European Study Tour 2013

IF YOU DO NOT ALREADY HAVE A PASSPORT, APPLY FOR ONE NO LATER THAN JANUARY, 2013.

• You can apply for at passport at the Circuit Court Clerk, Logan County Courthouse, located at 601 Broadway St., Lincoln, IL 62656.
• You will need $135 and two passport sized pictures.
• It typically takes 6 weeks to get a passport.
• Passport Pictures: A good deal is at the Lincoln Walgreens for $7.99. Make sure the person taking the picture is familiar with State Department regulations.
• You will not need a visa for either Italy or Greece.
• DO NOT PACK YOUR PASSPORT. KEEP IT WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES.

For more information on passports, see the official State Department website here.

American Express or Visa are the most common and are easy to exchange at banks or exchange offices. Record check numbers and keep the list separate from checks in case your checks are lost/stolen. Leave a copy of the list with someone back home. Easy to use, but expect to pay fees (sometimes substantial) to exchange, unless you can find an American Express office.

Nearly universal, but may not work in some small shops. Can be used for cash advance, but check your card for fees and check with your card company to make sure that you can use it for cash advances in Europe. Credit cards usually give the best exchange rates on purchases. You will need a PIN for cash advance at an ATM. Names in Europe: Mastercard=EuroCard/Acess, Visa=Carte Bleue/Barclaycard (though we also saw them as Visa and Mastercard); the company symbols are the same. Know the PIN in numbers, not letters (European phones do not typically have letters on the keys.) Check with your credit card company before you depart; some now require that you notify them if you plan to use your card in Europe —if you do not, they might suspend your card during the tour.

Cirrus and Plus systems are common in Europe. You will need a 4-digit PIN. Keep all receipts in case of computer failure. Past participants used ATM cards frequently without trouble and found them a quick and convenient way to get cash with minimal fees and a good exchange rate. ATMs are everywhere in Europe and are more numerous every year. Know the PIN in numbers, not letters (European phones do not typically have letters on the keys.) Check with your bank or credit union to see if their cards work in Europe. Check now. Check with your bank / credit union before you depart; some now require that you notify them if you plan to use your ATM card in Europe — if you do not, they might suspend your card during the tour. Comment from Dr. Messner: This is best way to handle money in Europe. Easy to use (the screens are in English), always open, readily accessible and you get a super exchange rate.

Taking cash as your main source of money while in Europe is not a good idea. Cash is readily stolen and a source of constant worry. We do not recommend that you take large quantities of cash with you. However, taking a small amount of American currency is not a bad idea. I have not yet found a foreign bank or exchange office that would not take American dollars and sometimes, in an extreme emergency, a nice Italian or Greek will take dollars, too. Do not carry too much cash at one time. Do not leave cash in your hotel room. Each hotel will have a safe if you want to leave valuables there.

You may be able to exchange before we go, but it will be expensive. You can exchange or use an ATM at the airport upon our arrival. Every time you exchange they will take a fee. Try to estimate the amount that you will need. Both Italy and Greece now use the Euro so currency exchanged or obtained in Italy will be good in Greece.

Many European travelers carry a mixture of money sources; a little cash, a credit card (or two), an ATM card and perhaps a few traveler’s checks. Having a variety of money sources will prepare you for ATM machines that malfunction, unexpected bank holidays, etc. From Dr. M: This is what I do and it is a really good idea! I take my ATM card, a little cash (about $50) and my credit cards. I no longer use traveler’s checks for my personal spending.

Value Added Tax is a substantial tax added to European goods. As a non-European, you are entitled to a refund of the tax under some circumstances (you may be able to get the refund at the airport). Keep your receipts.

EF recommends $30-50/day (lunches, beverages, souvenirs) for spending money. Previous student participants spent between $150 and $400 ($10 to $27 a day). They recommend setting aside some cash for each day of the trip; this will help you to budget wisely.

You must pay the full balance of your account on time or EF will not send you a plane ticket.

Past participants recommend bringing more money than you think you need, because the dollar is very weak. Budget your money carefully, so that you do not run out.

Have enough for whole trip plus some extra (some travel experts recommend twice what you will need); bring note from doctor or the prescription (written legibly). Important: leave medicines in original pharmacy bottle/package.

