The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program of
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women...

Friday 2, May On our way . . .
Albany, United States
Through Security & on our way, our final Good-bye!
Here we are, departure day has finally arrived and we are ready to go. Hopefully we will all make it through security with our bags . . . so many gifts, so little weight allowed! Feelings of excitement, anticipation, nervousness all rolled into one.
Whew . . .everyone's checked luggage made it under the weight limit! Next, on to the security line and good bye to family and friends who came to wish us well . . . Okay, so Kim DID have to go through about 3 times, but YES we all made it through, bags cleared the scrutiny and we are on our way to the gate . . . a final good bye wave to the kids as they look down from the overlook . . . up up and away to the adventure of our lives . . .we expect.
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 2, 2008 from Albany, United States
from the travel blog: D7190 GSE to GSE 1910

Saturday May 3 – Arrival Day
Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria
Castle
Including the time change and overall airtime, the trip took a total of 18 hours. After arriving in Vienna, gathering our luggage, and making our way through customs we were met at the airport by two Rotarians and then into a VW van for a 2 hour trip to Waidhofen, via the Autobahn. Waidhofen is a medieval town and you can still see remains of the fortress wall that once surrounded it. In 1997 the town celebrated its 1,000 year anniversary! The area has a very small-town atmosphere, but the population is about 12,000. One notable feature of Waidhofen is the 25-30 kilometer forest that surrounds the city. Centuries ago the leader of Vienna decided that a forest should surround the city in order to maintain fresh air in Vienna. They also have several wind turbines for generating electricity. Saturdays are weekly market day, a tradition that dates back for centuries. The farmers outside of town bring in their goods; produce, live chickens and pigs, to be sold at the market on the Upper Main Street.
On the evening of our arrival we were invited to attend a concert of a Young opera singer that grew up in Waidhofen, at Kristallsaal. In 2010, he will be performing at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. After the performance we met up with some Rotarians for dinner. The concert and dinner took place in a castle, last owned by the Rothschild family around 100 years ago. It is now owned by a museum and is a community cultural center where artists exhibit their musical and artistic talents.
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 3, 2008 from Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria
from the travel blog: D7190 GSE to GSE 1910

Wednesday, May 7 Travel day to Schladming
Schladming, Austria
Austrian Alps
Today is a travel day, as we leave Waidhoffen and travel, via our VW bus to Schladming. On our 2 hour journey we crossed over the Enns River with Werner was our driver and guide. Werner grew up under the Hitler regime during World War II and had hiked up and skied most every mountain we passed, his stories were engaging. As we drove we were all in awe . . . words simply cannot describe the vistas of the Austrian Alps that surrounded us. The evening of our arrival we were hosted a traditional evening by Rotarians to a at Hotel Alte Post.
Schladming is a small city of about 20,000 people and again it is a community where most of the families know each other well. It is a traditional Austrian community and we saw that they still maintain much of their traditional dress. Schladming is a skiing community. They host the World Cup Slalom skiing competition and about 50,0000 people are here during that time. They have farmer's market each Friday. This is also... I visited the market today Kim got a chance to visit one of these markets with the 83 year old mother of Dr. George Fritsch and bought a bottle of oil typical for this area made from the seed of a pumpkin-like squash.
They have an active Rotary club of 35 members with one or two additional members each year.
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 7, 2008 from Schladming, Austria
from the travel blog: D7190 GSE to GSE 1910

Monday, May 12 Travel day to Čatež, Slovenia
Catez, Slovenia
Today is an Austrian National holiday - this date marks the last time Austria was occupied after World War II. The day celebrates when Austria officially became an independent country like our Independence Day.
Auf Wiedersehen to Austria and our generous hosts. Another chapter begins . . .
We board our bus and travel about 4 hours to our next stay, Čatež, Trebnje, Slovenia. Of what we know, Čatež is a small resort town of about 500 residents. We arrived and will spend our first evening in a hotel, where we will also have out meals. Tonight we will attend a Rotary meeting and give our presentation as well as get our itinerary for our stay in Slovenia.
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 12, 2008 from Catez, Slovenia

1910 District Conference
Zagreb, Croatia
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 21, 2008 from Zagreb, Croatia

Sunday, May 4 A stroll about Waidhofen
Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria
We enjoyed breakfast with our host families before meeting for brunch at Schlosshotel. Today we took a walking tour of the town with Rotarian Peter, an eye surgeon, who lives and works in Waidhofen. Peter was born in Ethiopia to Austrian parents and grew up near an American military base so he speaks very good English! We also visited a local blacksmith who has returned to the traditional way of working with iron. This area of Austria is known as the "Iron working" area because it was the center of the iron trade for centuries.
Our day continued taking us up into the hills to see a real alpine log flume, where lumberjacks would send the logs down the river in order to make charcoal to burn for the blacksmith's fires. We hiked through the Mendling Valley and saw breathtaking snow covered mountains that seemed to go up into heaven!
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 4, 2008 from Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria

