Ah, Paris. Where do I begin?
I actually specifically booked the flight to Paris, unlike most of my other trips, because I decided it would be a real shame to come to Europe and not go to Paris, honestly.
I was fortunate in that, because I was able to check into my hostel about an hour earlier than I expected, I got to go on the New Europe free walking tour (paid only in tips) on 4pm on the day I arrived (Friday), which was the last tour of the day. The tour is about 3 1/2 hours (it's Paris, what do you expect?), so it provides a pretty good overview of the city and a basic run-down on the majority of the major sights. (This is the same company whose tour I went on in Hamburg; they are great)
I say this was very fortunate because, not only did I get a basic overview of the city before diving in on my own the next day, but also got an excellent tip: our guide tipped us off to the fact that, that particular evening from 6-10, people under age 26 got into the Louvre FOR FREE. So immediately after the tour ended at 7:30 I hustled back over to the Louvre and spent about 2 hours looking at some very famous works of art (including the Mona Lisa, Venus of Milo, Nike, and the Code of Hammurabi). And to think, if I hadn't been able to check in early, I would have missed out on this entirely!
Well, after wearing myself out the day before walking around, I decided to get up on Saturday and go--what else?--walk around some more! There was another (start-up) company doing a free tour, but this one was of Montmatre, the artistic district of Paris where Van Gogh, Picasso, etc. lived, and which was actually quite close to where I was staying. It used to be a village outside Paris but was eventually incorporated into the city, so it has a slightly different look, and it is also the highest hill in Paris. The tour included things like Moulin Rouge, the cafe from the movie Amelie, and Sacre Couer, Paris' newest cathedral (built in the 20th century). It wasn't quite as good as the New Europe tour, but was still a nice overview. After the tour I wandered a bit and had a crepe for lunch. :D
Of course I eventually went to check out the more famous sites more closely. I went to the Arc de Triomphe--fun fact, the "Star of Charles de Gaulle" around the arc is considered the most dangerous roundabout in the world and insurance will not cover accidents there: 12 lanes, unmarked, yeah--and also saw Paris' Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (for WWI) and the eternal flame that goes with it. Then, of course, the Eiffel Tower. On Sunday I went to Notre Dame (under the assumption that they wouldn't let tourists in unless services were over) and awkwardly discovered that Notre Dame does, in fact, let huge lines of tourists in DURING the services, and simply has the area where people sit roped off. Yeah. I felt kind of like a jerk for disturbing their service (haha, as if I was any more than the hundreds of other people around me), but tried to be as quiet and discrete as possible. On the other hand, it was nice to have the organ music playing while touring the church! But I was kind of shocked and disappointed that the church would allow that. It was, however, quite lovely.
I also visited Versailles, which is actually about a 20-minute train ride outside of the city. It was pretty much the only thing I paid to get into in Paris (not bad, eh?). While it was pretty, I have to say I was a little disappointed. I thought we would see more of the palace than it felt like we did, and the gardens were closed because there was some sort of show there that you had to buy an extra ticket for (though they are normally included in the basic ticket, grrr). Mostly, though, I think it was the fact that being crammed in crowds of tourists (literally, there were times we were all pretty shoulder-to-shoulder) kind of put a damper on the ambiance and grandeur of Versailles. Something about fighting one's way past a dozen other tourists to get a decent picture of a bedchamber just isn't quite as magical as one might imagine. ;)
Speaking of magical, though... The Eiffel Tower is, especially at night. I'm not going to lie, I pretty much fell in love with the Eiffel Tower. Gorgeous. Mesmerizing. I made a point of going to see it at night as well, and I am SOOOOO glad I did. Not only is it lit up at night (which is beautiful in its own right), but the first 10 minutes of every hour it sparkles! Even without that, though, I just sat in the grass staring at it for a very long time, utterly caught up in its spell, and practically had to tear myself away so I could go back to the hostel and sleep. It is that incredible.
In fact, pretty a city as Paris is, it is even more lovely at night. I wish I had learned this earlier, but it's called the City of Lights for a reason. When I go back to Paris someday, I'm pretty sure I will do half of my sightseeing at night! At least!
In conclusion:
Paris totally deserves its reputation. I think there was a point where I was skeptical, but it really is every bit as magical and beautiful and romantic as they say. Good greif, I was there by myself and it was STILL palpably romantic! How on earth does that work?!?? Anyway, Paris pretty much is all it's cracked up to be. Paris, je t'aime!! <3
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Last-Minute Post #1 - Dresden
Hi there, everyone!
I know it's been a while since I posted (oops!), so I thought I'd try to skim over everything before I head on back over the Atlantic. :)
A few weeks ago (weekend of July 4th), I went to Dresden. This was another of those "Blind Booking" trips from germanwings. It was certainly an interesting city. On the one hand, it's an old European city famed as the "Florence of the Elbe". On the other hand, it was bombed to pieces in WWII. The city has now rebuilt some of its former splendor, and the result is a very, very odd mix of old and new. In most cities I've been to, the Altstadt (old town) is generally kept looking as much like it used to as possible (here in Tubingen it really is almost all original!). But as a result of the destruction and the way it was rebuilt, you can wander around the old part of Dresden and find a super-modern glass building right next to, say, the Marktplatz (which is generally one of the main squares). Oh, speaking of main, Dresden was also unique in that the Rathaus (town hall) was not the center of the old town, but rather I actually had to go out of my way to find it. So in that aspect it breaks the rule of thumb when sightseeing in a German city (that is, 3 things that you can count on being important to see are the Rathaus, a river, and a church). But continuing on with the strangeness. I have also walked into a church that, on the outside, looks old and beautiful, only to find that the inside is completely modern, except for the remains of the old alter displayed in its usual place. Another of the churches was left unfinished on the inside on purpose (I suppose they got tired of redoing it after about 5 times?), which also resulted in a relatively modern look. Then there's the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), which was rebuilt from the ground up and supposedly looks exactly like it once did. It was finished in 1992 and is now one of Dresden's main tourist attractions.
Ah, here's a funny surreal experience: First, I should explain that street musicians are a relatively common thing. And I rather like them. They tend to enhance the mood of whatever area they're playing in. For example, there might be a guy playing some classics on an accordian in the Altstadt, or someone playing some laid-back jazz on a tenor on a modern shopping street, or (a specific example from Dresden) a guy playing fanfares and similar music on trumpet in the courtyard of a palace. It's really nice. So: One day as I was walking around the Altstadt, I look over and there's a high school band setting up one some steps leading up to a garden/cafe area. Okay, no biggie, kind of like when we went to DC, right? Well, this is what I thought until they started playing. It took me about 10 seconds to realize that what they were playing was "Gonna Fly Now", aka the theme from Rocky. I was completely bewildered. (P.S. when I happened by again later they were still in the same genre) They were playing pep-band music in the Dresden Altstadt. With a cobblestone square and an old Catholic church that used to serve the palace stretched out in front of them. It was the grandest clash between music and the surroundings I had heard to that point. On a similar note (that of street performers) there was a very dedicated pianist who hauled a BABY GRAND PIANO out to a cobblestone square in the Altstadt to play for a few hours.
So, I mentioned that I was in Dresden on the 4th of July. Now, being in Europe on the 4th was a bit of a dilemma, and traveling only made it more of one. Of course I want to celebrate, but there are several obstaces: 1) One of my specific goals in travel is to avoid being the "obnoxious American tourist", 2) my access to fireworks is extremely limited (read: non-existent), and 3) I am alone in Germany. So I settled for the best thing I could come up with: I wore all red, white, and blue (except for my brown flip-flops) that day, and I had lunch a Burger King--a cheeseburger, fries, and a Coke. So there ya go. That was my 4th of July celebration.
Now, I could go one about the sites I saw in Dresden, but really, you're probably going to see pictures soon enough anyway. Besides, it was one of my less exciting trips in terms of sightseeing. There were several churches, a palace, a crazy art passage, a milk store (yes, I am serious: it is called "The Prettiest Milk Store in the World"), and a very large garden with a mini-palace. It was a nice trip, but really I was still exhausted from traveling the 3(?) previous weekends. 2 1/2 days back at the dorm, which include going to class and doing homework, are really not enough time to recharge, I have discovered. ;) Anyway, don't worry, I did get around and see stuff. But I was thankful that there didn't seem to be too much to see, and I ended up relaxing at the hostel for a couple hours most evenings. Overall, I guess I just didn't quite get the "feel" of Dresden like I have for other cities. It happens, I suppose, and that's why people have favorite cities.
