Saturday, March 27, 2010
Home away from home
This past weekend I decided to take it easy (after a mishap with a booking for a flight to Oslo and the realization that my bank account does indeed have a limit) and stay in Luxembourg for the weekend. It was actually a pretty popular weekend for people to stay in, as most people wanted to save energy for the impending spring break and field study tour. And, spring weather had finally decided to grace us with her presence and the sun was shining and people were throwing off their coats. (We actually do have other clothes, despite how you have only seen the same four coats in every picture we’ve taken)
On Friday, a group of us went on a tour the local brewery for the Luxembourgish beer called Bofferding. Owned by a Miami alumnus, the company is located about 20 minutes away from the chateau and is a cheap and popular beer for the population. We took a bus there then went on a pretty intense and interactive tour of how “the secret of Luxembourg” is made. This is the third brewery tour I’ve gone on (I feel like I’m becoming an expert on hops…) and even though it is a much smaller company, I felt Bofferding did a great job! The tour ended with a “taste test” in which our group of Miami students sat in a little tavern themed bar and drank our fill of Bofferdings. Ahh, sighs of content were rampant.
That night we all met up for dinner in the city center and to explore the local night life. We were pretty impressed! There were great dining options, the weather held out, and I came to the realization that Luxembourg is absolutely adorable. The cobble streets here are populated with high line shopping and local boutiques, as well as ample out door restaurants and bars. And you can’t forget the beautiful sights of the Grund, the little area of Luxembourg located in the ravine. Standing above it you can look down on the city lights and canal, and it’s pretty breathtaking. We enjoyed a great dinner and hit up some of the local bars and dance clubs, really taking in what Luxembourg has to offer.
Saturday represented spring’s evil sister as it poured all day. To battle the miserable conditions, a group of us went to the movie theater and saw Shutter Island and Alice and Wonderland. I was a little disappointed in Alice in Wonderland, but Shutter Island was definitely good. Although I have to admit I’ve been having nightmares… keep in mind I had nightmares about Hocus Pocus. But, the Luxembourgish movie theater is impressive! It’s huge, with restaurants (including much sought after sushi) and the screens put the Darien Playhouse and the Oxford Princess to shame. We again grabbed dinner Saturday and enjoyed a few pints during a rugby tournament. We had taken after Alice and gone on a rabbit chase for a bar playing the basketball games, but to no avail.
Overall, the weekend was pretty great! I had an awesome time really seeing Luxembourg, using my French, and getting to know some of the kids on the program who I hadn’t traveled with yet. That really is the hardest thing about Luxembourg… people don’t get to know this country. And, I think traveling fatigue was starting to get us down. It was definitely a great decision and I’m glad I took a weekend off to enjoy where I’m living!
On Friday, a group of us went on a tour the local brewery for the Luxembourgish beer called Bofferding. Owned by a Miami alumnus, the company is located about 20 minutes away from the chateau and is a cheap and popular beer for the population. We took a bus there then went on a pretty intense and interactive tour of how “the secret of Luxembourg” is made. This is the third brewery tour I’ve gone on (I feel like I’m becoming an expert on hops…) and even though it is a much smaller company, I felt Bofferding did a great job! The tour ended with a “taste test” in which our group of Miami students sat in a little tavern themed bar and drank our fill of Bofferdings. Ahh, sighs of content were rampant.
That night we all met up for dinner in the city center and to explore the local night life. We were pretty impressed! There were great dining options, the weather held out, and I came to the realization that Luxembourg is absolutely adorable. The cobble streets here are populated with high line shopping and local boutiques, as well as ample out door restaurants and bars. And you can’t forget the beautiful sights of the Grund, the little area of Luxembourg located in the ravine. Standing above it you can look down on the city lights and canal, and it’s pretty breathtaking. We enjoyed a great dinner and hit up some of the local bars and dance clubs, really taking in what Luxembourg has to offer.
Saturday represented spring’s evil sister as it poured all day. To battle the miserable conditions, a group of us went to the movie theater and saw Shutter Island and Alice and Wonderland. I was a little disappointed in Alice in Wonderland, but Shutter Island was definitely good. Although I have to admit I’ve been having nightmares… keep in mind I had nightmares about Hocus Pocus. But, the Luxembourgish movie theater is impressive! It’s huge, with restaurants (including much sought after sushi) and the screens put the Darien Playhouse and the Oxford Princess to shame. We again grabbed dinner Saturday and enjoyed a few pints during a rugby tournament. We had taken after Alice and gone on a rabbit chase for a bar playing the basketball games, but to no avail.
Overall, the weekend was pretty great! I had an awesome time really seeing Luxembourg, using my French, and getting to know some of the kids on the program who I hadn’t traveled with yet. That really is the hardest thing about Luxembourg… people don’t get to know this country. And, I think traveling fatigue was starting to get us down. It was definitely a great decision and I’m glad I took a weekend off to enjoy where I’m living!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Paris
I’m sorry my entry titles are slowly getting more boring.
Paris: the city of my dreams. Ever since I was in middle school I fanaticized of living in this city of love, where I could finally use that French I’ve been harnessing since sixth grade. In high school, I was lucky enough to visit with my aunt and cousin, and I couldn’t be more excited to return. And Paris didn’t let me down.