Band aids, antibiotic cream, moleskin (for blisters), tweezers, sunscreen, aspirin/Tylenol, Imodium (or equivalent), motion-sickness drug (like Dramamine or Bonine), Peptobismol (or equivalent), sunglasses. (You may want to coordinate with a fellow traveler so you do not have to buy/carry all of these items yourself.)

• Keep any medicines in your carry-on bag.
• Drink lots of water or non-caffeinated beverages. Carry a water bottle. Check before you drink to see if the water is safe.
• Take care of your feet—wear comfortable shoes with good traction and good socks. Many find tennis shoes to be a good option. Flip-flops and loose fitting sandals will make it difficult to cover the sometimes rough terrain that we will encounter.
• Know the prescription for your glasses/contacts.
• Pocket packs of tissues and anti-bacterial hand wipes are a useful travel aid as there will be times when toilet paper will be in short supply and cleaning one’s hands prior to eating after a long and dusty day at archaeological sites is a good way to stay healthy.
• Previous participants recommend getting in good walking shape before you go and to forget fashion: wear comfortable, well-broken-in walking shoes.

• Wear a money belt or neck pouch for valuables, ESPECIALLY YOUR PASSPORT. Use this to carry all credit cards, ATM cards, traveler’s checks and cash (other than a small amount of cash in your wallet or purse). Keep valuable paper documents (like your passport) in a zip-lock bag in your neck pouch or money belt.
• Remove all unnecessary items from your wallet/purse before we go. Carry your wallet in a front pocket and carry your purse securely at the front of your body. This will make it more difficult for pick-pockets.
• From the U.S. Department of State: Do not accept packages from strangers. Do not leave your bags unattended. Do not exchange money on the street. You are subject to the local laws of Italy and Greece, and if you break the law, the Embassy cannot help you.
• There is much petty crime at tourist sites in Italy and Greece. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Watch out for groups of young children who may try to get too close to you. Be aware that petty thieves often work in pairs. It is common for thieves to slice open backpacks on crowded buses or in crowded sites. Keep a tight grip on your bags—thieves sometimes use motor scooters to grab bags and escape.
• Make a list of your valuables and record camera ID numbers, etc. and keep in separate place from your valuables. Exchange your list with someone else.
• Make a photocopy of your passport (carry it separately from your passport), and leave the passport number with someone at home. We will also make a photocopy to carry for you.
• Emergency phone numbers (like 911) Italy: 113/112; Greece: 166.
• Women are sometimes the targets of unwanted catcalls and remarks in Mediterranean countries.
• Carry insurance information in multiple places, or trade information with a friend.
• In Greece, the removal of antiquities, including rocks, from ancient sites is forbidden. Penalties: fines, prison (and the Embassy cannot help you).
• Embassy / Consulate Locations and Websites:
  • Italy: US Embassy (in Rome): Via Veneto 119/A, 00187 Rome, Italy, tel (39-06) 46741 http://italy.usembassy.gov/
  • Consulates: Florence: Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci 38, 50123 Florence, Italy, tel. (39) 055-266-951 http://florence.usconsulate.gov/
  • Milan: Via Principe Amedeo 2/10, 20121 Milan (Italy), tel. (39-02) 290-351 http://milan.usconsulate.gov/
  • Naples: Piazza della Repubblica, 80122 Naples, Italy, tel. (39-081) 583-8111 http://naples.usconsulate.gov/
  • Greece: US Embassy (in Athens): 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, tel. (30) (210) 721-2951 http://athens.usembassy.gov/
• Have more than one form of picture ID: passport, driver’s license, school ID, etc.
• Going out in the evening/free time rules: you may NOT go out by yourself, and women must have a male student or leader with them. For your safety, there will be a hotel curfew of 11 p.m. (you must be back in the hotel by 11 p.m.), though there will be no room curfew.
• Make certain that you leave emergency contact numbers for family at home. You will receive an emergency telephone chain chart before departure.
• If you carry travelers’ checks, do not pack them or carry them all in one place. Keep a list of the serial numbers separately from the checks themselves and/or trade information with a friend.
• European hotel rooms increasingly have safes in the room. A good option for valuables you do not want to carry and do not want to leave in your hotel room unguarded. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PASSPORT IN A HOTEL SAFE, carry it with you at all times.

