Under the Sperlonga Sun

Here we are enjoying our last few days in Sperlonga. What a way to finish the trip! We are staying at a beautiful hotel minutes away from the Mediterranean Sea. Our days are currently spent learning in the morning and basking under the warm Italian sun in the afternoon. What a life! At our beautiful hotel, we are spoiled with a wonderful pool where students get to swim and do homework, beautiful rooms to rest and an incredible dining room where we get to enjoy endless amounts of antipastos and great gourmet meals. If we aren`t lounging at the hotel, you can find us by the ocean resting and swimming or possibly getting lost between white wash buildings in this gorgeous mountainous town. Last night, students had a free night to go enjoy dinner at the top of the town. The view of the sunset dropping behind the mountains is picturesque is definitely the best backdrop you could ask for while enjoying an Italian meal. I think we are all sad that the trip is coming to an end. Tomorrow morning the students will be writing their final exams and wrapping up what seems to be an unforgettable learning experience. We will then be celebrating with a boat ride to some caves where we will get to swim, soak in the sun and enjoy fresh fruit! We are definitely taking advantage of every last minute together. The friendships and memories made on this trip are sure to last a lifetime.

Thank you for an unforgettable summer!! You guys are incredible!

The Georgia Hardy Team

Rock In Roma!|

On Saturday night, 24 students and I headed to the outskirts of Rome to see Jack Johnson live at a great outdoor venue. WHAT A MEMORABLE NIGHT!! We managed to make our way to the front of the crowd to hear Jack serenade us under the Roman Moonlight. Kaki King started off the evening with an incredible instrumental performance. Jack Johnson’s entrance on the stage made the crowd go wild. The combination of his voice, his lyrics and his presence make him a mesmerising performer. It was such a good feeling to be surrounded by people from all over the world including Australia, United States, Sweden, Puerto Rico and Canada all enjoying the sounds of one unique artist. It was definitely a night we will never forget. I am really happy that I got to spend it with a group of fun and energetic students.

Francine J

Venice

Venice, Venice, Venice... we think it’s safe to say that we all had a pretty good day spending our time walking the culture-filled streets. It’s the stereotypical Italian setting we had imagined in our minds before coming on the trip: the gondola equipped with accordion players and vocalists to serenade you, the narrow streets with clothes lines stretching from one building to the next, and the aroma of a freshly baked pizza wherever you go. It’s hard to imagine anyone looking past the beauty of the city, especially when viewing it from the seat of a gondola which some of the girls did later on in the afternoon! We all were able to soak up the culture of Venice on our walking tour which took us to beautiful and historical landmarks, such as the Saint Mark’s Square in the heart of the city. We were then able to dine at many of the fantastic restaurants around town and tasted traditional Italian cooking at its finest. After lunch we went shopping and many bought jewellery and decorative handmade Venetian masks. But of course no matter what city you’re in, here in Italy, you have to make at least ONE gelato break, and we did exactly that! Well deserved from all the walking we’ve had to do (with the blisters to prove it.) The trip to Venice was an all-around good trip and the students ended their day with a late night run to McDonalds. Everyone returned safely and with their suit cases a little more stuffed then before. Arrivedareci!

Kass and Mel

A Free Day in Florence

By: Monica Reagan & Olivia Hunwicks

Today was a quiet however eventful day. We awoke to another lovely breakfast at our hotel in Florence. After that we were captivated by our buisness and english classes. This was followed by a free afternoon which encluded laundry, segway driving, sightseeing, and lots of shopping. Whatever we chose, all of us had a great day. After we enjoyed another three course dinner our night was filled with group study sessions and homework groups. Florence is beautiful and there's always something new and exciting to see. As our last few days in Florence come to an end we are sad to leave this city but eager to explore Rome soon. Sorry parents, none of us want to come home yet!

