| high school history teacher, I have had the | | | | of my students will be quick to tell you that |
| privilege of bringing my senior students on tours | | | | whether we are visiting Ireland or Italy, I will |
| of Europe for the past fifteen years. I never | | | | never lead a ten day trip without making my |
| imagined that I would get so many opportunities | | | | team experience at least one or two cathedrals |
| to travel when I went into the teaching | | | | I am not sure what attracts me to cathedrals so |
| profession, but I ended up working in a great | | | | much except their sheer beauty. I have looked |
| district that made room in their budget for the | | | | far and wide in the U.S. and have never seen any |
| senior class to travel to Europe and help make | | | | building that compares with the detailed intricacies |
| history come alive for them each year. I am so | | | | that most European cathedrals hold. I guess |
| blessed to be a part of a district that is so | | | | because our buildings are not nearly as old as |
| committed to giving their students real life | | | | those in Europe we have a far lower standard of |
| experiences. I have learned many things during | | | | what is beautiful and of what is true architecture. |
| my years of leading this trips, but one of the first | | | | I love dragging my students into cathedrals and |
| things I learned was that you cannot go to | | | | seeing their jaws drop as their realize just how |
| Europe and return home with a clean conscience | | | | much history has happened in these European |
| unless you have taken time to visit one or many | | | | countries and as they see how young America |
| cathedrals. | | | | truly is. |
| Europe is so full of history, architecture and sheer | | | | So, the next time you plan a trip to Europe for |
| beauty that there is obviously too much to do in | | | | any reason, make sure that your trip includes |
| a ten day tour. Since I get to lead this trips each | | | | time visiting cathedrals. You will be amazed by |
| year, I have gotten to see almost all of the | | | | their size, their beauty and their architecture, not |
| wonders of Europe, but I must plan carefully each | | | | to mention the amazing amounts of history that |
| year to see that my students get the most out | | | | have happened in each cathedral. I guarentee you'll |
| of their ten day experience. I am careful to | | | | be looking for more cathedrals to visit once you |
| combine adequate amounts of history, modern | | | | begin. |
| attractions, and time for fun on our trips. But any | | | | |