Dinner last night was great. I had authentic Japanese wontons and a delicious dessert made with pomegranate. It was a long walk to Suse's house, so we didn't get back until quite late last night. That is one thing about Berlin. The city is very large, but all of the people either walk, take the Underground (subway), take the street train, the S train, or bus because finding a parking spot for a car (if you have one) is almost impossible.
We got home late, but made it a goal to get up and out of the house by ten to make it to The Underground Tour. We toured the Gesundbrunnen Bunker, which was built to keep the citizens of Germany safe during air raids in WWII. The tour was full of interesting artifacts from the time and provided good knowledge on the topic. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures though, which was a huge bummer for the tourist inside me.
The bunker had many different rooms that held many people (but not enough during the time of emergency). It had areas for both men and women to use the bathroom too. It was interesting how small the bunker compared to how long it was needed to be used, but the German's thought that the air raids would only last for minutes instead of hours, because at the time built planes couldn't fly for to long, but as the war continued planes became more advanced.
Many times the people would be stuck in the bunker for hours standing crammed together. They would be in there for so long that they would light candles at ankle level, waste level, and shoulder level to be sure there was enough oxygen for the individuals to survive. Once the ankle candle went out, the mothers would have to pick up the children so they wouldn't suffocate.
There was one mother and children room that was meant for women to be able to stay the night inside it with their children. But, those given the room first were women who worked, because these women needed to be well rested so they could get in the factory in the morning and help prepare the war equipment that German soldiers needed to fight.
One really cool thing about the tour was the glow in the dark room. This room was painted with glow in the dark paint so if the power went out the men hired could do their job if the power went out. Their job was to run out before the citizens in the bunker and make sure it was clear to evacuate the bunker.
Surprisingly enough, these bunkers were not actually completely safe. It was nothing like Hilter's bunker, which was really far down under cement (we are talking really really far). This bunker was close enough to the top that if a bomb it the ground right above the bunker, the sealed room it hit would be destroyed as would the rooms touching it. So it really wasn't that safe for the citizens, but the citizens were not aware of the dangers.
I would recommend this tour to others it is really interesting to see the stuff and hear the facts provided and we only froze a little bit. Because I don't have pictures you can look at www.berliner-underwelten.de so see if they have any, but it's not the same I know.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Berlin Facts & Fashion!
Nicole and I went on the free tour of Berlin that I previously mentioned yesterday (I think I mentioned it anyway). It was very fun, but very cold. We choose to give a generous tip and then left during the intermission because we couldn't feel our toes. I would do it again any day (in the summer weather).
During the tour we were able to see the remainder of the Berlin wall, and old cars used in East Berlin when the wall was in place.
We also saw an old statue that was re-named Victory (because it was in Germany than stolen by the French, then taken back by the Germans).* It is funny to me that it is is named Victory however, because it is located on in the Pariser Platz (Paris Square) and it is located diagonaly from the French Embassy building...So who really was Victorious here???
On the outskirts of Pariser Platz is the Academy of Arts and the Aldon Hotel.* Which is a famous hotel where the extremely wealthy stay for visits. However, it is more famously known as the hotel Michael Jackson hung his baby out of the window.
We also went and saw the Jewish Memorial which is more famously known as the Holocaust Memorial. But that name is incorrect because there are other sites for lost individuals in this war and this sight is specifically for the Jewish people lost. The meaning of the piece is not released so that each individual can come up with his/her own purpose. Did I mention how good the tour was yet? I learned lots.
-Hilter's "Resting Ground" Not Picture Worthy-
And lastly we stood over the bunker where Hitler spent most of his time during the war. It is also where he killed himself. Because the Soviet Union took his body and cremated it and then dropped his ashes in the river (with the idea that he would never have a true resting place) this could be considered his resting site. No "In Memory" sign for Hitler is there, he is not mentioned in any fashion, just a parking lot to apartments where renters take their dogs to use the toilet.
That's enough history for now! I hope you enjoyed the facts!
After the walk we ate home made potato soup dinner, then rushed to the fashion show.
But things then looked up and we were able to make it inside and to catch a show in person. The show that we went to was of designers who used all Eco-friendly products.
It was very fun! We even left with a goody bag (which is in my hand in the photo) that had free eye liner in it (Score!).
Today was very easy. We went shopping looking for new European walking shoes, but failed on the hunt. We went to Thai for lunch and then shopped some more. We did make a pit stop at Curry 36, a famous sausage street restaurant in Berlin (famous for sausage, curry, and ketchup-it was tasty!). Now I am home resting until dinner time where we are dining at one of Nicole's friend's house.
