Together as a community we have left the Pingry School.  It will take approximately 1,300 miles to get to our first destination, New Orleans, Louisiana.  With over 80 families joining our voyage, it shouldn't take long.

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Update: We now currently have over 125 families participating!!!

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Wow! After our first check-in  and now over 90 families we have already made it to New Orleans.

Fun facts:

1. New Orleans became the first city to host Opera in the U.S. in 1796

2. The Superdome, home of the the New Orleans Saints, is the largest enclosed stadium in the world.

3. The first Mardi Gras Parade took place in 

New Orleans in 1938.  (Picture of Ali and 

Thomas Santana enjoying the festivities as 

youngsters)

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Team you're doing a great job.  Keep moving!!

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It was a quick sprint to Havana and no problem for our team! Did you know there is a famous bronze statue of John Lennon in a Havana park? Fidel Castro unveiled this statue 20 years after Lennon's death, after having banned all Beatles music from the country back in the 60's.  Why the change of heart for Castro? He felt Lennon was a dreamer much like he felt himself to be and wanted to honor him.

Photo courtesy of the Burnett family who recently traveled to Old Havana and loved the mix of spacious squares and magnificent

architecture, along with the narrow

streets with potholes and

disintegrating pavements.

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Next stop Rio de Janeiro!

Did you know Rio de Janeiro is home to one of the New 7 Wonders of the world? Christ the Redeemer is the largest Art Deco statue in the world.  It is said to defy nature standing 98 ft tall and featuring a 92 ft wide arm span.  Despite getting struck by lightning a couple times a year, this symbol of Christianity, lives on strong at the peak of the Corcovado mountain overlooking the city of Rio.

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And another fun fact: Rio de Janeiro is in the Guinness book of Records! In 2004 at its annual Rio Carnival, the party attracted a record 400,000 foreign visitors, making it the biggest carnival in the world.  Residents and visitors engaged in hundreds of street parties and watched competitive parades, featuring Rio's best Samba schools.

Where is Ghana do you ask? Ghana is incredibly close to the equator and on the line representing 0 degree longitude making it pretty much at the center of the world! Because it is so close to the equator it has a

very tropical climate and only two

seasons: one wet and one dry. 

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The population of Ghana is very

diverse with over 70 spoken languages

Because of this, most modern

Ghanaians also speak English.

In fact, English is the official language.  It was passed down by the former British colonists and is used in government and business affairs.

Morocco Fun Facts:

- Morocco is about the same size as California and has 36 million people.

- Morocco is located in the northwestern corner of Africa.

- Moroccan money is called the dirham.

- The original people of this area are called Berbers or Amazigh.

- The largest city is Casablanca and the capital is Rabat.

Morocco is known for its Medinas, which are cities'

historical downtowns and the place to hunt for

traditional handicrafts. All Moroccan handicrafts, like

jewelry, rugs, leather items and teapots can be found in

the Medina.  This photo features a Medina in Marrakesh

courtesty of the Barral family trip in 2012.

Madrid, the capital of Spain, has a population of about 6.6 million making it the third most populous city in the EU.  It is located in the heart of Spain and is actually known as the best place to get a suntan in Spain compared to its many beaches.  Why you ask? Because Madrid lies 667 meters above sea-level.  This allows for mountainous winds and a very dry climate.  The sun shines in Madrid an average of 250 days a year.  Don't forget your sunscreen!

You may find a family member one day studying abroad here.  Students from all over the world come to study in Madrid. 

Not only because of its

beautiful weather and

stunning architecture but

because of its numerous and

well respected universities.  Universidad de Salamanca is one of them and also happens to be the oldest university in Spain.

Venice: "City of Canals," "The Floating City," "Queen of the

Adriatic," and "City of Bridges" are just some of names this

picturesque city is known by.  Venice is comprised of 118 

islands connected by around 400 bridges and over 170 

canals. 

