The traditional spring break would consist of enjoying mini vacations, binge watching Netflix series, or sleeping the week away.
That was not the case for Sky Pettit, Jennifer Nix, Janna Turner, Michael Braddock and Mikayla Shelton. On March 13, these students, accompanied by BJH teacher Krista Cundiff, took flight with a final destination located in Europe.
They arrived in Dublin, Ireland March 14, where they stayed three days. Upon arrival, they became acquainted with groups of students and chaperones from Florida and Arizona, who would travel with them.
During their time there, they visited Trinity College and saw The Book of Kells, which was located on campus. They were also able to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
In addition, they visited several of the beautiful parks, famous museums and locations while in this large city. During the day, students were allowed hours of free time that provided time to grab lunch or tea in pubs and famous restaurants to experience traditional dishes and customs as well as shop for souvenirs.
There was a day set aside during their time there to tour the countryside of Ireland and view the various landscapes as well as the animals and plants that reside there. They stayed in a hotel in Ashbourne, located about 30 minutes outside of the city, while in Dublin.
“My favorite part of the trip would have to be the time we spent in Dublin, Ireland, as well as the day we toured the country side of Ireland. There are no words to describe how beautiful it was. The people of Ireland were all so kind and generous, and they made the trip so fun! I think the trip was a great experience, and it gave me a whole new perspective of the world,” stated Janna Turner.
“It was also nice to meet the groups we traveled with from Florida and Arizona.”
“I enjoyed being in Ireland. It was nice to see all the different traditions they have from us. Experiencing the diversity also allowed us to open up and enjoy it,” said Jennifer Nix.
“My favorite part was obviously Dublin because there was a lot to see and do. The Irish are really nice,” said Michael Braddock. “It wasn’t as busy and hectic as London was, with all that we had to do in a day. It was more laid back and enjoyable.”
On the 17th, students boarded a ferry and traveled about four hours to Wales, where they stayed for a day. While there, they toured the countryside and visited Beau Marise, the greatest castle in the world that was never completed due to lack of money, materials, and men.
After a day of tourist attractions and souvenir shopping, they lodged in a small town named Crewe.
The next day the group headed to Stafford Upon Avon, William Shakespeare’s birthplace. At first, they toured Anne Hathaway’s Cottage before Shakespeare’s actual birthplace and hometown.
Students were given free time to wander through the museum and various shops in town. Some decided to purchase and send postcards home. After their allotted time, they boarded the bus for London, where they stayed for the remainder of the trip.
The first night in London, students were able to have dinner, shop, and become comfortable with the “London Tube”, the public subway-type transportation system.
The net day they toured the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the remainder of the city via a local tour guide. While in the Tower of London, they were given the opportunity to view the Crown Jewels.
“My favorite part was the Tower of London. It was amazing to visit such a historical place. I loved exploring it and learning the history of it first hand. I was also happy we were able to see the Crown Jewels in person,” said Krista Cundiff.
During the guided tour, students visited St. Paul’s Cathedral and were able to view the remnants of a Roman wall aged over 2000 years, which would have dated back to the earliest know Roman settlement of Londonium.
They also visited West Minster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and were able to see various famous buildings and attractions such as Big Ben, the London Eye, St. James’ Park, and Green Park. The next day they viewed a famous tunnel, the only one in the city where vandalism is allowed. It is a constantly changing area that artists can come to and express their thoughts and create beautiful works of art. Many of the students loved this part of the day.
“My favorite part of the entire trip was the view of the graffiti alley located in London. It was a beautiful area of expressive art. It was so neat to witness the individuality of the people expressed in the pictures and creations,” said Sky Pettit.
After that, students were able to get lunch and complete all souvenir shopping and final tours of the city. They said their farewells after supper and returned to the hotel to pack and ready themselves for the trip home.
The Mississippi natives departed for the London airport and boarded a plane for an eight hour flight to Newark, NJ. After arriving there, they waited for the connecting flight to Memphis. Students arrived in Memphis around 7 p.m. and drove home to Bruce.