Following the Equator | EF's Educational Travel Blog

How to navigate three exceptional art galleries

By Paul Mattesini | EF Tour Director

A tour director friend of mine just finished a London, Paris and Madrid tour. Quite a super trip to go on, and one that offers a chance to visit three exceptional galleries. EF tours are busy places; sometimes a visit to a sight can be limited in scope due to the huge range of other great places to get to in a city. It seems a shame to lose some time coming to terms with what a museum has to offer and what you might want to see while standing, clutching your ticket, in the doorway.

Fortunately, the British Museum, Louvre and Prado all offer some great online help for you to do a little pre-tour planning.

Although not included in the actual tour, London’s British Museum is free of charge to enter (great price) and open until 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, making it an outstanding choice for free time. In 2010, BBC Radio 4 has been running a superb "History of the World in 100 Objects" series in conjunction with the museum, and this offers a chance to get a great overview of the range and depth of exhibits on offer. Maximize your time and make use of the museum’s sheets offering the best way to spend one or three hours at the museum. Make sure to have a look inside the reading room, restored in the late 20th century and now available for all to visit. Around the museum, the neighborhood of Bloomsbury is a relaxing place to get lunch or just enjoy the atmosphere.

Meanwhile in Paris, one of the great ways to enter the Louvre is via the Carrousel. Your EF Tour Director can lead you to this point, having first given you some time to see the large glass pyramid (above) and courtyard as well as views of Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe through the small arch. Heading down some stairs, you immediately see some of the original fortification walls and the inverted pyramid. Your tour director can point you toward the information desk (free floor plans available) and entrance to the three main galleries. I would suggest heading up the stairs toward Sully and all the way to the end of the corridor. Going down some steps, you will walk through parts of the old fortifications. Where do you go from here? Well, the Louvre website offers some great self-guided routes that you can follow, each of them 90 minutes.

The Prado in Madrid, located close to the Ritz hotel, was originally designed to be a natural history museum, so you will find plenty of animal sculptures around the exterior. The museum website has a choice of three self-guided routes to follow around the gallery. Featuring some of the great European art and sculpture, this easily accessible art gallery can be a relaxing treat after the overwhelming size of the Louvre. Also, if you are in the mood, it is only half a mile or so to walk from the Prado to the excellent Reina Sofia gallery (featuring Picasso’s Guernica and so much more).

Photo: Al Ianni via Flickr (CC license)

Travelling through London: My favourite Tube station

I recently posted on my fondness for the Paris metro system and named some favourite stations (and one exit). It seems only fair to give London the right of reply.

The London Underground is a more workmanlike system. Like soccer and food, the English seem to prefer practicality over flamboyance, the artisan over the artist. That said, the Tube has some wonderful features. I can begin with the map, a piece of art in itself (I know this as I have seen it reproduced on t-shirts). The naming of lines, rather than the numbering used in most other cities, is terrific. Who doesn’t enjoy being advised to take the Piccadilly to the Bakerloo for the Circle or Metropolitan? Never forget that tube stations were used as bunkers for Londoners to shelter in during the blitz of 1940-1941, a landmark piece of the city’s history. Then there are the exit signs marked “Way Out” and the internationally renowned refrain of “Mind the gap” as the train doors open. They have this announcement in Paris, but it just sounds too soothing in French.

However, the point for me here is the individual stations. It is hard to find distinct favourites. The central stations of Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross all seem very much of their time rather than timeless. Timelessness is a quality that does exist in some places. I used to live in West London and took the Piccadilly line past Hammersmith (a very busy junction). The next station is Barons Court. I have always had a fondness for this station, its wooden seats, like extended armchairs, plus the fact that no-one ever seemed to get on or off here. Earl’s Court, shortly afterward, has an apostrophe; Barons Court doesn’t. I have never resolved this.

So, for a favourite station, I am left with the obvious, certainly to those that know me. Arsenal station with its long tunneled walkway exiting onto Avenell road facing the North Bank of Highbury Stadium is an unbeatable memory. Arsenal station (Piccadilly line) is the only one on the system to have been re-named in honour of the success of the local soccer team in the 1930s. You can still see the fading signs for ‘Gillespie Road’ on the platform. Nostalgia that we can see, how about that! Arsenal moved to a new stadium in 2006 so the exit has lost its immediate charm. I guess this leaves me back at Barons Court.

European Museums: The Hidden Gems

What are the great art galleries of Europe? I am sure some obvious names spring to mind. I like these big galleries, but I always feel overwhelmed by the “biggest gallery in the world” or “largest collection of Renaissance art.” I sometimes feel as if someone is going to lead me out the door saying, “Sorry, but you’re just not skilled enough to understand how good this stuff really is.” Don’t get me wrong, what’s not to love about a well-drawn, chubby angel; it’s just that, sometimes, I want something different, less imposing and, arguably, a little closer to the world I recognise around me.

So, I would like to take the chance to promote five of the lesser visited (on tour), but supremely accessible European galleries that feature contemporary art, many of them in cities to be visited by you soon.