• “Cathedral Ready” REQUIRED dress code at cathedrals: NO shorts, short skirts, sleeveless/cut off shirts or hats. Cover your shoulders and knees. If you are not dressed appropriately, the deacons at the cathedrals will deny you admission. “Cathedral Ready” days will be clearly marked on the daily schedule you will receive at departure (almost every day in Italy).
• The Lincoln Christian University dress code will be in effect. Please don’t look like a slob.
• Consider a light, waterproof jacket. It is rarely cold and rainy in Italy/Greece in May and June, but it could be.
• Clothing tips from Let’s Go: wear natural fibers because they breathe better than synthetics. Jeans will be hot. Bring non-wrinkling, quick-drying clothes that you can wash in a sink. Women—light cotton pants are the most appropriate and meet cathedral codes. A knee length skirt will be as comfortable as shorts. Men—Cotton pants are more comfortable than jeans.
• Do not bring new shoes which you have not broken in.
• We may have time for swimming. Please bring modest swimwear.

• Pack light! Smaller bottles of shampoo, toothpaste, etc. will be lighter to carry. Previous participants remind you that you will have to carry your own bags and that packing light (or lighter) is something many wish that they had done. Think in terms of bulk (size) and weight. Get the small sizes and try them for two weeks before we go to make sure you are taking enough.
• Team up with a friend to spread the load. Share hairdryers, alarm clocks, information cards with emergency numbers, first aid kits, laundry supplies, etc. This will greatly reduce your load.
• If you take guide book(s), consider slicing out and taking just the pages you need to reduce weight.
• Instead of packing 15 days worth of clothes, consider doing light laundry along the way: bring a small squeeze bottle of detergent, short clothes line, clothes pins, clothes hanger or two and stopper. Pack the detergent bottle in a zip-lock bag. We will stop for at least two nights in Venice, Florence, Rome and Athens providing you the opportunity to wash and dry clothes before repacking.
• Consider getting a small travel Bible, especially if you are taking the tour for Restoration Week credit.
• A website (a little over the top) with lots of good information on packing light: www.onebag.oratory.com.

