Portsmouth Abbey School - School Life - Summer Programs Abroad

I am writing about Portsmouth Abbey's newest summer enrichment excursion, a trip to Prague in the Czech Republic in the summer of 2013. We will be in Prague for approx. 8-10 days.

Our trip will include a number of historic, literary, and artful sights such as: the Lobkowicz family castle; the "Princely Collection" in the Palace Museum of Prague; the St. Vitus Gothic Cathedral, also within the Lobkowicz Palace grounds; Nelahozeves, the Charles Bridge statues of the Saints; the Astronomical clock in the Old Town Hall; the Powder Tower; the Golden Lane; Dostoyevsky's home; Kafka's birth place; The Old Jewish Quarter; Sunday Mass at Saint Thomas' Cathedral (and possibly an opportunity to perform if we can entice a strong showing from our musical students); very affordable concerts at night of both classical and contemporary music; and an art treasure hunt of Prague. Of course there will also be ample time to enjoy shopping and the delicious traditional foods of the Czech Republic. Other activities will include architectural and landscape drawing sessions and photography in the early morning and evening light. Potentially we would be staying at the Mala Strana Hotel near the center of Prague or one similar to it.

Please take a look at the attached links to see some of the wonderful sights of Prague as well as the Lobkowicz' home page for castle information and their art collections.

Also find below an idea of costs; however, please note that, depending on the number of students who sign up and until the tickets and accommodations can be booked, these prices can fluctuate. There is also a good possibility that we would have the aid of a student travel agency that would customize our tour, but right now I need to hear from students and parents who are seriously considering joining our group.

http://www.stovezata.praha.eu/list.html

http://www.lobkowicz.cz/

For students wanting to include both the Rome Humanities and Prague trips: The trip could follow on the heels of the Rome trip, and those students wishing to do both trips could travel from Rome to Prague by Eurail pass. They would return to Rome for the flight home. The trip from Rome to Prague will probably take 2 days by train. I chose train because the price of flying was prohibitive and I thought a train ride through 3 European countries would be very special. The Eurail ticket can be purchased prior to the trip, Eurail offers a Saver-Plan for 2-to-5 people traveling together. The cost includes 6 days of train travel within a 2-month time period.

Costs (at current 2011 prices):

Round-trip flight from Boston to Prague: $774.60 (with 1 stop). Students could travel from Logan Airport in Boston to Prague via Delta and be accompanied by myself, Mr. Ross-MacCormack, or Mr. Josh Horsch. Return the same way.

Eight days' accommodations at Mala Strana Hotel: $660.00 (2-bed suite, or $330.00 each for a shared room). The single suite w/ kitchenette is $740.00 for 8 nights. En-suites include breakfast and the following facilities: bathroom with bath or shower, hairdryer, towels, set of toiletries, direct-dial telephone, satellite TV, safe box. Some of the rooms have kitchenettes.

Additional anticipated costs: approx. $75.00+ per day per student for meals, tickets for events, and a little personal spending money. Please remember to consider the exchange rate at the time for all costs.

Basic total anticipated cost of trip: $1704.60.

With any luck, by 2013 the U.S. dollar will be stronger, so these prices could actually be less by then.

Please let me know via email (jswift@portsmouthabbey.org) if you are interested so we can begin to compile an idea of numbers and then lock in a better idea of cost.

Thank you, and I hope to hear from many of you!

Sincerely,

Ms. Joney Swift
Head, Visual Arts Department
Portsmouth Abbey School
jswift@portsmouthabbey.org
Cell: 617.515.0179
Office: 401.643.1245