My hostel, though, was FANTASTIC. It was called the "Kangaroo Stop", and, yes, it was Australian-themed. But it was really cool. It was very spacious and seemed almost new. I was in a 6-person dorm and everyone seemed really good about being quiet and having the lights out when people were trying to sleep. The lounge and kitchen were both quite large, and there were HAMMOCKS in the lounge. Okay, so the couches were more comfortable, but it's still pretty awesome. Also, there was a tree, or rather, a giant floor-to-ceiling log making it look like a tree was growing through the roof. Lol. The bathrooms were also large and new, with separate sink, toilet, and shower areas, but here's where the one negative mark came in. There were no curtains on the shower stalls. There was one with a door, and the other two were open, but even in the one with a door there was nowhere to put your stuff inside it without it getting wet. So they were essentially community showers. Awkward. (I handled this by wearing a swimsuit into the one with a door before getting ready to shower, because I'm uptight, lol) Anyways. Oh, did I mention that this hostel only cost me 9 euros a night?!??
So yeah, that was Dresden.
I know it's been a while since I posted (oops!), so I thought I'd try to skim over everything before I head on back over the Atlantic. :)
A few weeks ago (weekend of July 4th), I went to Dresden. This was another of those "Blind Booking" trips from germanwings. It was certainly an interesting city. On the one hand, it's an old European city famed as the "Florence of the Elbe". On the other hand, it was bombed to pieces in WWII. The city has now rebuilt some of its former splendor, and the result is a very, very odd mix of old and new. In most cities I've been to, the Altstadt (old town) is generally kept looking as much like it used to as possible (here in Tubingen it really is almost all original!). But as a result of the destruction and the way it was rebuilt, you can wander around the old part of Dresden and find a super-modern glass building right next to, say, the Marktplatz (which is generally one of the main squares). Oh, speaking of main, Dresden was also unique in that the Rathaus (town hall) was not the center of the old town, but rather I actually had to go out of my way to find it. So in that aspect it breaks the rule of thumb when sightseeing in a German city (that is, 3 things that you can count on being important to see are the Rathaus, a river, and a church). But continuing on with the strangeness. I have also walked into a church that, on the outside, looks old and beautiful, only to find that the inside is completely modern, except for the remains of the old alter displayed in its usual place. Another of the churches was left unfinished on the inside on purpose (I suppose they got tired of redoing it after about 5 times?), which also resulted in a relatively modern look. Then there's the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), which was rebuilt from the ground up and supposedly looks exactly like it once did. It was finished in 1992 and is now one of Dresden's main tourist attractions.
Ah, here's a funny surreal experience: First, I should explain that street musicians are a relatively common thing. And I rather like them. They tend to enhance the mood of whatever area they're playing in. For example, there might be a guy playing some classics on an accordian in the Altstadt, or someone playing some laid-back jazz on a tenor on a modern shopping street, or (a specific example from Dresden) a guy playing fanfares and similar music on trumpet in the courtyard of a palace. It's really nice. So: One day as I was walking around the Altstadt, I look over and there's a high school band setting up one some steps leading up to a garden/cafe area. Okay, no biggie, kind of like when we went to DC, right? Well, this is what I thought until they started playing. It took me about 10 seconds to realize that what they were playing was "Gonna Fly Now", aka the theme from Rocky. I was completely bewildered. (P.S. when I happened by again later they were still in the same genre) They were playing pep-band music in the Dresden Altstadt. With a cobblestone square and an old Catholic church that used to serve the palace stretched out in front of them. It was the grandest clash between music and the surroundings I had heard to that point. On a similar note (that of street performers) there was a very dedicated pianist who hauled a BABY GRAND PIANO out to a cobblestone square in the Altstadt to play for a few hours.
So, I mentioned that I was in Dresden on the 4th of July. Now, being in Europe on the 4th was a bit of a dilemma, and traveling only made it more of one. Of course I want to celebrate, but there are several obstaces: 1) One of my specific goals in travel is to avoid being the "obnoxious American tourist", 2) my access to fireworks is extremely limited (read: non-existent), and 3) I am alone in Germany. So I settled for the best thing I could come up with: I wore all red, white, and blue (except for my brown flip-flops) that day, and I had lunch a Burger King--a cheeseburger, fries, and a Coke. So there ya go. That was my 4th of July celebration.
Now, I could go one about the sites I saw in Dresden, but really, you're probably going to see pictures soon enough anyway. Besides, it was one of my less exciting trips in terms of sightseeing. There were several churches, a palace, a crazy art passage, a milk store (yes, I am serious: it is called "The Prettiest Milk Store in the World"), and a very large garden with a mini-palace. It was a nice trip, but really I was still exhausted from traveling the 3(?) previous weekends. 2 1/2 days back at the dorm, which include going to class and doing homework, are really not enough time to recharge, I have discovered. ;) Anyway, don't worry, I did get around and see stuff. But I was thankful that there didn't seem to be too much to see, and I ended up relaxing at the hostel for a couple hours most evenings. Overall, I guess I just didn't quite get the "feel" of Dresden like I have for other cities. It happens, I suppose, and that's why people have favorite cities.
My hostel, though, was FANTASTIC. It was called the "Kangaroo Stop", and, yes, it was Australian-themed. But it was really cool. It was very spacious and seemed almost new. I was in a 6-person dorm and everyone seemed really good about being quiet and having the lights out when people were trying to sleep. The lounge and kitchen were both quite large, and there were HAMMOCKS in the lounge. Okay, so the couches were more comfortable, but it's still pretty awesome. Also, there was a tree, or rather, a giant floor-to-ceiling log making it look like a tree was growing through the roof. Lol. The bathrooms were also large and new, with separate sink, toilet, and shower areas, but here's where the one negative mark came in. There were no curtains on the shower stalls. There was one with a door, and the other two were open, but even in the one with a door there was nowhere to put your stuff inside it without it getting wet. So they were essentially community showers. Awkward. (I handled this by wearing a swimsuit into the one with a door before getting ready to shower, because I'm uptight, lol) Anyways. Oh, did I mention that this hostel only cost me 9 euros a night?!??
So yeah, that was Dresden.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Barcelona
Well, I spent this past weekend in Barcelona, leaving on Friday morning and not getting back until Tuesday afternoon. I also had no checked baggage, yay! My carry-on was quite heavy, though, haha, consisting of my duffel bag crammed full of everything I needed plus my laptop.
Anyway, from the moment I got there to the moment I left it was VERY warm and sunny, just as you would expect from a beach metropolis like Barcelona. Something interesting, though, was the prevalence of Catalan. I knew that the regional language (Catalan, looks like something between Spanish and French) was used alongside Spanish, but what I didn't realize until I got there is that it is often used IN PLACE of Spanish. Of course, in the airport they had signs in Catalan, Spanish, and English, but around the city there were a number of times (most notably menus in restaurants) that even Spanish did not surface at all. It was very interesting to go to Spain as a Spanish major and not be able to understand the language being used half the time! (Granted, sometimes there was enough resemblance to Spanish for me to understand, but not always!)
Along the same lines of language observations, it was very interesting how apparent it became to me in Spain that I am much more comfortable with German, especially after living in Germany. Oddly enough, even though I of course KNEW I was in Spain, whenever I heard someone speaking a non-English language, my ears automatically listened for German first--the result being that sometimes I don't understand the first sentence said until I orient myself into Spanish mode, lol. Also, whenever I would pass a group of tourists speaking German I felt almost the same relaxing, comforting, at-home feeling as when I heard English--the mental sigh of "ah...something familiar in this foreign country..." Weird, huh?
Third linguistic observation: It is annoying how many people use English in tourist cities!!! And I'm not talking about the tourists. I am talking about the fact that I would walk into a shop and the salespeople would automatically use English with me! I personally found it frustrating, as a Spanish student looking to practice my Spanish, that they immediately presumed that I didn't have adequate Spanish skills. Furthermore, I could just as easily be German or Hungarian for all they know by looking at me; why jump to English? Honestly, I think it was primarily frustrating to me because I try very hard to be an inconspicuous and considerate tourist--I keep my camera put away when not using it, use the native language whenever I am able, and just generally try not to be obnoxious or get in the way--and this sort of assumption only caters to exactly the American stereotypes that I would like to debunk.
Okay, rant is over.
Finding my hostel was a bit of an adventure: in the directions they failed to mention that the hostel was located on the third floor of a building marked only by the large double-doors between the two halves of the Irish Pub, and that you need to buzz the office for them to let you in. But after getting that figured out all was well. And by well, I mean that the hostel was not all that I had hoped for, but was acceptable. The personal space around my bed was limited, especially as I was located on the bottom bunk in an odd nook of the room (nice in the semi-secluded nature, especially if I hung my towel like a curtain; not-so-nice in that I couldn't sit up and the path was often littered with other people's luggage). The security locker provided was big enough for my laptop (which was all that was REALLY valuable that wasn't carried with me all the time), which left my duffel bag under the bed (actually relatively safe considering said nook of the room meant that it was completely hidden under there). The only mirror available for us to use was the ONE above the sink in the bathroom (shared by at least 15 girls), and all towel/clothing hooks were located outside the shower stall (which made for some interesting arm-snaking around the shower-stall door in order to avoid being exposed while putting my towel out). As previously stated, it was on the third floor, which meant stairs (marble ones, but more about that later). Oh, and in typical European fashion there was no air-conditioning, only open windows. But aside from all this, it was quiet, the beds were reasonably comfortable, there was a refrigerator, and there was internet access, so it was acceptable--just not everything that my Hamburg hostel spoiled me with. ;)
On the first day, since I got there at about 1, I still had plenty of time for tourist-ing, so I generally walked around and explored, armed with my map. I did everything walking on this day. I saw the Placa de Catalunya (Placa = Plaza/Square), which for my purposes was the center of the city, saw the gothic Catedral (Cathedral), and went to the Arc de Triomf (surprisingly impressive).
