Highbrow and Lowbrow Entertainment

In touring the Parthenon this morning, we now have the intellectual sustanence to finish out the trip with a nap and a dinner in The Plaka. The kids have done a great job balancing highbrow culture with lowbrow fun. A few examples follow:

High:

Many took in the Mozart concerto in the fortress floating above Salzburg. Ask your child if he/she went. I know that Caitlyn Penny and Kristen Bohannan were moved to tears, and I believe Peter Cameron was seen drying his eyes.
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While many went to Rome on their free day in Florence, only Matt Lucky and Meghan Abramczyk made it inside the big three: St. Peters, The Vatican and The Coliseum.

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Redoubtably, the finest meal experience was Alex Laetsch's doing: He brought a few of us to Il Profeti's in Florence: It's a small, unpretentious place that's become a secret hideaway for celebrities. Most of these guys had what was dubbed "The John Travolta Special," although one girl chose the rare truffles recipe from the historic menu. Laetch bought a round of bruschetta for appetizers, and the boys, not knowing how else to show their delight in a fine trattetoria, gave each other high fives.



Leftside of table: DeWitt, Laetsch, Cook, Mathieu & Graeber
Rightside: Haynes, Barron, Carroll, Tsujimoto & Graeber

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In Paris many braved a torrid rain to take in the Louvre. Maddy DeWitt-Hoeger, her exchange student Marine, and Chelsea Alexander also made it to the newly opened L'Orangerie museum. Meanwhile, Waldo ducked into a movie theater to catch Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, which doesn't open in the states until the Fall. Ha.

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Lena Takehana, David Eiges, Mark Paulsen, Kelley Tran, Genevieve Wong,
Ryan Sung, Christine Huang, Maddy
and Waldo went to the fanciest
hot chocolate shop in the world
one night in Florence. The
15-page menu featured
concoctions from their own
baristas who've won
international competitions.
Eiges is still licking the minty
chocolate taste from the roof of his
mouth and Sung bought two bottles of
better-than-nutella's sauce for home.
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Genevieve Wong at Hemingways














Low:

We'll there's not only the hearts tournament--won by THall, of course--but there was the Egyptian Rat Slap Tournament, won by Andrea Ingrassia, I believe. At least others have the scars to prove it.

In London, Emma Parkes and Kristen Bohannan attended an Underground Indie Rock concert that they will forever rave about. It's possible they consider this highbrow entertainment.

Not sure if anyone went bungie jumping, but over 30 kids bought 30 Euro tickets, and there's a few videos floating around.





Billy Barron, Eric Haynes, Alex Laetch and Aaron Plocky learned a few English Beer-drinking songs from some new Brit friends. Might have mentioned that already.

Some people ate lots of ice cream--not even at the finest shops.

Time for my nap.

LV

Spot on Coach Hall

Tim Hall has to be commended for his expert leadership. This is his 10th European Dream in a row, and his experience makes this trip flow. These dreamers enjoy parroting his original catch phrases such as "hotels are sanctuaries," "curfews are permission to sleep," "lift and carry," and "NN--give your busmate a neighbor nudge."

With Coach Hall not only do the trains run on time, but they run with style. Drawing on his thespian skills from his high school days--he starred in three school plays at Rolling Hills High--he keeps a running commentary on the day's events that has the kids in stitches. He knows when to be perched above them and when to give the kids some elbow room.

It's the balance of fun and obligation to the group that makes this trip a success.

When the English get a perfect pint they say "Spot on!" So I say to Coach Hall,
"Spot on!" for another perfect trip.

Mellowing out on the Mediterranean

Kelsey Kadota, Dana Fors, Laura Chalfin. & Kristin Evans: Mykanos at Sunset ________________________________________________

With two days left we are appropriately relaxing on the cool-breeze beaches of Rhodes--it's actually quite hot. The kids have looked forward to Faliraki Beach and now it's happened for them. We'll have a couple more posts from Athens, but let me just say, that it's been a fantastic trip for all. This is a special group of teens--burgeoning adults--and although they are ready to come home, I doubt they'd want it to end one day earlier.

LV

Hearts

We are in the middle of a 22 hour Ferry down the Adriatic Sea between Italy and Greece, heading to Athens. Poseidon is overseeing our hearts tournament. This is a THall tradition. Hearts will be played on boats. We have had preliminary matches in Salzburg and Stresa to establish seeds, and last night the action commenced.

25 players were placed in groups of four. The top two finishers in each group would advance to the second round. Remarkably, after all that scientific research, two number one seeds failed to advance. Mitchell Beck and Mark Paulsen both finished last in their groups, to their chagrin and the dismay of all. Advancing are Hoeger, Fors, Ingrassia and Tsujimoto in group one; Daniels, Lucky, Bignone and Hall in group two; and Cooke, Penny, Eiges and Plocky in group three. Place your bets now.

Tonight we'll watch the World Cup final in Athens, and then tomorrow we get on our cruise ship for a vacation from our vacation.

