Marion students visit Europe

Thirteen Marion students from German 9 and 10 programs recently took a ten-day trip to Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Joining the group were Randy Aldrich, Erin Bushart, Stacey Offen, Jessica Lammers, Suanne English, Elizabeth Fino-Radin, Heidi Durand, Peter Kelly, Elizabeth Boerman, Jason Laws, Erin Pomerantz, Jennifer Hironimus and Keri Schoonerman. Chaperoning the group were Mr. Stoker and Mrs. Thompson.

The trip began in Chicago. There, the group had a brief tour of the city and individual time to explore, before a connecting flight to Frankfort, Germany.

Early Saturday, the group arrived in sunny Frankfurt Am Main - in Germany's largest airport. The troupe would then live in a bus for a week before taking off along Germany's modern "Autobahn" - super highway to the village of Rothemburg. After checking into the hotel and cleaning up, there was a walking tour of this famous walled city, along the ancient cobbled streets and ramparts, and ascending the city hall tower to a magnificent view over the picturesque village and rolling countryside.

Somewhat unadjusted to the six-hour time difference between the U.S. and Germany, the group got up early on Sunday morning to travel the "Romantic Road" south to Augsburg. Along the way, they saw more picture-perfect towns and stopped to explore the village of Nordlingen. The four-hour trip continued to Dachau, just north of Munich in Germany's largest state, Bavaria.

The visit to Dachau was one of the most somber events of the trip. Here, the group visited the memorial at the former Dachau Concentration Camp. The gloomy weather and cold wind was an appropriate setting to this place, in which so many had suffered during the Hitler years. It was a time of quiet reflection for the students - many of whom had a sudden appreciation for 'the American way of life' they've taken for granted.

In the late afternoon, the tour arrived in the city center of Munich. Following hotel check in, there was dinner and tourist time.

On Monday morning, they left Bavaria's capital for the castle of Neuschwanstein, high in the Alps. Heading south, the day changed drastically. There was snow! It seemed that with every turn in the road, the alpine landscape became more spectacular. Finally, the group approached its destination: The Royal Castle of Neuschwanstein. Most of the group elected to climb the steep roadway to the castle; others went by horsedrawn carriage.

Following a tour of the three completed floors of the palace, the group went to the "Marienbrucke" - a bridge from which some of the most interesting pictures of the castle can be taken - even in a snowstorm!

From the castle, all returned to Munich, stopping at the woodcarving village of Oberammergau and the monastery of Ettal. In Munich that afternoon, there was a complete tour of the city, including a visit to the Olympic Village from the 1972 games. And finally, to see the "Glockenspiel," on the city hall. That evening, dinner was at Planet Hollywood.

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