A Tour of Europe

• Eye of London

The London Eye is a well-known ferris wheel located in London. However, this ferris wheel is unlike the ones at a county fair. The “seats” are large capsules with plenty of room for a large group to stand comfortably. The view is unforgettable.

“As someone who thoroughly enjoys ferris wheels, I have pretty high expectations for the London Eye” said Emma Schmidt, Jr.

• Experience – The London Eye had truly an unforgettable view. The whole city of London was visible from the 443 foot attraction. Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) and The Houses of Parliament stuck out the most because of their proximity and attractive looks.

• American Cemetery

The American Cemetery in Normandy was the first on European soil for World War II soldiers. This cemetery spreads across 172.5 acres. There are 9,387 graves of American soldiers, most of whom died in the D-Day landings and operations following.

“I think this is a place that a photo won’t be able to do justice. I am looking forward to seeing this breathtaking location” said Nathan Herries, Sr.

• Experience – The American Cemetery was astonishing. We were able to visit Omaha beach as well. We stood right where both the American and German fighters were during the D-Day attacks.

• Eiffel tower

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous structures in the world. It has been referenced in many movies, books, and songs. The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world. Standing at 984 feet, it is a must-see attraction.

• Experience -The Eiffel tower is much bigger in person than people might believe. It is beautiful none-the-less and even more so at night. The tower was illuminated with a golden color and would “sparkle” with white lights at random intervals. “The Eiffel Tower at night was breathtaking. It was one of my favorite things on the trip” said Chloe Jo Fewins, Sr.

• Bastogne Walking Tour

Bastogne, located in Belgium, is where part of Battle of the Bulge took place in 1944. It was one of the bloodiest battles during World War II. Today it has shops and restaurants in strips similar to Mass Street in Lawrence. There are also historical pieces left from the battle.

• Experience -We had an amazing tour guide while we were in Bastogne. He was alive during the Battle of the Bulge and told us fascinating stories. The history at this location was mind-blowing. There is now a memorial dedicated to the United States because of our help during the battle. “Our guide telling us that as a young boy the American soldiers asked him and his friends to show them where the land mines were located because the local children knew what areas to avoid while playing. Along with the stories he told about life under German occupation are some stories that are going to stick with me for a long time” said Mr. Tharp.

• Cologne tour

Cologne is a historical city that has been around for 2,000 years. It is well known for its gothic architecture and cathedral with twin spires. This riverside city is located along the Rhine River in Germany near the border of Belgium. During World War II Cologne was a Military Command Headquarters. Today it is the largest city in the region.

• Experience -The Cologne Cathedral was breath-takingly beautiful. Its original stone was blackened with age which was a perfect representation of just how old it was. The inside of the cathedral was just as beautiful with stained glass windows and amazing architecture.

• Guided Visit to Auschwitz & Birkenau

Auschwitz was one of the biggest concentration camps during World War II. Auschwitz I housed 15,000-20,000 political prisoners. Birkenau, also referred to as Auschwitz II, housed nearly 90,000. Birkenau was the camp where “bathhouses” were located. Many of the prisoners from both Auschwitz I and II died from gas in the “bathhouse”. Today the Auschwitz camps still have piles of hair and clothing from the victims of the war. Thousands of tourists travel to this location to see for themselves the horrors of the holocaust. “If seeing a movie about the holocaust caused me to change things about myself, I don’t know how I’m going to react to actually visiting Auschwitz,” Said Mariah Brown, Sr

• Experience -Visiting Auschwitz was a life changing experience. We were able to walk into old gas chambers, see piles of hair from the victims, look at the thousands of shoes preserved and walk around in the barracks that the prisoners slept in. I can’t quite put into words the way visiting Auschwitz made me feel because of how extraordinary it was.