Orientation: We will have several mandatory pre-trip orientation sessions in which you must attend in order to complete requirements for the course. These will meet in SMTH 125 starting at 5:45 pm. you must notify Prof. Weller if you are going to miss any of these meetings.

Meeting #2 - Feb 21

Meeting #3 - March 21- History of Organics
Pricing Assignment due
Class Schedule & Accomodations
Discuss Packing

Meeting #4 - Apr 4 - History of France & Italy
Cultural Topics Presentations

Meeting #5 - Apr 18 - Technical Paper Presentations and papers due.

Meeting #6 -
Monday, May 14 - 1:00 pm Rm 125 SMTH
Exam over Technical Topics
The actual class will begin on the afternoon of 14 May with an in-class meeting the day before we leave for Europe on 15 May.

Tuesday 15 May we will depart Purdue at 2:00 pm on a Purdue bus to Chicago O'Hare for a 6:13 flight arriving London Heathrow at 08:15 am Wednesday. We will then take a one-hour bus to London Gatwick airport for a 1:30 pm flight arriving Toulouse Blagnac airport at 4:30 pm. We will take a bus for a 10-minute ride to our hotel, the Campanile Gril, directly across the street from a Superstore (Carrefour) where you can buy anything you've forgotten. Also the hotel is a half-mile walk from ESA Purpan University and about two and one-half miles from city center. ESA Purpan University has an exchange with Purdue and you will probably run into some French students that have studied at Purdue.

Thursday we'll start the France tour with a visit a local farm and then drive to the walled city of Carcassonne where you can spend the afternoon exploring the walled city.

Friday we'll visit crop and livestock sites, cheese production and the famous the Caves de Roquefort.

Saturday we will drive up into the the Pyrenees mountains to Gavarnie for a mountain excursion to Cirque de Gavarnie.

Sunday will be more mountain excursions with a side trip to Lourdes. Sunday evening we'll be back in Toulouse with the evening free.
Monday we will visit a local market and organic vegetable production farm in Toulouse.

Tuesday will include trips to wine growing and production areas and the medieval village of Cordes. On Tuesday evening the students of Purpan will host a party for the group.

Wednesday will be more farm visits (REAR, production, organic dairy) with the evening free in Toulouse.

Thursday, May 24, we'll leave the hotel about 7:30 for an 8:30 one-hour flight to Paris for a free weekend of exploring the city. We'll stay in a small twelve-room hotel (Valadon) in the rue Cler district in the 7th arrondissement. This nice area where we'll stay is just a few blocks from the Eiffel tower which we'll ride to the top. Just walking the streets experiencing Paris, eating French bread, and trying the different foods is an adventure.

Friday and Saturday will be free days to roam and explore the city, the historic sites, the museums, the Seine or take a train out to Versailles.

Sunday morning, May 27, we'll leave the hotel early, bus to Orly airport for a 7:40 flight to Rome arriving about 10:00. From the airport we will visit a diversified organic farm and enjoy an organic lunch at Agricoltura Nuova. From here we will head south to I Casali della Parata, an agritourism lodge, for the night. 

Monday we will visit Monaci di Lanuvio, an organic farming and processing facility run by the Benedictine monks. Then we will proceed to La Colombaia agritourism farm. Here we will see vegetable and fruit production and enjoy an Italian dinner and evening’s entertainment.

Tuesday we visit the Mustilli winery for a tour, tasting and lunch and then have free time to explore the village of Sant’Agata dei Gori.  We will then proceed to Naples, where we will stay at the Hotel Caracciolo 10 and Locanda del Mare.

Wednesday we will visit Vanullo water buffalo farm and observe mozzarella production; visit the Greek Ruins of Paestrum; and finish the day at La Morella, an agritourism and protected horticulture facility. Here we will enjoy a traditional Italian meal and outdoor experiences.

Thursday will be a free day in the Naples area, where you may choose to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, Sorrento, or wander the city of Naples.

Friday will conclude our visit to Naples.  We will tour an orchid greenhouse and local produce distribution center followed by a “Farewell to Naples” dinner.  

Saturday morning we will proceed to Rome for a free weekend, staying at the Albergo del Sole Biscione in the Campo dei Fiori area.  

Sunday and Monday are free days for exploring the eternal city of Rome.

Tuesday, June 5 we'll leave the hotel about 8:00 am for an 11:15 flight to Washington Dulles airport. Then a 5:40 flight arriving Chicago O'Hare at 7:00 pm. We should be out of the airport by 7:30ish (8:30ish Lafayette time) and on a bus for Purdue arriving at Smith Hall about 11:00 pm.