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Author:
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Neil E. Traveler
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Created:
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Friday, July 23, 2010 5:22 PM
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Monday, May 21, 2012 7:57 AM
This was a dinner I enjoyed while dining on Italy's Amalfi Coast - a massive serving of homemade pasta with fresh tomatoes, herbs and delicious lobster. (Take note of the plate size in relation to the utensils!)
Without a doubt, one of my favorite things about traveling is eating all kinds of delicious foods! I had a hunch that other travelers may feel the same way, so I posed the question to our "likers" on Facebook:
"My favorite meal I've ever had was _______________ in _______________. Fill in the blanks!"
I got some great responses that I wanted to share with all you Educated Travelers!
- "My favorite meal I've ever had was caneloni in Roma."
- "It was actually with NETC, on a farm in Ireland. We had lamb stew- some people weren't able to eat it because we'd been playing with lambs a few minutes before, but I ate it and it was so, so delicious. The best part, though, was these biscuits, and I don't even know what they were, but they set out fruit jam and whipped cream to put on them and it was ridiculous. Really simple, but without a doubt the best thing I've ever eaten in my life."
- "Love, love, love Croque Monsieur and escargots at the Cafe Georges V in Paris."
- "Cochinillo en EL DUQUE en Segovia, España." (suckling pig)
- "Moules à la Marinière at Mont St Michel." (Mussels in white wine and herbs)
- "Chocolata and chorizos in Barcelona."
Please share yours by leaving a comment below, or on our Facebook page!
By Amy on Monday, May 21, 2012 7:57 AM
Categories:Travel, Food
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Friday, May 18, 2012 7:42 AM
Happy Friday Educated Travelers! Check out the top tweets from @NETC_Travel and the rest of the Twitterverse this week:
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Left or right brain learner? Find out what it says about you
- Summer's almost here! Encourage reading with these tips & ideas
- Love flamenco? Then check out this must-read post from a tour guide in Spain: Zapateando por la Vida"
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Project-Based Learning Professional Development Guide
- Engaging Students with ‘Flipped Learning’ RT @eschoolnews
- Teach Through Educational Travel - Lavender in France
Get live tweets by following @NETC_Travel on Twitter!
See last week's top tweets here
Read or tweeted something great this week, share with your fellow Educated Travelers by leaving a comment below!
By Amy on Friday, May 18, 2012 7:42 AM
Categories:Top Tweets
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Thursday, May 17, 2012 8:19 AM
Lavender fields in France.
Download a larger image of the lavender fields in France. Share the photo with your class, then try these discussion questions and activities:
- Lavender has been used since the time of early Egypt, when it was part of the embalming process. What are some other uses for lavender throughout history?
- Lavender is often grown for bees to flavor their honey. How has honey been used over time? Look up what flowers attract bees the most, try this resource.
- Design a garden that would attract bees.
Want more? See last week's Teach Through Educational Travel: Olympic Village in Barcelona
We'd love to hear your ideas! If you've been to France, seen a field of lavender or completed a similar lesson, tell us about it by leaving a comment below. You could be our next guest blogger!
By Amy on Thursday, May 17, 2012 8:19 AM
Categories:Teach Through Educational Travel
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Wednesday, May 16, 2012 8:31 AM
Educational tours aren't just for students! Hear from NETC Group Leader, Fran Morris about her experiences traveling with adults:
Then check out photos from Fran's most recent NETC educational tour to Madrid, Seville and Lisbon in April 2012.
See the itinerary too!
Have you taken an all-adult tour with NETC? Tell us about it, or give us a call at 800.771.2323 to plan your own adult educational tour.
By Amy on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 8:31 AM
Categories:Travel, Teachers, Spain
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Tuesday, May 15, 2012 8:30 AM
What Asian people traditionally believe there is a toad on the moon instead of a man?
Leave your guess below and check back next Educational Travel Tuesday for the answer!