Tate Modern (London) What a place, and free to enter! Next door to the Globe Theatre on the bank of the River Thames and converted from an old power station, the huge turbine hall has featured some superb temporary installations.  Check out a piece like Equivalent VIII and wonder, “Could I have done this? Does it matter if I could or couldn’t?” Be glad someone did!

Reina Sofia (Madrid) Really do all you can to find the time to visit this super little gallery. One reason alone—Guernica—should be enough. This work alone can keep you fascinated for years to come as you read more and unravel more. Elsewhere in the gallery the idea of time and how we look at history in art is challenged. Great stuff.

Espace Dali (Paris) You are probably going to want to go to Montmartre while in Paris, right? Well, if you go in the day then make some time to visit the Dali exhibition located near the Place du Tetre. Dali looked at the Renaissance masterpieces and re-interpreted in his own fascinating style.  No shrinking violet, he once said, "Every morning upon awakening, I experience a supreme pleasure, that of being Salvador Dali."

Galerie Jakubska (Prague) This beautiful gallery exhibits works by contemporary Russian artists and offers a fascinating insight into the art of Russia and the other countries of the former Soviet Union. The gallery is owned by the highly successful Ukrainian artist Alexander Onishenko who came to Prague with few possessions and began selling his work on the Charles Bridge.

Rosengart Collection (Lucerne) This comprehensive collection of more than 200 pieces of classic modernist art by a select group of predominantly European artists includes work by Klee, Picasso, Miro, Cezanne and Renoir. Housed in an elegant, neo-classical building that was formerly the Swiss National Bank, this collection was originally the private collection of father and daughter, Siegfried and Angela Rosengart.

One of my own

In my time with EF, I have been lucky enough to attend many conventions and events where I meet staff from other EF offices. Talking to current staff, I have often heard the opener, "I went on an EF tour in high school." I always asked who the tour director was; it was fun to hear about.

People on tour always say they will stay in touch, and they often do. It is much rarer to run into people outside of another tour. Back in 2000 when I was working in our London office, someone buzzed to come in. She had been on a tour with me in 1993 and now worked for Northwest Airlines and was visiting London. She had found the EF office by chance and was meaning to ask if anyone knew me. In 1998 an ex-participant from a tour was in London working for a year. We met a few times; she developed her support for Arsenal football club and was able to enjoy them winning the championship that season.

Despite such marvellous meetings, none of my own was working for EF, until April of last year. I received an email from Kevin Lynch. He was on tour with me (A Capital Connection) as a student in 2003. I remember his group well. The group leader, Doug Tieszen, was one of the most engaging I have travelled with; few others will spend their first jet-lagged evening in Europe chatting about Kurt Vonnegut with me. A small group (seven plus Doug), they were superb together and so much fun to be around. Kevin sent me a photo with his email, taken outside our London hotel. I remember the hotel, the Blakemore, and the photo. I had, fortunately, forgotten my haircut.

Kevin had left high school and made his way to Denver and EF via college in Idaho and is now working as a regional accounts coordinator. He genuinely shared how travel with EF had made such a difference to him. I am lucky to have been part of it. One of mine, working for EF. I am so proud! Get him on as many conventions as possible; I want Kevin to share his tale with the world!

Staff Spotlight: Paul Mattesini

Starting next week, Paul Mattesini, one of EF’s best-loved tour directors, will begin posting weekly to Following the Equator. Look for his advice and musings on everything travel-related. In anticipation of his blogging debut, a little bit about Paul:


The early years: I was born and raised in the UK. At the age of 15 I took a break from school and traveled throughout Europe for five years, before returning home and completing night-school leading to the University of London, where I studied history.  


EF career path: I joined EF in 1992, and have since led more than 200 tours to 50 countries. I spent a year in Boston working in the Customized Department and I still check most customized itineraries each year. These days, I lead several tours a year, but I also work with product development, designing and adjusting tours, and look after the tour director website.

The EF family: I spent two years managing the London regional office (1999-2001), where I was responsible for allocating tours and hiring and training tour directors. I liked Michelle McHale so much as a new tour director that we married in 2004! We have a 2-year-old daughter, Izzy, and another daughter due April 25th.

Living the good life: Having lived in Spain for a few years, we are now back in rural England with a growing collection of chicken, sheep and rabbits.


Hobbies: Love backgammon, dancing with my daughter, keeping bees and cooking. As the son of an Italian chef, I was cooking from the age of six on.

Favorite sport: Arsenal football (soccer). I was a former season ticket holder, and once bought a flat so I could live less than a mile from the stadium.


Best travel destination: Thailand, without a doubt. I love it.


Favorite tour destination: Iceland was superb. Prague is a favorite city.

Around the world with EF staff: Recollections from Dublin, London and Paris

By Catherine Henkels, EF Tour Consultant

In October, I embarked on my first EF Educational Tour. I had traveled to Europe before on my own and with a group, but never on an EF tour and I was excited to find out what it was all about. The tour I went on was Dublin, London and Paris, a tour that visits three countries in only 10 days. The advantages of traveling with a group became evident pretty quickly, as it would be difficult to see as much as we did in such a short time.

