The all-time favorite Isdell Center for Global Leadership trip to Germany has returned, as it has for the last ten years! This trip has continued to take students from Munich to Berlin, where they learn about art from all eras and explore the dark histories of World War. As one of the most cherished trips at Pace, this story will take students to Germany itself and debrief on what makes this trip so special.
The students started in Munich on the Monday after Spirit Week, due to delays. Once settling into the student hostel, they set off immediately by train to Nuremberg. In Nuremberg, students saw the Albrecht Dürer House, the walls of Nuremberg, and, of course, the Nuremberg Rally Site. The students learned about Nazi rallies at this site and began their studies of the treacherous history of Germany. Furthermore, they noted all of the beautiful and classic German architecture of Nuremberg, all while successfully fighting jet lag!
After a fun first day, the group moved to study all of the wonders of Munich. On the first day in Munich, the students hit the ground running, visiting all of the magnificent architectural sights. They saw the old and new city halls, catholic churches of multiple styles and the charming platz’s scattered around the city. The group visited the platz where the infamous photo of Hitler at a rally was taken, and noted the trail that people used to avoid saluting Hitler. The group also visited two museums, seeing ancient pots and visiting the Alte Pinakothek. The students were also able to see the Munich Symphony, as this trip always attends a show in each city. The following day, the group traveled to Dachau. As the first concentration camp during World War II, the group learned about the horrors of the camps and the war while on site, an equally sobering and important experience.
The following day, the tour moved on to the city of Berlin. After a train ride full of homework and napping, followed by a hotel mix-up, the group settled into their hostel at Hermannplatz. The first full day in Berlin started off with visiting fragments of the Berlin Wall. Students stuck their gum to the wall, and learned about East and West Berlin. As the walking tour continued, the group saw the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Parliament and Checkpoint Charly. After a day full of history, the group ended the night at the Opera and watched Tosca. “My favorite part of the Germany trip had to be the opera. It’s such an incredible and artful way to tell a story that unfortunately isn’t as popular in America,” said Senior Thomas Konradt. The tour continued in Berlin by seeing the Berliner Dom and then touring the DDR museum, followed by a train station lunch. After walking around a bit more, the group had a free night to shop and eat in small groups! On day seven, the group started at the Neue Museum to see the Bust of Nefertiti and other iconic works. Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was next on the itinerary, with its staggering interiors and reconstruction following the war. The group has a free afternoon for shopping at Ka De We, and finished the day with a dinner with Mr. Hornor’s cousin and his cousin’s son. On the final day of the trip, they traveled to Potsdam and toured the Sans Souci Palace. The group took photos and promenaded through the gardens. Once back in Berlin, Hitler’s Bunker was the next stop. Now a parking lot, the group saw where Hitler died and took a photo with a deserved gesture. The students then packed up their suitcases before the final dinner at the Italian restaurant Amici Amici for a celebration. Throughout the tour, the group tried classic German foods such as pretzels and bratwurst while learning about the tumultuous history of Germany. Senior Angelike Avdyeyeva said, “I’ve been looking forward to this trip since freshman year. Once there, I loved having the opportunity to get to know new classmates and after many museum visits, train rides and croissant runs, I can say that this trip was all I hoped it would be.” 2026 ICGL started out perfectly, with a successful, informative and exciting trip to Germany.