By Amy on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 8:30 AM
Categories:Educational Travel Trivia
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Monday, May 14, 2012 8:21 AM
NETC Educational Travel Tour Director in Spain (check out NETC's Educational Tours to Spain!)
Don't miss the chance to watch Yinka dance at the bottom of this post!
I started flamenco as a hobby at University. Little did I know that it would take over my life and I would literally find myself "Zapateando por la vida."
Zapatear (the footwork in flamenco), is an integral rhythmical component. What from afar might look like loud stamping are really complex steps that require buckets full of technique, control, strength, agility and a generous helping of compás. If there is a sturdy surface beneath my feet I can be found Zapateando just about anywhere, at train stations, at my stove, even at the hairdresser. However, I still have many hours to put in until my bucket of technique is even half full!
Por la vida can be translated in two ways: for a living, or through life; both imply that zapatear is a way of life.
Many versions of palos are differentiated according to which town they come from, sometimes even which neighborhoods! An example would beTangos de Triana, a district in Seville, which differs from Tangos de Granada. In November 2010 flamenco, its cante, baile and toque (singing, dancing and musical accompaniment - see image below!), was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
I knew that if I wanted to really learn how to dance, I would have to make Spain my home. I've now been based in Madrid for four years. At the moment I'm even thinking that I need to make the move down to the south of Spain to continue learning - flamenco was born in the gypsy communities of Andalucía, after all. The gypsies are descendants of great travelers, and I myself have become something of a nomad since I started dancing. Due to the experience of the communities where flamenco was born, I see its essence as the artful balance of holding onto ones historical traditions, customs and identity, while continuously reinventing oneself so as not to become irrelevant.
Through my experience training to be a flamenco dancer, and more recently through performing in the tablao setting (small bars and restaurants that are the traditional setting to see live flamenco), which is ultimately based on improvisation, I've realized how the dance in and of itself is a reflection of this relationship between what I'll call roots and wings. I wasn't born into the culture, so I'm growing my own roots through learning and creating an understanding and a connection with the norms and traditions of flamenco, in classes through watching endless live performances, studying alone and listening to the cante in peñas (local social organizations whose main function is to enjoy and preserve live flamenco). It's a personal journey, but whichever way you go about it, it's impossible not to delve deeply into the cultural and historical background from which flamenco exists.
I often wonder why it is that more and more people are attracted to flamenco. It seems that at a time when we are becoming increasingly focused on the individual (communicating via social networks, recording music alone on our computers, etc.), flamenco offers a direct and very powerful antidote to that. Without a singer and a musician, there can be no dance. When I perform, this idea of balance between being persuasive and strong enough (through my flamenco roots) to know where I want to take the dance, but flexible and open enough to be led and guided through the musical piece (with my wings) becomes even more real. What we call flamenco is what is created when these different elements come together. The most important thing I have come to feel is that flamenco is above all, a shared experience and a shared way of life, in which you are "Zapateando por la vida."
For your next trip to Spain, feel like an expert in flamenco and learn some of the key jargon used in tablaos, I promise people will be impressed!
Is compás:
- a type of flamenco song
- a metronome
- the rhythm of a song
Is a palo flamenco:
- a stick used in dances
- a musical form within flamenco
- a jacket worn by men when dancing
Watch Yinka dance flamenco to understand the cante, baile and toque that she explains in this blog post.
Have you experienced a flamenco performance in Spain? Share your feelings and thoughts as you witnessed the dance and listened to the music by leaving a comment below!
By Yinka Graves on Monday, May 14, 2012 8:21 AM
Categories:Spain, Tour Directors
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Friday, May 11, 2012 12:31 PM
Congratulations to Jackie, our photo contest winner!
We loved the creativity show in this photo, from the students spelling out NETC with their bodies and actively including Neil in the photo, to the great choice of location in the Plaza de España! What a beautiful backdrop!
Jackie will win an iPad for herself AND a $1,000 NETC Travel Scholarship for her school!
"Neil helping us spell out NETC in the Plaza de España, Sevilla!"
