For the past several years, history professors Lee Estes and Bill Cumiford have been taking students to Europe through their travel courses, The Grand Tour and Roman Imperium. This year the travel courses and their 20 participating students are going live via the Chapman website! During the duration of the trip students and professors will be blogging their experiences. The blog will chronicle their travels through London, Paris, and Rome as they visit historical locations, such as Pompeii, the Pantheon, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Palace of Versailles and Notre Dame Cathedral. We invite all to share in the Chapman experience of traveling abroad through this blog! For more information, visit the European Civilization Program homepage.

The long goodbye..............................

LEE ESTES:
Though we all had a great time the past three weeks, it will be nice to sleep in our own beds again. I didn't get down for breakfast before the first group had already left for the airport. Several people were staying a few extra days including three who were picked up at the hotel by their parents. Bill and I left for Charles de Gaulle at 10 and had reached our gate by noon. We left the ground at 2:15 and arrived in LA at 4:00. It felt good to get home. We're already planning for next year!

Bill returns to the Charles de Gaulle Airport, where the journey began. Above

Saturday, July 4, 2009 - Free Day

LEE ESTES:
We started our last full day in Europe climbing the Eiffel Tower at the crack of dawn (well, it was really 9:15 am and we took the elevator). Anyway, the view was spectacular. After coming down, Boll and I took the History majors and minors out to lunch at a brasserie in St. Germain. Since it's the fourth of July, most of us ordered a le hot dog, a local adaptation of an American favorite. A few student's then followed Bill and me down to Dt. Germain-des-Pres and St. Sulpice, which were close by. We also did a bit of shopping. It looks like a number of students will be going with us to the Beaux Arts, my family's favorite restaurant in Paris, this evening.

Students waiting to go up the Eifel Tower. Above

---

Friday, July 3, 2009 - Walking Tour of Central Paris with a visit to the Louvre

LEE ESTES:
We walked across Paris from the place Bastille to the Louvre. The weather was absolutely perfect. We visited Notre-Dame Cathedral along the way and just generally took in the sights. We picked up some sandwiches along the Seine. A small group ate in the garden behind the Palais Royale, but most decided to eat along the way to the Arc de Triomphe, which was quite a hike.
In the evening we will be gathering for a highlight tour of the Louvre Museum, which will be the official end to the two courses.

---

Thursday, July 2, 2009 - Grand Tour visits Versailles, Roman Imperium visits Gallo-Roman remains including the Crypte de Archeologique and the Arenes de Lutece.

Grand Tour students at Versailles Palace. Below
Versailles is the royal chateau in France and was the center of France's political power.  The palace was inhabited by King Louis XIV who had a great interest in Versailles and completed many renovations. The projects were continued by his great grandson Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette creating a style of their own. This continued until the French Revolution in 1789.

BILL CUMIFORD:
The Paris visit afforded students the opportunity to visit the Arenes de Lutece, one of the five large amphitheatres in Roman Gaul, where theatrical performances and gladiatorial contests were staged after Julius Caesar's pacification of Gaul in the first Century, BCE. Also, we surveyed the extensive underground Roman baths at the Crypte de Archeologique, located very near the fabled Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame.

LEE ESTES:
The Grand Tourists went out to Versailles today. The trip out went smoothly, though we briefly got confused and spent a short time on the wrong platform. It was a warm day, but not too hot to be able to see a good chunk of the garden. We ate lunch by the Apollo Fountain. Just before two we entered the State Apartments. Fortunately, the crowds were thinner than last year, which made it cooler and more enjoyable. No one rushed through. Of course, the Hall of Mirrors knocked everyone dead, especially the views of the garden out the windows. We got back to our hotel around five.

---

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 -Leave London Arrive Paris

LEE ESTES:
The trip over from London to Paris was uneventful. Our contact met us at the Gare du Nord and we were in our hotel by 1:30. Thank goodness it had AC as it's quite hot here. We started off for the center of the city by four. After exploring the Latin Quarter for a couple of hours, we had a group dinner at one of my favorite places, Restaurant Polidor near the Luxembourg Gardens.