That's it for now!
Arrival: Berlin, Germany
I have arrived in Germany!
Well actually I arrived yesterday at about 1pm Germany time, which is about four in the morning Pacific time.
The plane ride from Seattle to Frankfort was a long one. It took about nine hours and I could hardly catch an ounce of sleep. The food on the plane was not bad, I just wish it was in American portions =).
I then arrived in Frankenfort, Germany and waited for my plane to Berlin. That flight was a quick one.
On the plane and at the airport I was mistaken to speak German, which was flattering. Unfortunetly, I just had to give the people a strange look and say I only speak English.
Boris picked me up from the airport and we took the bus and train and then walked the rest of the way to Nicole and Boris' apartment.
I was trying very hard to just stay up and go to sleep at Germany night time, but unfortunetly, after Boris made us lunch (pasta and pesto scauce) I went to contact family to let them know I had arrived on time and couldn't even keep my eyes open.
I went to sleep at three in the afternoon Berlin time sleeping off and on and didn't get up until 8:30am this morning.
Nicole and I are going to a fashion show tonight. I'm really excited! It is fashion week in the city and we get to go! I hope to get lots of pictures to share later of the event!
More to share soon!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Time to fly...
..to Cyprus that is. I have finally decided to do it! I will be studying abroad this Spring. For the trip of a lifetime!
Jan.
24-25 Th-F Students Arrive in Cyprus
26 Sa GLS Orientation Presentation
28-31 M-Th Orientation week
Feb.
1 F Troodos, Cyprus trip (All)
4 M Classes start
Mar.
9-17 Sa-Su Travel to Greece-Italy
18 M Holiday – Green Monday
25-29 M-F Free week
Apr.
5-7 F-Su Limassol-Pafos, Cyrpus trip
19-21 F-Su Larnaca-Ayia Napa, Cyprus trip
26-12 F-Su Travel to Europe
May
5 Su Easter Sunday
15 W GLS Graduation
17 F Departure
Trip 1 Details: Greece & Italy
March 9-17
Duration: 8 days
Countries: Greece (2-3 days), Italy (5-6 days)
Cities: Athens, Florence, Rome, Venice
Greece
Country Description:
Greece is the birthplace of Western civilization, having given rise to reason, philosophy, science and democracy. In Greece, we will be based in Athens and will spend several days exploring the city.
Athens
In Athens, we will visit:
The town center which includes the Syntagma (Constitution) square, the Greek Parliament building (old Royal Palace) and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Plaka, which is the oldest continuously inhabited section of Athens, full of archeological sites, including Monastiraki (little monastery) and the ancient Agora (market), as well as restaurants, bars and tourist shopsThe Acropolis hill with the Propylaia entranceway to the world famous Parthenon temple dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the Erechtheion and the Caryatids that support it, and, of course, the Acropolis Museum
The National Archaeological Museum which houses a great collection of large sculptures, bronzes, figurines as well as gold masks, cups, dishes and jewelry
Italy
Italy has a magnificent heritage and was the home of the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church and the Renaissance. In Italy, we will see an amazing collection of architecture and art.
We plan to travel extensively in Italy and will visit Rome, Florence and Venice.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy, a city with seven hills. In the historic center, we will:Visit the Colosseum, the amphitheater where gladiators and the first Christians combated wild animals.
See the Arch of Constantine, commemorating Constantine's defeat of the pagan Maxentius
See the Roman Forum where orators spoke and Caesar was glorified
Visit the church of St. Peter in Chains that houses the chains of St. Peter and Michelangelo's most important sculpture, Moses
Visit the Vatican complex which includes St. Peter's Square, an ellipse with a colonnade with an Egyptian obelisk and the Swiss Guard, St. Peter's Basilica (with Michelangelo's dome and the Pietà ), the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel (perhaps Michalangelo's most beautiful religious art)
Walk from the Piazza del Popolo (with the church of Santa Maria del Popolo and the Mausoleo Di Augusto) through the Via Del Corso (Rome's Fifth Avenue) to the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), the Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Venezzia See the Piazza Venezzia with the Vittorio Emanuele Monument, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Palazzio Venezia (with the balcony where Mussolini used to speak), the Palazio Doria Pamphili, the Palazio Colonna and the Santa Maria in Aracoeli
Visit the Piazzza Navona with the Fountain of Neptune, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, and the Fountain of the Moor
Visit the Pantheon, built by Marcus Agrippa in the 1st century BC and reconstructed by Hadrian in the 2nd century B.C and dedicated to all Gods. It has a massive dome which Michalangelo studied before working on the dome of St. Peters
Florence
Florence in Tuscany is the city of the Medici and a Renaissance city second only to Venice. The river Arno runs through the city with the historic center to the north.