It was a quick three hour train ride from Luxembourg City, and Jordan, Casey, and I had no problem finding our hostel and checking in quickly. The rest of our group was not getting in until later, so the three of us decided to explore le Quartier Latin. Taking a gander and veering left then right then going straight for a little and maybe the river’s this way… we found ourselves engrossed in giant crepes, berets, and in front of Notre Dame. A very pleasant surprise! We took a few photos and stoically wandered the inside of the massive church. Then, we walked along the Seine towards the Louvre, which has free admissions for students on Friday nights after 6 pm.
The Louvre is a city in and of itself. You could probably spend two weeks just vacationing there, in awe of all the beautiful art and artifacts. (Maybe I’m finally turning into an art junkie, Olly and Suzie would be so proud) I mentioned how in the Vatican you are around so many marvelous things you start to lose interest. I can’t help but contradict myself. I could have stayed in the Louvre much longer, seeing more paintings, and being blown away by each one. I’ve also come to the realization that I love stories. I’ve always loved stories (that may have affected my choices of journalism and history as my majors), but artwork brings out a different kind of story. Who are the people in the painting, the sculpture, the print? What are they doing? Why are they there? I wish every painting had a little novel right next to it about the people in it. I’d go through those real quick.
Friday night Jordan, Casey, and I found a cozy little French restaurant, enjoyed soup de l’oignon, escargot, pate, and some local wine. Delicious. One of my favorite nights since I’ve been abroad!
Saturday morning we woke up a little late and missed the free breakfast, but decided to head straight to the center of the Latin Quarter to start a free walking tour. As well as deciding I’m a light art junkie and that I love stories, I’ve decided I’m not a huge fan of walking tours. Yeah, I love knowing about the places I’m going to, but I would much rather read a tour book than stand in front of it and get lectured. It takes away from my time to wander around, look at it closely, and have my own thoughts about what I’m looking at. Also, walking tours prevent you from going up things, in things, around things. You only get to see them. So after four sites or so, we ditched the tour, grabbed some lunch and headed to the catacombs to meet up with the rest of our MUDEC group.
I had not gone to the catacombs when I was in Paris before so I was interested to see what they were like. Never again. Yikes! We spent over an hour meandering around the underground canals and rooms looking at over six million skeletons. SIX MILLION! That’s a lot. It was a cool experience, but more than a little eerie to see one of the largest mass graves ever.
Afterwards, three of the girls and I decided it was time for some shopping and meandered along the river and Latin Quarter looking at street vendors and buying unique paintings and note cards to decorate our blatantly American rooms at home. It was quintessentially French, and pretty perfect! We also took this time to do some “real” shopping and wandered down Champs Elysee, where Taylor indulged us all in her purchase of a Louis Vuitton wallet for her 21st birthday. It was great to go from the paintbrush side of the river to the poodle side, and enjoy both!
I really think that is what I love about Paris. You really have everything there. From a Bohemian lifestyle of street artists to small dogs and cafes. You have ancient sculptures and architecture and modern industry and sky scrapers. You have wide open boulevards and small winding cobblestone streets. It’s a real city, and opens its arms wide to say “explore!”
Saturday night we indulged in the most French thing of all, getting dressed up and enjoying la Tour Eiffel. We spent a large amount of time taking pictures and watching the sparkling light show, then went and sat down at a nearby restaurant for our last dinner. From there we moved onto Moulin Rouge and Montmartre to see the Parisian Red Light District. To our dismay, it was a rather pricey district and none of us lasted long before heading home.
Sunday was a little overcast and everyone was worn out from the eventful weekend, but Jordan, Casey, and I made our way back to Montmartre and Sacre Couer. In high school Sacre Couer had been my favorite place. And, again, I was not disappointed. We spent time climbing to the top for the stunning view of the city. It was definitely overcast, but we were still able to see the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. We then took time to wander the streets and squares surrounding the church and see the painters in their work.
Overall, I’m in love with Paris. It is now a life goal to move there. No big deal.
Paris: the city of my dreams. Ever since I was in middle school I fanaticized of living in this city of love, where I could finally use that French I’ve been harnessing since sixth grade. In high school, I was lucky enough to visit with my aunt and cousin, and I couldn’t be more excited to return. And Paris didn’t let me down.
It was a quick three hour train ride from Luxembourg City, and Jordan, Casey, and I had no problem finding our hostel and checking in quickly. The rest of our group was not getting in until later, so the three of us decided to explore le Quartier Latin. Taking a gander and veering left then right then going straight for a little and maybe the river’s this way… we found ourselves engrossed in giant crepes, berets, and in front of Notre Dame. A very pleasant surprise! We took a few photos and stoically wandered the inside of the massive church. Then, we walked along the Seine towards the Louvre, which has free admissions for students on Friday nights after 6 pm.
The Louvre is a city in and of itself. You could probably spend two weeks just vacationing there, in awe of all the beautiful art and artifacts. (Maybe I’m finally turning into an art junkie, Olly and Suzie would be so proud) I mentioned how in the Vatican you are around so many marvelous things you start to lose interest. I can’t help but contradict myself. I could have stayed in the Louvre much longer, seeing more paintings, and being blown away by each one. I’ve also come to the realization that I love stories. I’ve always loved stories (that may have affected my choices of journalism and history as my majors), but artwork brings out a different kind of story. Who are the people in the painting, the sculpture, the print? What are they doing? Why are they there? I wish every painting had a little novel right next to it about the people in it. I’d go through those real quick.
Friday night Jordan, Casey, and I found a cozy little French restaurant, enjoyed soup de l’oignon, escargot, pate, and some local wine. Delicious. One of my favorite nights since I’ve been abroad!
