Gusties wait for baggage in the Rome airport. (Photo by Stacia Vogel)
After 26 and 1/2 hours of travel, the Gustavus Choir and Companion Tour contingent, totaling 77, is in Rome!
The plane gets de-iced in Minneapolis. (Photo from aboard the plane by Choir member Chris Duhaime '12)
The route to this 2,700-year-old capital city included a bus ride from the scenic Minnesota River Valley to the Twin Cities, a flight into the Windy City, a 7.5-hour ride on a Lufthansa 747 (with more than 300 other people) to Frankfurt, Germany, and then a final flight to Rome.
So, the Gustavus Choir officially begins its two-week 2011 tour of Italy (a.k.a. Italia). This afternoon included hotel check-in (a few blocks from the Colosseum), brief walking tours to check out the neighborhood, and a 4-course Italian meal (where happy birthdays were celebrated with current choir member Emma Oseland and companion tour member Ted Pestel).
Rome is the first stop on the tour and will include visiting some of the ancient city’s historic sites, such as the Colosseum, the Forum, Vatican city’s Sistine Chapel, and singing in the glorious and holy St. Peter’s Basilica, and elsewhere.
Additional highlights will be shared here soon. Until then, pre-trip comments were captured in brief video interviews with two senior choir members.
Gustavus Choir president Sam Grace shares his excitement online at:
Gustavus Choir alto section leader Kayla Elbert also shares her enthusiasm online at: