Itinerary Celtic Cultures

advertisement

Itinerary

Celtic Cultures

DAY 1 DEPART FOR LONDON, ENGLAND

Meet fellow travelers and board your flight for England.

DAY 2 WELCOME TO ENGLAND!

YOU ARE HERE: LONDON, ENGLAND

Start your European experience by getting to know your delegation manager and motor coach driver as you prepare for an immersive educational experience of a lifetime.

Soak up panoramic views of London 443 feet the air when you ride one of the world’s tallest Ferris wheels, the London Eye.

DAY 3 ENGAGE WITH POLITICAL LEADERS

YOU ARE HERE: LONDON, ENGLAND

Begin your second day in London talking politics when you are granted special access to a representative of Parliament to discuss the respective roles of the House of Commons, the House of

Lords, the Monarch, and the European Union.

During a Medieval Banquet lunch, ham it up when you pose for a picture with “King Henry VIII.”

Next, head for the infamous Tower of London where you’ll witness firsthand the creepy torture devices used on prisoners more than 400 years ago.

Keep an eye out for the mysterious ravens that haunt the tower and meet the iconic Beefeaters who protect this iconic landmark.

Enjoy a front-row seat to the city’s famous sights, including Big Ben and London Bridge, as you cruise the River Thames by boat.

End your busy day on a high note when you experience the glitzy West End theater district—London’s equivalent to Broadway—and take in a performance. Past shows viewed by delegates include Wicked,

Lord of the Rings, and Mama Mia.

DAY 4 RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO A MEDIEVAL CASTLE

YOU ARE HERE: LONDON, ENGLAND

Today starts with a picture-perfect opportunity when you visit Buckingham Palace to view the precisely choreographed Changing of the Guard.

Then it’s off to the medieval Warwick Castle where you can imagine yourself in the Middle Ages as you encounter the dark and gloomy dungeon, gruesome torture chamber, and cool armory during an exclusive after-hours tour.

Spend your afternoon training as a soldier in a special recreation medieval encampment as you learn the arts of sword fighting and other pre-battle rituals.

Top off your day with a bang when you witness firing of the world's largest trebuchet (catapult).

DAY 5 EXPERIENCE A UNIQUELY PRESERVED WALLED CITY

YOU ARE HERE: WESTERN ENGLAND

Rise early and explore the sights within the towering concrete barriers of Chester, one of the bestpreserved walled cities in Britain. Learn about the storied history of this distinctive city.

Enjoy the scenic countryside as you make your way to the second country, Wales!

Begin your Wales experience getting to know locals when you join them on a visit a market and pick up the fixings for a lunch that you’ll prepare yourself.

WALES

DAY 6 ACCEPT A FULL ON TEAM CHALLENGE

YOU ARE HERE: NORTH WALES

Begin your first full day in North Wales participating in exercises led by the Full On team. You’ll test your brain power and physical agility during a full day of adventure, leadership, and personal growth exercises.

Achieve greatness and focus on personal goals during the Full On challenge. Step outside your comfort zone when you rappel 70 feet off a tower wall at Penrhyn Castle!

Continue on to a unique village on the island of Anglesey in Wales with a perplexing name:

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch. Know what it means? Look it up!

Next, hop on a ferry to cross the Irish Sea on your way to Holyhead (where you’ll meet the Irish family you’ll homestay with in Dublin).

Gear up for an incredible stay in a country marked by mystery, lore, and four leaf clovers!

IRELAND

DAY 7 MEET YOUR HOST IRISH FAMILY

YOU ARE HERE: DUBLIN, IRELAND

Cross the beautiful Menai Straits over Stephenson's magnificent bridge on your way to the Welsh mainland.

Then prepare to meet with your host Irish family who will graciously open their home and share their way of life as you dine on traditional foods, are introduced to their friends and learn about their unique way of life.

DAY 8 DELVE INTO IRISH SPORTING HISTORY

YOU ARE HERE: DUBLIN, IRELAND

Kick off your day by visiting some of Ireland’s most famous landmarks and immersing yourself in the local culture when you encounter Dublin, home to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Phoenix Park, Trinity College and statue-lined O’Connell Street.