Saturday morning we woke up a little late and missed the free breakfast, but decided to head straight to the center of the Latin Quarter to start a free walking tour. As well as deciding I’m a light art junkie and that I love stories, I’ve decided I’m not a huge fan of walking tours. Yeah, I love knowing about the places I’m going to, but I would much rather read a tour book than stand in front of it and get lectured. It takes away from my time to wander around, look at it closely, and have my own thoughts about what I’m looking at. Also, walking tours prevent you from going up things, in things, around things. You only get to see them. So after four sites or so, we ditched the tour, grabbed some lunch and headed to the catacombs to meet up with the rest of our MUDEC group.
I had not gone to the catacombs when I was in Paris before so I was interested to see what they were like. Never again. Yikes! We spent over an hour meandering around the underground canals and rooms looking at over six million skeletons. SIX MILLION! That’s a lot. It was a cool experience, but more than a little eerie to see one of the largest mass graves ever.
Afterwards, three of the girls and I decided it was time for some shopping and meandered along the river and Latin Quarter looking at street vendors and buying unique paintings and note cards to decorate our blatantly American rooms at home. It was quintessentially French, and pretty perfect! We also took this time to do some “real” shopping and wandered down Champs Elysee, where Taylor indulged us all in her purchase of a Louis Vuitton wallet for her 21st birthday. It was great to go from the paintbrush side of the river to the poodle side, and enjoy both!
I really think that is what I love about Paris. You really have everything there. From a Bohemian lifestyle of street artists to small dogs and cafes. You have ancient sculptures and architecture and modern industry and sky scrapers. You have wide open boulevards and small winding cobblestone streets. It’s a real city, and opens its arms wide to say “explore!”
Saturday night we indulged in the most French thing of all, getting dressed up and enjoying la Tour Eiffel. We spent a large amount of time taking pictures and watching the sparkling light show, then went and sat down at a nearby restaurant for our last dinner. From there we moved onto Moulin Rouge and Montmartre to see the Parisian Red Light District. To our dismay, it was a rather pricey district and none of us lasted long before heading home.
Sunday was a little overcast and everyone was worn out from the eventful weekend, but Jordan, Casey, and I made our way back to Montmartre and Sacre Couer. In high school Sacre Couer had been my favorite place. And, again, I was not disappointed. We spent time climbing to the top for the stunning view of the city. It was definitely overcast, but we were still able to see the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. We then took time to wander the streets and squares surrounding the church and see the painters in their work.
Overall, I’m in love with Paris. It is now a life goal to move there. No big deal.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Strasbourg
After the disastrous train ride home from Berlin and a steady decline in my bank account, I decided this past weekend was a weekend to take it a little bit slower.
While our friends scattered to Munich, Ireland, and a road trip to Vienna, Taylor and I decided a one-night stay in Strasbourg might be what the doctor ordered. After weeks of packing our backpacks and running to catch a train, Taylor and I packed a few essentials’ into our over-sized purses and hopped a quick train to the French city across the border. It was so nice to take a short 2 to 3 hour train as opposed to one in the double digits. Since it was only the two of us, we splurged and got a hotel room instead of settling for a hostel. Great choice. Added to the relaxation for sure.
Strasbourg is absolutely adorable; a picturesque French village with a touch of German ancestry. The houses line adorable canals and call on the architecture of days long gone. But nothing compares to the striking cathedral, which tours over the rest of the miniature village. Every little detail about the cathedral, located in the middle of a dramatic square, demands respect and awe. The inside was a little bit darker than I had expected and the translation boxes didn’t demonstrate such an expertise of English. However, the astronomical clock on the inside was very impressive.
Taylor and I basically spent the entirety of the time there shopping and eating (very unlike us). Strasbourg, keeping in character with my description of the town, had some adorable little shops of French home accents and higher fashion. Taylor and I were in “girls’ weekend away” shopping utopia. Despite our attempts to save money by staying closer to home, we ended up dishing out more than a few euros on some timeless keepsakes.
We also greatly, greatly, greatly enjoyed our first tarte flambee. Not knowing what to expect, we ordered a chocolate and banana one to split for a dessert. Little did we know it was heaven on a plate. It’s a giant pizza type pastry dough thing with your food of choice gracing the top. YUM! We basically inhaled the entire thing in a five minute span.
After spending Friday night and all day Saturday, we felt rejuvenated and headed home on a Saturday evening train. We were right, the whole weekend was exactly what the doctor ordered.
While our friends scattered to Munich, Ireland, and a road trip to Vienna, Taylor and I decided a one-night stay in Strasbourg might be what the doctor ordered. After weeks of packing our backpacks and running to catch a train, Taylor and I packed a few essentials’ into our over-sized purses and hopped a quick train to the French city across the border. It was so nice to take a short 2 to 3 hour train as opposed to one in the double digits. Since it was only the two of us, we splurged and got a hotel room instead of settling for a hostel. Great choice. Added to the relaxation for sure.
Strasbourg is absolutely adorable; a picturesque French village with a touch of German ancestry. The houses line adorable canals and call on the architecture of days long gone. But nothing compares to the striking cathedral, which tours over the rest of the miniature village. Every little detail about the cathedral, located in the middle of a dramatic square, demands respect and awe. The inside was a little bit darker than I had expected and the translation boxes didn’t demonstrate such an expertise of English. However, the astronomical clock on the inside was very impressive.
Taylor and I basically spent the entirety of the time there shopping and eating (very unlike us). Strasbourg, keeping in character with my description of the town, had some adorable little shops of French home accents and higher fashion. Taylor and I were in “girls’ weekend away” shopping utopia. Despite our attempts to save money by staying closer to home, we ended up dishing out more than a few euros on some timeless keepsakes.