Truly,
LV

Marco Polo

I don't believe Marco Polo ever went to China, but I do believe my dad went to Kansas. My dad traveled frequently as the president of the non-profit Good Samaritan Society, a chain of nursing homes across the country. My grandfather started it in 1922, and when it got too big for him, my father left his position as campus pastor at a Minnesota college in 1962 to carry on his father's calling. Some listless summers I would drive with him--he didn't like flying--but most times he would go it alone. My brothers and sisters would look forward to him returning and listen at the dinner table to the stories of his exotic sojourns to places like Hastings, Nebraska and Arthur, North Dakota. One time when I was 10, he came back from Olathe, Kansas and told us that he met a man who had known my grandfather.

"Your father was a great, honest man," he told my dad in reverent tones. "I knew it instantly" he said, "because he always looked you in the eye and had a firm handshake."

My dad chuckled, as he related the conversation to us.

"What? That's not true?" I asked.
"Yes and no," he said. "Your grandfather never looked you in the eye and had a dead fish handshake. But he was as honest as ever a man lived."

You see, there's much evidence to believe that Marco Polo never went to China. By most accounts he was a scoundrel and mendacious in his storytelling. Some believe he shipped out one day merely to land 100 miles away at another sea port; he listened to the fishermen's' stories, the rapscallions and rogue journeyman, and then compiled his little book.

The stories you're hearing on this post hew close to the truth. But storytelling is storytelling.

Truly, but wryly,
LV

Italia

The sleepy, aristocratic town of Stresa was rocked two nights ago when the Italian youngsters rolled down from the hills to celebrate their country's dramatic two-nil
victory over the host country Germany. Italy will now play France on Sunday in the finals. Since out hotel over-looked the main drag along beautiful Laggo Maggiorre, we stayed out to wave flags with the locals and shout out E-TAL-YA. Old and young bivouacked in a peaceful but raucous manner for hours. We'll remember it for decades.


We're in The Renaissance City and tomorrow many are heading to The Eternal City. We're shelling out 58 euros for a round trip Eurostar to Roma, but I think you can see Rome in a day. We'll see. When we get back we'll have a group dinner at the magical gothic-looking, family-run Hotel Albion and then go out for a late night Disco two blocks away. This is our one curfew-free night. Well, maybe 3 a.m. It always works out fine. Incidentally, these kids are still functioning at a high level. Some homesickness has set in, which is typical for this stage of the trip. Jenna Morina was lucky enough to meet up with her older brother David yesterday. They went out for pizza and her first Birra Moretti. She feels rejuvenated (not by the beer). Outside of Hall's blisters, most have escaped injury. Laura Chalfin was having a perfect trip until mosquitos attacked all of us on a late-night gelati run. Last night her bites--for some reason only the girls were bitten--swelled up, but a call home and a trip to the pharmacy allowed her to take the walking-trip tour to see the statue of David, The Duomo, and Piazza Signoria. Some of the girls nearly fainted when they saw David, and the newly self-conscious boys, shriveling into their own inadequate frames, tried to unobtrusively exit the back door. We owe something to Emma Parkes, rejuvenated from her Zermattian backrub spa experience, who kept an eagle eye out for gypsy thieves. Kristin Bohannan showed me how niave I was by stealing sunglasses from my satchel under my nose. The tricks kids play.

Truly, but wryly,
LV

Fondue, Football, and a Visitor

Kristin Najarian and Andrea Ingrassia are the two European Dreamers from Palos Verdes High, and we're lucky to have them on our trip. Kristin's father, over in Europe on business, was able to take the train to Zermatt and take her and a few friends out for dinner. They had fondue at the Whymper Stubbe and had a great night.
I believe Laura Sattelmeyer, Lyndsey Sherwood, and Alexander Ochi were the lucky friends. The next night THall and I took Andrea Ingrassia and two friends--Kelley Kadota and Sandra Bignone-- out for dinner, to where else, The Whymper Stubbe, a longtime favorite of ours. We owed Andrea big time for the job she did collecting funny money on our Tuesday night sessions. We laughed, we cried, we ate fondue.

Kristin also hiked the Schwarzee with her father and three boys: Peter Cameron, Harrison Heller and Kevin Clifford. From the sounds of it, they didn't curse the mountain the way many of us did The Gornergrot. They hiked, enjoyed the views and had a little picnic.

Incidentally, Heller and Clifford hail from Carson City, Utah and Agoura Hills, respectively. They are legacy travelors as many of their older cousins have gone with us. Are we lucky to have them? Yes we are. They are personable and affable and have made fast friends. Kevin is one of those kids who moves easily from one group to the next. Peter and Kevin just passed by this computer on their night out in Zermatt, and they are both wearing the same pale blue shirts. I hope that was a coincidence. Anyway, Harris is a talented musician, and he has been regaling the girls on the piano in the hotel lobby. He is incredible as he'll hear a song once and pick it up by ear. Right now I'm hearing him hatch Daniel Powter's "Fine Day."