A day in Florence by Julian and Eric

T’was a day as epic in it’s in its proportions as was the scale of the buildings that were viewed on this fine afternoon. In the morning we had class which was captivating, insightful and informative as usual. Both classes sang happy birthday to Mrs. Young, with the English group winning out for most enthusiastic . After a delicious lunch, we had a professionally guided walking tour of Florence. Our guides were very informative, and told us stories about the history of the tremendous buildings our eyes had the honour of staring upon. We used our newfound enlightenment of Florence to further enjoy our two hours of free time afterwards. Tonight was another delicious dinner featuring pasta, salad, roast beef, potatoes and cheesecake, which served to keep us full until curfew. Another fantastic day is brought to an end.

Firenze Love!

Hi there,

I think its safe to say that we are all in love with Florence. Our time here has been incredible. During the last week, we have kept ourselves occupied by doing plenty of enriching activities. For starters, we did a very informative tour of Florence on our first day where we got to learn more about the history of Florence. We've visited the leaning tower of Pisa, the statue of David, the leather market, many piazzas as well as eat wonderful traditional Italian food! Yesterday, most of the students spent the day in Venice where they explored the small alley ways and the many stores in this great little city built on water. Some even took a gondola ride and everyone took part in a guided tour of this magical city. The English class will be blogging tomorrow about their adventures. Here`s a few pictures to make you smile :)

The Georgia Hardy Tour Crew

Ohh Pisa!

Pisa!

After another engaging class on July 15^th, many of the students embarked on an adventure and visited the delightful city of Pisa. From our hotel in Florence, it was about an hour and a half bus ride in a wonderfully air-conditioned coach bus. The group arrived at the city center at around 3:00pm and were free to roam about the buildings and shops on the beautiful day it was. The location was the quintessential tourist stop in Pisa.

People were lined up along the main pathway to pose with the classic leaning tower for a picture to keep as a cherished memory forever. Most were surprised about the surrounding shops of the city so it proved an educational visit as well! Once people were finished taking pictures of the tower they headed to the gelato shop to cool down and enjoy the marvelous view. The bus left the city around 5:00 and the students made it back on time to go out for dinner. Dinner consisted of all-you-can-eat pizza with gelato as dessert. Most of the students really enjoyed it and were even begging to come back the next night! After dinner students had free time to tour around the city of Florence with friends from 8:30p.m. until curfew which was 11:00p.m. At curfew everyone was quiet and sound asleep, getting ready for an early class and a big day in the morning!

By Dalton and Dylan

The last of Ireland...

Wicklow Mountains Blog: Tess and Amanda

So, it’s day eight and we just arrived home from a long day out at Glean Dalough and the Wicklow Mountains! The day started at 9:00 in the morning with our regular classes, Business and English. We then headed out just after lunch and embarked on an hour journey to arrive in a small town with a castle. We explored the grounds, had some ice cream, and took pictures. We hopped back onto the bus, and continued on our drive. Tired and groggy, we arrived at Wicklow, and hopped off the bus. Once we stepped outside, we were blown away by the scenery that surrounded us. We discovered a cemetery, a waterfall, and many of us continued on a 1.5 km walk to the lake. Our time there was short, but it was definitely worth seeing the mountains, forests, lakes (and of course the spot where P.S. I Love You was filmed). The drive back was long, and we got back just in time for dinner! Overall, it was another great day that was jam packed with scenery, pictures, and a couple extra hours of sleep!

The Dubliners

Well here we are on our last day in Dublin...what an incredible city! We have been staying at Trinity College, a beautiful campus in the center of Dublin. We are surrounded by great big stone buildings with character, green parks, and historical monuments. The accommodations have been perfect and the food at the Lombard has been fantastic with many options to choose from.

On Sunday, we walked to Kilmainham jail where we received a very informative tour of the jail which enabled us to have better understanding of the history of Ireland and the figures who fought for the liberation of Ireland. We saw the courtyard where executions took place and the cells where many leaders were kept. Very interesting!