We also greatly, greatly, greatly enjoyed our first tarte flambee. Not knowing what to expect, we ordered a chocolate and banana one to split for a dessert. Little did we know it was heaven on a plate. It’s a giant pizza type pastry dough thing with your food of choice gracing the top. YUM! We basically inhaled the entire thing in a five minute span.
After spending Friday night and all day Saturday, we felt rejuvenated and headed home on a Saturday evening train. We were right, the whole weekend was exactly what the doctor ordered.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Going Green
There is a special holy day in Oxford that is unique to that beloved school of mine. It is a day when everyone drops their differences and come together to celebrate, not just a lost St. Patrick's day, but the beginning of spring. They embrace one another and cheer tradition and the college spirit. Green Beer Day. (Hear the sighs of content in the soundtrack to this blog)
For those unfamiliar with the holiday, it traditionally takes place on the Thursday before spring break. In the past, Miami has often placed spring break during St. Patrick's Day. To make up for this loss day of celebration, Miami adopted their own version. Students partake in a day of festivities, most beginning at 5 am. Green eggs and keggs (literally, the beer is dyed) are staples of the day.
In Luxembourg, we felt it was our moral responsibility, as it has been for those who came before us, to bring the holiday to Europe. Therefore, we were all up at 5 am and catching a 5:20 to the local bar in Differdange which opened up for us. Everyone was decked out in green gear and drank Bofferding (the Luxembourgish beer) with a mint dye. Keeping in theme with the holiday, the sun cooperated. This is rare in Luxembourg, but yet the sun was shining, the weather was great, and people enjoyed the outdoors with sunglasses and a pint. It was an amazing day, and a little bit of a taste of home. I couldn't help but think of all those people I missed at Miami and knowing they would be up soon to join in our day-long festivities.
Don't worry though, everyone (or, at least most) made it to their classes and our lecture that night.
Happy Holidays!
For those unfamiliar with the holiday, it traditionally takes place on the Thursday before spring break. In the past, Miami has often placed spring break during St. Patrick's Day. To make up for this loss day of celebration, Miami adopted their own version. Students partake in a day of festivities, most beginning at 5 am. Green eggs and keggs (literally, the beer is dyed) are staples of the day.
In Luxembourg, we felt it was our moral responsibility, as it has been for those who came before us, to bring the holiday to Europe. Therefore, we were all up at 5 am and catching a 5:20 to the local bar in Differdange which opened up for us. Everyone was decked out in green gear and drank Bofferding (the Luxembourgish beer) with a mint dye. Keeping in theme with the holiday, the sun cooperated. This is rare in Luxembourg, but yet the sun was shining, the weather was great, and people enjoyed the outdoors with sunglasses and a pint. It was an amazing day, and a little bit of a taste of home. I couldn't help but think of all those people I missed at Miami and knowing they would be up soon to join in our day-long festivities.
Don't worry though, everyone (or, at least most) made it to their classes and our lecture that night.
Happy Holidays!
Tropical Koblenz
The train ride home from Berlin was one of the most miserable so far. Everyone was uncomfortable, dirty, and exhausted from a late-night pub crawl. I heard more than once people complaining that they just wanted to be home. No one was looking forward to a 10 hour train ride.
I should have known then. We were all too desperate to get home. Too exhausted to stay awake. Too grumpy to be with one another.
Of course our train would get cancelled.
Of course a storm would tear up Europe and cause massive power outages, floods, travel cancellations.
Of course we would be stuck in a beautiful tourist destination like Koblenz, Germany.
Our train came to a halt, and thank goodness we had German speaker Emily among our group of 38. She was able to tell us some storm was coming and we had to get off the train. Despite this clear translation, there was instant chaos among our group as people searched frantically for a new train, tried to stay on the one we were one, or headed to McDonalds. (Those golden arches are seducing) However, once in the station, we realized it was bigger deal than expected. No trains were leaving until the next morning at 5 am.
Time to find somewhere to sleep. Being the brat I am, along with five others, we decided to book an incredibly cheap hotel so we could spend the night in a bed. The rest of the group decided to channel their inner homelessness and sleep on the streets, under a bridge, in McDonalds, at a 24-hour bar... where ever they could go.
Honestly, being in Europe has just taught me how to handle these issues. There's not point in rushing around like a chicken with your head cut off or looking back on what could be changed or even getting angry with someone for not helping. It's, "Okay, what can we do now to fix this." It really has me a much more laid back travel. Maybe I can channel this to my mom in April...
Our stay in Koblenz was... well, it just was. We were up and at 'em the next morning at 5 am. It was a full day (and night) of traveling, but we eventually made it back safe!
I should have known then. We were all too desperate to get home. Too exhausted to stay awake. Too grumpy to be with one another.
Of course our train would get cancelled.
Of course a storm would tear up Europe and cause massive power outages, floods, travel cancellations.
Of course we would be stuck in a beautiful tourist destination like Koblenz, Germany.
Our train came to a halt, and thank goodness we had German speaker Emily among our group of 38. She was able to tell us some storm was coming and we had to get off the train. Despite this clear translation, there was instant chaos among our group as people searched frantically for a new train, tried to stay on the one we were one, or headed to McDonalds. (Those golden arches are seducing) However, once in the station, we realized it was bigger deal than expected. No trains were leaving until the next morning at 5 am.
