Switzerland and Spain - World Cup Soccer

Backpack Europe, Barcelona PCE, European Discovery, European Escapade, European Escape, European Experience, Spanish Spectacular No Responses »
Jun 012010

Last but not least, Group H.

Switzerland


Sweitz, La Suisse. This amazing little country has four official languages and though it occupies an area smaller than most U.S. states and has a population that is less than Manhattan, they manage to produce some incredible soccer talent.  Training at higher altitude gives this team the ability to show up physically fit and make up for some of the imbalance they have compared to the more talented European teams like Portugal, Spain and England.  The Swiss are considered minnows but for the past four World Cups that they have participated in, they have been a tough competitor. In 2006, they became the first team in the history of the cup to be knocked out without having conceded a goal (they were eliminated in the 2nd round in a penalty shootout with the Ukraine).

You can visit Switzerland while skiing or snowboarding in miraculous Zermatt or Tignes or gazing at breathtaking Interlaken on many of our programs in Europe including our European Discovery, European Escape, European Experience, European Escapade, Backpack France and Switzerland and Backpack Europe programs.

Spain

Can La Rojo be stopped?  When you think of soccer skills, everyone seems to think of Argentina and Brazil and thoughts of Pele and Maradona come to mind but since 2007 the best team in the world has truly been Spain. The winner of the 2008 European Cup, Spain oozes with talent. Up front they have two of the best in Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Barcelona’s brand new signing David Villa (both of whom would be the starting forward on any team in the world). But it is in midfield where Spain just cannot be compared. Names like Xaxi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Xabi Alonso, David Silva and Pedro are enough to make any team unable to sleep at night. These guys play for teams like Barcelona, Valencia, Real Madrid and Arsenal and can move the ball like it is a part of their body. If there is one weakness with the Spaniards, it could be their defense. But when you are this good going forward, who needs defense!

With 360° Student Travel you can travel throughout Spain on our Language Immersion program called the Spanish Spectacular or spend your summer in Barcelona on our Pre-College Enrichment: Barcelona program.

The Westcoast Blogger

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Forza Italia! – World Cup Soccer

Backpack Europe, European Discovery, European Escapade, European Escape, European Experience No Responses »
May 312010

Defense, Defense, Defense – it’s the Italian way. Italy is the reigning World champions and defenders of the trophy going into South Africa. Their fans have high expectations, but not based on their play or their qualification results. Italy was the unexpected winner of the World Cup back in 2006 in a penalty shoot out that restored honor to Italian football after a match fixing scandals had brought the Italian game to the brink of collapse.

Now that everything is normal, the Italian fans expect nothing but the best. Their team however has overachieved and, though still a powerhouse, is not nearly the team they once were. Leaders like former captain Francesco Totti and 2006 match winner Fabio Grosso have been left out of the team and those remaining are not all Internationally tested. A group consisting of Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia should gain the Italian team much needed confidence but don’t expect them to go much further than the round of 16.  Having said that, the same thing was said 2006 and they managed to lift the cup. With arguably the best “keeper in the world and the stingiest defense,” you just never know.

You can enjoy sumptuous pasta and the energy of Italy on all of our European touring programs including our European Discovery, European Escape, European Experience, European Escapade, Backpack Italy and Backpack Europe programs.

The Westcoast Blogger

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The World Cup - South Africa & France

Backpack Europe, Community Service Africa, European Discovery, European Escapade, European Escape, European Experience, French Excursion No Responses »
May 252010

With the World Cup weeks away, we’re going to highlight some of the teams, their countries, and of course, the things our teen travelers do when we visit.

First up, Group A.

South Africa

The host country’s team automatically gets a place in the World Cup which is great news for South Africa (although they would argue that they would have likely earned their way into the finals). South Africa was banned from international competition for almost 30 years due to segregation. When Apartheid began to crumble in 1992, they were allowed to participate again. Bafana Bafana, as they are nicknamed, showed in last summer’s Confederations Cup that they have a lot of skill and athleticism. They competed well against some of the most talented teams in the world including Spain and the Brazil.

At the World Cup, they have  been drawn in with a very tough group, perennial soccer powerhouses France and Mexico and former World Cup champions Uruguay.

With talent that mostly plays in the South African league, it’s going to be a struggle to win; however, we will be pulling for them as we hope to share in the victory celebration when we arrive in this country two days after they (or someone else!) lifts the trophy.

360° Student Travel visits South Africa on our 25 Day Community Service Africa Program. On that particular program, we volunteer with a local community in Acorhoek and work with children at the Sihlekisi Elementary School, about 50 miles from the town of Nelspruit, host to 4 World Cup games this summer at the Mbombela Stadium.

France – Les Bleus

Winners of the World Cup in 1998 on their home soil, France gained entry to the tournament in a massive controversy.  They advanced by beating Ireland with a goal that was clearly handball. Though everyone in the world saw the infraction, the referee (the only opinion that truly mattered) did not, and no foul was called thus the goal was allowed.