I think this is the picture I have that comes closest to capturing the impressiveness of the Arc de Triomf. It is just massive, and the red brick is striking. Not to mention the long palm-lined avenue behind it...
Later that evening I went to the beach, but it was a little to cool for swimming (the water is actually quite cold! Nice on a hot day), so I just waded a little and watched the waves (and by waves I mean the little swells that made the water lap up onto the beach. With the various port fixtures and waterbreaks, these waves were nothing compared to the ones in Brazil, which could take you out. But this was nice in another way, in that you didn't have to always keep on your toes for fear of being mauled by a wave!)
Over the next couple days I saw La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona's most famous cathedral, most-visited attraction, and the as-of-yet incomplete work of the famous architect Gaudi). I didn't go in because the line was about an hour long and it was 11 euros just for admission (!), but I think seeing it from the
outside was enough.
I also walked along the streets and saw various impressive buildings (some important, some not), including two more famous Gaudi buildings (if you haven't caught on, he's one of Barcelona's major claims to fame).
Some of Gaudi's most famous work is in Parc Guell, a park (originally built as a housing development!) up on a mountain. Not only is there some neat architecture and sculpture there (and Gaudi's own house), but when you get up to the higher points there are some fantastic views of the city. I would definately recommend going here if anyone ever goes to Barcelona. Here is Gaudi's Drac sculpture, one of the more recognizable features of the park.
Of course, I also went to the beach (twice). The first time (not counting my wading) I went to Barceloneta, which is kind of the main beach in the city. It was nice (of course, it's the beach!), but it was a little shocking that tops seem to be rather optional at the beaches in Barcelona! I mean, after the initial surprise it can be more-or-less ignored, but still... The sea floor was a bit rocky, and there was a rather crowded and touristy vibe, but it was nice to go swimming (in the Mediterranean!) and such.
The next time I went to Nova Icara, which I liked MUCH better. The topless ratio was slightly higher, but, like I said, that can be ignored (besides, that made it like 1 in 8, still rather outnumbered by those of us who choose to cover up). The sand was cleaner and finer, and the sea floor was not rocky at all. The water was a little clearer, and the overall vibe was quieter and less touristy. Also, the swells were so small that it almost felt like being in a giant swimming pool, haha! Anyway, that beach day was quite nice and rather relaxing. I think I actually got burned a little from being out in the sun so much!
While I enjoyed the trip very much, I definately got the feel that Barcelona is the type of city that is better enjoyed with others. I don't know what it is, maybe it's the playful beach/party vibe, maybe it's the weather, but I almost felt like I was missing some part of the city's soul by being there alone. Don't get me wrong, I had fun, but I just think it is worthwhile to note that I had that feeling, unlike when I was in Hamburg. I mean, it could be that I am getting more anxious to come home as it draws closer, but I actually do think that it is something about the city itself. Maybe there's some correlation between that and the stereotype that the Spanish are more open and affectionate than the Germans, and generally more people-persons.
I think I am learning that in these posts it is more important to note my reactions to places and situations than it is to list where I've been and load tons of pictures. Pictures can show me where I went and (for the most part) in what order, and I can show people pictures when I get back. It's the reactions that need to be noted before they fade. I will try to continue on that note, in the little time that I have left.
It's rather exhausting to think that after only 2 1/2 days back in Tubingen, I am heading off tomorrow afternoon for a weekend in Dresden, Germany! Whew! I think I will definately be ready for a break the weekend after!
Anyway, from the moment I got there to the moment I left it was VERY warm and sunny, just as you would expect from a beach metropolis like Barcelona. Something interesting, though, was the prevalence of Catalan. I knew that the regional language (Catalan, looks like something between Spanish and French) was used alongside Spanish, but what I didn't realize until I got there is that it is often used IN PLACE of Spanish. Of course, in the airport they had signs in Catalan, Spanish, and English, but around the city there were a number of times (most notably menus in restaurants) that even Spanish did not surface at all. It was very interesting to go to Spain as a Spanish major and not be able to understand the language being used half the time! (Granted, sometimes there was enough resemblance to Spanish for me to understand, but not always!)
Along the same lines of language observations, it was very interesting how apparent it became to me in Spain that I am much more comfortable with German, especially after living in Germany. Oddly enough, even though I of course KNEW I was in Spain, whenever I heard someone speaking a non-English language, my ears automatically listened for German first--the result being that sometimes I don't understand the first sentence said until I orient myself into Spanish mode, lol. Also, whenever I would pass a group of tourists speaking German I felt almost the same relaxing, comforting, at-home feeling as when I heard English--the mental sigh of "ah...something familiar in this foreign country..." Weird, huh?
Third linguistic observation: It is annoying how many people use English in tourist cities!!! And I'm not talking about the tourists. I am talking about the fact that I would walk into a shop and the salespeople would automatically use English with me! I personally found it frustrating, as a Spanish student looking to practice my Spanish, that they immediately presumed that I didn't have adequate Spanish skills. Furthermore, I could just as easily be German or Hungarian for all they know by looking at me; why jump to English? Honestly, I think it was primarily frustrating to me because I try very hard to be an inconspicuous and considerate tourist--I keep my camera put away when not using it, use the native language whenever I am able, and just generally try not to be obnoxious or get in the way--and this sort of assumption only caters to exactly the American stereotypes that I would like to debunk.
Okay, rant is over.
Finding my hostel was a bit of an adventure: in the directions they failed to mention that the hostel was located on the third floor of a building marked only by the large double-doors between the two halves of the Irish Pub, and that you need to buzz the office for them to let you in. But after getting that figured out all was well. And by well, I mean that the hostel was not all that I had hoped for, but was acceptable. The personal space around my bed was limited, especially as I was located on the bottom bunk in an odd nook of the room (nice in the semi-secluded nature, especially if I hung my towel like a curtain; not-so-nice in that I couldn't sit up and the path was often littered with other people's luggage). The security locker provided was big enough for my laptop (which was all that was REALLY valuable that wasn't carried with me all the time), which left my duffel bag under the bed (actually relatively safe considering said nook of the room meant that it was completely hidden under there). The only mirror available for us to use was the ONE above the sink in the bathroom (shared by at least 15 girls), and all towel/clothing hooks were located outside the shower stall (which made for some interesting arm-snaking around the shower-stall door in order to avoid being exposed while putting my towel out). As previously stated, it was on the third floor, which meant stairs (marble ones, but more about that later). Oh, and in typical European fashion there was no air-conditioning, only open windows. But aside from all this, it was quiet, the beds were reasonably comfortable, there was a refrigerator, and there was internet access, so it was acceptable--just not everything that my Hamburg hostel spoiled me with. ;)
On the first day, since I got there at about 1, I still had plenty of time for tourist-ing, so I generally walked around and explored, armed with my map. I did everything walking on this day. I saw the Placa de Catalunya (Placa = Plaza/Square), which for my purposes was the center of the city, saw the gothic Catedral (Cathedral), and went to the Arc de Triomf (surprisingly impressive).
I think this is the picture I have that comes closest to capturing the impressiveness of the Arc de Triomf. It is just massive, and the red brick is striking. Not to mention the long palm-lined avenue behind it...
Later that evening I went to the beach, but it was a little to cool for swimming (the water is actually quite cold! Nice on a hot day), so I just waded a little and watched the waves (and by waves I mean the little swells that made the water lap up onto the beach. With the various port fixtures and waterbreaks, these waves were nothing compared to the ones in Brazil, which could take you out. But this was nice in another way, in that you didn't have to always keep on your toes for fear of being mauled by a wave!)
Over the next couple days I saw La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona's most famous cathedral, most-visited attraction, and the as-of-yet incomplete work of the famous architect Gaudi). I didn't go in because the line was about an hour long and it was 11 euros just for admission (!), but I think seeing it from the
outside was enough.I also walked along the streets and saw various impressive buildings (some important, some not), including two more famous Gaudi buildings (if you haven't caught on, he's one of Barcelona's major claims to fame).
Some of Gaudi's most famous work is in Parc Guell, a park (originally built as a housing development!) up on a mountain. Not only is there some neat architecture and sculpture there (and Gaudi's own house), but when you get up to the higher points there are some fantastic views of the city. I would definately recommend going here if anyone ever goes to Barcelona. Here is Gaudi's Drac sculpture, one of the more recognizable features of the park.
