Europe Trip – Day 1 and 2

It’s been a long time coming, but ScottWild.com is about to gain new life. I figured a European trip with my daughter, Sommer. We are headed over the Atlantic with the Northern Ambasadors of music group. Over the next 16 days will set foot in England, France, Swizerland, Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Germany. They will perform 5 concerts.

The following posts are the highlights that stick out in my mind:

The Farewell Concert and Saying Goodbye
After a three day prep-camp, the kids performed a farewell concert for their friends and families on Friday night. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect from a high school band and choir that had only been together for 3 day. I was absolutely blown away at what I heard! I was move to tears several times thinking of what was ahead of these kids and how there were going to be representing the United States. I was proud to be a part of something so epic. This emotion moment came when the band played America the Beautiful and the choir came soaring over the top with these angelic voices. WOW!!

During the parent meeting for adult travelers the tour director, Warren Olfert, asked the adult travelers with kids to “let go and trust his team”. He talked of how these kids would grow in the next 16 days more than they have in years. It’s a little scary, yet exciting to be heading into this adventure with this mindset.

The next morning when we were boarding the coach to head to Minneapolis, something happened that I had not really prepared for. It was my goodbye to Sydney, my 10 year old daughter. Now, for the record, I’m very much going to miss Shonda, but we have experience being apart for extended periods due to work travel, however, this would be the longest that Sydney and I would have been apart since she as born. Her eyes welled up with big crocodile tears as she gave us hugs and kisses. This normally confident and talkative girl was silent. When I boarded the bus, I could see Sydney through the window and waved goodbye. She did her best to smile, but I could see the heart breaking in her eyes. For a brief moment, I even questioned whether or not I should be leaving her behind. It was that intense. As they walked around the bus and got into the car, I was ok, because they were out of sight. Then I got a text message from Shonda asking me to look out the window and make Sydney laugh. She was sitting in the car bawling. I could not move from my seat, because I was blocked in. Ughh! Within seconds, Sydney had run around the bus and was standing in front of me. I know my daughter and in no time had her laughing here head off. We both healed in that moment. I was ready to go and she was ready to let go. Whew!

I’m going to miss my girls. Thank you, Sydney, for loving me so much. It gives me strength. Oh, and thanks for the angel coin. It’s in the wallet and will always be with me.

The bus trip went very quick and I got to know Barb Simonson, from Mandan. She is another adult traveller and has a daughter, Codi, on the trip. We had a great visit and I look forward to getting to know her better.

Getting 300+ people into the Minneapolis airport, getting their luggage unloaded, tickets and boarding passes, through security and to the gate will be an experience I will not soon forget.

I sent my last Foursquare check-in from the phone and put it away. I am now at the mercy of European public wi-fi and my iPod/iPad! Wish me luck!

It was exciting as we went “wheels up” in Mpls and started our non-stop flight to Heathrow in London. Sommer was just beside herself with excitement. I can’t wait to watch her experience Europe!

It was good flight. We slept as much as we could on an airplane. I think I got 3 hours of sleep.

The wheels touched down in London at NOON London time (6:30am at home).

Welcome to England, Sommer! You are now an official World traveler!

We all got our luggage, made it through customs and boarded our coach. Instead of heading to the hotel for a nap, we shot over to Windsor Castle for a couple of hours. The Union Jack (British Flag) was flying over the castle so that meant the Queen was home!

We then drove to the Thistle City Barbican hotel to check in and have our first group dinner together. How they sat and fed 300+ people in around 30 minutes still blows my mind.

Time for a nap, right? Wrong!

In order to keep everyone on local time, we all headed out for a SIX MILE walk through the heart of the original City of London! We walked all the way down to the Thames river and over the Millennium bridge (the one featured in the beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) to the Globe Theatre where Shakespeare used to hold his plays!! The original had burned to the ground so this was a replica. There was a play going on that evening.

What is can’t believe is how you can manage hundreds of high school kids in some of the busiest places on the planet (Airports and downtown LONDON) and not LOSE ANYONE! It’s a slightly chaotic process at times, but they know what they are doing. As I said earlier, I have had my natural instincts kick in and automatically look around to make sure my daughter is with the group, but it’s getting better. I’m looking forward to letting go and letting Sommer grow into an experienced world traveler!

Big day of sightseeing tomorrow!