Trip Report
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
NOTE: Before I tell you about the final day of our visit to Edinburgh, I have an important
announcement. All travelers are required to travel on the school bus from Detroit to Bowling
Green and help unload the busses. Please do not expect to have special permission to pick up
your child in Detroit and take him/her home. There will be no exceptions.
Today was a day of fun and a bit of frivolity since we had group free time most of the day and
although it was a bit cold, it didn’t rain. Students were anxious to spend their remaining money
so most groups headed back to Princes Street to do some shopping. Each group also had tickets to
the Real Mary King’s Close (which was basically a historical dungeon) located on the Royal Mile.
The groups also participated in some of the activities they had originally planned to do. One of
these activities was climbing to the top (almost) of the Scott Monument named after Sir Walter Scott.
The trek to the top involved climbing 250+ steps on a low ceilinged circular staircase. The view
from the top was spectacular (as well as terrifying if you have a fear of heights). Some of the
pictures will show scenes from the top.
Some groups also went into the Edinburgh Dungeons. This was a staged display of some of the darker
side (literally) of the city. We visited different areas which emphasized the various evils of long
ago. But the favorite room in this display was the room of mirrors which was basically a maze with
some walls made of mirrors making it difficult to maneuver and find the door at the end.
Many of the groups chose to go to the Hard Rock Café for lunch and to purchase memorabilia.
Although the food at the hotel has been superb, it’s not American food so it’s not often that
you see completely cleaned off plates. The students will usually experiment, but often don’t
like everything, but most of the plates at Hard Rock were spotless at the end of the meal.
The bus system was used more extensively today. At least one tour group bought day passes and
learned to maneuver around the area quite well. It’s fun to see individuals (students and
chaperones) learn to read maps and ask questions and gain knowledge and expertise in getting
around in a foreign city.
Students gathered back into the hotel lobby all dressed up at 6:30 and a special photo session
was planned for all students who bought kilts. (We had quite a few!) We then traveled by coach
to attend the Scottish Ceilidh, as planned. This was a large banquet room at the Preston House
with a very formal dinner….lots of silverware. What a fun opportunity to teach some of the kids
some manners…so the trip has been educational in many ways. After the dinner we were treated to
a two hour show of traditional and modern Scottish musical and dance entertainment. The talent
of dancing, singing and fiddle, bagpipe and accordion playing was phenomenal. The most
entertaining part for us, however, was when the dancers came into the audience and grabbed
"volunteers" to come onto the dance floor and perform the various dances.
The students are packed up and ready to leave in the morning. The groups will be leaving anywhere
from 4:45 AM to 8:30 AM to be at the airport in time to catch their planes. There’s a bit of
excitement at going home, as well as melancholy at leaving this wonderful trip behind. This will
be a trip to be remembered for years to come. Students have learned culturally, as well as
personally. Don’t expect your child to be the same person they were a week ago. We’ll see you
tomorrow!
"Drookit" means a wet soggy mess…often referred to when it is necessary to be out in weather like
we had yesterday.
After visiting with your child, I hope you will take the time to thank Jay Deutschman and Dacor
for providing this website free of charge to all of you. In addition, the band directors and Mike
Kreischer deserve your gratitude. This trip was a great deal of work for a lot of people, and the
only reason it happened was because these directors love their students and want them to expand
their education in far more ways than just music in the classroom.
On a personal note, as I signoff on my last update, I’d like to thank the parents of all the
travelers in Tour Group 9 for sharing your children with me. They have been absolutely wonderful.
I love them and will truly miss spending my days with them. Please send them over to visit often!
- Peg McClanahan
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