Of course, I also went to the beach (twice). The first time (not counting my wading) I went to Barceloneta, which is kind of the main beach in the city. It was nice (of course, it's the beach!), but it was a little shocking that tops seem to be rather optional at the beaches in Barcelona! I mean, after the initial surprise it can be more-or-less ignored, but still... The sea floor was a bit rocky, and there was a rather crowded and touristy vibe, but it was nice to go swimming (in the Mediterranean!) and such.
The next time I went to Nova Icara, which I liked MUCH better. The topless ratio was slightly higher, but, like I said, that can be ignored (besides, that made it like 1 in 8, still rather outnumbered by those of us who choose to cover up). The sand was cleaner and finer, and the sea floor was not rocky at all. The water was a little clearer, and the overall vibe was quieter and less touristy. Also, the swells were so small that it almost felt like being in a giant swimming pool, haha! Anyway, that beach day was quite nice and rather relaxing. I think I actually got burned a little from being out in the sun so much!
While I enjoyed the trip very much, I definately got the feel that Barcelona is the type of city that is better enjoyed with others. I don't know what it is, maybe it's the playful beach/party vibe, maybe it's the weather, but I almost felt like I was missing some part of the city's soul by being there alone. Don't get me wrong, I had fun, but I just think it is worthwhile to note that I had that feeling, unlike when I was in Hamburg. I mean, it could be that I am getting more anxious to come home as it draws closer, but I actually do think that it is something about the city itself. Maybe there's some correlation between that and the stereotype that the Spanish are more open and affectionate than the Germans, and generally more people-persons.
I think I am learning that in these posts it is more important to note my reactions to places and situations than it is to list where I've been and load tons of pictures. Pictures can show me where I went and (for the most part) in what order, and I can show people pictures when I get back. It's the reactions that need to be noted before they fade. I will try to continue on that note, in the little time that I have left.
It's rather exhausting to think that after only 2 1/2 days back in Tubingen, I am heading off tomorrow afternoon for a weekend in Dresden, Germany! Whew! I think I will definately be ready for a break the weekend after!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Continued: Birthday!
Between Hamburg and now a few things have happened:
I went to a concert with the choir I sing in to watch a group that does songs from the Comedian Harmonists, which was a famous group in Germany in the 1930s. They sang popular music with a comedic twist and were one of the most beloved groups in Germany (and internationally) before they were forced to break up by the Nazis (3 of the 6 were Jewish). Sad story, but some really wonderful music.
More excitingly, I turned 21 on June 23rd, and the weekend before I had a little reunion with Kate and Courtney to celebrate!!!!
We met on Saturday in Salzburg, Austria and went on the Sound of Music tour. It was not quite all it was cracked up to be, but was fun nevertheless. It was neat to get to see the different sites in real life, and it was actually pretty nice that the guide threw in some unrelated Salzburg history in between the sites, so we got a little bit of a city tour as well. The tour also included driving up into the Alps and stopping for coffee (read: hot chocolate) at a cafe with a breathtaking view, while on the way to the town nearby that houses the wedding church from the movie. Part of the damper was probably that we were with this older couple that was asking really strange and irrelevant questions (such as: Do the Germans have a theory as to why Hitler was so evil? seriously.) But we had a lot of fun with it just from being together! Not to mention the cool pictures!
After the tour we hung around for about an hour, I bought a postcard, we had dinner, and then hopped on the train to go back to Vienna (where they live). Happily, Kate's roommate was out this weekend again, so once again I got the chance to stay with a friend--fun AND free! So even though we were insanely tired when we got back, we stayed up until like 2am chatting. It was so wonderful to see them again, and hanging out was as natural as if we'd been together all along! I really hope we can keep in touch even after getting back to the States.
The next day we met up with Courtney and another of their friends, Heidi, and we went to a clock museum (which was free on Sunday, how cool is that?!). Then we walked around for a bit, went to the Esperanto Museum (Esperanto is a created language that was intended to be a "universal" language) and a globe museum. Yes, they are random, but it was pretty neat!
After that we went to Cafe Central (Vienna's most famous cafe, and where the "Viennese coffee culture" got started), which was really fancy and beautiful, and of which I stupidly took no pictures. :( Anyway, since we are poor college students we split slices of cake and drank water, haha, but we had cake at Cafe Central!!!
We later went back to Kate's (Kate, Courtney, and I) for a girls' night. We got big greasy pizzas (yum!) which surprisingly came with free cokes, then intended to watch a movie, as I had brought 4 on a flash drive to choose from. Unfortunately Kate has a Mac, and it kind of threw a fit because the movies came from a Windows computer, so we couldn't get the movie to play. But we talked and laughed for a couple hours and eventually went to bed (well, Courtney went home and then we assume she went to bed, haha).
It was kind of gross and rainy on Monday (ALL day), so we didn't do all that much. Got lunch at a little schnitzel place (local specialty!), but later that evening we did go out for my birthday! We went to LOCO, a bar/club (duh, turning 21!), where the 3 of us had cocktails (don't worry, not too many!) and had fun in our little corner booth. Some weird guys sent us drinks (we think it was grapefruit juice, lol), but thankfully didn't come try to talk to us or anything. Makes for a fun story though! Anyway, then we went home a little early (by 9, so no worries about me partying all night ;) ) because I had to get up a little early for my flight in the morning--which I made, by the way.
Here's Courtney and me at LOCO:
So yeah, that was my lovely weekend-before-my-birthday birthday celebration! The great part was getting to hang out with those girls again; I guess some people you just become great friends with almost immediately!
Oh, and I forgot to mention: We went to a burrito place where they sell DR. PEPPER!!! I have missed it, and I was really excited!
Anyway, that should cover everything up to now! I am going to keep updated better as my semester comes to a close, and it should be pretty intense: Barcelona this weekend, Dresden next weekend, my choir concert, then Paris, then getting ready to come home!! So, more to come after I come back from the sunny beaches of Barcelona!
I went to a concert with the choir I sing in to watch a group that does songs from the Comedian Harmonists, which was a famous group in Germany in the 1930s. They sang popular music with a comedic twist and were one of the most beloved groups in Germany (and internationally) before they were forced to break up by the Nazis (3 of the 6 were Jewish). Sad story, but some really wonderful music.
More excitingly, I turned 21 on June 23rd, and the weekend before I had a little reunion with Kate and Courtney to celebrate!!!!
We met on Saturday in Salzburg, Austria and went on the Sound of Music tour. It was not quite all it was cracked up to be, but was fun nevertheless. It was neat to get to see the different sites in real life, and it was actually pretty nice that the guide threw in some unrelated Salzburg history in between the sites, so we got a little bit of a city tour as well. The tour also included driving up into the Alps and stopping for coffee (read: hot chocolate) at a cafe with a breathtaking view, while on the way to the town nearby that houses the wedding church from the movie. Part of the damper was probably that we were with this older couple that was asking really strange and irrelevant questions (such as: Do the Germans have a theory as to why Hitler was so evil? seriously.) But we had a lot of fun with it just from being together! Not to mention the cool pictures!
After the tour we hung around for about an hour, I bought a postcard, we had dinner, and then hopped on the train to go back to Vienna (where they live). Happily, Kate's roommate was out this weekend again, so once again I got the chance to stay with a friend--fun AND free! So even though we were insanely tired when we got back, we stayed up until like 2am chatting. It was so wonderful to see them again, and hanging out was as natural as if we'd been together all along! I really hope we can keep in touch even after getting back to the States.
The next day we met up with Courtney and another of their friends, Heidi, and we went to a clock museum (which was free on Sunday, how cool is that?!). Then we walked around for a bit, went to the Esperanto Museum (Esperanto is a created language that was intended to be a "universal" language) and a globe museum. Yes, they are random, but it was pretty neat!
After that we went to Cafe Central (Vienna's most famous cafe, and where the "Viennese coffee culture" got started), which was really fancy and beautiful, and of which I stupidly took no pictures. :( Anyway, since we are poor college students we split slices of cake and drank water, haha, but we had cake at Cafe Central!!!
We later went back to Kate's (Kate, Courtney, and I) for a girls' night. We got big greasy pizzas (yum!) which surprisingly came with free cokes, then intended to watch a movie, as I had brought 4 on a flash drive to choose from. Unfortunately Kate has a Mac, and it kind of threw a fit because the movies came from a Windows computer, so we couldn't get the movie to play. But we talked and laughed for a couple hours and eventually went to bed (well, Courtney went home and then we assume she went to bed, haha).
It was kind of gross and rainy on Monday (ALL day), so we didn't do all that much. Got lunch at a little schnitzel place (local specialty!), but later that evening we did go out for my birthday! We went to LOCO, a bar/club (duh, turning 21!), where the 3 of us had cocktails (don't worry, not too many!) and had fun in our little corner booth. Some weird guys sent us drinks (we think it was grapefruit juice, lol), but thankfully didn't come try to talk to us or anything. Makes for a fun story though! Anyway, then we went home a little early (by 9, so no worries about me partying all night ;) ) because I had to get up a little early for my flight in the morning--which I made, by the way.
