"From June 20th to the 28th thirty-one students, five Pierz Healy High chaperones, and three parent chaperones took part in the Pierz Travel Club 2023 Ireland Trip. The youngest student was 15 (almost 16— her birthday was the day we returned home!) and the oldest was 19.
Our travel educational journey began with a cross-country bus ride from Dublin, Ireland to Killarney, Ireland. On the way, we stopped at the acclaimed 15th-century iconic Bunratty Castle - the most complete and authentic castle in Ireland. We had a guided tour and then were able to explore the castle, dungeons, and the folk park.
On Day 6 we took a ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, Wales. In Wales, we stopped at Conwy Castle where you can walk a complete circuit around the battlements. It is one of the most magnificent medieval fortresses in Europe!
We started Day 7 touring Anne Hathaway's Cottage where Anne Hathaway, the wife of William Shakespeare, lived as a child in the village of Shottery, Warwickshire, England, about 1 mile west of Stratford-upon-Avon. Then we continued on to tour Shakespeare's Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. Finally, we landed in London, explored the area around Picadilly Circus, and had a fantastic tour guide for The Jack the Ripper Walking Tour!
Our final day of sightseeing included a guided tour of London. First stop was at Buckingham Palace. Then we proceeded to walk to Westminster Abbey. On the way we were able to listen to a band practicing for The Changing the Guard ceremony. We toured the Tower of London, explored Covent Garden, and added a surprise trip to the theater to see the musical Grease.
It is truly incredible how much students learned on this trip! It was a cross-curricular learning tour interspersed with free time to explore, shop, and learn about other cultures. We learned about Irish and English architecture, society, literature, history, customs, and religion. We felt the spirits of history by our side every step of the way. Most of all, student travelers learned about the interconnectedness of human beings, and how a person's actions on one side of the world can affect those on another. It was wonderful to see that!" —Ms. Scheldorf
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