PoleVaultPower.com

http://www.polevaultpower.com/roadtrip/europe/index.php

In May of 2007 I will be traveling to Europe with Erica Bartolina, a professional pole vaulter who trains in Louisiana. She will be competing in meets in the Czech Republic, France and Germany, and I will be helping her out and chronicling the journey through pictures and blogging. This is my first time going to Europe and I am really excited!

I am fundraising to help cover my expenses.

The plane ticket was just under $800, and I am hoping to raise $300 to cover food costs. All of the other expenses are being taken care of.

Even if you cannot help financially, I would love advice about the trip, tips on places we must visit or stay, or anything else you think might help.


If you would prefer to mail a donation, you can do so at:
Becca Gillespy
P.O. Box 77633
Seattle, WA 98177
Please make checks payable to me, NOT to Pole Vault Power.

Itinerary

This is, of course, subject to change.

Friday 5/18
AM - Depart Seattle / New Orleans for Philly
PM - 8:03 Depart Philly for Frankfurt

Saturday 5/19
AM - 10:20 Arrive Frankfurt
PM - Drive ~ 285 miles to Dresden, GER (4 hours travel)

Sunday 5/20
AM - Drive ~ 100 miles to Turnov, CZ
PM - Erica trains in Turnov

Monday 5/21
AM - Rest
PM - Sightseeing / Rest

Tuesday 5/22
Competition in Turnov

Wednesday 5/23
AM - Drive ~ 450 miles to Muhouse, FRA
PM - Arrive Mulhouse, FRA (7 hours travel with stops)

Thursday 5/24
AM - Drive ~ 450 miles to Pezenas, FRA
PM - Arrive Pezenas, FRA (7 hours travel with stops)

Friday 5/25
AM - Rest
PM - Sightseeing / Rest (It's on the Mediteranean)

Saturday 5/26
Competition in Pezenas

Sunday 5/27
AM - Drive ~ 540 miles to Rehlingen, GER
PM - Arrive Rehlingen, GER (7-8 hours)

Monday 5/28
Competition in Rehlingen, GER

Tuesday 5/29
AM - Rest
PM - Drive ~ 130 miles to Frankfurt (2 hours easy drive)

Wednesday 5/30
AM - 11:00 Depart Frankfurt for Seattle / New Orleans
PM - 10:00 Arrive Seattle / New Orleans


Check out more at http://www.polevaultpower.com/roadtrip/europe/index.php

I've always wanted to go to see the Kostnice Ossuary Beinhaus in the Czech Republic. It's a gigantic church built out of human skeletons.

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Kostnice%20Ossuary%20Beinhaus&w=all

ESSX will help Becca and Polevaultpower members!
Here is why
Becca has had every opportunity to turn www.polevaultpower.com into a paid site, but keeps it FREE to over 2,635 members.
She spend hours sorting and searching for articles you may never see just so you get the most up to date info.
She gets very little in donations and a trip such as this would be very worth while for the readers and members to get info from Europe during her travels

ESSX will send $200 VISA gift card this week towards your expenses Becca and a BIG THANK YOU for keeping the site the best PV site on the web
I challenge others to donate to Becca even $10.00- $20.00 just because you enjoyed or have benefited from the site???
Bruce Caldwell
Gift cards can purchased at any drug store or
donate here
http://www.polevaultpower.com/roadtrip/europe/index.php

OK Bruce I did my part. Becca I hope you have a great time. As your trip gets closer let me know if you need more help.

Thanks guys!

Just don't wind up starring in any of those DVDs from Praque.

I tried to help a little
Have fun!

wear a canadian flag on your person at all times. you won't be bothered...

I used to live in Germany (military brat ) and I've been all over Europe and most countries arn't very fond of America, especially right now. Nobody hates Canada.

I edited the first post to include my handy thermometer that is charting the fundraising progress.

I chipped in, you should too. You can't put a price on the happiness of one little girl......

theczar wrote:wear a canadian flag on your person at all times. you won't be bothered...

I used to live in Germany (military brat ) and I've been all over Europe and most countries arn't very fond of America, especially right now. Nobody hates Canada.

I don't think you need to hide your origins unless things have changed a lot since I was there (15 years). Europe will love you! A woman in East Berlin just about hugged the breath out of me when she found out I was Yank (of course, she had lived through the Berlin Airlift). Even in Paris I was treated as welcome, after being assured that they would snub me.

There were drunken GI's (no reference to the czar) who just looked for trouble and they found it. But if you were to ask directions to der Bahnhof or l'Hotel d'Ville I think that most everyone would be eager to help.

Can you accept paypal?