean anyway so the kids walked around Queensway just North of Hyde Park for an hour and had llunch. Rooms were available at 12:30 and kids only were given 2 towels for rooms with 66 beds…WTF? We were able to make a 3 pm Bike Tour with Liam from Cook’s Island as our wonderful (and the girls though “very cute” tour guide. Were able to bike to Kengington Garden, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Diana’s Fountain as well as viewing Big Ben, the Queens garden and summer home and see the guards pacing back and forth in front of a gate. Noone could believe they wanted that job.
Dinner was Fish n Chips and the ones not too tired hit Bricklane to go dance. Others went straight to bed.
Tomorrow the itinerary has Stonehenge for the early risers, Brighton for the boys and the rest will enjoy Tower of London and a closer look at Westminister Abbey.
Then a group dinner before we all ride the London Eye Ferris Wheel at dusk.
There have been phone issues, money issues, shower issues, meeting times on time issues and bike issues but all in all, happy and tired faces.
Am trying to post pictures, and hope to before we leave London!
Again. Please email Miss Ty at [email protected] with any mesaages for kids!
Day 1 is done!

Today’s meeting brought a group of listeners who mostly listened to Miss Ty and Veyas explain how important it will be for them to listen to, and follow, directions when in Europe!

Actions that took place:

Greeted new sign-ups: Marcella Ablaza and Alex Gelber.
Met first time lunchers: Tim Mahoney, Jennifer Miskabi and Lauren Harbour.

Group Name:
The group also turned in their choice for group names, which will be voted on next Thursday.

Movie Night:
Mandy is hosting a movie night this Sunday.

Group Leaders:
Reza and Lexi are going to be the “leaders” of the group.

Cities Discussed:
London Optional Tours were discussed. A day trip to Stonehenge costs 29 lbs and a day trip to Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon and Bath is 68 lb. Students must decide which one they want to do and if they want to asap.

Venice hotel is located near the Piazzo San Marco! But it will cost 6 euro one way to get there 12 euro both ways. OR buy the 36 hour pass for 21 euro and be able to cruise the water busses the whole time you’re on the island (which is ultimately better and cheaper than an 80 euro half hour gondola ride)and saves on time.

Showcase Night
Mandy Arami, Misakabi and Jennifer Cohenmehr are going to take turns “manning the booth” to announce that the trip has 9 spots available, and help discuss next year’s trip: Madrid, Barcelona Spain, Venice, Florence, Rome Italy and Athens and 3 Islands in Greece.

Thank you ALL for showing up, being responsible and participating!
See ya all next Thursday

Bon Journo! Benvenuto! Welkum!
I welcome the following students to the TRIP OF YOUR LIFE!
Mandy Arami Parker Chenoweth Jennifer Cohenmehr Charlotte Dadbin

Sayeh Forantan Nicki Haghani Reza Hajisanje Kimberly Hamilton

Lauren Harour Bennett Hirsch Roxanne Houman Amy Mahoney

Tim Mahoney Devorah Mehrzadi Jennifer Miskabi Yasmin Mossanen

Dylan Palladino Lexi Rubaum Julian Teixeira Ashley Wald

It is very important that you read the blog updates, as new information will be given to you as needed. I will refer to these directions as “steps” towards our trip departure.

First Step of the trip: if you have any questions, ever, about any possible area of the trip, please contact Miss Ty, or Veyas immediately, before you forget the question, so please put our information (found below) in your cell phones right now! Do a test text right now to Miss Ty, saying Hi, with your name. I will check your name off that you can follow directions. If you fail to follow more than 3 directions before we leave, there is a possibility that you cannot follow directions, and Veyas and I will discuss if you should accompany us on this trip. It is imperative that you can follow directions, as little or stupid (in your opinion) that they are, in Europe as many times to meet, or train tracks numbers, or making lefts instead of rights, are made at the last minute and we like to practice changes with you before we leave, to help you get used to working in a group, and following directions. Listen for announcements on the PA, flyers, emails and Blogs. (Bev Hill’s girls, you are exempt from Pali PA announcements..lol..) In any case, text Miss Ty. HELLO, THIS IS (insert name) so she can put your name into her phone. RIGHT NOW, so we know that you are receiving these updates.
Chaperone Info:
Tylene DeVine Room A202 [email protected] 323-394-6678
Veyas Anaya Room U118 [email protected] 310-487-1170