Despite France limping into the final they are not to be underestimated. With wingers like Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery and Chelsea’s Florent Malouda and strikers Thierry Henry and Nicholas Anelka, the French truly are a goal scoring threat. Oh, and did we mention they have some of the fastest defenders in the world?  Their left backs, both of whom play in England with Manchester United and Arsenal, are the two best in the world because they are uncatchable. They may have snuck into the World Cup but they are a force to be reckoned with.

France is one of our most visited countries in Europe.  You can travel there with Westcoast Connection / 360° Student Travel on our European Discovery Teen Tour, European Escape Teen Tour, European Escapade Teen Tour, European Experience Teen Tour, Backpack France and Switzerland, Backpack Europe or French Excursion programs.

Another update tomorrow!

The Westcoast Blogger

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Crooked Structures

Backpack Europe, Eastern Expedition, European Discovery, European Escapade, European Escape No Responses »
Mar 022010

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa.

Although designed to stand vertically, the tower began to lean shortly after construction began in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and unstable soil that allowed the foundation to shift. When the Pisans entered war, construction was stopped allowing the underlying soil to settle. If construction had continued, the tower would have toppled.

Construction started again over a century later. Engineers tried to compensate for the tilt by making upper floors taller on one side than the other. This made the tower lean in the other direction.

The tower is 183 feet from the ground on the lowest side and 186 feet from the ground on the highest side. At the base, the walls are 13 feet apart. At the top, the walls are 8 feet apart.

The tower has two staircases. The north-facing staircase has two fewer steps (294) than the south-facing staircase (296).

Prior to restoration work that was performed in 1990 and 2001, the tower leaned at an angle of 5.5 degrees. The tower now leans at about 3.99 degrees. This means that the tower is over 12 feet from where it would stand if the tower were perfectly vertical.

The scaffolding on the tower is there to help repair visual damage (mostly corrosion and blackening).

On January 7, 1990, the tower was closed to the public for fear that it would collapse. The bells were removed to relieve some weight and cables were tied around the third level and anchored several meters away. Apartments and houses in the path of the tower were vacated. In the end, 50 cubic yards of soil were removed from underneath the higher end. The tower was straightened, returning it to the exact position that it occupied in 1838. After a decade of corrective reconstruction and stabilization efforts, the tower was reopened on December 15, 2001. In May 2008, another 77 tons of earth were removed. For the first time the tower’ history, engineers declared the tower stable.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is no longer the world’s most lopsided building. That title was been taken by a German church steeple in Suurhusen which leans at 5.19 degrees.

Want to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Head to Europe this summer on our European Escape, European Discovery, European Escapade, European Experience, Backpack Italy, or Backpack Europe programs.

The Westcoast Blogger

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Gelato at Vivolis

Backpack Europe, European Discovery, European Escapade, European Escape, European Experience No Responses »
Feb 252010

As the Northeast prepares for a snowstorm and snow is on everyones mind, why not think about something else that is cold … Italian Gelato!

Gelato, in essence, is Italian ice cream. In fact, gelato in Italian means “frozen”, but it is basically used to indicate  Italian ice cream. It is made with many of the same ingredients as traditional ice cream including milk, cream, sugar, and flavorings including fruit and nuts but has a lower fat content and a higher sugar content. Where as ice cream is made from cream, gelato is made from milk or water. Gelato also contains a high amount of protein and vitamins, especially when it is made with milk, nuts and fruit.

Unlike commercial ice cream which is frozen in a continuous assembly line freezer, gelato is frozen very quickly in individual small batches. The batch freezer adds air into the mix as it freezes resulting in a denser product with more intense flavor. Because of the freshness, gelato only holds its flavor and texture for several days.

The history of gelato dates back to the 16th century. Some stories say that gelato originated in ancient Egypt and Rome and was made from the ice and snow brought down from mountain tops. Many agree that the most recent gelato appeared in Florence. Bernardo Buontalenti, in 1565, presented the recipe and his innovative refrigerating techniques to Caterina de’ Medici. She in turn brought the novelty to France, where in 1686 the Sicilian fisherman Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli perfectioned the first ice cream machine. Popularity skyrocketed in when the first mobile ice cream cart was developed.

The last time I was in Italy, I enjoyed scoop after scoop of stracciatella (the equivalent of chocolate chip ice cream). Hands down, the best cone I ate was in Florence at Vivoli’s.

Craving gelato? Join us on our European Escape, European Discovery, European Escapade, European Experience, Backpack Italy, or Backpack Europe programs this summer.

And for those of you shoveling snow today and tomorrow, as you sip your hot chocolate close your eyes and imagine a cold gelato on a hot summer night in Italy!

The Westcoast Blogger

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