BSU interior design trip to Europe 2008

We are back!

2008-04-23T07:17:00.002-04:00

We arrived back to Indianapolis on time Monday night. No problems or concerns on either flight (milan to Newark and then Newark to Indianapolis), which is the way I liked it. The flight from Milan to Newark included the individual TV screens on each seat, so everyone could choose their own shows - I love 767's! Some just set it on "The Holidays" and watched a continuous loop of Jude Law to pass the hours..............!

Everyone seemed to have a good time, and presented me with a bouquet of flowers as we waited for our luggage in Indianapolis. They are a great group of students, and made a sometimes stressful trip better with their positive attitudes. Thanks to all of the travelers, but especially to my co-chaperones, Dan Stephenson and Ginger Burcham. I truly could NOT have done it without Dan and Ginger. They not only were great leaders, but two of the most entertaining people I know! The made the trip even more enjoyable for myself and the students.

I will get some group photos posted in the next few days, so check back to see the visuals of our trip. Now back to reality..................

Janet

Lake Como or a day of relaxation?

2008-04-20T15:40:00.004-04:00

Sunday, 4/20

For our last day here, several of us took a train to Lake Como (you may have heard of it as the location of George Clooney's villa......). Gorgeous, but even more gorgeous was the town Bellagio, which involved an 1 1/2 hour boat ride across the lake. Truly one of the most beautiful places I have seen. With the Swiss Alps as a backdrop, the small village was breath-taking. Lunch was enjoyed under a pergola of wisteria!

Some of the students decided to just relax at the hotel. This involved the nearby mall, a picnic lunch and reminiscing about the trip.

We leave tomorrow, bright and early, for home. We change planes in Newark, and will arrive in Indianapolis around 6pm.

We are tired, but happy...............

Janet

Milan Furniture Fair (Salone Internazionale del Mobile)

2008-04-20T02:45:00.004-04:00

Saturday 4/19

Today we spent at the Milan Furniture Fair! An incredible variety of every type of furniture you cann imagine - and then some. The fair site is huge, and includes both residential and commercial furnishings. After, some students went back to our hotel area (there is a mall nearby), and some headed to downtown Milan. While there, we visited a huge street market, stopped by the castle again, wandered through the Galleria, and ate gellato, of course!

Janet

Our first day in Milan

2008-04-19T14:09:00.003-04:00

Friday 4/18 Milan
We arrived in Milan at 5:40am (yes, AM), and waited (and waited!) for our bus and tour guide to arrive. They finally did, and we were taken on a guided tour of Milan, Including Duomo, the Galleria, La Scala and Castle Sforzesco. Then to our hotel to rest, and start out again. People went their separate ways - some to the Mall next door (location, location, location!), others back to downtown Milan to visit the sites more in depth. Dinners were at a variety of restaurants, all great!

Janet

Versailles...........

2008-04-19T13:58:00.006-04:00

Thursday 4/17
We checked out of our Paris hotel, and spent the day at Versailles - the palace (that is an understatement) of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. Every palace, cathedral and museum has been impressive, but I have yet to see any of them top Versailles. We had a guided tour through the palace, then had lunch and toured the gardens on our own. For our drive back, our tour guide included places we may have missed, as Napolean's Tomb and Chapel, and Des Invalides. We were then dropped off at Bercy station, where we waited for our overnight train to Milan. I warned the students that it is not exactly a luxurious way to travel, but if we are going to "immerse" ourselves in Europe, then we will travel like the Europeans travel! Six people (and luggage!) per small couchette cabin....................enough said, except check out the photos above of them crammed into the cabins! They were troupers though!

Janet

Our time in Paris

2008-04-16T14:46:00.004-04:00

Tuesday 4/15: We left London on the Eurostar high-speed train through the chunnel (the tunnel UNDER the English Channel!!) and arrived in Paris. Due to student demonstrations throughout Paris, we had to wait 2 hours for our bus to make it to our train station, but then we went on a guided city tour of Paris. Stops to admire the Eiffel Tower and Arc d'Trioumph were good photo places, and we got to see an overview of the city. After, we checked in to our hotel, and since it was dinner time, most of us headed back to the Eiffel Tower area to eat, and go up in the tower at night. The Eiffel Tower lit up is impressive enough, but on the hour it twinkles for a few minutes.............!

Wednesday 4/16: Our day to explore Paris. Some wanted to go on their own, but most of us went to the Louvre (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and too many other items to list), and then strolled along the Seine to Notre Dame. The weather has been gorgeous, so it was a fun walk. After Notre Dame we had lunch in the nearby Left Bank area, and then toured all of the little stores nearby. At this point we split up, and some students went with me to Musee D'Orsay (Impressionist paintings - Monet, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, etc.), while others went with Dan to Napoleon's Tomb and other spots. It's now time for dinner!!

Tomorrow we spent the day at Versaille, and then take a night train to Milan...........

Janet

Our last day in London..............

2008-04-15T04:52:00.004-04:00

Monday, 4/14: It was bright and sunny, so we started with a tour of the Tower of London. Medeival England at its best, and also it has the Crown Jewels. Awesome is an understatement! After, some of us went to the British Museum (would you believe parts of the Parthenon and Rosetta Stone?), some headed to shopping. In the afternoon we met for a tour of HOK, one of the largest architecture/interior design firms in the world. The students (and chaperones!) were impressed, and all want to apply for interships/jobs. In the evening, we decided it was time for the theatre. Several of us went to see Wicked, and some went to see Stomp. An appropriate end for our quick trip through London.

In the morning, its' through the chunnel to Paris................

Janet

Today in London!

2008-04-13T18:46:00.005-04:00

Sunday, 4/13: Today we started at Victoria and Albert Museum, where we spent a few hours. Amazing place! Lots of decorative arts, sculpture, even an exhibit on fashion. After we headed to Kensington Palace and Kensington Gardens. Intermittent rain, but we still managed to get around. Afterwards, we went our separate ways, to various small lunch spots and shopping. For dinner, some of us went to Leicester Square, where there were several fun restaurants. Others went to see Big Ben at night, which is an impressive view! The students are becoming quite adept at maneuvering the London Tube!

We have arrived in London!

2008-04-12T17:49:00.006-04:00

Saturday, 4/12: Our plane from Indy to Newark was delayed due to weather on the east coast, so when we arrived in Newark, they met us in golf carts (Thanks Ginger! I always wanted to do that.......) and whisked us through the Newark airport to our London flight. We arrived in London at 9:23 am local time (4:23 am EDT), went through customs, and met our tour guide and bus. We were treated to an escorted tour of London, with stops at Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and a stop along the Thames for photos. After, we checked into our hotel, the Ibis Euston. It is very nice and right by a tube (that's subway to us!) stop. We rested in the hotel for a few hours, and then headed to Covent Garden to people watch and have dinner. Great food and fun entertainment. The weather was getting cool by evening, but only a brief shower in the afternoon, so the weather was fine.

The plans for tomorrow include museums, Tower of London, Kensington Palace and ...........who knows?

Janet

Donors!!!

2008-04-08T00:59:00.004-04:00

Business Furniture Corporation
Dan Binford & Associates
Scott Hesler, Mohawk Group
Foliot Furniture
KR Montgomery and Associates
Design Tex
Daltile
Erin Rath, HM Designs

Thank you so much for our tickets to the Milan Furniture Fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our 2006 trip

2008-03-09T13:08:00.001-04:00

If you want to see our 2006 trip to the Milan Furniture Fair, visit:

http://bsu-id-students-italy.blogspot.com/