Second Step of Trip: Read the following and text Miss Ty your opinions where applicable.
Rooming: Please start thinking about who you will room with in variations of 2, 3, 4 and 5 beds. Each hotel will have a different amount of beds, and you will be asked to give Miss Ty this information before we depart for Europe.

Hotels: Although I am expecting more sign ups, I have put in our reservations at the hotels for 20 and should have the hotel names and addresses listed soon, so that you may look at the addresses and get acquainted with the area using Google maps satellite.
Flights: Veyas is setting up our flights, and should be locking in our dates soon. There is only one traveler who has notified me that they will be needing a different return flight. I NEED TO KNOW ASAP if this is the case for you and you have not notified me.

Itinerary: I am also thinking about adding one more day to either Prague or Amsterdam, as I made a date error on the itinerary, so it is possible we can stay one more day, to make it a 17 day trip, as the itinerary suggests! Please tell me what city you prefer to spend more time in; Prague would be cheaper, but there are more events to do in Amsterdam, such as boat rides and finally shopping, as it is our last stop and you can fill up your suitcases with souvenirs! As it is I figured out the hours we have in each town before any changes: London 48 hours, Paris 54 hours, Venice 36 hours, Budapest 58 hours, Prague 36 hours, Amsterdam 47 hours. Please, please, please let me know where you would like more time. Maybe another option is a day between London and Paris as that is a day train, and we can split time between those two. If you have an opinion, text Miss Ty now with your opinion.

Third Step of Trip: You must attend all meetings, or speak to Miss Ty prior to meeting.

Thursday Meeting Updates: Please make it a priority to stop in with Miss Ty in room A202 on Thursday’s at lunch. I will keep a check sheet of travelers checking in, as it is important to learn to check in at appointed stops in Europe. I will not require you to stay and chat (as Seniors like to leave at lunch) but if you can check in before you leave campus, or before lunch ends, I will be able to see that you are a worthy traveler. Veyas and I HATE to wait for travelers to check in, say in front of the Eiffel Tower to get tickets, or at the restaurants to sit down to eat. There are 10 Thursdays before we leave, so I expect you to check in 90 percent of these.

Meet and Greet Party: A group meeting for 2010 travelers to meet and discuss the trip with 2009 travelers is scheduled for June (when they come home from college), which will be held at Veyas Anaya’s home in Venice Beach. Exact date is not yet known.

Parent and Traveler Meeting: The second parent meeting is scheduled for June 5th, travelers are asked to come so that all parents may meet all travelers. However, if parents would like to add a meeting before then, please let me know. Parents may call Miss Ty or Veyas at any time for answers to their questions.

Suitcases and Packing: Travelers should walk into an REI or STA travel store and become familiar with traveling options. All of our hotels provide sheets and towels, however, travelers might want to buy washable socks or underwear, travel size Tide wash tablets, ear plugs, Plug adapters, fanny packs etc. Start looking at options and reading travel blogs to help you get a sense of how LITTLE you need to pack. I am SERIOUS when I say bring a SMALLER size suitcase and only fill half of it up.

Fourth Step: Please sign up to this blog site, create a profile and have your parents sign up as well.

FYI. Only buy ONE travel language book per group of friends that has all European main phrases, and ONE Europe book which has all countries, otherwise, just your travel tour books will take up half of your suitcase, you will be able to share these books on the train before arrival to next city.

YOU ARE GOING TO EUROPE IN 74 DAYS!!!