Here's Courtney and me at LOCO:
So yeah, that was my lovely weekend-before-my-birthday birthday celebration! The great part was getting to hang out with those girls again; I guess some people you just become great friends with almost immediately!
Oh, and I forgot to mention: We went to a burrito place where they sell DR. PEPPER!!! I have missed it, and I was really excited!
Anyway, that should cover everything up to now! I am going to keep updated better as my semester comes to a close, and it should be pretty intense: Barcelona this weekend, Dresden next weekend, my choir concert, then Paris, then getting ready to come home!! So, more to come after I come back from the sunny beaches of Barcelona!
Continued
So a few weeks later we had the equivalent of Spring Break (Pfingstferien), which literally means Pentecost Break. Yes, they have Pentecost Break. So that was the first week of June (and the last day or two of May).
First I went on another StudIT trip (much better planned this time). This time it was a day trip to Basel, Switzerland. It was about a 3-hour bus ride, and the city was beautiful. Since it was mostly people I didn't know I kind of had to randomly pick what group to hang out with, and I may have picked the wrong one, i.e. the one that walks around with no goal in mind and stops at random little stores that are not even interesting. But it was fun anyway. And it made me look forward more to my next trip.
The next day I left for a 3-day (plus travel) trip to Hamburg, by myself. You might think traveling alone sounds horrible, but it was actually pretty nice. I mean, I could go see what I wanted, and I can be myself more when I'm alone than when I'm with people that I'm not close to, so I'd rather travel alone than travel with someone random just to have a travel buddy.
I ended up in Hamburg through an option with the discount airline germanwings called Blind Booking. Basically you choose a theme and there are 8-10 possible destinations. You pick your travel dates and everything, eliminate up to six of the cities (for 5 euros each), and then after you finish booking and paying and everything you find out where you're going. The advantage to this sort of booking is that it's cheap--around 50 euros round-trip. Also, as I found out, you can end up going to amazing places that you would never think to go yourself. I would probably not have picked Hamburg out for travel on my own, but I'm really glad I went. I really like the city, and it had some wonderful things to see. It was cool to see a different part of Germany, to see a port city, and it was just overall a beautiful place.
I went on a walking tour with a group on the first day (a cool company, English-speaking tours whose guides work on a tips-only basis, so you pay what you think it was worth), and then went back to some places later. I of course went to the harbor, where they also have all sorts of little souvenir shops and restaurants along the water. I visited some churches (a standard stop in Europe), the Reeperbahn (the nightclub strip, and by visited I mean took a picture from the edge), the St. Nikolai WWII bombing memorial (the skelton of a bombed cathedral), and a really nifty place called Miniatur Wunderland--it's the world's largest model train and has like 5 rooms filled with miniature landscapes, everything from Switzerland to America to Scandinavia to Hamburg itself.
H
ere is a picture of me in Hamburg:
You can see part of the extensive canal system (Hamburg has more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined!) as well as the steeple of the Michel, one of the churches and also a famous part of the Hamburg skyline.
First I went on another StudIT trip (much better planned this time). This time it was a day trip to Basel, Switzerland. It was about a 3-hour bus ride, and the city was beautiful. Since it was mostly people I didn't know I kind of had to randomly pick what group to hang out with, and I may have picked the wrong one, i.e. the one that walks around with no goal in mind and stops at random little stores that are not even interesting. But it was fun anyway. And it made me look forward more to my next trip.
The next day I left for a 3-day (plus travel) trip to Hamburg, by myself. You might think traveling alone sounds horrible, but it was actually pretty nice. I mean, I could go see what I wanted, and I can be myself more when I'm alone than when I'm with people that I'm not close to, so I'd rather travel alone than travel with someone random just to have a travel buddy.
I ended up in Hamburg through an option with the discount airline germanwings called Blind Booking. Basically you choose a theme and there are 8-10 possible destinations. You pick your travel dates and everything, eliminate up to six of the cities (for 5 euros each), and then after you finish booking and paying and everything you find out where you're going. The advantage to this sort of booking is that it's cheap--around 50 euros round-trip. Also, as I found out, you can end up going to amazing places that you would never think to go yourself. I would probably not have picked Hamburg out for travel on my own, but I'm really glad I went. I really like the city, and it had some wonderful things to see. It was cool to see a different part of Germany, to see a port city, and it was just overall a beautiful place.
I went on a walking tour with a group on the first day (a cool company, English-speaking tours whose guides work on a tips-only basis, so you pay what you think it was worth), and then went back to some places later. I of course went to the harbor, where they also have all sorts of little souvenir shops and restaurants along the water. I visited some churches (a standard stop in Europe), the Reeperbahn (the nightclub strip, and by visited I mean took a picture from the edge), the St. Nikolai WWII bombing memorial (the skelton of a bombed cathedral), and a really nifty place called Miniatur Wunderland--it's the world's largest model train and has like 5 rooms filled with miniature landscapes, everything from Switzerland to America to Scandinavia to Hamburg itself.
H
ere is a picture of me in Hamburg:You can see part of the extensive canal system (Hamburg has more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined!) as well as the steeple of the Michel, one of the churches and also a famous part of the Hamburg skyline.
Still Alive Over Here, Promise!
Hey guys, sorry it's been ridiculously long sense I last posted. I guess I just lost track of time and stuff.
So, brushing over the last 2 months really quick so I can get to the most recent things and (hopefully) not fall behind again!
So, I am actually not taking all that many classes while I am here. I have 2 Spanish classes, a German class, and choir. That would be a reasonably normal amount except that they all meet only once per week, so all my classes fall on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and take up a grand total of 5 hours and 15 minutes per week! This makes for a fantastic travel schedule, but also for supreme procrastination, as I can quite easily fall into the deceptive mindset that I am not in school! I was originally taking a Spanish history course, but it turned out to be way too hard, and the professor recommended I take a Spanish comp course, so now I'm taking that instead. The other Spanish class is a phonetics class (we attempt to learn how to pronounce Spanish properly), and the German is an English-German translation course, designed mainly to broaden vocab and increase our understanding of German, using the translation as a tool. Pretty neat.
So, with all this time on my hands, what have I been up to?
Well, honestly, I have watched a lot of movies, but I have also done a bit of traveling, and have more in stock for the next month (like, a lot more)
A week or two after classes started I went on a trip to Ulm and Blaubeuren with the local student group, StudIT. Yes, you are remembering correctly, and I have already been there. HOWEVER, I didn't buy postcards. Also, the famous "Blautopf" in Blaubeuren was not looking its best when I was there before (in fact, it was looking pretty bad from snowmelt), so this time I got to see it in all its glory. But interesting story with this trip (a 2-day, 1-night trip). So, we got to Ulm, did our touristy thing, went back to the hostel for dinner, and then they went to take us on a hike. Never mind that there was rain in the forecast. So anyway, we hike what I would estimate to be several miles out into the countryside by Ulm, up to the top of a hill (mini-mountain) where there was a really nice view of the city. Great. Except that there was also a really nice view of this nasty-looking storm cloud:
This was also accompanied by lightning, and was coming in our direction. The leaders decide we should go back a different way (we apparently took "the long way" out). So this is what we do: as darkness is falling and the wind is picking up, we light torches (yes, torches, old-fashioned torches) and walk into the woods. As we go along the path with pretty much only torchlight, the wind picks up even more, and the torches burn wrong and have to be dropped and put out one by one. So, to clarify, it is dark, very windy, getting cold, we are in the woods, and we have one torch left at the front of our group of 20. Then it begins to rain, and within about 30 seconds it is pouring in sheets. I had an umbrella, but everything from the waist down and on my left (I was sharing) was soaked. As in like I had jumped into a pool. Everyone else was in the same condition. Eventually we get out of the woods and find ourselves in what looks to be suburbia. Now, if you thought we knew where we were going this whole time (so did I) you would be wrong. In addition, our leaders are nowhere to be found. Eventually they came back, but still didn't know where go, so we ended up asking random passing cars how to get to the hostel. Yeah. We eventually made it, like half an hour later.
Since this was a 2-day trip, I thought one pair of jeans would be plenty. So this is the story of how I ended up walking around in my pajamas the next day, like so:
I did get my postcards. And the Blautopf was amazing:
So, brushing over the last 2 months really quick so I can get to the most recent things and (hopefully) not fall behind again!
So, I am actually not taking all that many classes while I am here. I have 2 Spanish classes, a German class, and choir. That would be a reasonably normal amount except that they all meet only once per week, so all my classes fall on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and take up a grand total of 5 hours and 15 minutes per week! This makes for a fantastic travel schedule, but also for supreme procrastination, as I can quite easily fall into the deceptive mindset that I am not in school! I was originally taking a Spanish history course, but it turned out to be way too hard, and the professor recommended I take a Spanish comp course, so now I'm taking that instead. The other Spanish class is a phonetics class (we attempt to learn how to pronounce Spanish properly), and the German is an English-German translation course, designed mainly to broaden vocab and increase our understanding of German, using the translation as a tool. Pretty neat.