Monday & Tuesday May 5 & 6 Vocational Days & Rotary
Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria
We all went seperate directions to visit locations of professional interest.
More details about each of our days later, but we are all learning new and interesting things about our individual vocations.
Waidhofen Rotary
Tuesday night was our first meeting and presentation with the Waidhofen Rotary Club at Restaurant Hochkogel.
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 6, 2008 from Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria

Saturday May 10 Touring Salzburg
Salzburg, Austria
Today, our host Rotary club arranged for a tour of the city of Salzburg, about 1 hour northeast of Schladming. A city indigenous to many salt mines and featuring strong Italian influence due to its trade history. The City, settled in 696 was formerly governed by Arch-Bishops. As each reigning Bishop changed they ordered a new church built, as a way to leave their own individual legacy, this small city of 150,000 features 109 churches. As you walk through the beautiful squares you are sure to hear bells ringing from anywhere around this city. For movie buffs this city is familiar as it is the city in The Sound of Music was filmed, which by the way, most Austrians have never seen the movie. For music aficionados the city’s fame is that of being the birthplace of Mozart.
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 10, 2008 from Salzburg, Austria

Tuesday, May 13
Catez, Slovenia
Čatež is a roadside village on a hill at the foot of the 544 m high Zaplaz, northwest of Trebnje. On the north side is a narrow valley of the Dušica stream, while Čateška gora is opposite. There is an expansive view of the surrounding area from Čatež and an even better one from Zaplaz. to learn more visit www.Slovenia.info/en
We had a wonderful time at the Rotary meeting and have received our itinerary, which appears a bit more full than in Austria - it appears we will e seeing a good portion of this small country.
Kim is already at a host family, while others stayed in the hotel last night, but will be heading to host families tonight.
Tomorrow we head to Ljubljana and the island of Bled
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 13, 2008 from Catez, Slovenia

Thursday, May 15 - Driving tour of Slovenia
Podkoren, Slovenia
From the atop the Julijske Alps down 1700 meters to the Adriatic Sea - whirlwind tour describes our awesome and exhausting day today as we embarked on a driving tour of Slovenia today. From the beautiful & picturesque Bled we travel to Planica and then onto to small town of Podkoren for a quick bite to eat before heading up into the sky to the Julijaske Alps and then onto visit a WWI museum in the small town of Kobarid. For many, this museum visit offered new introspect of the war. In another 2 ½ hours we were at the coast in Trieste for some shopping and sightseeing.
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 16, 2008 from Podkoren, Slovenia

Saturday, May 17 Travel day to Bosnia-Herzegovina
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ruins and Rebuild
The bus ride from Slovenia to Sarajevo is a long 5 hour ride. There are only 12 Miles of 4 lane road coming to Sarajevo from about 220K away. It is a road much like State Route 10 at home, for over 150 Miles. If there is one word to describe the countryside as we entered this area, it is that of contrast. You cross the border with armed guards, checking passports, they have the power and they know it. Our first views include many bombed out building, bullet holes . . . the war here was only 10 years ago. It not the images they want to be remembered by, but the story is just too much to ignore and to impacting to forget. This will no doubt be one of the most emotionally moving leg of our trip. For the first time on the trip, we will all be staying with host families rather than hotels, a welcome change.
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 18, 2008 from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sunday May 18 Mostar bridge, Stari Most, Buna & Počitelj
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Stari Most
A place we are all aware of due to war and recent rebuilding of the Stari Most, but words cannot express the feelings of what it is to walk on and touch history being made. The Mostar Bridge was a very famous and historical bridge before its destruction in 1993 during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (part of the former Yugoslavia). The elegant bridge spanned the River Neretva and was designed by the Ottoman (Turkish) architect Mimar Hayruddin. It was completed in 1566 after nines years of building and the surrounding town became a thriving trading centre. The bridge was 29 metres in length and stood at a height of 20 metres, a classic example of a single span, stone arch bridge and was an example of advanced technology in its time. It became a World Heritage site during the twentieth century. The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire swore to execute Mimar Hayruddin if the bridge collapsed after the wooden supports were removed. It is said that Hayruddin started to dig his own grave on the day the supports were removed. However, the bridge stood for 429 years, a testament to its excellent design and construction.
Excerpt: Bosnia-Herzegovina Rotarians celebrate rebuilding of Mostar Bridge
By Vukoni Lupa-Lasaga, Rotary International – 9 September 2004
When the Rotary Club of Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, was chartered in 2002, one of the issues uppermost in the minds of its members was how to heal their community, torn apart by a brutal war that pitted one ethnic group against another. Rotarians proposed to city leaders to rebuild the 427-year-old historic landmark, which was destroyed by hostile tank-shell fire in 1993, to signal that it was time to repair the physical and emotional damage that the war had inflicted on Mostar. After winning the approval of politicians, technical experts, and residents, Rotarians took the lead in mobilizing international support and raising funds for the project. Amir Pasic, an architect, and Marin Raspudic, the Mostar airport director and current club president, are just two Rotarians who have been closely involved with the rebuilding of the stone bridge. Both served as chief organizers of the 23 July opening ceremony for the completed bridge.To read the rest of this story, see www.rotary.org/newsroom/main/news02.html, or read your September 04 Issue of the Rotarian.
After this awe inspiring stop we were onto see the source of the Buna River, a tributary of the Neretva. The source of this river is a strong karstic spring that ‘com from out of the mountain. Vast waters have been calculated but a true origin has never been discovered.
Vrelo Bune - the Bun river source
Then onto the quaint oriental-style town of Pocitelj, located about half an hour's drive from Mostar, less than 30km south on the M-17 road towards the Adriatic. Besides its stunning oriental architecture, Pocitelj hosts the longest operating art colony in southeast Europe. Artists from around the world gather here to paint, among other things but importantly, the shiny red pomegranates and figs that grow in abundance on the hills of Pocitelj.
An incredible day, in an awesome place, hosted by generous people . . .
Relaxing with our Hosts
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 19, 2008 from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sunday, May 11 A trip to the Top of the World
Schladming, Austria
Cable car ride up to Glacier
A free day for us so we are all off to the top of the world – on today’s agenda is a visit to the Glacier, Dachstein, about a 20 minute drive from Schladming to the cable car station. Let’s just say . . .WOW !! We rode a cable car up the mountain and I cannot even begin to describe it . . .simply breathtaking. The temperature was about 20F. Cold, but Bright and very sunny and yes some of us did get sunburn.
Also on top of the Glacier is an "Ice Palace" - a bit pricey but how can you pass going through an Ice Palace atop a Glacier. Well, it was defientely a tourist oriented attraction but it did have some cool sclptures(pardon the pun) there were a lot characters from the movie Ice Age. It's all an experience.
Dachstein Glacier
Ice Castle atop Dachstein Glacier
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 11, 2008 from Schladming, Austria

