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| Wednesday, 2-Apr-2008 23:59 |
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Day 4
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We’ve arrived at our NYC hotel after a long day on the bus. The morning started off by packing up and a cleanliness check. Everyone passed and we enjoyed our last breakfast in DC.
Unfortunately, I-95 traffic didn’t disappoint, and we were held up heading out of the city. I quickly determined that we weren’t going to make our early Ft. McHenry appointment, so I directed Darnell straight to the National Aquarium of Baltimore. We pulled into the Inner Harbor around 10:15, and quickly moved out of the blustery wind into the warm indoors. The students had a little over half an hour to tour the marine life exhibits, including the popular shark tank. It was then onto the dolphin show where we were entertained by the dolphins playing. To our amusement, Hannah (or as she was referred to “Anna”) was chosen to be the guest trainer. Way to go, Anna! A little time to shop in the gift shop, and one lost cell phone cover later, we took a walk around the harbor to lunch. Several boys stopped at Hooters to dine…so we found our loading and cleaning crew!
PVIS boarded the bus once again and prepared for our final destination, New York City! Ferris Bueller was our movie of choice for the drive. Sadly I was not able to visit my family in Delaware this year, but we did give a shout out as we drove past the exit. Only one rest stop interrupted our journey, and we pulled through the Lincoln Tunnel around 6 pm to the tune of New York, New York.
It was then straight to Bubba Gump’s for some dinner. The restaurant was fun and kept the kids entertained with some Forest Gump trivia. From there, we went right to Top of the Rock…an incredible view atop the Rockefeller Center. It was just a little chilly, but we stuck it out.
Finally we went back to the bus one last time for the night and to our new hotel, the trendy Paramount. The rooms are a bit smaller than the last hotel, so we’re having to adapt. The kids are all settled in to sleep for the night. A familiar face from the past awaits them in the morning…
~A slightly cramped Allyson Klabe
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| Tuesday, 1-Apr-2008 10:35 |
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Day 3
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Another quick wake-up call greeted us at 5:30 am! Most made it down in time; our few stragglers were put on bus clean up later. After the chaperones downed some coffee and tea, we all set off for Gettysburg.
The bus ride there was a peaceful one, as most fell asleep with their iPods playing. A little over an hour and a half we arrived at the Visitors’ Center. We picked up Dave, our tour guide, and headed into the historic Gettysburg town. After viewing some original buildings, we drove over to the battlefield. Dave was full of interesting Civil War facts. The students impressed us with their knowledge of some important people and events of the battle. We climbed on and off the bus several times to get up-close to
several battle sites, including Little and Big Round Top. Climbing to the top of a 75-foot, 113 year old tower, we got a birds-eye view of the area. Our two-hour tour of Gettysburg finished where the Union claimed victory.
It was then onto the Dobbin House for a home cooked meal. The students seemed to get their fill of salad, cold-cuts, baked ziti, homemade soup, and an array of desserts. We re-boarded the bus, popped in a movie, and headed back to the city.
Our first stop back in DC was the Air and Space Museum. We had about 45 minutes to walk through the museum and view the variety of airplanes, spacecraft, and the exhibits borrowed from the American History Museum. We also had an opportunity to watch the Space Station 3D IMAX movie. The glasses made everyone look fabulous. We headed down a few blocks to the Natural History Museum where we saw exhibits of dinosaurs, butterflies, and enormous diamonds.
Back on the bus, and a quick drive over to the White House for a photo stop. In just a few minutes we headed back out of town and over to McGills for dinner. A buffet of pizza, salad, pasta, and, of course, desserts awaited. Fortunately there was a souvenir stand inside the restaurant, and many were able to purchase their “I heart DC” t-shirts at a cheap price.
We finished our touring day with a night tour of the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR memorial, and the Iwo Jima memorial. We got a rather breathtaking view of the city at night, including a sighting of the eternal flame from the bridge.
Hopefully the students are busy packing up their suitcases and cleaning up their rooms, as we check out of here tomorrow, and head to Baltimore and NYC.
~A slightly swollen Allyson Klabe
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| Monday, 31-Mar-2008 23:59 |
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Day 2
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The buzzer came a bit early this morning, but everyone managed to arrive at breakfast wearing a smile. We fueled up, and boarded the bus for our second day in DC. We were greeted by a light mist, but didn’t let it dampen our spirits.
Our first stop was Mount Vernon (“is it a real mountain?”), home of George and Martha Washington. The kids got a taste of what life was like back then. After touring the house, the grounds, the tombs, and the dung repository, we headed back to our bus, but not without a stop in the museum shop. Apparently George was a stylish one, and several girls copied his sunglass fashion trend.
Next, it was onto Old Town Alexandria. Darnell navigated the streets, squeezing the tour bus around to show us Robert E. Lee’s boyhood home, Christ Church, a historic cobblestone Princess Street, and the Spite house. Lunch followed our mini-tour. Most dined on Subway and Starbucks (as if we never see those at home), while the Chaperones stopped into the local Fish Market for some fresh clam chowder and shrimp salad.
