Lakers Abroad: An Unforgettable Journey Through the Heart of Europe

While some of BL’s sports teams flew south for spring break, one group of Lakers took the opportunity to travel even further. Led by upper school English teacher Mr. Barron, eleven students (nine seniors and two juniors) took a trip to Central Europe, where they spent time in four countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the tiny principality of Liechtenstein. The trip ran through Explorica, an educational touring company that facilitates international and domestic travel for students. The boys and Mr. Barron traveled between destinations on a bus that they shared with a tour guide and several other student groups from around the country.

• Some of the highlights of the tour included:
• Watching the striking of the ornate antique clock in Marienplatz, the central square of Munich.
• Hiking up a small mountain for a better view of majestic Neuschwanstein Castle.
• Driving on treacherous cliff sides through the Alps, and partaking in a snowball fight at the top of one of the mountains.
• Touring a cuckoo clock factory in the Black Forest of Germany.
• Digging into a fondue lunch in beautiful Lucerne, Switzerland.

“The mountain views in Switzerland were awesome,” said Parker Sloboda ‘25, “[A]nd my favorite city was Munich. It’s just such a lovely place.”

Tyler Slowikowski ‘25 agreed with Parker’s opinion of the mountains. He recalled opening his hotel room blinds one morning and looking out onto a panoramic view of the alps. “It blew me away,” he said, “I almost forgot they were going to be there.”

But what truly made the experience special was the comradery. “There’s nothing like hanging out in a foreign city with your friends,” said Parker, “I hope I get a chance to do it again some day.”