Next, experience a piece of Irish sporting history at the Gaelic Athletic Association Museum, the largest sporting cultural organization in Ireland.

Here, you’ll get an insider’s view from a local sports expert on the traditional Irish sports of Gaelic football and hurling; gain an understanding of how the games have played a pivotal role in modern Irish history.

Return “home” to join your Irish family for a farewell meal.

DAY 9 MEET WITH INTRIGUING LOCALS

YOU ARE HERE: SHANNON, IRELAND

Say goodbye to your Irish host family and get ready for the next exciting stage of your journey: Ireland!

Discover the acclaimed 15th century Bunratty Castle, the most complete and authentic fortress in Ireland.

The castle was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendor with 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries, and works of art which capture the mood of those times.

This afternoon, mix and mingle with locals dressed in theme clothing from the 17th century at Folk Park, adjacent to the castle. Enjoy the tastes, scents, sights and sounds of this enchanting place as you stroll from house to house around the charming village.

DAY 10 EXPERIENCE COMPLETE CULTURAL IMMERSION

YOU ARE HERE: CAHERSIVEEN, IRELAND

Today, you will spend virtually every waking moment taking part in community activities, giving back through service projects, and engaging with town folk.

Start by venturing into peat fields where you will harvest this vegetation, used for heating, and then cut it into bricks that will soon be delivered to the elderly in Cahersiveen to burn for winter warmth.

Continue giving back to the community when you join your Irish hosts in volunteer activities that include preparing and delivering meals for those in need and making a difference to patients at a local hospital by playing bingo, singing, or sharing stories.

Next, experience some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe as you stroll through Cahersiveen, lying at the foot of Beentee Mountain overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Engage with a local official and learn about this community’s intriguing history, as well as the political and economic issues facing the region.

Interact with local athletes when you and your friends participate in two of Ireland’s most popular sports—Gaelic football and hurling.

This evening, put on your dancing shoes and prepare for a “ceili”, which is Irish for party! You’ll learn the art of Irish music and dancing while enjoying a traditional Irish meal. This evening is all about:

“craic!”

DAY 11 TAKE A HORSE-DRAWN JAUNT

YOU ARE HERE: LIMERICK, IRELAND

This morning, enjoy a uniquely local tradition on a horse-drawn jaunty car traversing through the stunning countryside surrounding the lakes of Killarney. Carved by glaciers, this area offers fabulous views of the boulder-strewn gorge.

Pull up a seat for lunch at Lord Brandon's Cottage, which formerly served as a hunting lodge for Lord

Brandon in the 18th Century. Admire fantastic views of the gorge before embarking on a breathtaking cruise across one of the tranquil lakes.

Continue your amazing journey north to Belfast.

DAY 12 GET A FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT OF "THE TROUBLES" ERA

YOU ARE HERE: BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND

Wake up and discover the capital of Belfast, a city rich in historical and cultural diversity, and learn from a university student or local resident about a period of political unrest known as The Troubles.

You’ll learn firsthand of the impact this era had on the country from people who were there and experience the unfolding the “post-Troubles” era as you discover how the political and military conflict has abated and been followed by a period of calmness and economic growth.

This evening, relive history when you visit the shipyard where the infamous Titanic ocean liner was built in 1908-09.

DAY 13 LEARN A LEGENDARY TALE OF TWO GIANTS

YOU ARE HERE: GIANTS CAUSEWAY, NORTHERN IRELAND

Today, you’ll have an opportunity to test your adventurous spirit and lend a hand to local fishermen when you make your way across a rope bridge suspended 85 feet in the air to check nets for the daily catch.

Then it’s on to Giant’s Causeway near the Northern Ireland town of Moyle where you will discern the difference between fact and fiction when you learn about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns that form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea.

You’ll learn from a local historian about the two theories of the Causeway’s creation: Was it the result an ancient volcanic eruption? Or the work of legendary Irish giant Finn MacCool who built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight the Scottish giant Benandonner?

