Students from Nicholls State University took a tour of Europe during this summer traveling through six different countries.

History professor Jim Barnidge stated, “This is our 42nd year. We are the oldest, continuing study abroad program in Louisiana.”

Last summer, Connor Gonzales, Allison Gravois, Mandy Faucheux, Barnidge and 87 other students traveled from New Orleans to Europe, starting off in Brussels.

In June, they traveled from Brussels to Belgium and continued to France. They stayed in France, focusing mainly on Paris, taking time to visit the Eiffel Tower. After staying in France for a while, they then traveled to Switzerland.

Gonzales, senior History major, commented, “My favorite thing about the trip is tied between Switzerland and Belgium. Switzerland for the nature because it was just beautiful and Belgium because of Brussels.”

After traveling through Switzerland, they passed through Italy and visited Venice and Rome. Then they proceeded to Austria, and not long after, Germany. They all said they had fun and took many pictures.

Gravois, senior Elementary education major, said, “I enjoyed Brussel because it was nothing like I was expecting. It was a really quiet town, but it was a college town, so they stuff going on every night and it was perfect. It was something I wasn’t expecting.”

Barnidge explained that the price of the trip, $4,195.00, covers everything from the plane ticket to the rooms, as well as meals and transportation. Students who attended the Europe Tour filled out a participant application and sent it to Barnidge with $100 enclosed. There was a $400 confirmation fee a few weeks later.

“Our hotels are first rate. You aren’t going to a dormitory. You’re going to a first class hotel,” Barnidge said.

The trip was open to everyone, not just History students. The trip was also open to the community, so people from all over South Louisiana traveled with the tour. The mayor of the city traveled with the students, as well as the volunteers from down the bayou.
The students also created a scrapbook that portrayed their journey from Brussel to Germany. Barnidge said that next summer, the students participating in the tour will concentrate more on Italy than anywhere else.

Students will fly out from New Orleans and start the tour in Switzerland, staying for two days in the Swiss Alps. From there they will travel to Italy and stay for eight days, visiting Florence, Rome and Venice, before moving on to Austria, visiting for one day in Innsbruck.

After the tour of Austria, the students will travel to Nurnberg and Rhine Cruise, Germany and stay for four days. Students will be returning to New Orleans from Rhine Cruise on the 16th day of the tour.

If students want to participate in the Europe tour for next year, applications must be filled out and handed in with the $100 fee before the semester is over. There are only a certain amount of spots that can be taken for the tour.

Barnidge said, “I am excited for the Europe tour next year.”