So, with all this time on my hands, what have I been up to?
Well, honestly, I have watched a lot of movies, but I have also done a bit of traveling, and have more in stock for the next month (like, a lot more)
A week or two after classes started I went on a trip to Ulm and Blaubeuren with the local student group, StudIT. Yes, you are remembering correctly, and I have already been there. HOWEVER, I didn't buy postcards. Also, the famous "Blautopf" in Blaubeuren was not looking its best when I was there before (in fact, it was looking pretty bad from snowmelt), so this time I got to see it in all its glory. But interesting story with this trip (a 2-day, 1-night trip). So, we got to Ulm, did our touristy thing, went back to the hostel for dinner, and then they went to take us on a hike. Never mind that there was rain in the forecast. So anyway, we hike what I would estimate to be several miles out into the countryside by Ulm, up to the top of a hill (mini-mountain) where there was a really nice view of the city. Great. Except that there was also a really nice view of this nasty-looking storm cloud:
This was also accompanied by lightning, and was coming in our direction. The leaders decide we should go back a different way (we apparently took "the long way" out). So this is what we do: as darkness is falling and the wind is picking up, we light torches (yes, torches, old-fashioned torches) and walk into the woods. As we go along the path with pretty much only torchlight, the wind picks up even more, and the torches burn wrong and have to be dropped and put out one by one. So, to clarify, it is dark, very windy, getting cold, we are in the woods, and we have one torch left at the front of our group of 20. Then it begins to rain, and within about 30 seconds it is pouring in sheets. I had an umbrella, but everything from the waist down and on my left (I was sharing) was soaked. As in like I had jumped into a pool. Everyone else was in the same condition. Eventually we get out of the woods and find ourselves in what looks to be suburbia. Now, if you thought we knew where we were going this whole time (so did I) you would be wrong. In addition, our leaders are nowhere to be found. Eventually they came back, but still didn't know where go, so we ended up asking random passing cars how to get to the hostel. Yeah. We eventually made it, like half an hour later.
Since this was a 2-day trip, I thought one pair of jeans would be plenty. So this is the story of how I ended up walking around in my pajamas the next day, like so:
I did get my postcards. And the Blautopf was amazing:
Monday, April 27, 2009
Vienna! Part 2
Okay, back to Vienna!
Day 3
I believe we first set out to find the Jesuit Church, which we'd read was really pretty and interesting, but we couldn't find it based on the directions, but ended up at Stephansdom, the most famous cathedral in Austria, so it wasn't a bad tradeoff!
Part of the outside of Stephansdom. It's hard to get far enough away to get a good picture of the whole thing, though I'm sure it can be found online!
The inside of Stephansdom. There were tons of tourists! It does give you a perspective on how BIG it is, though!
Also inside, further to the back. It's the main alter, which you can just barely see in the background of the picture before. This church is still Catholic, by the way.
Then for the REALLY fun part of the day! We went to Prater, which is the amusement park in Vienna. The entrance is free and you pay for the individual rides, so it was cool to go walk around and see everything and only pay for one or two rides. The atmosphere is just so much fun, and the weather was beautiful. So is the park. Some of the stuff is so cute and old-fashioned!
The famous Prater Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel), which is what the park is known for. Rides were crazy-expensive though, that being the main attraction! (9 euros is a bit much I think)
A beautiful swing ride near the entrance, so you can get an idea of how pretty some of the stuff is, especially up near the front, in the older part of the park.
We rode on the other ferris wheel in the park, which had the same fabulous view of Vienna, but, being un-famous, was only a fraction of the price of the Riesenrad.
We rode on the coolest ride EVER, a LIVE carousel! That means that there were real ponies, as well as the little sleigh things, and you could either ride or sit in the sleigh. So exciting!
View from the outside (P.S. - Wiener means Viennese; the German name for Vienna is Wien)
This awesome old-fashioned music player was actually still in use!
A horrible pun that we weren't sure how to react to...
Artsy picture of the Riesenrad
Day 4
On the 4th and final day, we decided to go visit the Clown and Circus Museum, mostly because we were intrigued and decided there was a good chance it would be really interesting. It took us FOREVER to find, even with specific walking direction. Then it was in a really shady part of town. And it looked pretty scary. The entrance consisted of a small doorway covered by a rusty gate, with the name painted on the window above the door. This entrance was also shared with another museum, apparently. We were saved the decision as to whether or not to brave the creepy museum by their odd opening hours: Sundays from 10-2 and every other Thursday from 7pm-9pm. Strange hours if you want people to come. I sure wouldn't venture down there at night! Below is an illustration of the sketchiness. The entirety of the entrance is encompassed in the pictures. There is no colorful circusness hidden beyond the borders. That's it.
After that, we went back to a safe part of town and looked at our list to figure out where to go next. This is where we ended up:
Guess what it is. An important government building? A cafe? A museum?
Wrong.
It is the Jesuit church I mentioned earlier! The outside is a bit decieving, but it looks right at home next to the Science Academy! But wait until you see the inside...
This is without a doubt the most richly-decorated and elaborate church I have ever seen. It is absolutely breathtaking. It's a real shame that they have that strange astronaut banner strung over the ceiling (I have NO idea why), because if you look closely the ceiling is arched and looks to be just as elaborate as the rest, possibly even with frescos...
Above the entrance, with the organ and little viewing balconies.
To prove I was here!
During this time, we also ate ice cream (or gelato or whatever it is because it's not like American ice cream!) twice, dined out at several different locales, and had a fantastic girls' night with giant pizzas and cake and a movie!
My flight was a 7am, and I still had to take pubic transportation to the airport, so I had to get up crazy-early on Saturday. I cut it a little too close, and missed my flight AGAIN (I know, horrible), and my card was not working. I had a horrible moment of fear that I would be stuck in Vienna and miss my enrollment on Monday and have a whole semester wasted class-wise, but eventually got something worked out and got back safely, actually at the same time I would have before, because my rebooked flight was direct instead of with a layover in Zurich. I think it's safe to say that I have learned my lesson and will probably never be late for a flight again in my whole life!!
All in all, it was fantastic, even weighing in all the travel stress. I really miss being able to spend time with Kate. I don't know why, but the friends I made in Schwabisch Hall are so much closer than the friends I have made here. I am still holding out hope for people I meet in classes and such, though. Maybe it was just the instant bond that people make when they are thrown into a foreign country alone! In any case, it was great to be able to spend a few days with Kate again, and get to explore Vienna (with a personal guide nonetheless!)--it is, after all, one of those must-see European cities! It was totally worth every ounce of stress, and then some!
Day 3
I believe we first set out to find the Jesuit Church, which we'd read was really pretty and interesting, but we couldn't find it based on the directions, but ended up at Stephansdom, the most famous cathedral in Austria, so it wasn't a bad tradeoff!
Part of the outside of Stephansdom. It's hard to get far enough away to get a good picture of the whole thing, though I'm sure it can be found online!
The inside of Stephansdom. There were tons of tourists! It does give you a perspective on how BIG it is, though!
Also inside, further to the back. It's the main alter, which you can just barely see in the background of the picture before. This church is still Catholic, by the way.
Then for the REALLY fun part of the day! We went to Prater, which is the amusement park in Vienna. The entrance is free and you pay for the individual rides, so it was cool to go walk around and see everything and only pay for one or two rides. The atmosphere is just so much fun, and the weather was beautiful. So is the park. Some of the stuff is so cute and old-fashioned!
The famous Prater Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel), which is what the park is known for. Rides were crazy-expensive though, that being the main attraction! (9 euros is a bit much I think)
An adorable old-fashioned little kids' carousel
A beautiful swing ride near the entrance, so you can get an idea of how pretty some of the stuff is, especially up near the front, in the older part of the park.
Haha, us with the giant thing of cotton candy we just HAD to buy, since we were at a carnival. I am trying to look very excited (which I was) and lean back to get in the picture at the same time, and I failed.
We rode on the other ferris wheel in the park, which had the same fabulous view of Vienna, but, being un-famous, was only a fraction of the price of the Riesenrad.
We rode on the coolest ride EVER, a LIVE carousel! That means that there were real ponies, as well as the little sleigh things, and you could either ride or sit in the sleigh. So exciting!
View from the outside (P.S. - Wiener means Viennese; the German name for Vienna is Wien)
This awesome old-fashioned music player was actually still in use!
A horrible pun that we weren't sure how to react to...
Struggling with the arm-wrestling machine!
Artsy picture of the Riesenrad
Day 4
On the 4th and final day, we decided to go visit the Clown and Circus Museum, mostly because we were intrigued and decided there was a good chance it would be really interesting. It took us FOREVER to find, even with specific walking direction. Then it was in a really shady part of town. And it looked pretty scary. The entrance consisted of a small doorway covered by a rusty gate, with the name painted on the window above the door. This entrance was also shared with another museum, apparently. We were saved the decision as to whether or not to brave the creepy museum by their odd opening hours: Sundays from 10-2 and every other Thursday from 7pm-9pm. Strange hours if you want people to come. I sure wouldn't venture down there at night! Below is an illustration of the sketchiness. The entirety of the entrance is encompassed in the pictures. There is no colorful circusness hidden beyond the borders. That's it.