Conclude your day with a look deeper into the history of The Troubles—why it started, the effect it had on the people of Northern Ireland and the road to peace following the signing of the Belfast Good Friday

Agreement of 1998.

Scotland

DAY 14 DISCOVER SCOTLAND'S STORIED PAST

YOU ARE HERE: AVIEMORE, SCOTLAND

Rise early and prepare for your journey to the land of Nessie, Scotland!

Cross the Irish Sea by ferry as you make your way to Stranraer, Scotland.

Welcome to Scotland; a land of amazing beauty, soaring mountains, and sparkling lochs. Get ready to discover Scotland’s intricate past, which is expressed in a rich and diverse cultural heritage that you will be immersed in during your stay.

Acquaint yourself with a distinctive part of Scottish culture during a living history demonstration that involves weapons, kilts, and clans. Yes, it’s time to learn about the life of a highlander!

DAY 15 HUNT FOR A MYTHICAL MONSTER!

YOU ARE HERE: AVIEMORE, SCOTLAND

The whole world has heard of Nessie, the elusive Loch Ness Monster, and today is your chance to go hunting for this fabled resident of Loch Ness.

Learn about decades of research undertaken to uncover the mystifying truth about Nessie and hear from past explorers seeking the monster.

Next, encounter a “living history” of life as it was in a 1700s Highlands township at Highland Folk

Museum; see, touch, smell and feel the atmosphere as you walk through the material remains of 400 years of Highland life—from clansman to crofter.

Your next stop is a family-owned farm where you’ll gain an understanding of the Scottish way of life as you participate in sheep-shearing, and experience the life of a sheepdog handler.

Also on your farm visit, you will have an “Awwww” moment when you bottle-feed cuddly orphan lambs and watch collie-pups-in-training herd ducks instead of sheep.

DAY 16 TEE OFF WITH A GOLF PRO

YOU ARE HERE: St. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

Today starts at the Old Town of Edinburgh, capital of Scotland, where you’ll witness the stunning

Georgian and Victorian architecture and medieval streets and learn how the town earned the prestigious distinction of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next, take an intriguing look at Edinburgh’s dark side—including tales of witchcraft, plague, and torture—when you participate in “The Royal Mile Murder Mystery,” an interactive quiz along the famous Royal Mile, between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Abbey.

This afternoon, visit the famed Edinburgh Castle, a fortress steeped in history, and which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock.

DAY 17 RIDE RIVER RAPIDS

YOU ARE HERE: STIRLING, SCOTLAND

An adventure-filled day awaits you, beginning with a visit to Blair Castle, where you will learn about its long and illustrious history, with roots in the 13th century.

Stroll across parts of the 142,000-acre estate during an educational tour with an emphasis on nature, economy, and conservation.

Ready for an adrenaline rush? Brave the rapids on a challenging rafting adventure down the River Tay as it winds through rolling hills and stunning scenery as you make your way to Grandtully.

DAY 18 SET FOOT WHERE PRINCE WILLIAM MET KATE

YOU ARE HERE: DRUMOIG, SCOTLAND

Your last full day in Europe is filled with cultural immersion beginning with a visit to the University of

St. Andrews campus, Scotland's oldest university. Founded in 1412, the university includes many famous past students, including Prince William, who met his bride, now the Duchess of Cambridge,

Kate Middleton, while attending school there.

Next, head to West Sands, one of Scotland’s best beaches and the location for many scenes in the Oscarwinning film Chariots of Fire.

Be the envy of every golfer with a stop at the world-famous Old Course in St. Andrews, the oldest golf course in the world dating back to 1574, and try your hand at chipping and driving with help from a golf pro at one of Scotland’s finest golfing academies nearby.

DAY 19 SAVOR AN INCREDIBLE ADVENTURE!

Pack your suitcase for the last time and board the coach for the airport. Remember to complete your program evaluations and exchange friendship cards with your fellow Ambassadors!

Download