By Brigette Hoff / PHOTOS provided

Recently, I returned from leading a Bluffton High School student trip to France, Monaco and Italy. This is the fifth trip on which I have been the lead teacher, but my sixth trip traveling overseas with students. And, often, my group of travelers includes parents or other adults who want to travel to Europe as well. This year, I appreciated the extra help from Vickie Garmon (BHS art teacher) as well as the parents on the trip. This was the largest group that has traveled with me, and these other adults helped to make this trip a success. 

Our package includes all transportation (airplane, bus, metro, train and even boats/ferries), hotel stays, a daily breakfast, an evening dinner and a tour director who oversees purchasing the tickets for most of our sites and accompanies us throughout the tour. The director is a professional who knows how to get a large group to and from the sites, as well as speak in the local language with the bus drivers, hotel personnel and local tour guides. 

My duties as the lead teacher include: choosing the trip from a list of trip itineraries already set by a student travel company; teaching about many of the sites; giving suggestions for how to pack, what to bring, what to expect; explaining any cultural differences or expectations; answering questions that travelers might have; helping the travelers to have their best experiences; managing emergencies and promoting good conduct; collaborating with the tour director and the other group leaders; making sure all student travelers have each day’s schedule, and helping them to do what they want in their free time (giving suggestions for each area, going with them to sightsee, or making sure they have the tools to explore safely in another country). 

This year, our group met school groups from Texas and West Virginia as we traveled in France, Monaco and Italy. Cities we visited included Paris, Versailles, Nice, Monte Carlo and other areas of Monaco, Èze, Pisa, Florence, Siena, Rome, Vatican City, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri. There were 24 travelers from Bluffton and 15 from the other schools. 

In Paris, France, we went into the large and recently restored Notre-Dame Cathedral. Since the fire in 2019, it has had extensive cleaning and maintenance but had recently opened to the public in December of 2024. We also had the opportunity to go up the Eiffel Tower, saw the large and opulent Palace and Gardens of Versailles, spent some time in the Louvre, and then traveled on the TGV (France’s high-speed train) to Nice. From Nice, we used a coach bus to go to Monaco. 

Then, as we traveled to Italy, we stopped at Pisa to visit the Baptistry, a large church, and of course, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Some of us opted to go to a historic city in the Tuscany region called Siena, known for its preserved medieval brick architecture and the famous annual horse race, called the Palio, in which riders are racing bareback around the Piazza del Campo three times. The winning rider then displays the winning district’s flag throughout the city. We stayed just outside Florence and then traveled there and had a full day of sites, which included the Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, Gates of Paradise and the Piazza della Signoria. We did not have time to visit one of the famous museums in Florence, but if you travel to Florence, I highly recommend the Uffizi Gallery or the Accademia Gallery. 

After arriving in Rome, we had a guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Trajan’s Column. On a walking tour of the city, we saw the Pantheon and spent time at the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona. The next day, we were in Vatican City, touring part of the Vatican Museum, spending time in the Sistine Chapel, and then having free time to spend in the massive and beautiful St. Peter’s Basilica. Inside were Michelangelo’s famous sculpture, the Pietà, and Bernini’s grand bronze canopy, Baldachin, which was over the main altar. This church is one of the largest in the world, with the capacity to hold 60,000 people. And St. Peter’s Square just outside next to the church can hold up to 300,000 people. Words cannot describe the beauty and grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica. Later that day, we visited Trastevere, the oldest neighborhood in Rome. 

When it was time to leave Rome, we traveled to our final destination, which included a guided tour of ancient Pompeii. Pompeii was destroyed in 79 AD by the volcano Mt. Vesuvius. The ancient seaport was buried under ash until its discovery in the late 16^th century. Formal excavation didn’t begin until 1748. Archaeologists today are still “digging out” parts of the city. This was one of my favorite places to visit. We then traveled to the cliffside city of Sorrento, known for its lovely scenic views and Sorrento lemons. The next morning, we traveled by ferry to the island of Capri and explored this rocky island known for its dramatic limestone cliffs and glowing Blue Grotto. Unfortunately, the Blue Grotto was closed due to high waves that day. 

Our days were packed with lots of things to see and do. We walked many miles each day and collapsed into our beds at night. Along with the sites, we had many opportunities to shop and purchase souvenirs or find a local restaurant for a delicious lunch. Although I wish we could have spent more time at a few of the sites, it was an amazing trip overall. 

If you have ever traveled anywhere, in or outside the United States, you will know that the best part of traveling is trying the local food. We had some amazing homemade pasta dishes, many drenched in a creamy, cheesy sauce and topped with another cheese or pancetta (similar to bacon).  Another dinner favorite was the different types of Italian pizzas we could choose. Bread was part of almost every meal, with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.  Finally, the desserts were so rich and flavorful. A few we enjoyed were gelato, lemon cake, sfogliatelle and tiramisu.  

I hope to travel again in 2028 to Italy and Greece. If you are interested, please contact me at Bluffton High School ([email protected]). I will be choosing an itinerary this fall so travelers can have time to save up for this next adventure.