Time to find somewhere to sleep. Being the brat I am, along with five others, we decided to book an incredibly cheap hotel so we could spend the night in a bed. The rest of the group decided to channel their inner homelessness and sleep on the streets, under a bridge, in McDonalds, at a 24-hour bar... where ever they could go.
Honestly, being in Europe has just taught me how to handle these issues. There's not point in rushing around like a chicken with your head cut off or looking back on what could be changed or even getting angry with someone for not helping. It's, "Okay, what can we do now to fix this." It really has me a much more laid back travel. Maybe I can channel this to my mom in April...
Our stay in Koblenz was... well, it just was. We were up and at 'em the next morning at 5 am. It was a full day (and night) of traveling, but we eventually made it back safe!
Berlin By Night
After some amazing daylight hours, we decided it was time to see the one and only, main attraction of the city, and a reason to visit in and of itself, ladies and gentlemen I present: THE BERLIN WALL.
Sophie, Taylor, Ally, and I went to the East Berlin Gallery, so the part of the Berlin Wall that is painted and decorated every ten years to demonstrate humans rights and peace and other progressive messages. My mother would have loved it. Never before had I really thought too seriously about the Berlin Wall. Most of the history classes I have enjoyed only go up to around the World War Two. I just never really addressed the seriousness of the Berlin Wall. Actually seeing this physical barrier that had divided a city in half, I cannot help but feel a more emotional attachment to such an influential time in history. The artwork that adorned the walls was breathtaking and very moving, although I have to admit I didn't always understand it... My German is still developing... slowly. But I had a few favorite. One was the wall painted on the wall, but there were little holes in which you could see the sky. Above the painting was "You can see infinity." Another one was a comic strip type painting with super hero type characters. The caption said, "Save the world. Get human." Overall, the wall was very moving and I loved seeing the painted part.
After the wall, the four of us decided a dinner celebration of our day in Berlin was in order. After getting nice and dressed up, we went and enjoyed a very German ethnic meal.. of Japanese noodles. But seriously, again it was so delicious and we had an amazing time. Then, we met up with the other 34 Miamians haunting Berlin and decided to partake in our first pub crawl! Honestly, I'm always under the impression that we should do a pub crawl in every city. It's such a great way to see the night life and have a great time. This one, called the 666 tour, was very interesting and brought us to some places we never would have gone to. The first was a bumble bee theme, which of course, I LOVED this. Then, because there were so many of us, we had to be divided. To our amusement, we could not help but yell that one half was East Berlin, the other West. Our group went to a bar that really defined our night, The Last Cathedral. Turns out it is a gothic themed bar, but more towards the Medieval ages. The lights were made of fake skulls, fake blood (hopefully all this was fake) adorned the walls, and the costumes were a little out of our sphere. One guy had on horns and most of the women had one long dresses reminiscent of Lord of the Rings. These Miamians were their pink polos and Ugg boots were a little bit out of place, as can be imagined. We went to a few more bars and had an amazing time. Honestly, it was great to get to know other people on the program! And Berlin really is one odd city, but so fun.
The night ended late and the morning started early as we began our long trip back to Berlin... but that's another story.
Sophie, Taylor, Ally, and I went to the East Berlin Gallery, so the part of the Berlin Wall that is painted and decorated every ten years to demonstrate humans rights and peace and other progressive messages. My mother would have loved it. Never before had I really thought too seriously about the Berlin Wall. Most of the history classes I have enjoyed only go up to around the World War Two. I just never really addressed the seriousness of the Berlin Wall. Actually seeing this physical barrier that had divided a city in half, I cannot help but feel a more emotional attachment to such an influential time in history. The artwork that adorned the walls was breathtaking and very moving, although I have to admit I didn't always understand it... My German is still developing... slowly. But I had a few favorite. One was the wall painted on the wall, but there were little holes in which you could see the sky. Above the painting was "You can see infinity." Another one was a comic strip type painting with super hero type characters. The caption said, "Save the world. Get human." Overall, the wall was very moving and I loved seeing the painted part.
After the wall, the four of us decided a dinner celebration of our day in Berlin was in order. After getting nice and dressed up, we went and enjoyed a very German ethnic meal.. of Japanese noodles. But seriously, again it was so delicious and we had an amazing time. Then, we met up with the other 34 Miamians haunting Berlin and decided to partake in our first pub crawl! Honestly, I'm always under the impression that we should do a pub crawl in every city. It's such a great way to see the night life and have a great time. This one, called the 666 tour, was very interesting and brought us to some places we never would have gone to. The first was a bumble bee theme, which of course, I LOVED this. Then, because there were so many of us, we had to be divided. To our amusement, we could not help but yell that one half was East Berlin, the other West. Our group went to a bar that really defined our night, The Last Cathedral. Turns out it is a gothic themed bar, but more towards the Medieval ages. The lights were made of fake skulls, fake blood (hopefully all this was fake) adorned the walls, and the costumes were a little out of our sphere. One guy had on horns and most of the women had one long dresses reminiscent of Lord of the Rings. These Miamians were their pink polos and Ugg boots were a little bit out of place, as can be imagined. We went to a few more bars and had an amazing time. Honestly, it was great to get to know other people on the program! And Berlin really is one odd city, but so fun.
The night ended late and the morning started early as we began our long trip back to Berlin... but that's another story.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Berlin by Day
Oh wow, I'm just hyped up on blog entries lately.
Now that I have Carnivale entries under my belt, it's time to resort back to my little weekly updates on the beautiful cities I get to visit!