Ten boys played soccer today on a small stadium court in the center of town. Quite a crowd gathered. I could hear them whispering, "yes the Americans really can play fussball." One team--The Skins--consisted of goalie Alex Graeber (long reach, good feet, big head), Eric Haynes (good peripheral vision, excellent ball control), Billy Barron (fast, hard hitter), Mike Tsujimoto (tough, no nonsense midfielder), Nate Carroll (aggressive, scorer mentallity) and Coach Hoeger (absolutely clueless, but finally got involed near the end of the game with a hand ball in the goalie's box.)
The shirts team--no real physiques on that team--included Mitchell Beck (fast, scorer and passer) Mike Cooke (some good headers and a powerful leg), Andy Kole (super fast and super strong), Matt Lucky (clever, good ball control either foot), Victor Poon (shrugged off a leg cramp to make some pivotal plays, Dan Mathieu (goalie and floor leader) and Coach Hall, who played surprisingly well in bare feet.

For us, Barron scored first, then Haynes scored two in a row and then Carrol scored on a long shot. Anyone surprised by those results? Anyway there was lots of fun-loving trash talking, but the interesting part for me was the contrast in goalies. Graeber was a chest-thumbing acrobat in the box, while Mathieu shouted out directions continually--usually it was watch Hoeger on the left--to create a defensive spiderweb.

Anyway, The Shirts won the first game 2-1 and the Skins won the second game 3-2.
The Skins had the momentum and were in complete control until Coach Hall's blister burst. Then ringer David Eiges filled in and made a crazy long pass to Lucky who, in the air, left-legged it passed our goalie. We have some good pictures that I'll put up after the trip.

On to Stresa.

Ode to the Gornergrot

Edward Whymper, an Englishman, was the first to scale successfully The Matterhorn in 1865. It was his 7th try. People said the mountain was haunted and impossible to conquer. So he did it, but at a cost: four in his expedition perished on the descent. We had a much better success rate, yesterday, on our climb of the Gornergrot, the mountain facing Disney Sr. Was it the highlight of the trip? For 24 of us it was, even though THall said, "The Gornergrot kicked our buts."

After an early breakfast, we started in groups of seven or eight. Our trail led us through Pine and Evergreens, along a babbling creek, across a meadow or two, past a few swiss chalets and then we went up, straight up. Along the way, some rested, some charged. Groups exchanged personnel, short cuts were attempted, laughter turned to grumbling. When things got bleak, we`d sit and be rejuvenated by the most incredible vistas known to man. The gentle competetion kept us going, racing, cursing. Here is the official order of finish.

1. David Eiges--he didnt really want to win; just wanted time for another hike.
2. Mark Paulsen--Bob Dylan on his ipod did the trick
3. Meghan with an h Abramczyk--I never saw her rest
4. Mike Cooke--who got a late start and climbed without water.
5. Chelsea Alexander--she never complained
6. THall--did it with blisters
7. LV--he always says "I'll never do it again" but always reconsiders
8. Ashley Nassiri--she wanted to beat her boyfriend
8. Maddy DeWitt-Hoeger--almost beat her dad
10. Genevieve Wong--didn't even sweat, but got a little sunburn
11. Mitchell Beck
12. Brittany Daniels
13. Ryan Sung
14. Kelley Tran
15. Christine Huang
16. Lena Takehana

The next group consisted of:

17-24. Andy Kole, Victor Poon, Maddy Low, Dan Mathieu, Eric Haynes, Matt Lucky, Aaron Plocky, and Alex Kramer.

Getting a late start but coming on strong:

25. Alex Laetsch
26. Alex Graeber
27. Mike Tsujimoto

And then the lost group finally showed. They went the farthest because they continually went the wrong way, and they cursed the most--it echoed through the hills like an angry yodel. But they deserve props for perseverence.

28-32. Alexander Ochi, Laura Sattelmeier, Lyndsel Sherwood, Laura Chalfin, and Anna Minniti, Andrea Ingrassia, Kristin Evans

If you don't see your son or daughter listed he or she either attempted, tried another trail, or stayed in the city to shop. We don't begrudge them.

Each climber had his or her own method for mentally and physically persevering. For me I composed an ode as I strode. And here it is.

You thought you left me there to rot,
But I was on the Gornergrot.
You guessed I lost my will, my mind
Your thoughts of me left far behind.

But I was on the Gornergrot
The ancient peak that time forgot;
Across the way, The Matterhorn,
The most majestic ever born.

But I was on the Gornergrot.
I watched you fade toward the spot--
4000 meters, maybe more,
Then something happened to restore.

It came not from pride nor from within.
I knew I would again begin
And make my way up to the top,
For I was on the Gornergrot.

Frosty spoke of roads not taken,
Thoreau talked of desperation.
But I caught and passed you near the top
For I was on the Gornergrot.

The Mountain was the one that sustained.
The edelweiss, marmots and terrain.
You thought you left me there to rot,
But I was on the Gornergrot.

Truly, but wryly,
LV