• Bring extra batteries and memory card for your digital camera. Film in Europe is expensive. Take twice as much as you think that you will need. Carry film in your carry-on as checked-luggage x-ray equipment (which is much stronger than the walk-through metal detectors) could cloud your film.
• Carry a small notebook or binder (and pens/pencils) for writing your journal and taking notes. Note taking times will be included on the daily schedule.
• A small sewing kit would be useful (team with a friend).
• Customs: You may bring up to $400 of goods per person into the U.S. duty free. Keep your receipts; you will have to complete a customs form on the flight home.
• Weather: Italy and Greece will probably be hot, in the mid-70s to mid 80s, but could be in the 90s (we have even seen a couple of 100 degree days), though it is sometimes a little cool. Check www.weather.com before we depart (you can view a 10 day forecast for Milan, Venice, Florence and Rome).
• Hotel information from EF: Rooms and beds will probably be smaller than in the U.S. and may not have A/C or TV. Few hotels have elevators, and they have lower water pressure in the shower. You will have a private bathroom.
• We will get a final packet from EF one week prior to departure with our hotel info, final itinerary and any phone cards you may have ordered.
• A backpack or day bag will be very useful. You will get one from EF prior to departure.
• Carry a travel alarm clock.
• Wear a watch set to local time so you will not be late.
• Electricity is different in Europe (220v vs. 110v here), and the plugs are different. If you want to take electrical appliances, you will need an adapter plug AND a converter (which changes the current). Some travel appliances come with a built-in converter and adapter plugs. There are a variety of converters and plugs sold in travel stores (and Target or Walgreens); make certain you get a converter that will work in Europe and not Africa or Asia. Your best electricity option: leave all of your electrical appliances home.
• Electricity (continued). Most European hotels do not have wiring as strong as American homes. Run appliances like hairdryers on low to avoid tripping circuit breakers.
• Bring extra plastic zip-lock bags for damp things. Also, seal shampoo, lotion, etc. bottles in zip-lock plastic bags. Make sure you have enough bags for all of your bottles. Zip-lock bags are your best packing friend!
• EF prohibits you from being in the hotel room of someone of the opposite sex. LCU dorm rules will apply on the trip.
• When taking pictures or videos, please be courteous to others.
• Bring your student ID; you might get cheaper (or free!) rates at museums in Greece.
• Some European travelers collect all of their emergency information onto a single small piece of paper (such as the back of a photocopy of their passport) and then laminate the paper to protect it from damage and dampness. The LCU library has a laminator.
• Do not take special things that you cannot replace. By all means take things that remind you of family and friends at home, but leave the irreplaceable (like that special necklace from Grandma or your girlfriend’s class ring) at home.
• Take advantage of bathrooms when you can. There are few public restrooms in Europe, so use them when in museums, at our stops for demonstrations (glass blowing, leather), restaurants/pubs. Most churches in Europe do not have public restrooms, so do not expect to find them there. The bus will likely not have a bathroom, but we will make frequent stops. You may have to pay, so keep a few small coins handy. You may be surprised to find a cleaning person of the opposite sex in your bathroom (typically in the sink area, which tends to be separate from the toilets). This is not considered a big deal in Europe. They may have a tip bowl out; tip at your discretion.
• Anti-bacterial handwipes are a great way to keep your hands clean.
• Go to bed and sleep. Please do not maintain your usual college schedule of staying up half the night (or more) and sleeping the next day. You will be tired, cranky and miss the fun of the trip (as will Dr. Messner).
• Put a copy of our hotel list in the top of your suitcase in case the airline loses it and they need to know where to send it.
• Check the TSA website for the latest update on what you may and may not bring on a plane: http://www.tsa.gov/
• Tobacco shops (Italy) and newspaper stands (Greece) are a great source of stamps and local calling cards.
• Phone cards: make sure that they are really international, so that you can call back from overseas and not just call overseas from the U.S. Typically companies like AT&T, Sprint, etc. are what you will need. Get their country codes before you leave (e.g. in Italy, you dial their Italy access code [like a 1-800 number] which gets you onto their network with English language instructions). Calling home is pretty expensive, so get a big value calling card. EF also offers a calling card that is a little cheaper and has ok clarity for calls.
• Increasingly you can call from the hotel rooms with a 1-800 style country code at no additional cost.
• A small umbrella is a good idea if you are not bringing a raincoat.
• Expect the water pressure in European hotels to be lower than it is in the U.S.
• Previous participants wished they were in better walking shape. Start walking now.
• Bug spray / mosquito repellent might be useful.
• For-credit students: plan to find time each day to write your journal.

• Please eat and drink while on tour. You may be served something that you do not like, but please find something to eat. Please drink, especially water. Carry a water bottle and drink frequently (I usually wait and buy a 1.5 liter plastic bottle of water at the first stop and then just refill it each morning). We will be (typically) in hot weather, outside and walking, all of which will quickly dehydrate you if you do not drink during the day. Look carefully at the bottle if you do not want carbonated water (which is really yummy and a great and healthy alternative to pop); Italian for sparkling is “frizzante.”
• Soda pop is not included with meals provided by EF (breakfast and supper). You can usually buy pop at supper, but it will be expensive (often $1-$2 for a 6 oz. bottle). Cold (ask for ice if you want it) tap water is included.
• Breakfast: Usually fresh bread rolls, jam, juices, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milk, cereal—sometimes yogurt—occasionally cheeses, and sliced meats. Even if you are not a breakfast eater, please plan to eat something for breakfast. You will need the energy. Breakfast tends to be bigger in Greece.
• Lunch: EF does not provide lunches (except Pompeii day when we get super yummy pizza!)
  
