Following the Equator

Friday Fun Fact: Eiffel Tower names

The Eiffel Tower's name is synonymous with iconic images, but its image also includes the names of six dozen French icons.

Gustave Eiffel, who designed the tower in the 1880s, engraved the names of 72 French scientists, engineers and other prominent people on the four façades of the tower as a tribute to their scientific contributions. The notable names, located under the first balcony, were painted over around the turn of the century but were restored in 1986-87.

Photo: Booches via Flickr (CC license)

Life on Tour Poll: Who's got game?

The guys think they have all the moves on Life on Tour—EF's new reality web series. But what do you think? Do Colter and Tyler have "game"?

poll by twiigs.com

Life on Tour Episode 4: 'The City of Love'

Would you try escargot in Paris? And what do you think about the river cruise? Chat with other Life on Tour fans and cast members on EF Tours' Facebook fan page. And stay tuned for Episode 5 next Tuesday!

Group Leader Spotlight search

Our Group Leader Spotlight is taking the week off, but we're still looking for more EF Group Leaders who want to be featured in our weekly Q&A.

Are you an EF Group Leader with a good story to tell about traveling the world with students? Do you know an EF Group Leader whom we should profile?

Send us your recommendations at equator@ef.com. We'll resume our Group Leader Spotlight next Wednesday.

Life on Tour Episode 3: 'Top of the World'

What was your reaction the first time you made it to the top of the Eiffel Tower? How does it compare to Malia's and Tyler's reactions? What did you scream? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Plus, chat with other Life on Tour fans and cast members on EF Tours' Facebook fan page.

Rear Window

In anyone's house or apartment, there's usually one window, door or balcony that offers the most picturesque view of the world outside the four walls.

My four most recent houses (OK, three apartments and now finally a house) have each been in a different country. In each home, I made a point of identifying the best view and taking a picture of it.

Here they are:

Student photo and video contests

Do you have an amazing photo from your trip abroad? Do you have a fun video of your experiences? Then enter EF's latest photo and video contests.

EF Educational Tours is continuing to accept entries to its student photo contest and its student video contest.

EF's photo contest is looking for both the best travel destination/scenic shots and the best shots of students having fun on tour. To enter, upload your photos to Flickr and add them to the EF Tours group. Just tag your photos "EF destination photo, Fall 2008" or "EF friends photo, Fall 2008." For more details, visit the official student photo contest site.

EF's video contest is looking for the best short videos that capture your EF tour experience. The videos should be no longer than three minutes. To enter, upload your videos to YouTube and add them to the EF Tours Student Video Contest group. Just tag your video "EF contest, Fall 2008." For more details, visit the official student video contest site.

The grand-prize winner in each of the two photo contests and the one video contest will receive an iPod Touch. Both contests end December 15, 2008, so submit your photos and videos now.

Friday Fun Fact: Pilatus Railway

The Pilatus Railway is the world's steepest cog railway and the easiest route to the top of
Mount Pilatus—which was one of the settings
in Life on Tour Episode 2.

The railway includes a maximum gradient of 48 percent up to its station that sits near the summit nearly 7,000 feet above sea level. It takes about 30 minutes to ascend the mountain and about 40 minutes to descend.

Mount Pilatus, which looms over Lake Lucerne, gets its name from a popular legend that says Pontius Pilate was buried there.

Mountain photo: Small via Flickr (CC license); railway photo: Jay8085 via Flickr (CC license)

Life on Tour Poll: Colter's romance

Life on Tour—EF's new reality web series—premiered today. Every Thursday, we will pose a new Life on Tour Poll question. Watch
Episode 1 and Episode 2 now and then weigh in on Colter's romance:

poll by twiigs.com

Life on Tour Episode 2: 'How Awkward'

What do you think about Episode 2 of Life on Tour—EF's new reality web series? Post your comments on EF's Facebook fan page, and ask the cast members questions about their experience tonight on Facebook from 8 to 10 p.m. EST.

Be sure to watch Episode 3 on Tuesday!

Life on Tour Episode 1: 'The Adventure Begins'

Are you ready for Life on Tour? EF's new reality web series makes its world premiere today.

Watch the debut episode, "The Adventure Begins," right now:

Life on Tour follows six students—Brandon, Briana, Colter, Laurent, Malia and Tyler—on an EF tour to Lucerne, Paris, Florence and Rome. The series was filmed and produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, the creators of The Real World and other popular reality shows.

The first two episodes of the 10-part series debut today, and new episodes will debut every Tuesday and Thursday. You can watch and chat about Life on Tour episodes on the official Life on Tour site, on EF's Facebook fan page, on EF's YouTube channel and right here at Following the Equator.

(Editor's note: Photo of the Week will be on hiatus during the Life on Tour series and through the holidays. Photo of the Week will return to Following the Equator on Jan. 8.)

Student Travel Poll: What's the best part of a tour?

Everybody has their own reasons for traveling on an EF tour, and everybody gets something different out of their experience. Three big favorites for students are seeing someplace new, getting away with friends and, of course, eating.

In this month's Student Travel Poll, we want to know:

poll by twiigs.com