Travel Journal

We have arrived in beautiful Florence and the time is moving a little too quickly. I type from the stunning grounds of the Canadian School of Florence (CSF), Fiesole. These junior and middle schools are tucked high in the Tuscan hills above Florence in a tiny hamlet called Fiesole. How lucky for these local students to get to attend school in such a bucolic location with a wonderful team of Italian and international teachers!

As we waved goodbye to Aliki and boarded the high-speed ferry to Santorini, our lives erupted with the Greek highlife! This island is buzzing with life, shops, people, Greek street vendors, and unforgettable sunsets. We had fantastic meals on rooftops, Grecian gardens, in Oia, and aboard a catamaran on the high seas. I think it is safe to say we can give ourselves a high five for the tour thus far. 

It is always an adventure in travel getting on a Grecian ferry out to the islands. It is a combination of long lines, suitcases, and lots of fast-moving people and cars. But we clambered aboard and disembarked like a well-oiled machine – and after climbing the Acropolis the day before no less! It was certainly a busy and energetic 48 hours from Canada to the Greek islands.

We boarded the bus and said adios to Seville. It was a great two days getting to spend time in the city, and visiting various neighbourhoods throughout Seville, but it was time to head off to our next destination. So we took off and worked our way through the rolling, hilly landscape.

Granada welcomed us with open arms, and just as quickly we had to say goodbye. So we raised our hands in the air and waved adios to the city. It was only a short time, but the Alhambra and Albaicin have become one of the many memories that we’ve made on the trip.

We boarded the bus and said adios to Seville. It was a great two days getting to spend time in the city, and visiting various neighbourhoods throughout Seville, but it was time to head off to our next destination. So we took off and worked our way through the rolling, hilly landscape.

With our first introduction to Seville over, it was time to dive right in. It’s been quite a whirlwind few days, so the group got to sleep in a little bit later this morning to get ready for the day ahead. Once we were all up and ready to start, it was off to Centro Histórico!

Off to Spain! We packed our bags back on the bus, met our new transport captain, Luis, and hit the road ready for our next destination. The road to Spain was smooth and dreamlike as the fog settled in over the farmland and offered us an interesting view of the green pastures and farming communities along the way.

It was time to get an experience outside of Lisbon to see other perspectives of the Portuguese landscape. What better way to explore Portugal than by visiting the nearby resort town of Sintra, located in the Sintra Mountains, also known as the Mountain of the Moon.

After a restful first night in Lisbon, our group met for a more extensive tour of what Lisbon has to offer throughout the city.

It was so amazing to see our group come together at Pearson International Airport. Representing Blyth in the best possible way right from the outset, our students were right on time and ready for the excitement ahead of us. After a slight delay once we boarded the aircraft, we were in the air and ready for the day ahead. The flight was smooth, and we all made it safely to Lisbon! 

In Florence we continued  our journey to discover the best of Tuscan culture. We started out last week with a trip to Pisa, about an hour from Florence on the high-speed train. Students were successfully able to stop the leaning tower from falling, marvelled at the Pisa Cathedral and enjoyed a lovely garden lunch. A number of students opted to stay back and complete essays and ISPs. 

We left Rome and made our way through the lush hills of Tuscany towards the medieval hill town of San Gimignano, surrounded by fortified walls and full of small winding cobblestone streets. It is famous for saffron, Vernaccia wine, and beautiful vistas.

We checked out of our hotel in Fira, Santorini and traveled by plane to Rome, arriving in the evening around 6 pm, and were immediately struck by the heat - so different from Greece, which was more of a dry heat. Rome is humid!

We arrived safely in Rome last night and have settled in. So let me update you on our last 3 days in Greece having left the island of Paros for the island of Santorini. Santorini was simply stunning and a big hit with our students!