Over this past summer, students from OHS traveled to Italy and Greece to experience a trip of a lifetime. Several parents, family members, and members of the town also had the opportunity to come along. Dee Holmes, the Okawville Spanish teacher, had planned this trip a year in advance, so it was open to any student that was currently attending OHS.
On June 7th, the group boarded multiple flights, ending the next day in Venice, Italy. Day one of the trip involved exploring the island of Murano and Burano, while also witnessing a glass blowing demonstration. Students were able to buy beautiful jewelry made from the glass. Then they headed to Venice, enjoyed a guided tour, rode in a gondola, and had free time to explore on their own. The following days were spent learning about the Leaning Tower of Pisa, exploring the countryside town of Bologna, then traveling to Florence. Day five was spent partaking in a guided tour of Florence, walking to the Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Basilica of Santa Croce, Gates of Paradise, eating authentic italian food, shopping in the leather district, seeing the Michaelangelo, and taking in the views of Italy and all of its history. Next, the group hopped on the bus to visit many monasteries and churches, getting to learn about the history of religion and the towns. Rome was the busiest day of the trip. On the tour, memebers of the group saw the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and the Spanish Steps. After all that walking, the group enjoyed a nice dinner in the city to end the day. From Rome, they traveled to the Sorrento region known for its lemons. The drive itself is beautiful, taking in the coast while reaching the destination. The evening was spent roaming the streets, shopping, and for some students it meant getting to swim in the ocean. The next morning, the group began their guided tour of Pompeii, getting to see the ancient city with their own eyes.
The group then boarded a plane and landed in Greece. For the first couple days in Greece the group traveled through the Meteora region, stopping at floating monasteries, ruins of cities, and driving through the mountain ranges of northern Greece. On day twelve, the evening included a BBQ dinner, boat cruise, and swimming on the coast of the island. Some say it was their favorite part of the trip.
“It was so fun! I loved getting to swim with my friends and create these memories that will last a lifetime,” said Adysen Harre. The trip ended in Athens, Greece. The group took a guided tour of the Ancient Olympic Stadium, Syntagma Square, the central square of Athens, Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum, and the Plaka district. After 15 days of nonstop sight seeing, the group headed back home. Senora Holms stated, “I do these trips because it gives people a chance to travel. When you go, you develop sensibility to other cultures but most importantly you learn about yourself.”