- Jackie R., NETC student traveler on a custom NETC Educational tour to Spain.
By Amy on Friday, May 11, 2012 12:31 PM
Categories:Contests
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Friday, May 11, 2012 10:51 AM
Happy Friday Educated Travelers! Check out the top tweets from @NETC_Travel and the rest of the Twitterverse this week:
- Use travel in your teaching with this classroom activity on the Olympic Village in Barcelona
- Some incredible spots on this list! "10 iconic places to photograph"
via: @NatGeoTraveler
- More benefits of being multilingual: "Do Multilingual Individuals Earn More Money?"
- Only have a few hours to explore Paris? No problem! Check out these ideas
- Awesome photo tour RT @SophieR: Italy via Photography: A Small Photo Journey
- A big feat? RT @k12educ8r: [Teacher Magazine] Puerto Rico aims to become fully bilingual by 2022
Get live tweets by following @NETC_Travel on Twitter!
See last week's top tweets here
Read or tweeted something great this week, share with your fellow Educated Travelers by leaving a comment below!
By Amy on Friday, May 11, 2012 10:51 AM
Categories:Top Tweets
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Thursday, May 10, 2012 8:33 AM
Statue in the Olympic Village in Barcelona, Spain.
Download a larger image of this statue in Barcelona's Olympic Village. Share the photo with your class, then try these discussion questions and activities:
- This statue is part of the Olympic Village in Barcelona, Spain. Visit the Olympic website to investigate. Make a map showing other locations where the Olympics have been held. Other topics to consider:
- What sports have been added to the Olympics?
- Who has won the most medals - which athlete? Which country?
- Which sport do you consider the hardest? Research it and present an argument to prove your point of view.
- You are tasked with designing a statue garden for statues of yourself and two other people...
- Of whom will you make statues?
- What poses will you choose?
- Will there be color?
- Draw your design. Give a title to each statue and write a description of each.
Want more? See last week's Teach Through Educational Travel: Pompeii, Italy
We'd love to hear your ideas! If you've been to Barcelona, the Olympic games (or will go in London!), or have completed a similar lesson, tell us about it by leaving a comment below. You could be our next guest blogger!
Check out NETC's Educational Tours to Spain.
By Amy on Thursday, May 10, 2012 8:33 AM
Categories:Teach Through Educational Travel
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Wednesday, May 09, 2012 12:43 PM
Congratulations to the following photo contest finalists! A winner will be announced by 1:00pm EST on Friday, May 11th!
"Neil and my group are in Pompeii scared that Mount Vesuvius is going to erupt."
- Brianna B, NETC Student Traveler, Bell'Italia Educational Tour to Italy
"This is a photo of girls from Bellmore Girl Scout Troop 911, New York, during their recent February trip with Neil and a friend. We're visiting the Louvre Museum in Paris, France."
"Neil loved getting up close and personal with the art while we were in Rome."
- Ross P., NETC Student Traveler Bell'Italia Educational Tour through Italy
"Doing some handstands at le Chateau d'Amboise with Neil!"
- Tate C., NETC Student Traveler Rendezvous a Paris Educational Tour through France
By Amy on Wednesday, May 09, 2012 12:43 PM
Categories:Contests
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Wednesday, May 09, 2012 8:07 AM
Get to know NETC Tour Director, Yinka Graves who leads educational student tours in Europe, specifically Spain and France. Yinka is soon to be a guest blogger at "The Educated Traveler", so stay tuned to hear more from her from Spain!
Where are you from originally?
London, England.
Where do you live now?
Madrid, Spain.
How long have you been an NETC Tour Director?
I've been an NETC Tour Director for four years.
What’s your favorite thing about being a Tour Director?
Getting to work with interesting young people.
What languages do you speak?
I speak English, French and Spanish.
What’s your favorite place you have ever been and why?
I think my best trip ever was trekking through the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, camping under the stars. Our vehicles were a donkey and our feet. The people we met in the various villages and towns we crossed were truly generous and kind. All together a very enriching experience.