The weekend after Egypt and Rome, I was very undecisive about where I wanted to go. A large group of students were heading to Berlin and another group were staying home, and I was very divided. For some reason, the images of Berlin I had concocted in my mind were composed mostly of a stern society, gray, cold, and haunted by a violent Nazi past. However, I felt rejuvenated after our Carnivale and felt that traveling with a new group of people would be a lot of fun. I was right.
Berlin was totally different than I expected. It is a city with one of the most dramatic histories in the world, from a German state capital to World War 2 to the Berlin Wall, it is impossible to ignore the past that has created such a dynamic city. But, beyond this often traumatic past, Berlin has risen up as an economic and cultural capital. It is completely immersed in an open and Bohemian atmosphere. It is full of life and expressive people, with one of the most lively night lifes we have seen thus far.
We got into Berlin pretty late on Friday night after a long train ride. I had a phone interview that night at 9:30 pm so I was unable to take part in the "festivities" on the train ride there. I was, however, able to capture memorable moments on camera and enjoy with a sing-a-long of Dankeshein.
We all arrived to our hostel and proceeded to take advantage of the wild night life that Berlin has to offer. The first bar we haunted was called "White Trash, Fast Food." Talk about homesick... When we walked in I was awed almost right away. It was not a trashy bar, but rather a more of a goth style. Head banger music, barbed wire around the bar, glow lamps in the shape of skulls and, of course, Christmas lights. The topper of the night was a woman wearing a bright red belt around her torso and matching red heels. Oh, yup, that was it. She was nude except that. Walking around the bar. I've never seen the boys' eyes pop out of their heads so much. The bar was much worth it though for the delicious late night nachos (two plates) that the group inhaled.
Berlin was one of the largest groups I had traveled with, with almost 40 MUDEC students making the trek to the historical city. It was quite the show trying to usher the group to the hostel and have us all check in at once. Knowing that this group was a taddddd bit too big to tour the city with, my three roommates for the weekend, Ally, Sophie, and Taylor, and I, decided to venture out on our own. We went hunting for a good breakfast and found the most amazing place. We each had eggs and bacon and yogurt for the first time in months. And inhaled it. Ah, I'm getting hungry thinking about it! You don't realize how much you miss certain things when you're abroad. After inhaling such a meal, we made our way to start our day tour of Berlin!
Our first stop was by the Monument to Murdered Jews located by the Brandenburg Gate. The monument is composed of a series of steal blocks, reminiscent of large coffins, placed in a square park. They vary in height and the sidewalk criss crossing through them rise up and down, with the center of the monument having the tallest blocks and lowest sidewalk. It is very erie to walk through, almost as if there is no way out but you always think this path will have a close end. They large blocks tend to tower above you and you can't escape the cold since the sun doesn't shine on all the path. The four of us meandered the monument deep in thought.
We also visited the museum that was located beneath the memorial. I was awed by the amount of security that was enacted for us to entertain the museum. Each one of us had to enter at a time and only 10 were allowed in the room at a time. All metals had to be removed, bags scanned, and people had to go through metal detectors and scanned by those wand things. I think it was honestly more intense than the airport security I've been going through. The museum was much more modern and dark. It focused on individual stories instead of just the number, with rooms dedicated to letters and postcards that had been recovered, entire families that had been wiped out, and the oral telling of individuals who were killed. It was a very solemn experience and touching. I think we were each deeply affected. I was surprised it wasn't much larger, however. We also learned, in line with the security, that all the blocks located above ground were made so all graffiti could be washed off.
After the museum, we wandered the Brandenburg Gate then to the Reichstag. We decided to wait in line for the chance to climb to the top of the parliament building for a view of the city. Despite the long wait, it was totally well worth it. The top of the Reichstag, after being completely destroyed in World War Two like most of the city, was rebuilt with incredible modern architecture of all glass, steel, and mirrors. You round your way up the dome and see a stunning view of the German sunset. There was also a large mirrored figure in the center that climbed to the top, which added an entirely new dimension. We took a break at the cafe at the top as well before figuring out our next move.
I'll keep the night hours for my next entry!
Now that I have Carnivale entries under my belt, it's time to resort back to my little weekly updates on the beautiful cities I get to visit!
The weekend after Egypt and Rome, I was very undecisive about where I wanted to go. A large group of students were heading to Berlin and another group were staying home, and I was very divided. For some reason, the images of Berlin I had concocted in my mind were composed mostly of a stern society, gray, cold, and haunted by a violent Nazi past. However, I felt rejuvenated after our Carnivale and felt that traveling with a new group of people would be a lot of fun. I was right.
Berlin was totally different than I expected. It is a city with one of the most dramatic histories in the world, from a German state capital to World War 2 to the Berlin Wall, it is impossible to ignore the past that has created such a dynamic city. But, beyond this often traumatic past, Berlin has risen up as an economic and cultural capital. It is completely immersed in an open and Bohemian atmosphere. It is full of life and expressive people, with one of the most lively night lifes we have seen thus far.
We got into Berlin pretty late on Friday night after a long train ride. I had a phone interview that night at 9:30 pm so I was unable to take part in the "festivities" on the train ride there. I was, however, able to capture memorable moments on camera and enjoy with a sing-a-long of Dankeshein.