I traveled with a group from Indianapolis, Indiana, and there was at least one person on the tour who had never left the state before.  The EF staff greeted the Hoosiers at the airport in Dublin, and despite many hours of travel, they were happy to be there. In what I soon learned would be a recurring theme throughout this tour, we didn’t let jetlag slow us down.

The first day in Dublin we took a walking tour to gain our bearings, and after dinner, most of the group ventured out to see what Dublin was like at night. The group leader decided that boys and girls should split up for the adventure into the city. My colleague, Emily, and I accompanied the girls to explore Dublin by night. We walked around the Temple Bar area, where street performers drew crowds. The students got a kick out of seeing the human statues and the different styles of the locals. Dublin was definitely a nice introduction to Europe for this group, which was comprised of many new travelers. There was very little in the way of language barriers and there was no need to use public transportation, as Dublin is a smaller city and easily walkable. We could gain our bearings and adjust to our new surroundings, without adding the additional maze of mass transit systems.

Our 10 Best of 2009

Thank you to everyone for reading, sharing and supporting Following the Equator in 2009. We sure enjoyed posting great stories, facts, tips and profiles about educational travel and the group leaders who make it possible.

We're already planning some exciting new things for 2010. Most of all, though, we want to hear from you. What do you want to read and see on this blog—more interviews with teachers, more amazing travel photos, more fundraising and recruiting ideas, more tidbits about the things to see and do on tour? Let us know at equator@ef.com.

As we look ahead to an exciting year of travel in 2010, we thought we'd take a quick look back at a successful 2009 and our 10 favorite blog posts of the year. Feel free to post your own comments below.

Photo of the Week: London Eye

The London Eye—Europe's biggest Ferris wheel that rises nearly 450 feet over the city and opened in 2000—has been compared to a much older European icon.

"The Eye has done for London what the Eiffel Tower did for Paris," wrote noted British architect Sir Richard Rogers, "which
is to give it a symbol and to let people climb above the city and look back down on it. Not just specialists or rich people, but everybody. That's the beauty of it: it is public and accessible, and it is in a great position at the heart of London."

I love the perspective of this photo of the London Eye, which was submitted to the EF Tours group on Flickr by Skaines.

Do you have great travel destination photos? Submit them to the
EF Tours pool on Flickr. We select a new Photo of the Week every Thursday.

Photo: Skaines via Flickr (EF Tours pool)

Group Leader Spotlight: Linda Piccolo

From attending a Wiccan wedding at Stonehenge to bribing a housekeeper to let her see the suite where Agatha Christie wrote her novels, Linda Piccolo has had her fair share of adventures while traveling abroad with her students on EF tours.

The high school English and theater teacher from Montana has even been inspired by her travels to write a play, which was published and performed by one of her drama classes last year.

In this installment of the Group Leader Spotlight, Linda shares some of her experiences, describes how important travel is for students and hints at her next travel-inspired play.

Group Leader Spotlight: Chad Brannon

Traveling has always been an integral part of Chad Brannon's life. Now, as a middle-school science teacher in Alabama, Chad is making travel an important part of his students' lives, too.

And he has the stories to prove it.

Ask him about the effect that educational travel has on his students, and he'll tell you a story about the boy who once had no direction but now credits his tour for opening his eyes, or the boy who traveled to Costa Rica and now wants to major in Spanish education and help underprivileged kids speak English, or the girl who came out of her shell after braving the zip line through the Costa Rican rainforest.

Chad—pictured above on the right with his co-group leader, John DiPlacido—is preparing to lead his fourth tour with EF, taking his students back to Costa Rica in June. He took some time out of his busy spring break to share some of his favorite stories with us:

Photo of the Week: Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Queen's Guard outside Buckingham Palace is one of the most popular (and most photographed) sights in London.

This photo was submitted to the EF Tours group on Flickr by ls1rks. If you have any good travel destination photos, please submit them to our pool on Flickr. We choose a new Photo of the Week every Thursday.

Photo: ls1rks via Flickr

Crossing Abbey Road

There are few more iconic street crossings than the one at Abbey Road in London.

Since the Beatles famously crossed the street on the cover of their legendary Abbey Road album 40 years ago, the street has become a hugely popular tourist attraction.

Now, another band depicts a day in the life of Abbey Road in a new music video.

Gadling tipped us off to this wonderful video by Brisbane-based Blame Ringo for its song "Garble Arch." Through time-lapse photography, the video captures tourists and other passers-by re-enacting the Beatles' cover, and it's quickly becoming a viral hit.

It's hilarious (and almost hypnotic) watching people dodge traffic to get their moment in the intersection. Plus, the song is really good, too.

What do you think of the video (and the song)? Have you posed for your own photos at Abbey Road? Please let us know with your comments below.