Since we flip-flopped our morning, we hit Arlington National Cemetery in the afternoon. Being that I am not an expert, I asked Darnell to act as our tour guide. It seemed fitting that our tour of the “nation’s most hallowed ground” took place in a dreary mist. We hiked the trails to see the gravesites of Supreme Court Justice Marshall, John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy, We had a brief tour through the Lee Custis house that sits atop Arlington. On most days, it gives a breathtaking view of Washington DC. Too bad the weather didn’t cooperate. We were able to watch and capture the Changing of the Guard ceremony; one of the few silent moments of the day. Sarah, Andreas, Matt, and Hannah were chosen to lay PVIS’ wreath on Audie Murphy’s gravesite. We then made the trek back down to the bus.
With about an hour until dinner to go, we decided to take a trip over to the Capitol. The students got to witness the 1st Amendment first hand. I’ll just leave it at that. After taking some pictures, we headed around the back to see the Library of Congress, and then the Supreme Court.
It was then onto dinner at the Pentagon City Mall…another voucher, another ice cream dinner for some. The girls didn’t let me down, and arrived back with many pink and yellow bags.
The highlight of the night was our dance with Ridgecrest. It was a great opportunity for our students to have some fun with our neighbors from the hill. The girls all wore their new shirts, and hit the dance floor. We just brought the kids back, checked the rooms, and are turning in for the night. That phone will be ringing in less than 6 hours.
~A slightly wet Allyson Klabe
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| Sunday, 30-Mar-2008 23:52 |
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Day 1...or is it 2...under our belts
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PVIS made it to DC with only a few snafus along the way. Thank you parents and friends that helped make the departure a smooth one. We arrived at LAX on time, met the Harvard tennis team, and stood in the security line for what seemed like an eternity. When our boys finally made it through, we headed to the gate. The flight went pretty well. Most were able to catch an hour of shut eye. After claiming our luggage, we prepared to board the bus. Snafu #1: no bus. We were unable to connect with our driver, but after 2 hours Darnell showed, and we headed to McDonalds for our breakfast of champions. Cinnamon rolls and sausage biscuits.
A quick breakfast allowed us to get to our first appointment of the day. The new Newseum, which isn’t open to the public, greeted us with smiles and open arms. The kids seemed to really enjoy this museum, including the chance to be a newscaster. (Ask your child; you can view his or her video online.) There was so much to see and do, and not nearly enough time.
We then headed to the WWII memorial. It gave us a chance to get some fresh air, though slightly cold. A few hundred pictures later, we headed to lunch. The first set of vouchers caused some excitement as the students looked at all the possibilities for lunch.
Back on the bus and straight to our second appointment of the day, the Holocaust Museum. There seemed to be some confusion with our reservations, but the students handled the extra wait well. We were only able to view some of the exhibits, but it seemed to touch most.
We headed back to some more monuments, fitting in the Lincoln Memorial (and the yearly group photo), the Vietnam Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial. Thank you students for respecting these monuments.
We boarded the bus one last time for the night. After settling into our hotel rooms, switching a few, and resettling into our hotel rooms. A pizza dinner, complete with salads (maybe the only veggies for the week), seemed to hit the spot.
I may be mean, but I made the kids turn in by 9. They all are safe and sound in their rooms. The tape is about to be set, and the wake up calls are planned for 6:30am!
Up for how many hours???
A super sleepy,
Allyson Klabe
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| Sunday, 30-Mar-2008 00:10 |
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Here We Go!
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In just a few short hours (minutes) our crew will depart for LAX and onto DC. I hope you check back often to keep up with our adventure...and share your comments 
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| Monday, 24-Mar-2008 23:17 |
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The Final Countdown...
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Hope everyone is getting excited!  Don't forget to check back here each night of our trip to read about all the exciting things the students, chaperones, and Peavis get into.
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| Tuesday, 11-Mar-2008 23:40 |
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PVIS Spring Break 2008--Test Page
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The blog's back again...keep tuning in for updates.
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| Friday, 6-Apr-2007 12:00 |
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Friday's Finale
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Well, it's all over...hard to believe that a week ago we started our journey to the East Coast. Friday began with an easy-going morning.
After our scheduled early breakfast, it was time to pack 'em up and move 'em out. This time, all rooms were in good shape! (Well, almost.) Thanks to the students for being very respectful to the hotel rooms. My little brother decided to be a Sea King for the day, and joined us for some fun. We loaded up the bus one last time, and pulled away from our home-away-from home.
Because we had an early start, we had some time to kill before any of the stores opened. So, we took a stop at one of my favorite places in Central Park. The kids braved the cold and climbed up on the Alice in Wonderland statue for a great group photo. We then took a stroll through the park, and eventually up to our warm bus.
It was onto our first shopping stop of the day. Some of the kids headed straight to FAO Schwartz, while others checked out the latest gadgets in the Apple Store. Still others did some damage at Abercrombie. After about an hour, we reboarded and headed up a few blocks.
