Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Moravian "IMPACT" sponsors Baltimore trip

People tend to complain that there isn’t anything to do at Moravian College or in Bethlehem. If I’ve learned anything in keeping up with this blog, it’s this: that’s not the case.

You just have to know where to look and actually pay attention.

Case in point, IMPACT hosted a trip to the Baltimore aquarium on Saturday, Nov. 19. We had about 30 people, a lot more than I expected, considering the majority’s apathy to school-sponsored events. 

Now I’ve never been on a school sponsored trip outside what the German Club’s hosted, so I’m just as guilty as the majority. 

It was a long bus ride down. It took us about three hours both ways. We all passed the time with a movie, sleeping, and whatever we had brought along as entertainment.

Once we arrived at Baltimore’s inner harbor, right outside the aquarium, we stretched our legs and waited as Holly Nonnemacher (advisor to IMPACT) got our tickets. By the time we got in it was 11:15 am, and we had 15 minutes to spare before the dolphin show.

After a long bus ride and a 6:30 am start (we left Moravian at 8 that morning), nothing brightens your day more than seeing dolphins and watching them perform. I’ve seen them in shows before, but I’m still amazed every time I see them just how smart these animals are. 

Once the show was over, we had six hours to wander the aquarium and the inner harbor area. Inside the aquarium we saw marine life of all kinds, from crocodiles to seahorses to electric eels and sea anemones. Oh, and the sharks of course. I found them underwhelming; I was more excited about the stingrays and the giant sea turtle than the sharks.

 Actually, what I was excited the most about, aside from the dolphins, were the turtles. The Australia exhibit had at least six different kinds of turtles on display. I couldn’t have been happier. 

Most of us were done in the aquarium by 3 or 4 P.M., which left us extra time to wander around the area. There was plenty to do. There was a Barnes and Noble, a Best Buy, a Cheesecake Factory, a Hard Rock Café, and plenty of other shops and restaurants. There were also ships that you could tour. Most of them you had to pay, but my friend and I found one that was free. 

Overall it was a really tiring but great trip. It only cost us $20, too, plus whatever food or merchandise we bought. 

What does everyone think? Is that something they would like to go on if Moravian hosted it again?

1 comment:

  1. Hey,

    Great article. I don't want to be snappy but I'm a little upset that my name wasn't mentioned. Call me a weirdo, but I was the Out & About Chair who coordinated this event. I am in charge of sponsoring and organizing trips that take place outside of campus. I was also the student who was with Holly who gave out tickets.

    --Emmy

    ReplyDelete