  Italy: We will typically stop at “Autogrill” rest stops on Italy’s Autostrada (interstates). Autogrills have a cafeteria line and sandwich (panini) counter (pay first for the sandwich, then take the slip to the sandwich counter attendant) as well as a small snack and beverage area. In cities you will be on your own. If you want something fast, there are often stands selling slices of pizza, sandwiches and other finger foods next to major sites (and I know some to recommend). Some participants find it fun to find a small grocery store or deli and buy things for picnic lunches. Pubs in Italy frequently have a to-go window on the street where you can buy sandwiches, snack items and drinks. While most LCU students do not frequent bars at home, pubs in Europe are different and are a prime source of cheaper lunches. European restaurants typically post their menus and prices outside, so compare and be prepared before you walk in. Note especially fees (like mandatory tips that they will add to the bill for you). NOTE: If you go into a restaurant and have a sit down lunch, be prepared to pay relatively high prices and to wait; Italians take eating seriously and do not like to rush. Make sure you have enough time for your meal. Consider ordering a set menu meal (usually includes pasta, entrée, salad at a lower cost), but look carefully to see if the bread in the basket on the table is included (it often is not and they will charge you by the piece for what you eat). Cafeterias are a good option with lower fees and good selections. You will need to request your bill, the waiter will not bring it to you automatically when you are finished. Tips are not expected.
  
  Greece: Because some of the sites we visit in Greece are more rural, we will likely stop at tourist restaurants which have set menus of popular dishes. Because the villages are small where we will stop, there will be few restaurant options, and the food is often more expensive. You can grocery shop in Tolo. In Athens, the Acropolis and Agora are next to the Plaka district which is full of small eateries, with lots of gyro options (and a McDonalds, for the fast food desperate).
  
  
• Supper: We will eat either at our hotel or a separate restaurant. The food is typically plentiful. In Italy, expect a dish of pasta and then a meat, potato and vegetable course, often fruit and dessert. Greek meals tend to be heartier. We will likely eat at both tourist restaurants and small, Mom and Pop places which adds a nice variety.
• Snacks: I highly recommend eating lots of Italian ice cream (gelato). Some participants bring a jar of peanut butter (if you are a finicky eater and fear the local cuisine) or a few granola bars or cereal bars for a quick bite. Try local snacks, too,—the paprika potato chips are really yummy, as are the rolls of cookies and Greek olives. There will likely be no eating on the bus. Having some snacks along during the day is wise; we will be walking much and you may need a little energy.
• You know yourself, so adjust accordingly. If it makes you sick to eat first thing in the morning, take a roll or two from the breakfast room and eat them when you are ready, or bring something along that you can eat. If you do better eating a snack between meals, plan to buy or bring something along. Drinking enough water is critical so that you do not dehydrate and pass out. PLEASE (please!) eat and drink on the trip.

Dr. Messner has traveled extensively in Italy and Greece and has been to Rome almost a dozen times. He was a student in Germany while in college and understands European travel very well. Having traveled to most of the destinations included on the tour, both on his own and with groups, he is very familiar with both the sites and the surrounding areas. As an ancient historian who specializes in Greece and Italy (especially Rome), with additional certification in the Middle Ages, he is uniquely qualified to take you through the ancient and medieval sites in both countries. Who else can take you through Rome’s Forum and explain the essential importance of the site, direct you to cheaper lunch options, and provide tips for gelato almost anywhere we travel in Italy?! Because he is a travel veteran, you will be in good hands on his tour.

The 2013 European Study Tour will be Lincoln Christian University’s seventh tour. The tour began in 1999 and we have done custom tours since 2003.

The LCU Study Tour travel to, and in, Europe is arranged by EF College Study Tours, part of the largest student travel company in the United States. See their website.

A custom tour is one in which the tour director (Dr. Messner) sets the itinerary. Because this is a custom tour, we will not be combined with another group. We will have our own bus and will be able to take advantage of pre-paid timed entries at several sites to eliminate wait time. We will see far more than a standard “brochure” or “catalog” tour because Dr. Messner knows the sites well and can maximize our time in Europe. Although custom tours are a little more expensive, they are actually a better value.

No. Tuition for the class is paid to LCU, but the cost of the trip itself is paid to EF Educational Tours. Therefore, if you want to do the tour for credit, you will have two payments: one to LCU for tuition and one to EF Educational Tours for the trip itself.

