International Student Trips Powered By Discovery Education
South Africa Adventure

USA to Germany to South Africa

Friday, June 5, 2009

After many, many hours of plane rides from CR to Chicago and then Chicago to Frankfurt, we finally got the chance to explore in a different country. We had trouble at first finding our Frankfurtian guide, but we did eventually, and she took us to the city center to meet up with the other groups. After getting to know everyone briefly, we walked to the Main Tower, and ascended to the 200 M high observation platform. From there we could see St. Bartholomew's cathedral, which was our next destination. There was a huge organ inside, and the church itself was very old, dating back to the time of the Holy Roman Empire. Then we went on the the Romerberg, which is the old city center with traditional buildings and a large, open square. We didn't get to spend much time there, though, because we had to get back to the airport, AKA Fraport (Frankfurt Airport) to eat our custom made pizzas. We then had an even longer flight on a 747 this time to Johannesburg. Almost everyone slept for much of the flight, some even missing meals. We eventually landed in a sunny Johannesburg, but we had to stay in the airport in order to catch our fourth! Plane ride to our first South Africa destination, Cape Town. In the Joburg airport, we all encountered different people and languages, but most importantly, the food. We learned about “take away” (fast food or to go), tomato sauce (ketchup-like), and “chips” (AKA French Fries). If we ordered fountain pop, it came warm, and with two pieces of ice to make it oh so ice cold!
One the flight to Cape Town, we got fed, this time with ice cream, and eventually landed at the not so sunny Cape Town International. There, we met our South African guides, and got on the bus for the hotel. Our hotel, the Breakwater Lodge, is located near the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, and is very, very close to the ocean. It is also just right across the street from a 6 star hotel! We can see Table Mountain (what is visible under the clouds at least) from the hotel. Our meal tonight consisted of beef, fish caught off the coast of SA, potatoes, and lots of other good stuff. Tomorrow should be a nice day as long as the weather cooperates, but we’ll see if that happens. Our trip to Robben Island depends on it, and the guides and DSA leaders have been switching things around to try and work out when things can be done in order to hopefully be able to do the shark cage!!

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Essential Programs Details

Duration 12 days
When June 2nd - 13th, 2009
Focus Wildlife Research/Conservation
Political History
Culture