We all arrived to our hostel and proceeded to take advantage of the wild night life that Berlin has to offer. The first bar we haunted was called "White Trash, Fast Food." Talk about homesick... When we walked in I was awed almost right away. It was not a trashy bar, but rather a more of a goth style. Head banger music, barbed wire around the bar, glow lamps in the shape of skulls and, of course, Christmas lights. The topper of the night was a woman wearing a bright red belt around her torso and matching red heels. Oh, yup, that was it. She was nude except that. Walking around the bar. I've never seen the boys' eyes pop out of their heads so much. The bar was much worth it though for the delicious late night nachos (two plates) that the group inhaled.
Berlin was one of the largest groups I had traveled with, with almost 40 MUDEC students making the trek to the historical city. It was quite the show trying to usher the group to the hostel and have us all check in at once. Knowing that this group was a taddddd bit too big to tour the city with, my three roommates for the weekend, Ally, Sophie, and Taylor, and I, decided to venture out on our own. We went hunting for a good breakfast and found the most amazing place. We each had eggs and bacon and yogurt for the first time in months. And inhaled it. Ah, I'm getting hungry thinking about it! You don't realize how much you miss certain things when you're abroad. After inhaling such a meal, we made our way to start our day tour of Berlin!
Our first stop was by the Monument to Murdered Jews located by the Brandenburg Gate. The monument is composed of a series of steal blocks, reminiscent of large coffins, placed in a square park. They vary in height and the sidewalk criss crossing through them rise up and down, with the center of the monument having the tallest blocks and lowest sidewalk. It is very erie to walk through, almost as if there is no way out but you always think this path will have a close end. They large blocks tend to tower above you and you can't escape the cold since the sun doesn't shine on all the path. The four of us meandered the monument deep in thought.
We also visited the museum that was located beneath the memorial. I was awed by the amount of security that was enacted for us to entertain the museum. Each one of us had to enter at a time and only 10 were allowed in the room at a time. All metals had to be removed, bags scanned, and people had to go through metal detectors and scanned by those wand things. I think it was honestly more intense than the airport security I've been going through. The museum was much more modern and dark. It focused on individual stories instead of just the number, with rooms dedicated to letters and postcards that had been recovered, entire families that had been wiped out, and the oral telling of individuals who were killed. It was a very solemn experience and touching. I think we were each deeply affected. I was surprised it wasn't much larger, however. We also learned, in line with the security, that all the blocks located above ground were made so all graffiti could be washed off.
After the museum, we wandered the Brandenburg Gate then to the Reichstag. We decided to wait in line for the chance to climb to the top of the parliament building for a view of the city. Despite the long wait, it was totally well worth it. The top of the Reichstag, after being completely destroyed in World War Two like most of the city, was rebuilt with incredible modern architecture of all glass, steel, and mirrors. You round your way up the dome and see a stunning view of the German sunset. There was also a large mirrored figure in the center that climbed to the top, which added an entirely new dimension. We took a break at the cafe at the top as well before figuring out our next move.
I'll keep the night hours for my next entry!
when in rome!
Rome.
Oh, Roma. I’ve learned it’s possible to fall in love with a city at first sight. It is a city of cobblestone streets, overflowing fountains, a history unparalleled, and spaghetti that makes me drool to think about. It was love.
Despite spending the night on the cement floor of the airport and catching a 5 am flight, we felt relatively rejuvenated when we arrived to find the sun shining and the weather at a temperature none of us had experienced since October in Oxford. Thanks to Spencer Kubin’s meticulous planning, we knew exactly where to drop our luggage and how to navigate the metro system to our first stop: the coliseum.
It was one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen (soon to be challenged by the Egyptian pyramids, but at this point in my life I couldn’t help keep repeating to Brooke that this was the coolest thing I’ve ever done.) The sheer size and magnitude of the coliseum is impressive, let alone when it was built and what it was used for in the ancient days of glory. We spent hours wandering through the ruins, snapping about a thousand pictures, and enjoying the sun on our face.
Afterwards, we meandered through the city and hit up some of the most famous sites in the world: the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. I was a little disappointed by the Spanish Steps. I don’t really know what I expected, but they were much smaller than I had imagined. The Lizzie McGuire Movie made them look just so cool, I was doomed for disappointment. The Trevi Fountain, on the other hand, was absolutely stunning. We all made our wishes as we threw our coins over our shoulders and enjoyed the vast amounts of tourists milling around the square.
After a lunch of delicious spaghetti dipped in a variety of Italian sauces from blue cheese to Alfredo to tomato, we made our way to the Pantheon. Again, just surreal and out of a movie. (This time I was thinking more Da Vinci Code than my idol Hilary Duff) It’s amazing to think of the sheer history of such buildings is enough to make you feel small. We then made our way to an old church that Spencer had read about. In the basement of the church was a church composed of monk bones. The bones and skeletons adorn the ceilings, walls, and floors, making patterns of flowers and Biblical symbols. It was one of the eeriest things I have ever done, with real people’s remains being placed directly in front of me. The last chamber of the chapel had an engraved sign stating, “What you are, we were once were. What we are now, you will be.” (That may not be the exact wording, but you understand the jist.) Incredibly scary, and surrounded by a city of such history it really made us all think.
We then caught train to the airport in Rome to catch our flight to Cairo! It was an incredibly long day, starting traveling at 7 pm and getting into Cairo at around 4 am…. But well worth the day in such a city.