 Tuesday, June 30, 2009 - Greenwich

LEE ESTES:
The Grand Tourists went out to Greenwich today. We took the Docklands Light Railway and got off at Island Gardens so that we could see Wren's  Royal Naval Hospital from the north bank of the Thames. We crossed over via the old foot tunnel under the river. Wren's hospital, now mostly the University of Greenwich, stunned us all with its beauty. We went into both the Painted Hall and the chapel, and then crossed the street to have a closer look at Inigo Jones' Queen's House. Finally, it was up the hill to the Royal Observatory where everyone took a turn standing on the prime meridian.
We had lunch in Greenwich Park next to the observatory and then coasted downhill to Greenwich Pier where we caught a boat to Westminster. It couldn't have been a more beautiful day to b out on the Thames taking in the sites including Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament. Tonight we go to the Phantom of the Opera.

BILL CUMIFORD:
Students in the Roman Imperium have visited the Colosseum, Forum, the Palatine Hill, Pompeii, Vesuvius, Florence, Bath, Colchester, St. Albans, and London! We are off to Paris to witness more sites and structures, including significant artifacts related to the Roman occupation of Gaul and the impact of Julius Caesar in the Roman provinces. Students in particular have learned much about the Roman Empire's great expanse to Britain and the changes in Roman life brought about by Roman adaptations to life abroad. In the provinces the site reflect the impact of Roman merchants and the legions.

 Monday, June 29, 2009 - Walking tour of Roman Verulamium (St. Albans) and lunch at "Ye Olde Fighting Cocks" Restaurant

LEE ESTES:
The Grand Tourist had a great time at Oxford today. It's getting warmer (much warmer), but it stayed dry again. The city was gorgeous - the dreaming spires and all that. After a bit of shopping at the covered Market, we had lunch at the King's Arms, a 17th century pub where allt he dons hang out during term time. The food was delicious. The fish and chips were particularly appreciated. We then wandered downt o the Cherwell at Magdelan College wehre we went punting. Some of us even took a turn at the poll. We finished the day at Christ Church College. The great dining hall at Hogwarts was filmed here. We're  on the train back to London now and a little sad - tomorrow is our last full day in the UK.

Students Punting on the Cherwell at Oxford. Below

Attention Harry Potter fans: lunch at Hogwarts filming location at Christ Church College. Below

 Sunday, June 28, 2009 - Free Day!

LEE ESTES:
Sunday was a free day. Bill and I went to York to explore the possibility of adding it to the Roman Imperium next year. Two students went with us including Kellie Mahre from last year's tour who is currently doing an internship in London. Once again, we avoided rain entirely. In fact, the sun actually came out for a bit in the afternoon. We saw the Minister including remains of the Roman basilica in the crypt, Clifford's Tower (the castle keep) and the Multagonal Tower with it's Roman foundations. The best part, however, we the Roman Bath Pub with the remains of the Roman bath in the basement! Bill and I donned Roman Helmets there for a photo.

Students purchase Paddington Bear memorabilia at Paddington Station. Above
Paddington Bear is a children's book fictional character that first appeared in 1958. Paddington Bear was an immigrant from Peru and was originally found at Paddington station. The book is considered classic English children's literature.

---

 Saturday, June 27, 2009 -Walking tour of Colchester including Colchester Castel and Musuem and the Balkerne Gate

Arundel Castle is a restored medieval castle that was damaged in the English Civil war and then restored during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Castle was originally built during the reign of William the Conqueror.

LEE ESTES:
The two classes went their separate ways today. Bill took his group to Colchester while I went to Arundel Castel in West Sussex on the south coast. Again, our luck held and we had beautiful weather. We first spotted the castle sitting up in a ridge as our train approached the town of the same name. It was immense. It was about a 15 minute walk from the station to the castle gate. We ate our lunch just outside the newly opened Earl's Garden and then visited the Fitzalan Chapel where the Fitzalan-Howards have been buried since the 14th century. The castle was next. Castle is something of a misdescription. It is true that a 12th century keep forms the core of the huge edifice, but it is also a great private home which is till the principle seat of the Dukes of Norfolk. We not only visited the older parts of the castle, but also the state apartments and even many of the bedrooms. We were paricularly impressed but the large private chapel and the enormous "Baron's Hall."
Most everyone bought something in the castle shop as we left. We are now finding our way back to Victoria Sation  and our temporary home in the dorms of the University College London.