What do you do for fun when you aren’t leading students around Europe?
Dance, dance and dance!!
Do you have a favorite travel quote?
I don't know if it's a travel quote but I hold onto this idea: “Home is where the heart is!,” but I think of it in the sense that my heart and all the people that are in it travel with me, so I'm always at home!!
Check out NETC Educational Tours to Spain.
Blog Posts by Yinka:
By Yinka Graves on Wednesday, May 09, 2012 8:07 AM
Categories:Spain, Tour Directors
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Tuesday, May 08, 2012 8:00 AM
How are you traveling in Africa if you've rented a rakumi?
Leave your guess below and check back next Educational Travel Tuesday for the answer!
By Amy on Tuesday, May 08, 2012 8:00 AM
Categories:Educational Travel Trivia
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Monday, May 07, 2012 7:59 AM
I've wanted to go to Paris for as long as I can remember, so when I found out it was only about two hours by train from London (where I was in January for an NETC Teacher Convention), I had to book tickets. Some people thought my husband and I were nuts to only go for a few hours, but we didn't care, we just wanted to see it - and we were so glad that we did. I had gotten some suggestions from a few friends and colleagues so we'd have some idea of things to see and do, other than the Eiffel Tower. Since we had a limited time, we were reminded not to just jam in as much as possible, but to take time to take it all in and enjoy the experience (and the food & wine!). That little reminder definitely helped, and made us feel better about not seeing all the typical sites.
We were so excited to embark on our 11 hour journey, but our excitement was quickly overcome by confusion when we tried to read the Paris Metro map. Let me preface this by saying I have been taking public transportation to and from work for more than five years...and this thing still confused the heck out of me. After five minutes staring and trying to decipher the map as if it were written in Chinese characters, we finally got it and were on our way!
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We paid too much for a map of the city and began wandering. Saw the Opera House...
...stopped at Laduree, renowned for their macarons, and enjoyed Praline and Pear & Chesnut macarons. They were fabulous!
We kept walking and arrived at the Place de la Concorde, where we got our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in all it's metallic glory...
We were pretty hungry since we'd only each had a croissant on the Eurostar, so we decided to go to Angelina Tea Room, recommended by many people, including a teacher I'd met on the London convention. She drew me a map to Angelina, which was super helpful in leading the way there. She told me to try their hot chocolate. WOW. It was the most amazing hot chocolate I have ever had in my life! It was literally a liquidy version of a melted bar of chocolate. It was to die for, but you can only drink a little. Along with the cup, they give you a large teapot full of more hot chocolate, and a very small cup of fresh whipped cream. Needless to say we left most of the pot sitting on the table because our stomachs couldn't handle it, but everyone should experience that hot chocolate in their lifetime!
Here are a few other things we did...saw the Louvre...
Walked through the Tuileries Gardens...
And up the Champs Elysees...to the Arc de Triomphe...
Drank Pinot Noir & ate a plate of French cheeses...
At this point it was starting to get a little dark, so we decided we'd go see the Eiffel Tower from a closer angle. We went to the Trocadero Metro stop since we had some insider info from and NETC Tour Guide who said this was the place to go for the best view. We got to street level, rounded the corner of the building and there it was!
It was one of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed. I can't even describe my feelings at the time. I was just in such awe. It was really beautiful all lit up in the night sky. We just stood there for 10 minutes taking tons of photos and just admiring the tower when all of a sudden, the flickering lights came on. The tower has 20,000 lights that flash for five minutes every hour. I didn't realize this when we arrived, but since we stayed for less than an hour, there was the definite possibility that we could have missed it. SO glad we didn't. It was fantastic. Unfortunately when I looked into booking a trip up to the top, there wasn't a time available until February, so that will have to wait until next time!
Sadly our time in Paris was coming to a close so we decided to stop in one more place for some munchies before we left. I don't remember the name of the place we went, but they had the best charcuterie plate! We shared a table with some French women, had a drink and then made our way back to the train station, deciding that we'd definitely be back in Paris some day!
