SAUGUS — While many Saugus High School students spend their spring break lounging at home, a group of 37 students are getting the trip of a lifetime on a 10-day visit to the United Kingdom.
Humanities teacher Richard Lavoie is leading the trip as students from grades nine through 12 will get to see sites like the Ring of Kerry and Blarney Castle in Ireland along with London and Oxford in England.
The students left from Logan Airport on Sunday and if all goes according to plan, they should be spending today touring Dublin.
After a long day of travel Sunday, the group arrived in Killarney on Monday, where, after a few games of catch phrase, students went to bed to rest up for the big week ahead.
As they make their way around Ireland, Lavoie has been keeping a blog of the group’s travels.
“Today (Tuesday) started at 9 a.m. We boarded our coach (Irish slang for bus) and headed off to the Ring of Kerry ”¦ As we gradually inclined, we came to a rest stop for pictures. It was unreal. Straight out of a movie,” said Lavoie.
“During this journey, the best part has been traveling the Ring of Kerry and spending time with my friends and teachers while learning about some history and my heritage,” said junior Jonathan McTague.
The next stop for the group was the Bog Village in Kerry, a historical village that depicts life in the 1800s.
“I couldn’t help but notice how eerily similar their blacksmith house was to something we might see at the Iron Works,” said Lavoie. “There were musicians and animals galore at the village. Irish Wolfhounds, Ponies and goats lived in pens, and were very willing to pose for some pictures.
After some photo ops in the coastal city of Waterville, the group headed back to the hotel in Killarney.
On Wednesday Lavoie said they headed to Blarney Stone and Dublin.
Ninth-grader Amanda Racca said the Bog Village has been her favorite part of the trip so far while senior Jackie Russo pointed to the difference in lifestyle she’s noticed.
“The lifestyle here is the biggest difference between Ireland and the United States,” she said. “They are laid back ”¦ and they drive on the wrong side of the road, but everyone is so friendly.”
After a brief email exchange with Lavoie on Wednesday, he said students were off to see Dublin for the night.
From there, students will take a ferry to North Wales to a supposedly haunted hotel then travel to Oxford and Stratford on their way to London for a Jack the Ripper tour followed by a free day of sightseeing around London.
Lavoie said he was lucky to have such a great group of students for the trip.
“The kids have been punctual and respectful to all they meet ”¦” he said. “I am constantly reminded of the good things we’ve got going for us because of their actions and attitudes. For any parents reading this blog”¦Thank you for raising wonderful kids. It is making this trip so enjoyable.”
You can follow Lavoie’s blog from the trip at mrlavoieshs.blogspot.com.
Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].