Students visit Arundel Castle and Earl's Garden. Above & Below

 Friday, June 26, 2009 -Walking tour of Bath including the Roman Baths Museum and High Tea at the Pump Room

LEE ESTES:
Things didn't start off well this morning. It was threatening to rain and I forgot to tell students to bring their passports so that we could validate their rail passes. We finally caught a train to Bath around noon and got their about 1:30. Then things began to turn up. Our high tea in the Lower Assembly Rooms (aka the Pump Room) was absolutely out of this world-finger sandwiches, scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, and lots of miniature pastries! And let's don't forget the sting and piano trio that entertained us.
We went to the Roman bath Museum next. It's the one of the best small museums in the wolrl, By the time we came out the sun had emerged turning the Bath stone of which everything in the city is made into pure gold. In a walk around town we saw the famous Circus and Royal Crescent, but it was the Pulteney Bridge that really knocked our socks off.
It's nearly eight now, but we're almost back in London. Tomorrow the two classes split up. Bill  and his class are going to Colchester and my class and I are visiting Arundel Castel in West Sussex.

BILL CUMIFORD:
In The United Kingdom the Roman Imperium class made several site visits to the first Roman colony in England at Colchester, the celebrated baths at the city of Bath, and the only settlement thought to be named an official Roman municipia (a town with special Roman privileges) at the medieval and modern city of St. Albans (the site of the first Christian martyrdom in the third century), called Verulamium in Roman times. The class also conducted research at the Colchester and St. Albans Museums as well as the City Museum of London and the British Museum.

Students at train station in Bath. Below
The city of Bath is located in Southwest England in the county of Somerset. The city contains natural hot springs where the Romans built baths and a temple.

High Tea at the Pump Room. Below

Group in front of Bath Abbey. Below
The city has been home to several artists and writers throughout its history including Jane Austen.

 Thursday, June 25, 2009 - Walking tour of city including St. Paul's Cathedral and the Temple of Mithras and visit to the Museum of London

LEE ESTES: We hoofed it all over the city today starting at Trafagar Square. We saw Whitehall, Horseguards, Parliament, the Abbey, and the changing of the guard at Horseguard Parade before noon and had lunch in St. James's park. After lunch we watched the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and then tubed it over to St. Paul's Cathedral where we got a great view of London from the Stone Gallery at the base of the dome. Unfortunately, the lantern was closed today. We ended up at Leadenhall Market where the entrance to Diacon Alley was filmed. Tonight we're going on a ghost walk with Original London Walks.

Students and Lee Estes on the Stone Gallery of St. Paul's Cathedral. Below

Students in front of Buckingham Palace during the Changing of the Guard on Horseguard. Below
Buckingham Palace is the London residence for the British Monarch and is located in the city of Westminster. The Changing of the Guard takes place in the front court of Buckingham Palace at 11:00am.

Lunching in St. James Park. Below
St. James Park is the oldest royal park spanning 58 acres. It is located in Westminster next to Buckingham Palace.

Students at Horseguards on Whitehall in London. Below Whitehall is a road in Westminster London which contains a statue of Charles I and is considered to be the heart on London. The road is surrounded by government ministries. Lee Estes and students at the Leadenhall Market. Below Leadenhall, a covered market in London dates back to the fourteenth century. Here you can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables as well as cheese, meat and flowers.

---

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 -Free day!

CONNER BERRY:
We are now in London and leaving Rome behind. On our last day I re-visited the Colosseum for the 4th time (Well worth it). Tomorrow we have a free day and I will hopefully just wander the streets with everyone and enjoy.

LEE ESTES:
Bill and I did some shopping at the Camden markets, but for the most part we spent the day trying to retrieve the missing bags. Bill must have called the airport ten times. The students were all over the city.
 