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Did you know that there are only about 3 or 4 new licenses

a year granted to become a gondolier? The profession used

to be handed down from father to son for centuries but now

applicants must take a course.  The course involves 400

hours of training to learn the skills needed, an

apprenticeship with a registered gondolier and a class with

exam on Venetian history. (Photos courtesy of the Morriello family on their trip to Venice)

- Warsaw is the capital and largest city in Poland. It is often referred to as the "Phoenix City" because it has risen repeatedly from the ashes of war most notably WWII where 85 % of its buildings were destroyed.

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- The Warsaw Old Town is the most popular tourist attraction in Warsaw.  It serves a major role in Poland's history and cultural life.  Rich in restaurants, cafes and shops and surrounded by medieval architecture, cobblestone alleys, palaces and cathedrals it is a must see.  The Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 which means it is a landmark of cultural and historical significance and is protected by international treaties.

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- Fun Fact: The world's narrowest                                               2 story house is located in Warsaw - The Keret House-                                                          measuring 30 ft tall but only 28 inches wide at its narrowest  point                                             and just 4 feet wide at its widest.  Can you spot it?                                                    

We are now in Central Asia in the country of Uzbekistan.  Uzbekistan is one of only 2 countries in the world to be double landlocked.  This means it is landlocked (by 5 countries) and then totally surrounded by other landlocked countries.  Liechtenstein (in Europe) is the only other double landlocked country.

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Some other fun facts:

- Uzbekistan became an independent country after the fall of the                                                 

the Soviet Union on August 31, 1991. After this date the  search for a                                             new national flag began. A contest was held to find the new design.

After more than 200 proposals the  winner is shown here.

- In 2002 archeologists discovered a series of ancient pyramids in the country. They believe them to be 2,700 years old!

- Uzbekistan is home to one of the largest open pit gold mines in the world.  It was first discovered in 1958 and commercial mining is still occurring to this day.  It produces about

2 million ounces of gold per year.

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                                  The national flag of Nepal is the world's only non-quadrilateral flag.  It                                         consists of two united pennant shapes.  The triangles                                                                   represent Hinduism and Buddhism which are the two major religions in                                     Nepal.  The shape of the flag is said to represent the Himalayan                                                     Mountains.

Nepal is another landlocked country.  It is surrounded by China

to its north and India to its south.  Not only is the Earth's highest

mountain, Mount Everest, located here but it is home to 8 of the

14 highest in the world.  All are 8000 meters (26,000 ft) or more

above sea level.  They are  collectively referred to as the 'eight  

thousanders.'  What  people may not  know  about Nepal is  that

it is also home  to the second deepest  canyon in the world, the

Kali Gandaki Canyon.  This canyon is formed by the Kali 

Gandaki River and  is surrounded by  two  of the 

'eight-thousander'  mountains.

- Shanghai sometimes referred to as "The Pearl of Asia" and "The Paris of the East" is one of the largest cities in the world.  With a population of 26 million no wonder it's home to the longest metro system in the world.  Four hundred miles of tunnels and tracks lie beneath the city with 393 stations spread throughout taking its residents and visitors to its many attractions.  

- With roughly 6 million travelers visiting Shanghai a year they have plenty to take in.  From the ancient  Yu Gardens and Shanghai Museum to the more modern Bund Promenade and Shanghai Tower there is plenty to explore.  If you happen to be there in October or November you may want to try a hairy crab for dinner. These crabs known for there sweetness are considered a delicacy. Be prepared to pay a premium of $100 per kilogram for them!

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Kakadu National Park is Australia's biggest national park where some say time stands still. It is home to ancient Aboriginal tribes (Bininj in the north and Mungguy in the south) who still live                                           a traditional life there to this day.  These indigenous people have lived                                         in the park for more than 50,000 year.  Theirs is thought to be the                                           oldest surviving culture on the earth.

