Schreiber Juniors Experience The Mediterranean Coast

This past week a group of Schreiber juniors embarked on a trip across the Mediterranean Coast that would immerse them in different cultures, languages, and foods. Over the course of ten days the students would travel to four different countries each with a unique history and significance. With the guidance of their tour guide, the students returned home with a new appreciation and understanding of the places they visited.

The trip kicked off in Milan, considered by many to be the “fashion capital of the world.” Travelers were granted a few hours to split up into groups and explore the city on their own. Here, students were exposed to the beautiful architecture in the area including the Royal Palace of Milan and the Milan Cathedral while they indulged in the celebrated shopping of the city. On their second day in Italy, students ventured to the Cinque Terre— a string of five villages along the Italian Riviera. Students shopped, ate, and hiked as they admired the beautiful blue Mediterranean Coast.

The next day, the group began their journey to France, however, to split up the long ride the supervisor suggested a pit-stop in Monaco. On the ride there students learned about how Monaco became a principality and the American movie-star Grace Kelly’s relevance in their history. Travelers spent a few hours here sightseeing and eating while formula 1 fans ventured over to see the track where the Circuit de Monaco is held annually.

By around 3 p.m. the tour arrived in France where they toured the perfume factory Fragonard. Students were walked through the process of making their scents and got to test out some of their most popular smells. Day four of the trip was action packed starting off in St. Paul de Vence, a medieval town recognized for its beautiful art and architecture, followed by the stark contrast of exploring the lively Nice. Some of the group took the shopping route and checked out the Galeries Lafayette while a few of the students checked out the beach. Travelers got a good night's sleep before their eight and a half hour trip to Barcelona the next morning.

On their way to Spain the group stopped at Arles- a city in France that has become recognized as the inspiration for many of Van Gogh's most famous works. During the year he lived there, Van Gogh created a total of 187 paintings and the students got to see his inspiration for a lot of them including Café Terrace at Night, Garden of the Hospital in Arles, and Starry Night Over the Rhône. Once in Barcelona, the group would get a look into the country’s culture through an hour-long dance performance. The show introduced students to Flamenco: a style of traditional dancing said to originate in Spain as early as the 15th century. Performed by five extremely talented dancers, the group was mesmerized by the music and rhythm that they brought to the stage. For the next three days students were given the freedom to explore the city of Barcelona through food, sightseeing, and shopping. The tour guide highly recommended that everyone check out La Boqueria, an extremely vibrant food market with unique and delicious food stands. The students also got to admire the works of renowned architect Antoni Gaudí, which many of them had learned about in Spanish class. His most famous work, La Sangrada Família, amazed the group with its intricacy and attention to detail.

When the students came home ten days later, they not only found themselves much more knowledgeable than when they had left, but also with new friends and memories they will always cherish. This trip provided students with an opportunity to appreciate and look at what they had been studying in school in a whole new light.