After that, we went back to a safe part of town and looked at our list to figure out where to go next. This is where we ended up:
Guess what it is. An important government building? A cafe? A museum?
Wrong.
It is the Jesuit church I mentioned earlier! The outside is a bit decieving, but it looks right at home next to the Science Academy! But wait until you see the inside...
This is without a doubt the most richly-decorated and elaborate church I have ever seen. It is absolutely breathtaking. It's a real shame that they have that strange astronaut banner strung over the ceiling (I have NO idea why), because if you look closely the ceiling is arched and looks to be just as elaborate as the rest, possibly even with frescos...
I believe the pink and green is all marble. There were about 4 little antechambers on either side of the main sanctuary, also elaborate, with large paintings and a dark wood confessional in each one.
Above the entrance, with the organ and little viewing balconies.
The main alter
To prove I was here!
During this time, we also ate ice cream (or gelato or whatever it is because it's not like American ice cream!) twice, dined out at several different locales, and had a fantastic girls' night with giant pizzas and cake and a movie!
My flight was a 7am, and I still had to take pubic transportation to the airport, so I had to get up crazy-early on Saturday. I cut it a little too close, and missed my flight AGAIN (I know, horrible), and my card was not working. I had a horrible moment of fear that I would be stuck in Vienna and miss my enrollment on Monday and have a whole semester wasted class-wise, but eventually got something worked out and got back safely, actually at the same time I would have before, because my rebooked flight was direct instead of with a layover in Zurich. I think it's safe to say that I have learned my lesson and will probably never be late for a flight again in my whole life!!
All in all, it was fantastic, even weighing in all the travel stress. I really miss being able to spend time with Kate. I don't know why, but the friends I made in Schwabisch Hall are so much closer than the friends I have made here. I am still holding out hope for people I meet in classes and such, though. Maybe it was just the instant bond that people make when they are thrown into a foreign country alone! In any case, it was great to be able to spend a few days with Kate again, and get to explore Vienna (with a personal guide nonetheless!)--it is, after all, one of those must-see European cities! It was totally worth every ounce of stress, and then some!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Vienna! Part 1
So, the second week of my time off before the semester, I got to go to Vienna for 4 days to hang out with Kate, one of my wonderful friends from Schwabisch Hall who's studying there. They were on break too, so we could do stuff all day, and here roommate was out of town so I even got to sleep in the spare bed instead of in a hostel! It was absolutely wonderful. We had so much fun. I totally wish we were in the same program or at least the same city so we could hang out all the time.
Travelling was an adventure, though. I forgot that, over here, Easter Monday is an official holiday as well. Therefore the busses were on a different schedule. I realized this about 5 minutes too late. That means that the bus I was planning on taking to the train station was not coming. So I had to take one about 20 minutes later. Which meant I missed my train to Stuttgart by approximately 1 minute. Which meant that even though I splurged on a taxi and the guy drove me there crazy (illegally) fast and helped me find my check-in place, I missed my plane. Yeah. So I had to rebook. Luckily I found one for later that evening. So I hung out in the Stuttgart airport for a few hours, and landed in Vienna at about 10:15 pm.
I had had to spend basically all of my on-hand cash for the new ticket (my debit card was being stupid), and I had to spend the rest of it on a bus to get to the subway station. I then had about 75 cents, and had to ride the U-Bahn (subway) *gasp!* without a ticket. Luckily for me I was correct in assuming no one would come around to check at 12:15am. I finally made it, and Kate met me at the U-Bahn stop and took me to her dorm. Relief.
Day 1
So, the first day we went around the main part of Vienna looking at all the pretty and important buildings (basically following the principle of "oooh, that looks shiny and/or important; let's go there!), and then went to a triple museum--The Imperial Silver (i.e. all their dishes), the Sisi Museum (of the famous Kaiserin (Empress) Elisabeth), and the Imperial Apartments. It was really neat, but unfortunately I could only take pictures in the first one. Oh well. We ate at an Italian restaurant, and went home, exhausted, by 7pm, and then stayed up chatting until much later than intended, haha!
One of the important buildings - Parliament!
Kate in one of the rooms in the Silver Museum. There were at least 10 rooms, I would estimate, maybe 15. I have no pictures that accurately express just how many dishes there were. It was actually pretty cool, but we had definately had our fill of dishes by the end!
Day 2
On the second day, we went to an aquarium/zoo (i.e. mostly an aquarium with a bit of a rainforesty greenhouse section) called Haus des Meers, or House of the Sea. Oh yeah, it's a cheesy name.
It is kind of a strange building, not the sort of place you would expect to be a super-cool aquarium.
This sea turtle was a total diva and was posing for me the entire time we were in that room. I probably have a dozen pictures just of him. :)
Kate doesn't like large snakes, lol.
Travelling was an adventure, though. I forgot that, over here, Easter Monday is an official holiday as well. Therefore the busses were on a different schedule. I realized this about 5 minutes too late. That means that the bus I was planning on taking to the train station was not coming. So I had to take one about 20 minutes later. Which meant I missed my train to Stuttgart by approximately 1 minute. Which meant that even though I splurged on a taxi and the guy drove me there crazy (illegally) fast and helped me find my check-in place, I missed my plane. Yeah. So I had to rebook. Luckily I found one for later that evening. So I hung out in the Stuttgart airport for a few hours, and landed in Vienna at about 10:15 pm.
I had had to spend basically all of my on-hand cash for the new ticket (my debit card was being stupid), and I had to spend the rest of it on a bus to get to the subway station. I then had about 75 cents, and had to ride the U-Bahn (subway) *gasp!* without a ticket. Luckily for me I was correct in assuming no one would come around to check at 12:15am. I finally made it, and Kate met me at the U-Bahn stop and took me to her dorm. Relief.
Day 1
So, the first day we went around the main part of Vienna looking at all the pretty and important buildings (basically following the principle of "oooh, that looks shiny and/or important; let's go there!), and then went to a triple museum--The Imperial Silver (i.e. all their dishes), the Sisi Museum (of the famous Kaiserin (Empress) Elisabeth), and the Imperial Apartments. It was really neat, but unfortunately I could only take pictures in the first one. Oh well. We ate at an Italian restaurant, and went home, exhausted, by 7pm, and then stayed up chatting until much later than intended, haha!
One of the important buildings - Parliament!
The super-secret Imperial napkin fold, which may only be used when the Imperial family is dining and is known only to 2 staff members to protect its secrecy. I'm totally serious!
Kate in one of the rooms in the Silver Museum. There were at least 10 rooms, I would estimate, maybe 15. I have no pictures that accurately express just how many dishes there were. It was actually pretty cool, but we had definately had our fill of dishes by the end!
Day 2
On the second day, we went to an aquarium/zoo (i.e. mostly an aquarium with a bit of a rainforesty greenhouse section) called Haus des Meers, or House of the Sea. Oh yeah, it's a cheesy name.
It is kind of a strange building, not the sort of place you would expect to be a super-cool aquarium.
There were Hammerhead sharks in the tank just past the register!
We went through the way they suggested, which involved first going up to the very top, where the viewing platform offered a fantastic view of Vienna!
We were a little concerned after that that we'd been ripped off, because the next couple floors were basically a stairwell with posters along it. Yeah. Turns out the aquarium itself doesn't begin until floor 4 or 5 (the top is floor 9), so we were considerably relieved to come out in a room with a giant tank in it.
We were a little concerned after that that we'd been ripped off, because the next couple floors were basically a stairwell with posters along it. Yeah. Turns out the aquarium itself doesn't begin until floor 4 or 5 (the top is floor 9), so we were considerably relieved to come out in a room with a giant tank in it.
This sea turtle was a total diva and was posing for me the entire time we were in that room. I probably have a dozen pictures just of him. :)
This is the rainforesty greenhouse add-on. There were birds and turtles and tiny little monkeys (just like I saw in Brazil!) basically roaming free in their little "habitat". So cool!
This tube is full of ants that are traveling between one terrarium and another. The tube curves down shortly after this to about handrail level, probably mostly to creep people out!
Tiny little monkeys!
There were lots of other things like sting rays, eels, jellyfish, pregnant seahorses, snakes, lots of fish, etc.
This tube is full of ants that are traveling between one terrarium and another. The tube curves down shortly after this to about handrail level, probably mostly to creep people out!
I found Nemo in the gift shop! He looks smaller on film...
Kate doesn't like large snakes, lol.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Past Two Weeks
After this post, you should be pretty much up-to-date on my life to this point!