In the afternoon, some students took the DART to Howth to hike along the Atlantic Coast...what a gorgeous afternoon. Howth is a very affluent community on the outskirts of Dublin. While we were there, we got to visit the Sunday Markets, take great pictures and take in beautiful scenery and fresh Atlantic air. The students who didn`t want to hike headed to the Old Dubliner with Mrs. Guest and Mr. Campbell to listen to trad music and watch the Celtic football game. A great day for all of us!

On Monday, students got to experience the Trinity College student life by attending class in two beautiful renovated amphitheaters. After class, some students took the optional excursion to Glendalough and Wicklow. We hopped on a bus and headed to Kilkenny, a cute little Norman city. We visited the Strongbow castle as well as wander the quaint streets of the city. We then headed to Glendalough to visit an old monastery and hike the national park. Beautiful scenery!

Here we are on our last day in Dublin...the students are presently in class but we will be heading to the Guinness factory after lunch followed by a bit of shopping on Grafton street.

We definitely all enjoyed the beautiful city of Dublin- it's vibrant culture, the stunning buildings and the great entertainment!!

We are now packing up our rain jackets and saying goodbye to Ireland and taking out our sunglasses to head to Italia!

Bye for now!

The Georgia Hardy Tour Team

Galway Days...

G'day! G'day!

Time flies when you`re having fun! We are saying goodbye to Galway and saying hello to Dublin. Despite all the rain, we`ve managed to enjoy many activities in and around Galway. Thursday the students hoped on a bus and headed down to the cliffs of Moher. On the way, they explored the Ailwee cave, which has 3,400 feet of passages leading into the mountain, a 600 thousand year old dolman (a burial ground), and visited the stunning cliffs of Moher- the edge of Europe. The students were excited to see the beauty of the cliffs and hiked along the side. On the way back, they visited the ancient ruins of a cathedral. The pictures can`t truly capture how beautiful the day was!

To enjoy our last day in Galway, students began their day with a 3 hour class on the beautiful campus of Galway. After infusing their minds with new concepts, students and teachers headed to the Aran Islands for the afternoon. We explored the island on bicycles and by foot under the bright sun. Some visited the sweater market, while others explored The Black Fort and light house and the seal sanctuary. Some even decided to take a swim in the Atlantic Ocean. The island can be described as eclectic and unique! Their way of life seems so simple and pure! It was a great feeling being surrounded by such welcoming and serene people.

Our last night in Galway was spent roaming the streets of Galway and enjoying the live entertainment surrounding us!

We are now headed to Dublin and will be staying at Trinity College. During our time in the capital, we will visit the Kilmainham Gaol, take an afternoon hike in Howth, visit the Wicklow Mountains and stop by the Guinness Brewery!

The whole group is adapting very well to this culture. They have been very trustworthy and respectful. We have nothing but good things to report back!

We will be in touch again in a couple of days! Enjoy the pictures J

Greetings from Galway!

Hi there,

We have arrived safe and sound to the quaint little city of Galway with all 34 students early Tuesday afternoon. We started our Galway adventure with a walking tour of the downtown area followed by dinner on campus! We are very impressed with our group of students- polite, fun and respectful! Needless to say, we are foreseeing a fabulous month with a fantastic group!

The students attended their first class this morning lead by their wonderful teachers, Mrs. Guest and Mr. Campbell. The International Business students were introduced to the importance of trade and their impacts on Canada while the English class were introduced to Waiting for Godot followed by a lesson on formal debating. The group has transitioned to the Irish lifestyle quite naturally! Some have managed to hit the gym, zumba classes, shopping and touring the colorful yet rainy streets of Galway.

Tonight the group will be attending the Galway film festival and viewing The Future of Hope. This documentary follows individuals in Iceland who strive to change the world of consumerism, the system of credit and debt and the economy that Iceland has been built upon. A great conversation starter for our Business students!

Tomorrow the students have a packed day with an excursion to the Cliffs of Moher, a visit to the Ailwee Cave followed by some optional Yoga and a night of traditional Irish music!

Life is beautiful here in Galway!!

Ciao for now!

The Georgia Hardy Tour Crew