Here's are just a few places I'd go if I were you...
- Eat a macaron at Laduree
- Drink the hot chocolate at Angelina on Rue de Rivoli
- See the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. Go to Trocadero for the best view! Then climb to the top.
- Find a cafe to enjoy a cheese plate
- Go to Sainte Chapelle - I didn't get to go, but I read about it on our way out the Arc de Triomphe and it looked amazing!
- Take a cruise on the Seine
- Visit Montmartre
- Explore the Latin Quarter
- Take it all in & enjoy yourself!
Have you been to Paris? What was your favorite part? Any suggestions for future visitors? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
See all of NETC's Educational Tours to France.
By Amy on Monday, May 07, 2012 7:59 AM
Categories:Travel, Tips, France, Food
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Friday, May 04, 2012 7:52 AM
TGIF Educated Travelers! The day you've waited for all week has arrived ;-) That means it's time to check out my favorite tweets from @NETC_Travel and the rest of the Twitterverse this week. What did you think of last week's top tweets?
- Common traits found among successful people. An excellent post via @GoAbroad
- Kids speak out on student engagement
Via: @eyeoneducation
- Teach Through Educational Travel: Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius classroom activities for your students
- Great ideas! RT @polyglotwit @ EricMStauffer Digital Storytelling in the Foreign Language Classroom
- 7 dreamy destinations. Which spot is your favorite?
Get live tweets by following @NETC_Travel on Twitter!
See last week's top tweets here
Read or tweeted something great this week, share with your fellow Educated Travelers by leaving a comment below!
By Amy on Friday, May 04, 2012 7:52 AM
Categories:Top Tweets
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Thursday, May 03, 2012 3:02 PM
“Neil E Traveler, mascot and employee of NETC Educational Travel, simply couldn't refrain from dancing the Macarena. While vacationing with some groups from Virginia, Maryland, California, and Indiana, Neil stopped by the Tree House Restaurante & Café in Monteverde, Costa Rica. You can see the Mint & Chocolate milkshake and Octopus entrée he enjoyed while he was there.”
-Chris W, NETC Student Traveler, Pura Vida Educational Tour to Costa Rica
By Amy on Thursday, May 03, 2012 3:02 PM
Categories:Contests
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Thursday, May 03, 2012 7:59 AM
Preserved bodies at the ruins of Pompeii, Italy near Mount Vesuvius.
Download a larger image from the ruins of Pompeii, Italy. Share the photo with your class, then try these discussion questions and activities:
- Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 C.E., burying the city of Pompeii, Italy. Pompeii was part of the Roman Empire. What was life like at the time for Roman citizens?
- What are some of the more recent volcanic eruptions?
- Where did they occur?
- What was their impact on the people and land around them?
- Create a map that shows the Ring of Fire.
Want more? See last week's Teach Through Educational Travel: The London Eye, England
We'd love to hear your ideas! If you've been to Pompeii, Italy or completed a similar lesson, tell us about it by leaving a comment below. You could be our next guest blogger!
By Amy on Thursday, May 03, 2012 7:59 AM
Categories:Teach Through Educational Travel
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Wednesday, May 02, 2012 10:49 AM
It's time for Round 2 of my 2012 Photo Contest! I've been traveling all over with students for the past four months and have been having a blast. But I'm really looking forward to getting to know all you new NETC student travelers and exploring the world together! Along with my irresistible charm, great sense of humor and keen fashion sense, I promise to bring you many new memories. ;-)
To help capture the memories of our trip abroad, it would be awesome if those of you traveling from May 2nd, 2012 through August 31st, 2012 enter my Photo Contest!