Thursday, May 8 Vocational visits and a Roman Ages Quarry
Kleinsolk, Austria
This morning we break out for vocational visits. Paul and Jennifer spend the morning with Dr. W. Erhart; Scott visits Landesschülerheim, with Wolfgang Veith while Kim and Amanda visit their guide Dr. Georg Fritsch’s physical therapy practice.
Sölker Marmor“- Marble Quarry
In the afternoon we group back together and head up into the mountains to tour Sölker Marmor“, Kleinsölk - one of the oldest marble quarries in the world!! Our guide, Rotary President Matthias Scheffer.
marble "puzzle"
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 8, 2008 from Kleinsolk, Austria

Monday May 19 Vocational day & Tour of Sarajevo.
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cathedral Church of Nativity of the Theotokos - Serb Orthodox Cathedral in Sarajevo
After a morning of vocational tours and visit with the locals, the team re-grouped and was given a combination walking tour / bus tour of Sarajevo. Our guide Mohammed was a child in Sarajevo during the war and shared a great deal of personal insight into life at that time. He lived through things we can only imagine in our nightmares – bombings by military tanks and how much of life was restricted to movement under the cover of the dark of night, for protection from snipers. You may recall Princess Diana’s works with victims of landmines that remain in many war torn countries, well here it is a very harsh reality. On average two or three people per month are killed from landmines.
As we walked about the city of Sarajevo we have opportunity to visit the Olympic Stadium of the1984 Winter Olympics, mosques and churches as well as the site of Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination which began World War I.
The many people we have had the opportunity to meet and spent time with, although they are very private people as a whole they have been so very generous and willing to share with us some of their most private thoughts and horrific experiences – something that is awe inspiring. Both we as visitors and they as host have learned so much about each other as individuals, countries and cultures. Rotary’s Mission of peace keeping, understanding and tolerance is clearly in full motion through this GSE Tour.
Sebilj Fountain in Bašcaršija
Assasination site of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Sarajevo Cathedral
Cevapi - Bosnian national specialty
written by  GSE7190-1910 on May 19, 2008 from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Davey Crockett train

Street Market

D1910 Conference-paul

Team at D1910 Conference

Conference banner

Group shot

Cable car ride up to Glacier

Ice Castle atop Dachstein Glacier

Dachstein Glacier

Cevapi - Bosnian national specialty

Sarajevo Cathedral

Assasination site of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

Sebilj Fountain in Bašcaršija

Cathedral Church of Nativity of the Theotokos - Serb Orthodox Cathedral in Sarajevo

Vrelo Bune - the Bun river source

Scott's webcast intigues our hosts

Bled Lake sun

Bled Lake

Bled lake 2

Bled Lake boat

Bled Lake 3

Team at Stari Most

Stari Most

Relaxing with our Hosts

Waidhofen Rotary

clock tower

Castle

Sölker Marmor“- Marble Quarry

marble "puzzle"

Austrian Alps

FJ Twin at home

Scott & Kim in security line

Paul, Amanda & Jen on line

Paul & Amanda

Through Security & on our way, our final Good-bye!

Visiting & Waiting with family & friends

Visiting & Waiting with family & friends 2

District 7190 map

'The Team'