On Friday, April 3rd, the group took one last outing to Stuttgart before the course ended. We left in the afternoon, so it wasn't an all-day outing, but it was still great! We went first to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, which was actually pretty interesting. You get a private audio guide (in your choice of language: I chose English because of the specific vocabulary), and so you can actually choose which parts to listen to the guide for and which to avoid. That way, non-car-freaks can avoid the techy parts that we won't really understand anyway! I walked around looking for pretty or interesting cars and listening to the history and/or social impact parts.
This is the outside of the museum. You start at the top and the path gradually winds back down to the bottom.
This was my favorite car in the museum, the Gullwing. Isn't it fun?
This little guy's pretty cute too, though I'm not sure I'd want to drive it! I love how the old cars have all the gold detailing and such...
After that we had some free time in the city to have dinner and go shopping and such. After that we went to a ballet! This one was based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. In the programs that the teachers printed out for the trip there was a plot summary so we knew what was going on (always a plus with ballets!), and it was really pretty good. The opera house is beautiful and old-timey; I wish my camera hadn't died so I could have taken pictures (it seems to do that at the most inconvenient times). But it was also really nice to get to dress up for an evening out. Fun!
On a less fun note, my laptop was out of commission for about a week and a half with a virus. I was in and out of internet cafes to chat with Erick to get it fixed the entire time. Apparently I lucked out and got a new one that doesn't have a program to fix it yet, so we had to wipe the whole thing clean and start over. Luckily I was able to go buy an external hard drive to save all my documents and pictures first! Then, after the laptop was better, I had issues getting internet in my dorm again, and eventually called the dorm internet people and they came out the same day and fixed it! Now all that's better, and I am once again connected with the world. Yay!
I had some issues trying to pin down plans for the break. I didn't want to go anywhere until my laptop was fixed, so that stuck me here until Tuesday or so. I also didn't want to go anywhere by myself, but haven't made any friends here so far that I'm that close to. It was a trick getting a hold of Kate and Courtney to find out their plans, but I finally got together with Kate and we started making plans for the coming week. We had a really neat trip all laid out, but then when we went to book things, we discovered that the price to get to the starting point and the price to get back home were just too high. Everything in the middle had flowed perfectly, but we just couldn't get there.
But it all worked out. Now I am leaving tomorrow afternoon to fly to Vienna (where Kate lives) for the week. She decided she needed some time to rest after living with a family in Salzburg for a week, and Vienna is reputed as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, so it's a win-win situation. Plus, Kate's roommate is out of town, so I can bunk in the spare bed in her room and save on hostel prices! This will leave me with more money to make cool weekend trips during the semester and in June, and I get to see one of the must-see cities in Europe, and spend time with my friends! I'm really excited! I'm all packed, and I just need to get a few things wrapped up here in Tubingen (i.e. extending my residency permit) before I'm off to Stuttgart to catch my flight! And don't worry, I'm bringing spare batteries this time so I won't get caught off guard by a dying camera, haha.
By the way, Happy Easter to everyone, and I hope you had a fabulous day! I went to the big main evangelical church in Tubingen for the service. It was the fullest I expect I will see a church during my stay in Germany, almost 2/3! It's always a neat experience to go to services in the big old cathedrals here, if only because it's so different. There was actually a choir today, which was beautiful and echoed through the church from behind the congregation.
St. Georg Evangelical Stiftskirche
Where I attended Easter services this morning, in the middle of the of the city center. And, yes, St. George as in the dragon-slayer. :)
The altar as it looked this morning. The gold communion goblets are on it.
Since the weather in April has been so nice (one day it got warm and has just stayed like that!), I think it's time for some long-overdue Tubingen pictures!
Marktplatz (Market Square). The colorful building on the right is the Rathaus (City Hall). Notice all the chairs set out in the square, from the cafes since it's so nice out!
Arguably one of the prettiest views in Tubingen, from the bridge over the Neckar River. The trees on the island were planted by the city undertaker when he, being put out of work by a change in the law, was given a post as a gardener. Fun story, huh? Oh, notice the boats by the willows. Tubingen has boats kind of like the gondolas in Venice, except these have tall seat-backs sticking up on the sides like ribs. Also, the yellow house behind the willows is where the poet Hoelderlin lived.
Another pretty view of the Neckar River.
Finally, you know you're in Germany when your bank looks like this! Classic German wood-beamed building.
Now you are up-to-date on the happenings in Deutschland. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter with friends and family, and I can't wait to see you all again!
On Friday, April 3rd, the group took one last outing to Stuttgart before the course ended. We left in the afternoon, so it wasn't an all-day outing, but it was still great! We went first to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, which was actually pretty interesting. You get a private audio guide (in your choice of language: I chose English because of the specific vocabulary), and so you can actually choose which parts to listen to the guide for and which to avoid. That way, non-car-freaks can avoid the techy parts that we won't really understand anyway! I walked around looking for pretty or interesting cars and listening to the history and/or social impact parts.
This is the outside of the museum. You start at the top and the path gradually winds back down to the bottom.
This was my favorite car in the museum, the Gullwing. Isn't it fun?
This little guy's pretty cute too, though I'm not sure I'd want to drive it! I love how the old cars have all the gold detailing and such...
After that we had some free time in the city to have dinner and go shopping and such. After that we went to a ballet! This one was based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. In the programs that the teachers printed out for the trip there was a plot summary so we knew what was going on (always a plus with ballets!), and it was really pretty good. The opera house is beautiful and old-timey; I wish my camera hadn't died so I could have taken pictures (it seems to do that at the most inconvenient times). But it was also really nice to get to dress up for an evening out. Fun!
On a less fun note, my laptop was out of commission for about a week and a half with a virus. I was in and out of internet cafes to chat with Erick to get it fixed the entire time. Apparently I lucked out and got a new one that doesn't have a program to fix it yet, so we had to wipe the whole thing clean and start over. Luckily I was able to go buy an external hard drive to save all my documents and pictures first! Then, after the laptop was better, I had issues getting internet in my dorm again, and eventually called the dorm internet people and they came out the same day and fixed it! Now all that's better, and I am once again connected with the world. Yay!
I had some issues trying to pin down plans for the break. I didn't want to go anywhere until my laptop was fixed, so that stuck me here until Tuesday or so. I also didn't want to go anywhere by myself, but haven't made any friends here so far that I'm that close to. It was a trick getting a hold of Kate and Courtney to find out their plans, but I finally got together with Kate and we started making plans for the coming week. We had a really neat trip all laid out, but then when we went to book things, we discovered that the price to get to the starting point and the price to get back home were just too high. Everything in the middle had flowed perfectly, but we just couldn't get there.
But it all worked out. Now I am leaving tomorrow afternoon to fly to Vienna (where Kate lives) for the week. She decided she needed some time to rest after living with a family in Salzburg for a week, and Vienna is reputed as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, so it's a win-win situation. Plus, Kate's roommate is out of town, so I can bunk in the spare bed in her room and save on hostel prices! This will leave me with more money to make cool weekend trips during the semester and in June, and I get to see one of the must-see cities in Europe, and spend time with my friends! I'm really excited! I'm all packed, and I just need to get a few things wrapped up here in Tubingen (i.e. extending my residency permit) before I'm off to Stuttgart to catch my flight! And don't worry, I'm bringing spare batteries this time so I won't get caught off guard by a dying camera, haha.
By the way, Happy Easter to everyone, and I hope you had a fabulous day! I went to the big main evangelical church in Tubingen for the service. It was the fullest I expect I will see a church during my stay in Germany, almost 2/3! It's always a neat experience to go to services in the big old cathedrals here, if only because it's so different. There was actually a choir today, which was beautiful and echoed through the church from behind the congregation.
St. Georg Evangelical Stiftskirche
Where I attended Easter services this morning, in the middle of the of the city center. And, yes, St. George as in the dragon-slayer. :)
A really neat Easter decoration in the church. It is a giant crown of thorns with roses suspended from it in their little vases for water. It was hanging over the altar this morning.
The altar as it looked this morning. The gold communion goblets are on it.
Since the weather in April has been so nice (one day it got warm and has just stayed like that!), I think it's time for some long-overdue Tubingen pictures!
Marktplatz (Market Square). The colorful building on the right is the Rathaus (City Hall). Notice all the chairs set out in the square, from the cafes since it's so nice out!
Arguably one of the prettiest views in Tubingen, from the bridge over the Neckar River. The trees on the island were planted by the city undertaker when he, being put out of work by a change in the law, was given a post as a gardener. Fun story, huh? Oh, notice the boats by the willows. Tubingen has boats kind of like the gondolas in Venice, except these have tall seat-backs sticking up on the sides like ribs. Also, the yellow house behind the willows is where the poet Hoelderlin lived.
Another pretty view of the Neckar River.
Still on the bridge, looking the other direction. This area is just so pretty!
Finally, you know you're in Germany when your bank looks like this! Classic German wood-beamed building.
Now you are up-to-date on the happenings in Deutschland. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter with friends and family, and I can't wait to see you all again!
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