On our way back we were able to stop in Rome for a night and another day. We went straight from our flight from Cairo to our hostel, located conveniently near the train station, and then straight to the Vatican. I hear that lines get ridiculous for the country within a city in the summer months, but we were lucky we were visiting in the off-season and were able to have a relatively easy experience. We first went to St. Peter’s Basilica. It was one of the largest, most fabulous and stunning things ever. Again, Rome’s site are impressive almost on their own by their sheer size. But within the chapel, you saw works of geniuses I had only seen before in art textbooks. A highlight was Michelangelo’s The Pieta. It was just a true piece of brilliance, with the human qualities of Jesus and his defeat contrasted by the divine peace of the Madonna. We also went into the Vatican museum, something I was hesitant about in my ignorance and but was ultimately blown away. The only problem with the exhibit is there is so much to see, you could spend an entire week vacation just in the Vatican, not a morning. The Sistine Chapel is everything you expect, although I was bothered you couldn’t take pictures. Everyone knows how I am with my pictures. I thought another interesting aspect was the modern art that was on exhibit. I couldn’t help but take pictures of art pieces’ names to Google later. After the Vatican we all ate another large lunch of pasta (we were getting off our rice and lamb diet of Egypt) and took one of the longest most beautiful naps I have ever experienced. Who knew you could sleep so heavily in the middle of the day?
That night we got to see the vibrant city even more vibrant. Night time in Rome is like a masterpiece on steroids. Everything is illuminated. From fountains to ruins to street lights to the people themselves. It is a bustling city, with cafes busting with people and good wine. We went to a few squares and enjoyed the sites, then settled on a restaurant where we could sit outside by a heater and enjoyed a fabulous pasta dinner complete with some great jugs of wine.
What a way to cap off an amazing carnival break!
Oh, Roma. I’ve learned it’s possible to fall in love with a city at first sight. It is a city of cobblestone streets, overflowing fountains, a history unparalleled, and spaghetti that makes me drool to think about. It was love.
Despite spending the night on the cement floor of the airport and catching a 5 am flight, we felt relatively rejuvenated when we arrived to find the sun shining and the weather at a temperature none of us had experienced since October in Oxford. Thanks to Spencer Kubin’s meticulous planning, we knew exactly where to drop our luggage and how to navigate the metro system to our first stop: the coliseum.
It was one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen (soon to be challenged by the Egyptian pyramids, but at this point in my life I couldn’t help keep repeating to Brooke that this was the coolest thing I’ve ever done.) The sheer size and magnitude of the coliseum is impressive, let alone when it was built and what it was used for in the ancient days of glory. We spent hours wandering through the ruins, snapping about a thousand pictures, and enjoying the sun on our face.
Afterwards, we meandered through the city and hit up some of the most famous sites in the world: the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. I was a little disappointed by the Spanish Steps. I don’t really know what I expected, but they were much smaller than I had imagined. The Lizzie McGuire Movie made them look just so cool, I was doomed for disappointment. The Trevi Fountain, on the other hand, was absolutely stunning. We all made our wishes as we threw our coins over our shoulders and enjoyed the vast amounts of tourists milling around the square.
After a lunch of delicious spaghetti dipped in a variety of Italian sauces from blue cheese to Alfredo to tomato, we made our way to the Pantheon. Again, just surreal and out of a movie. (This time I was thinking more Da Vinci Code than my idol Hilary Duff) It’s amazing to think of the sheer history of such buildings is enough to make you feel small. We then made our way to an old church that Spencer had read about. In the basement of the church was a church composed of monk bones. The bones and skeletons adorn the ceilings, walls, and floors, making patterns of flowers and Biblical symbols. It was one of the eeriest things I have ever done, with real people’s remains being placed directly in front of me. The last chamber of the chapel had an engraved sign stating, “What you are, we were once were. What we are now, you will be.” (That may not be the exact wording, but you understand the jist.) Incredibly scary, and surrounded by a city of such history it really made us all think.
We then caught train to the airport in Rome to catch our flight to Cairo! It was an incredibly long day, starting traveling at 7 pm and getting into Cairo at around 4 am…. But well worth the day in such a city.
On our way back we were able to stop in Rome for a night and another day. We went straight from our flight from Cairo to our hostel, located conveniently near the train station, and then straight to the Vatican. I hear that lines get ridiculous for the country within a city in the summer months, but we were lucky we were visiting in the off-season and were able to have a relatively easy experience. We first went to St. Peter’s Basilica. It was one of the largest, most fabulous and stunning things ever. Again, Rome’s site are impressive almost on their own by their sheer size. But within the chapel, you saw works of geniuses I had only seen before in art textbooks. A highlight was Michelangelo’s The Pieta. It was just a true piece of brilliance, with the human qualities of Jesus and his defeat contrasted by the divine peace of the Madonna. We also went into the Vatican museum, something I was hesitant about in my ignorance and but was ultimately blown away. The only problem with the exhibit is there is so much to see, you could spend an entire week vacation just in the Vatican, not a morning. The Sistine Chapel is everything you expect, although I was bothered you couldn’t take pictures. Everyone knows how I am with my pictures. I thought another interesting aspect was the modern art that was on exhibit. I couldn’t help but take pictures of art pieces’ names to Google later. After the Vatican we all ate another large lunch of pasta (we were getting off our rice and lamb diet of Egypt) and took one of the longest most beautiful naps I have ever experienced. Who knew you could sleep so heavily in the middle of the day?
That night we got to see the vibrant city even more vibrant. Night time in Rome is like a masterpiece on steroids. Everything is illuminated. From fountains to ruins to street lights to the people themselves. It is a bustling city, with cafes busting with people and good wine. We went to a few squares and enjoyed the sites, then settled on a restaurant where we could sit outside by a heater and enjoyed a fabulous pasta dinner complete with some great jugs of wine.
What a way to cap off an amazing carnival break!
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