Here are the Details:
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Capture an exciting moment on tour with the group and me. Photos should be active! And, remember I don’t like solo shots, so make sure I’m with at least one other student, otherwise your photo won’t make it to the finals. |
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Send it to me at: Neil@EducationalTravel.com. Within the email, write a caption for the photo that tells where we are and what we’re doing. |
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You can upload the photo directly to NETC’s Facebook wall and tag me. Just include the “what” & “where” of the pic in your caption. Email or upload your photo by August 31st, 2012. |
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I’ll post your photo here on my blog within the week it's received & email you the link. From there, it’s all up to you. Send around the link to my blog and get some comments going below the blog post. |
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The five photos with the greatest number of comments on the blog post by September 7th, 2012 will be finalists. I will select one winner from the five finalists and announce the winner here on my blog and on NETC's Facebook page on September 10th, 2012 by 12:00 noon EST. |
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For your sweet photo skills and social sharing abilities, the grand prize winner will get an iPad!** You will also win a $1,000 Student Travel Scholarship for your school! |
Don't forget to Friend me on Facebook too! You can check me in places with you before, during and after the tour so all my friends can keep track of my travels. While you’re hanging out on Facebook, pop over to NETC’s Facebook page, there’s lots of fun stuff on there and it’s a great place to ask questions to other travelers who’ve already gone.
Can’t wait till our trip!
Official Contest Rules:
All contest photos and videos must show Neil with students participating in an activity or doing something active. Photos solely of Neil will not be considered in the contest.*
- Submissions must be made individually. Group submissions are not allowed.
- One photo entry per traveler.
- Submissions must be received by August 31st, 2012.
- The five photos with the most comments on the blog by September 7th, 2012 will be the finalists.
- Only one comment on the blog, per person, per photo will count in the results. Multiple comments by the same person will not count.
- NETC will select one photo from the finalists to win an iPad** for themselves and a $1,000 Student Travel Scholarship for their school. Please Note: $1,000 Student Travel Scholarship cannot be split amongst participants.
- Winners will be announced on September 10th, 2012 on NETC’s website, blog, Facebook and Twitter.
Eligibility Requirements:
- You must be between the age of 13 and 21 years old.
- You must have traveled on an NETC educational travel program between May 2nd, 2012 and August 31st, 2012.
Disclaimer: By entering this contest, you certify that you are the author or sole owner of the material you are submitting to NETC. NETC may reproduce, distribute, publish, display, edit, modify, create derivative works and otherwise use the material for any purpose in any form and on any media. You agree to indemnify NETC for all damages and expenses that may be incurred in connection with the material. NETC reserves the right to remove any photos it deems inappropriate and disqualify the entrant from the contest.
**iPad is 16 GB Wi-Fi model
By Neil on Wednesday, May 02, 2012 10:49 AM
Categories:Contests
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Wednesday, May 02, 2012 10:17 AM
"Neil hanging on to dear life while at Battle at Gladiator School in Rome, Italy!"
- Katelyn Kaim, NETC Student Traveler, " A Room with a View" Educational Tour to Italy
By Amy on Wednesday, May 02, 2012 10:17 AM
Categories:Contests
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Wednesday, May 02, 2012 7:59 AM
In no particular order, here are the top 10 educational travel pins found on NETC's Pinterest boards this month:
If you haven't joined Pinterest yet, check out this article I wrote about why Pinterest is perfect for teachers and join yourself. Or check out last month's pins!
Have you pinned some great things this month? Share your pinterest boards with other teachers and travelers in the comments section below!
By Amy on Wednesday, May 02, 2012 7:59 AM
Categories:Travel, Teachers, Social Media, Education
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Tuesday, May 01, 2012 8:35 AM
Which of the seven wonders of the ancient world was demolished by an earthquake in 226 B.C.?
Leave your guess below and check back next Educational Travel Tuesday for the answer!
By Amy on Tuesday, May 01, 2012 8:35 AM
Categories:Educational Travel Trivia
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Hi, I'm Amy! Avid traveler and social marketing guru at NETC. I'm also the editor of NETC's Educated Traveler blog, where you'll find all kinds of information about travel and education, tips, NETC news, classroom lesson ideas and more! Subscribe above!
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