CHELSEA COOLEY:
Wow! I don't even know where to begin. This trip has been beyond amazing. I have made some amazing friends and have seen so many things. Our professors, Estes and Cumiford, are the best tour guides anyone could ask for. They are so fun to be with. They've made it a trip of a lifetime. They've showed us so much, and it makes me want to go home and read more about it and come back for more! My favorite part so far was our day trip to Florence. The city is absolutely beautiful. We climbed 414 steps to the top of the bell tower and saw the whole city. It was breathtaking. The food in Italy was more than we could have asked for, but we are all ready for a break from pizzas and pastas. we will most definitely miss our daily trips to get GELATO! we had fun learning the bus and metro system and learning how to protect ourselves from pick-pockets. Getting our way around was surprisingly easy. It was fun working through the language barriers.

We are so excited to see what England has to offer. It was extremely hot in Rome, but much cooler here. I am sure everyone would love to post their picture, but I'm not sure anyone brought cords to hook up their cameras. We've captured some really epic stuff and will hopefully be able to upload images when we get home!!!!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 -Depart Rome, London bound!

LEE ESTES:
This was a flight day. Everything went very smoothly until we landed at Heathrow. Eight of our bags did not arrive with us! We were held up at the airport for an extra hour filling out paperwork. We got to our dorms around 4:30pm. We had dinner at various restaurants in the area or and around Covent Garden.

 Monday, June 22, 2009 -Tour of Appian Way and the Catacombs with a local guide

LEE ESTES:
We went to the catacombs this morning. Though we only spent 40 minutes or so underground, it was an interesting, not to say creepy experience. There are an excess of 300,000 people buried in the 19 kilometers of tunnels at just the San Callisto site. Evangeline added to the excitement by letting out a piercing scream at a particularly dark part of the tour. It seems that one of her fellow students poked her in the sides. In the afternoon seven of us visited the palace of the Doria-Pamphilij in the Corso. The prince owns one f the finest private art collections in the world.

---

Sunday, June 21, 2009 -Walking tour of Florence with visits to the Galleria delli' Accademia, Santa Croce, and a climb to the top of the Duomo's Campanile

LEE ESTES:
Florence knocked everyone's socks off! Things weren't promising to start off with, however, it was raining in Rome when we left. Fortunately, Florence was beautiful , and cool, all day long. Our guide, a Dane named Sashia who has lived in Italy for 16 years, was really great. She not only took us to the places mentioned in our itinerary, the Accademia, Santa Croce, and the Duomo's belltower, but she also found us a great restaurant for lunch and a famous gelato place for dessert. After coming down from the belltower (wow, was that a climb), the students shopped in the open air market next to San Lorenzo while Bill and I recovered, though we did manage to get in a little shopping ourselves, which included matching hats, before returning to Rome.

Below. Students walking around Florence.

Above. Students on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.
Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge over the Arno river in Florence. It is lined with shops selling jewelry, art and souvenirs.

---

 Saturday, June 20, 1998- Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica (ROME)

LEE ESTES:
We met our guide for the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica, just below the walls of Vatican City at 9am. Fortunately, the temperature had gone down a bit because it was VERY crowded inside. However, Roberta who was our guide, did a great job, though, because she was short we almost lost her on several occasions. We actually got to see a high mass in the church. We finally exited into St. Peter's Square round once and most of us went straight to lunch, though few wondered over to Castel St. Angelo to have a look.

Below left. The Blues Brothers take to the streets
Below right. Students work on their journal while on the train.

Below. Students listen to Vatican Museum guide discuss the Laocoon and the Apollo Belvedre.

---

 Friday, June 19, 2009 - Walking Tour of Ostia Antica.

LEE ESTES:
We went out to Ostia Antics today. The students agreed with Bill and me, it was at least as good a site as Pompeii. They especially loved the public toilets. we continued a bit farther along the same line to the beach at modern Ostia where we had lunch along the Mediterranean. Only a few people actually went into the water.

Chapman Students at la latrina at publicca at Ostia Antica. Below
Ostia Antica is an ancient harbor city for Rome. the site is now 2 miles from the sea and has been magnificenlty preserved and is known for its frescos.

