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From Malta to Glen Jean; scouts detail trip to Jamboree on “Talkline”

GLEN JEAN, W.Va. — It took scouts from the island of Malta three days to reach the Bechtel Summit in Fayette County and the World Scout Jamboree.

Scouts Jacques Vella and Jacob Cassar were guests Friday on MetroNews “Talkline,” which broadcast “live” from the Jamboree.

Vella and Cassar told host Hoppy Kercheval about their long trip.

Friday was another beautiful day at the Jamboree.

“We had 36 hours coming here and it was a pain,” Cassar said. “I’m really grateful I went on the bus because the bus seats were more comfortable than the airplane.”

Their route took them from Malta to Istanbul,Turkey to New York City, all by plane and then by bus from NYC to Fayette County.

Once they reached the state line they began to sing “Country Roads,” Vella said.

“Everybody in Malta knows ‘Country Roads,'” he said.

Both said they’re having a great time at the Jamboree meeting other scouts from around the world and taking advantage of the many activities and adventures available at the Summit.

“This exceeds my expectations in every way,” Vella said. “I expected it to be a big thing because I’ve heard of jamborees before and some of my friends have gone to jamborees and they’ve said it’s amazing but I didn’t think it would be this amazing.”

Once the World Scout Jamboree is over they’ll head back to New York City on a bus but will first make a stop in Washington, D.C. and then spend several more days in Manhattan.

Scout Tia Hodges is from England. She said during an interview on “Talkline” she’s making friends from around the world.

“People that you’ve met quite a few times during the time at jamboree I think I will reach out to them and keep talking to them because at a place like this you make friends for life,” she said.

Day passes

All of the day passes set aside for the Summit Saturday have been sold. The option given for the public to visit the property have proved to be popular.

Lisa Strader

Lisa Strader, the director of Visit Southern West Virginia, said Friday there were 2,700 day passes sold Thursday. She said many of those visitors stayed in southern West Virginia to sleep, shop, eat and visit attractions.

“When they came off the buses to leave, we were standing out there with information and they wiped us out of everything. They wanted to know where they can go eat, how to get to the (exhibition) coal mine and the (New River Gorge) bridge,” Strader said.

Strader said the Summit sends a message about the Mountain State.

“They are showcasing West Virginia, in this case, to the whole entire world and you just can’t buy that kind of advertising for tourism,” Strader said.





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