Exploring Eastern Europe: Thank You

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Thank You

I am tremendously grateful for the Chicago Foundation for Education. This trip would not have been possible without the generous funding that I received from CFE. CFE has several different grant opportunities for teachers; I have learned so much through the work that I have done while participating in CFE study groups and implementing small grant projects. I highly recommend exploring their websites:

http://chicagofoundationforeducation.org/ (the parent organization that funds several different types of grants)

http://www.fundforteachers.org/home.html (the grant that funded my learning exploration)

I would also like to thank colleagues, friends, and students that agreed to follow the blog and share this experience with me. I am lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life.

1 comment:

NMZumpanoJune 25, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Safe travels, Mr. Barr! I look forward to reading your blog and seeing the photos you take.

Be sure to use this blog as a personal journal for your trip as well. Talk about your excitement, concerns, wonders, and surprises. It will become an invaluable resource for a 1st person narrative for your students.

Be safe!
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My Travel Agenda

June 27- I have an overnight flight to Berlin.

June 28- Berlin- Today will mostly involve time to rest and explore the city.

June 29- Berlin- I will get a guided tour of the Ku' damm, the restored Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, Charlottenburg Palace, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, and Checkpoint Charlie. If time and weather permits, I will go to Potsdam in the afternoon.

June 30- Berlin-Poznan, Poland-Warsaw- Most of the day will be spent on a bus to Warsaw. There will be a break in Poznan, which is a historic river port. The drive is supposed to be very scenic.

July 1- Warsaw- Morning tours of the Old Quarter, the Cathedral of St. John, Lazienki Palace, the remnants of the Jewish ghetto. I will also attend a local museum that will show a film about what the city was like before and after the war.

July 2- Warsaw-Czestochowa-Auschwitz-Krakow- En route to Auschwitz, I will stop at a monastery in Czestochowa to view its Black Madonna (the country's national symbol). The afternoon will be spent in Auschwitz. From Auschwitz, I will travel in the evening to Krakow.

July 3- Krakow- I will receive a tour of Krakow. A few highlights of the tour include Market Square, 14th-century Jagiellonian University, St. Mary's Church, and the Wawel Royal Castle. The afternoon is free time to explore. Hitler loved Krakow. As a result, much of the old city still remains. I look forward to exploring.

July 4- Krakow-Slovakia-Budapest, Hungary- Most of the day will be spent driving through Slovakia. Slovakia is still densely wooded and brown bears roam free.

July 5- Budapest- I will receive a guided tour of the world's second largest synagogue. I will also see the Thermal Baths and Fishermen's Bastion (which provides a view of the entire city).

July 6- Budapest- Vienna, Austria- I will receive a tour of the Jewish Quarter, Hofburg Palace, and St. Stephen's Cathedral.

July 7- Vienna- Today is a day to rest and explore the city. I have nothing concrete planned, but I may see the capital of Slovakia if tour guides recommend it.

July 8- Vienna- Brno, Czech Republic-Prague- There will be a break at Brno to view Napoleon's headquarters during the "Battle of the Three Emperors." More time will be spent driving to Prague; I will explore Prague walking at night.

July 9- Prague- I will have a tour of the Jewish ghetto, the Old Town, St. Vitus Cathedral, Hradcany Castle Grounds and the Astronomical Clock in the morning. I will explore walking in the afternoon.

July 10- Prague-Dresden, Germany-Berlin- I will get a tour of the city; it was badly damaged by the Allies during bombing raids. I will also see Zwinger Palace. From Dresden, I will return to Berlin.

July 11- Berlin-Munich, Germany- I will board a flight and arrive in Munich.

July 12- Munich- I will do a self-guided tour of the city.

July 13- Munich- I will go to Dachau Concentration Camp for a tour and do more exploring in the afternoon. This was the first camp built by the Nazis.

July 14- I will fly out of Munich to return home.