I got the opportunity to see my parents, and the kids had their chance to go through the heart of NYC's shopping. They were laden with all kinds of bags when we met back up again to head home.
Thanks to a watchful parent, I learned our flight to Chicago had been cancelled. A few frantic phone calls later, we were put onto another flight to LA, through Denver. Darnell dropped us off one last time, and the kids said goodbye to him and their Spring Break.
The United counter was a little overwhelmed with our group, but worked quickly to get us all through the check-in process, and to the gate. It was clear that it had been a long, exhausting week, as I looked back on the plane and saw many eyelids.
What a greeting we received at LAX! We all felt like celebrities. Thanks parents and family members. I hope everyone made it home safely.
Thank you again to Carrie, Theresa, and Jim for sticking in there with me. Thank you to the parents and families for letting the kids come on the trip. And, last, but certainly not least, thank you to all the students for making this Spring Break trip one of the best yet! I hope everyone had a blast, I know I did!
~A rested Allyson Klabe
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| Thursday, 5-Apr-2007 12:00 |
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Thursday's Thrills
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The name of today’s game was Move It! The kids got their first real taste of New York City and all the craziness it offers.
We started our day by taking a drive to the pier and the ferry. Waiting in line proved to be a chilling experience…it snowed! It was only a few light flurries, but the kids were excited. After a long, cold wait (me in my flip-flops) we boarded the ferry to take the trip the immigrants did. We did the Statue as a drive-by picture stop, and went straight to Ellis Island. Laurie gave us a nice intro to the immigration station, then set us on our own to explore the sight.
From Ellis, we went back on the boat, and back to the mainland. Lunch today was at the South Street Seaport (a change for those of you following along with the itinerary.) Cameron had a mishap with his camera, and the two of us checked out the inner workings of the NY port fire authority station. The girls spent the waiting time trying to get free stuff from the NYPD…do we notice a theme here with men in uniforms?
It was then onto the Business District, where we saw Wall Street and the famous Bull from our bus. We were able to get out near the WTC site and view some small memorials and future plan descriptions. A quick walk around the area, then back to the bus for some more touring. Laurie showed us the fun sites in towns like SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown. There just wasn’t enough time to let the kids roam Canal Street, so they chose to head back to the hotel to freshin up for dinner and the show.
Planet Hollywood greeted us with welcome arms and fun music. The kids seemed to enjoy singing along with the California songs being played. After a filling meal, we headed down the street to Wicked. Our seats in the theater were awesome…as was the show! PVIS was a great audience.
It was then a quick (“Miss Klabe, you walk too fast!”) walk back to our hotel. The kids headed up the elevators to their rooms for the night.
I was greeted by my parents and little brother (dressed in his PVIS t-shirt) who drove up from home to see me.
We’ll be finishing our tour of NYC tomorrow, then it’s back to LA and you…
Hopefully not your Wicked,
~Allyson Klabe
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| Wednesday, 4-Apr-2007 04:39 |
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Wednesday's Wrap Up
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Sounds like the kids are up next door. We'll be checking rooms to make sure nothing is left behind as we head out of DC to Baltimore and beyond...
Some may come home missing a sock, a pair of boxers, or razor heads, which may explain why thier suitcases are slightly lighter. Those were the items After our little chat about cleaning up after ourselves, we loaded up the bus, popped in Goonies, and left DC (and the thunder) behind.
The ride to Baltimore was our first encounter with traffic for the day. That, combined with the rain, forced us to cancel Ft. McHenry. Hopefully the kids weren't too disappointed. We went directly to the Baltimore National Aquarium on the Inner Harbor, where we swam (okay, walked) among the sharks and rays. It was a rather quick walk; we had an early appointment with the dolphins. Peevis enjoyed their antics. Luckily we didn't get wet.
After lunch, fudge, and another trip to CVS for me, we left for New York City. This time the bus ride was not as plesant, but we did manage to watch Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and Grease...two more of our 80's themed movies. We made a quick pit stop in my hometown to visit with my sister. A big surprise for me...my cousin and her babies were waiting too! Thanks Darnell for letting me get a little taste of home. The kids had their taste of the East Coast as well, as my sister brought Tastykakes for everyone!However, it wasn't all fun...as many of you probably heard, several of our kids were not in the best condition. But, they were real troopers...all of them! We tried to keep the air blowing and spirits up as we sat through the worst of NJ traffic. What started out as a joke, turned into reality, when we arrived at Bubba Gumps at 6:30pm! (just slightly behind schedule)
Most everyone seemed to perk up a bit with a little food and fun in their systems. We've finally arrived in NYC! From dinner we headed up to Top of the Rock. Unfortunately, the clouds made the view pretty limited. I manned the sick ones in the Rockefeller lobby, with my 3rd cup of Starbucks tea, and where Cameron was reprimanded for laying on the floor.
It was a quick trip around the block to our hotel. Once again, they are tucked quietly away in their beds, ready for tomorrow's adventures in the city.
Good night from the city that never sleeps...
~a healthy Miss Klabe
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