Beth-Center High groups tour Europe
It was a summer of travel for students, parents and teachers of Bethlehem-Center High School as two groups traveled to Europe for 10 days each. Two foreign language teachers from Beth-Center High School – French teacher Paula Lancas and Spanish teacher Ray L. VanSickle – have been planning the trips abroad for more than a year. According to VanSickle, the travelers have been excited for months and everyone is back home and full of new lifelong memories and adventures from Europe.
“It is so rewarding to take students abroad and see them experience so may great things and see their minds opened up to new people, cultures and ideas. Spain is such a beautiful nation full of such kind people and gorgeous architecture and art,” said VanSickle.
VanSickle took 12 students and adults to Spain for 10 days beginning June 24. The group flew to Madrid, Spain, and visited its many sites, including the Prado Museum, the Royal Palace, the Reina Sofia Museum, the Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor and the Gran Via.
The group seemed to really enjoy themselves and enjoyed their time in both Madrid and Barcelona despite the high temperatures. Those who traveled with VanSickle were Hannah Bodnar, Kelsey Counts, Jessica Barath, Danielle Cowger, Rebecca Barath, Jessica Sumney, Billy Redd, Robyn Roux, Mario and Beth LaBrasca, Brandt LaBrasca and Brooke LaBrasca. Recent 2009 Bethlehem Center graduate Billy Redd stated, “The trip was amazing; it cannot be explained in words. I met new friends and it was a final chapter of high school with best friends.”
On June 20, Lancas left the United States for her trip to France and Italy with 21 students and adults.
The group visited the Eiffel Tower, took a river cruise one evening on the River Seine, shopped on the famous Avenue Champs-Elys?es and visited sites like Notre Dame Cathedral, the Hotel De Ville, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champ de Mar, the Latin Quarter, the Pompidou Center and the Palace of Versailles.
The group then traveled by the TGV bullet train from Paris, France, to the Mediterranean Sea coastal city of Nice, France. The group spent several days in Nice and Monaco.
Taking a long bus trip of seven hours, the group left Nice, France and headed to Florence, Italy. En route to Florence, Italy the group stopped for about an hour in Pisa, Italy to see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa built in the thirteenth century. In Florence, Italy, the trip visited the Duomo and the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo in the church, the Ponte Vecchio and the gorgeous marble statues in the Plazza Vecchio.
A four-hour bus ride took the group to their final destination, Rome, Italy. With only a day and a half of sightseeing time in Rome, the group was busy and nonstop. The group got to visit the Coliseum, the Forum, the Roman ruins, the Pantheon, Vatican City and the Vatican Museum. While touring the Vatican Museum, the group visited the Hall of Tapestries and the famous Sistine Chapel. Upon leaving the museum, the group then entered St. Peter’s Basilica and also were able to walk in St. Peter’s Square.
Lancas said, “As a teacher, I love to see Europe through my students’ eyes. Their first glimpses of the Eiffel Tower and the Coliseum are priceless.
“The years of world language study finally come to life. For me, I’m usually a Paris girl – the Eiffel Tower climb was wonderful and despite the rain, who can top a rainbow over Montmarte? But relaxing on the beaches of Nice and strolling in the city’s old town, that was my favorite part if the trip. Formidable!”
Those who traveled with Lancas were Roger Glover, Ross Bailey, Courtney Geller, Michael Flory, Emily Petsko, Jennifer Petsko, April Little, Leslie Mullen, Launine Little, Eugene Lancas, Allison Flak, John and Kristen Manley, Robert Gunchuck, Suzie Gunchuck, Paige Butka, Shari Viano, David Viano, Jason and Kim Bruce and VanSickle.