Below. Professor Cumiford with The Galassio 50-America's future!

	Above. Chapman students at the theatre in Ostia Antica.

/

Above. Students tired and on their way to the hotel after a day of visitng the Mediterranean at Ostia Antica.
 

---

 Thursday, June 18, 2009 -Walking tour of Vesuvius and Pompeii

The Gulf of Naples is located on the Southwest coast of Italy and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea.  The Gulf is bordered by the cities of Naples and Pozzuoli as well as Mt. Vesuvius. It is here the Roman ruins of Pompeii can be seen.

BILL CUMIFORD:
In Pompeii the combined classes visited the central portion of the city to examine the many frescoes, sculptures, and water-supply systems of the famous site destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79, CE. Students also witnessed many of the artifacts and human and animal remains "frozen in time" by the sudden onrush of lava flowing from the mountain immediately after the eruption.

Overlooking the Bay/Gulf of Naples. Below

The whole gang in the theatre in Pompeii. Below

Pompeii was ruined and buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79. After being rediscovered, Pompeii can now give insight into the lives of Romans living during the height of the empire.

Touring the ruins of Pompeii. Below

Looking into Mt. Vesuvius. Above
Mt. Vesuvius is a stratovolcano and is best known for its eruption in AD79 which
led to the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum. It is considered one of the
most dangerous volcanoes in the world because of the dense population surrounding it.

---

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - Evening walking tour of the Spanish Steps to the Piazza Navona and Pantheon

The Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the city of Rome.
The fountain was commissioned by Pope Urban VIII and completed by Salvi.
The fountain however, contains many of the original ideas conceived by Bernini who was first commissioned for its creation.

Students tossing coins in the Trevi Fountain. Above

---

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - Walking tour of the Colosseum, Forum, and Capitoline Museum Picnic-style lunch

LEE ESTES:
Bill and I really ratcheted things up yesterday. It was the big march through ancient Rome. We started at the Colosseum. What a great place! Everyone was totally amazed. Of course, Bill and I had to lower the tone of the visit by clowning around a bit. After a hot march down the Via dei Form Imperial, we turned not the Forum. We were on a quest --bathrooms. That took us up quickly onto the Palatine Hill where we also ate our lunch. After wolfing down our sandwiches (an appropriate metaphor given the myth of Romulus and Remus), we descended back into the Forum and then back up the other side to visit the Capitolone Museum, the day's finale. Of course, after a short rest back to at the hotel, the wild group (minus the professors) went out for the evening.

BIll CUMIFORD:
In Rome, the students in the Roman Imperium had the opportunity to visit a number of sites, including the Pantheon, Forum, Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, the Circus Maximus and the Catacombs at San Lorenzo. Another important site visit took place at Ostia Antica, a huge complex situated at the old harbor of Rome and currently under extensive archaeological investigations. This ancient port, first used for military defense, became a bustling river-sea port, particularly after its restoration and rehabitation under the Emperor Claudius (41-45, common era).

CONER BERRY:
So far the Roman Imperium class has been really cool. We went to see the Colosseum which was the thing I was most excited to see and it didn't dissappoint, so that was a great way to start off the trip!

---

Monday, June 15, 2009 - Orientation and welcome dinner

---

Sunday, June 14, 2009 - Arrive in Rome LEE ESTES: Arrival day went very smoothly. The first two students wandered into the lobby of the Hotel Luciani at about 9:30 in the morning. Bill handled the job of getting them into their rooms while I was responsible for showing them around the neighborhood including the laundry and the internet cafes. Everyone was totally jet lagged, but we asked them to try to stay up to 10 p.m. Roman time. Bill ended up taking a group over to the Spanish Steps just to keep them awake a bit longer. The last student arrived about 8 p.m., through two more are coming in on Monday morning. Bill and I ended the evening at the restaurant next door eating al fresco on a lovely Roman evening.   Students arriving gather in lobby. Below Bill arriving at Charles de Guille. Below right Jaquiline and Erin arriving. Below left