Because of its ancient history, Kakadu Park has rock art dating back 20,000 years that portrays historical events and traditions from the past.  The park itself is about 7,722 square miles (almost half the size of Switzerland). Sixty different mammals, 120                            reptile species, 2,000 plant species and 280 different bird species call this                            land home.

While exploring the park you may run into the strange looking mounds                        pictured here.  These termite mounds and can reach up to 19 feet tall. They  

are made of mud and termite saliva and can last up to 60 years!

Welcome to Sydney, Australia- a city known for its surf, sand and sea!

Fun Facts you may not know:

- The harbor that surrounds Sydney is the world's deepest natural harbor holding a colossal 504,000 liters of water. 

- The Sydney Harbor Bridge is the largest and tallest steel arch bridge                                       in the world.  The bridge carries 8 traffic lanes, 2 rail tracks and a                            walking/bicycle path.

- With over 100 beaches there is no water activity you can not experience while in this amazing city.

-Sydney is home to the Blue Mountains.                                                   These mountains are filled with eucalyptus trees which                                                              discharge a mist of eucalyptus oil that create a blue haze.                                                      This region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. 

- A must when traveling here- sunscreen!   Sydney averages 340 sunny days a year!

The Golden Gate Bridge is an icon of the San Francisco Bay.  Its construction was finished in 1937 ahead of schedule and under budget despite being started during the Great Depression

Did you know that?

- The bridge was not supposed to be                                  the orange color it is so famous for. The original colors were intended to                                 be blue and yellow, lobbied by the Navy, for visibility reasons.  But when                                the burnt red steel arrived it was determined by the architect to be                                       highly visible and more pleasing to the eye.  The color is officially called international orange.

- When the bridge was built it was considered the longest suspension bridge in the world. It held that title until 1964 when the Verrazzano surpassed it. Thats over 25 years!!!

- When the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937 the toll to pass was $0.50 each way. This is roughly equivalent  to an $18.00 roundtrip today. 

- At its 50th anniversary celebration on May 24, 1987, three hundred thousand people merged onto the bridge causing the bridge to sag 7 ft under this enormous weight. For just a little bit the iconic arch flattened!

-Mount Rushmore is one of the most recognizable symbols of the US. It was designed by Gutzan Borglum and took 14 years to complete.  We all know  the four famous presidents that define this monument - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

But did you know?

- A bill was proposed in Congress in 1937 to include Susan B. Anthony (famous for her advocacy on the women's voting rights movement) on the monument, but it was too late.  Funding was already allocated and therefore the bill was denied. 

                                               - There is a secret room behind President Lincoln's head.  It was                                                   intended to hold important government documents but money                                                     ran out. The room was started but  never completed.

                                               - The bodies of each president was also meant to be included as                                                   part of the monument. But again, funding ran out so only the head of each president was carved. 

-We have made it to Chicago! We are taking a quick stop to learn the history behind Wrigley Field -Home of the Chicago Cubs.  Wrigley field is the second oldest baseball stadium in the U.S. (Boston's Fenway Park is the first). The scoreboard                                          at Wrigley Field has been around since 1937.  Thats 83 years! It is                                          one of two scoreboards that are manually operated left in the MLB                                         today (the other being Boston's Fenway Park).

- The park is famous for its ivy wall lining the outfield.                                             The ivy was planted in 1937 along with other plants but eventually the ivy took over and has adorned the wall every since.

- Wrigley Field is one                                   of the only ball fields where neighbors can sit on their rooftops and                                      watch the games.

- Babe Ruth's famous                                 called  shot happened at Wrigley Field. During the 1932 World Series, Babe Ruth pointed to centerfield indicating where he was going to hit the ball. And he did! Although many fans disagree with his intentions, he still did it here.

Team, we have made it back to the Pingry School!  Congratulations on completing the challenge.  As a community working together we walked, ran, biked and swam  25,000 plus miles around the world. Hopefully, you were able to learn some interesting and fun facts about the places we traveled along the way. Be on the look out for more BBP events in the fall. Thank you to all that participated.  Happy summer!