The classroom portion of the tour meets in the Spring 2013 semester (one hour a week for the IDS 201 group and one hour per week for the IDS 303 group). Lectures will focus on ideas, developments and artworks that we will encounter at the various stops in Europe. The assignments are a little different from “regular” IDS classes. There are fewer exams and discussion times take place in Europe. Students view videos and write a “fact sheet” which focuses on one site we will visit. A significant part of the grade is a reflective journal kept during the tour in Europe. The tour is not easier, nor less work, than “regular” IDS classes, but the assignments target a different set of learning objectives. See the sample syllabus for IDS 201 or IDS 303 (for the IDS elective version) for even more details. The IDS elective version of the class will focus on the history, contributions, and significance of Italy from pre-Roman days to the present. While classes meet in the Spring 2013 semester, the grades will be assigned after we return from the tour.

You may still go on the tour for class credit provided that you pass both IDS 101 (Introduction to World Views) and LA 111 Written Composition in the Fall 2012 semester. We encourage you to take the tour as IDS 201. If you fit into this category, please contact Dr. Messner to discuss whether or not you are ready for the academic requirements of the tour.

Maybe. Each student‘s financial aid package is different and students should consult with the University financial aid office before enrolling on the tour. As the tour is considered an educational expense, some of the cost paid to EF Educational Tours MIGHT be covered. The tuition for the class is paid to LCU and would be covered under financial aid according to the student’s financial aid package.

Everyone who registers for a tour related class (Spring ID 201, ID 303 or the Seminary class) will receive a one-third tuition discount for their class. That charge will appear on their school bill in the usual fashion.

In Venice, we will visit the Basilica of the Friars which houses Titan‘s Assumption of the Virgin, the tomb of Monteverdi (the father of opera) among other marvels. Also in Venice, if time permits on our first day in Italy we will need to take a vaporetto (a Venetian water bus) down the Grand Canal to reach St. Mark‘s Square. In Athens, time permitting, we will visit the National Archaeological Museum which houses some of the most important Greek artworks from antiquity. Credit-seeking students should set aside about $30 to cover these entrance fees.

If fewer than 25 people register for our custom tour, we will decide how to modify the custom tour to maintain our own LCU learning objectives. While this is always a possibility, it has not happened since the tour started in 1999.

If you take the tour for class credit, the regular LCU refund policy applies. If you need to drop the tour, EF Educational Tours will refund your money on a sliding scale; the closer to departure, the less refund you receive. Please refer to the Booking Conditions for full details on EF‘s refund policy. EF virtually never refunds the $95 application fee.

You do NOT have to get the EF insurance package if you do not want it. We highly recommend that you have some kind of medical insurance that will work overseas. Check your policy, before buying EF‘s (it probably will not be good overseas, but you never know). You can buy EF‘s insurance any time, so you do not have to commit when you enroll.

If you have recently traveled with EF, you will likely get a $100 discount on the cost of the tour. EF applies the discount to the final payment before departure.

It is customary to tip both the tour director and the bus driver(s). The tip covers the days that we will use the services of a bus driver and the tour director. The tour directors work very hard and should receive a good tip. As with most service industries, the tip is considered part of their pay structure and is part of their salary.

Yes! Check out the "Travel Tips" tab above for tips we have used for the past tours. These tips will be updated early in the Spring 2013 semester for maximum accuracy. Also, check out what Rick Steves (PBS travel series guru) suggests.

Absolutely! The trip is open to all members of the LCU community (faculty and staff), alumni, constituency, and friends. Family members of tour participants are especially welcome!

Gelato, a form of ice cream found it Italy that is made with milk, comes in a wide range of flavors. The best flavor by far is “Baci,” which is filled with pieces of a chocolate hazelnut candy. Because our tastes may differ, you should try many forms of gelato while in Italy and decide for yourself. To get the best flavor, avoid gelato that comes from a pre-packaged mix. The easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the banana flavor. If the banana gelato is smooth and yellow, it is a mix. If the banana gelato is a little lumpy and slightly grayish in color, it is real, because it has real bananas mashed into it.

First, read the EF Booking Conditions carefully so that you are very familiar with your obligations with the tour company (EF is a good company, but as a for-profit institution they are understanding only to a point). Next, visit the EF enrollment center and use our tour number (1116125) to visit the tour‘s website. Follow the online instructions. Then, fill out and return the LCU application/information sheet to Dr. Messner. Welcome aboard!