Our tour of the city starts with a visit to the Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view of Florence below. Crossing the river to the historic center, we:
Visit the Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) with its tri-colored exterior. Of note are its dome built by the architect Brunelleschi, the bell tower (campanile) built by Giotto and the Baptistry dedicated to John the Baptist. The doors are the work of Lorenzo Ghiberti.
Visit the Official Gallery with a beautiful collection of Renaissance paintings and sculptures. Worth noting are Botticelli's Birth of Venus and the Primavera, Leonardo da Vinci's Annunciation and the unfinished Admiration of the Magi, Michelangelo's Holy Family and other masterpieces Time permitting, see the Piazza della Signoria with the Fountain of Neptune, a copy of Michalangelo's David (the original is in the Academia) and the Palazzo Vecchio and the Orsanmichele church
Time permitting, see the Piazza San Lorenzo and the Basilica of San Lorenzo built as a Latin cross. Nearby, are the Medici Chapels with a mausoleum designed by Michelangelo, and the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi
See on the Arno river the Ponte Vecchio, the only Medieval bridge that survived the Nazi retreat.
Venice
Venice is about 4 kilometers from the mainland. It has about 150 canals and 400 bridges. Transportation to Venice is via vaporetto (motorboat).
We will visit:
The San Marcus square with the Basilica of St. Mark (Basilica di San Marco). Adjacent is the palace of the Doges, the Palazzio Ducale with its magnificent stairway (Scala dei Gigantic), several works of Tintoretto and Veronese
The Grand Canal has many palaces, galleries and museums that one can admire from the vaporetto.
Time permitting, we might visit some of the following: Academy Gallery with work from Bellini, Giorgione, Veronese and Titan
The San Rocco Scuole which has many works of Tintoretto, such as the Flight into Egypt and the Crucifixion.
The Ferrovia (train station), the Piazzale Roma, the Rialto bridge and the Academia bridge
Trip 2 Details: Western & Central Europe
April 26- May 12
Duration: 14-16 days
Countries: Austria (3 days), Belgium (2 days), Czech Republic (2 days), France (3-4 days), Germany (2-3 days), Luxembourg (1 day), Netherlands (2 days), Slovakia (1 day)
Cities: Salzburg, Vienna, Brussels, Prague, Paris, Strasbourg, Berlin, Dachau, Dresden, Luxembourg City, Amsterdam, Bratislava
Austria
Austria has played a pivotal role in European history since the 13th century through the long reign of the Habsburgs. Over the centuries, the Habsburg empire was involved in the 30 Years War, stopped the Ottoman incursion into Europe, battled Napolean and triggered WWI.
On the cultural side, Austria has a rich history of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art and music.
Our trip to Austria is focused on Salzburg and Vienna, both historically important cities from a political and cultural perspective.
Cities Visited: Vienna, Salzburg, Melk (time permitting), Linz (time permitting)
Vienna
Vienna is the capital of Austria, a city of music and concerts and the Hapsburgs.
Scheduled Events
In Vienna, we:
Take a walking tour focused on Imperial Vienna. Highlights of the tour include: Parliament, the State Opera House, St. Stephen's Cathedral and Josefsplatz
Free Time
In your free time, you can choose to
Visit the Hofburg Palace (Imperial Palace)
Visit Schonbrunn Palace, a massive Baroque palace that is an imitation of Versailles in Paris
Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral
Attend a play or concert
Salzburg
Salzburg is the city of cathedrals, an important ecclesiastical center for centuries, and the setting for The Sound of Music.
It is also the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Situated between two mountains, Salzburg is divided by the river Salzach into the new and the old town.
You have free time to explore area like:
The Holy Trinity church and Mozart's later residence.
City Hall and the quaint streets of the old city
Residenzplatz, the largest square in the old city, and the Residence Fountain.
The Salzburg cathedral
The Hohensalzburg Fortress, the largest and best preserved citadel in Europe
Getreidegasse, a street of old-fashioned shops and restaurants, including No 9, the birthplace of Mozart
Melk
Melk is a small city about one hour outside Vienna. Time permitting, we like to make a brief stop here is to see the Melk Abbey and the Stiftskirche.
These are two of the most impressive Baroque structures in the world.
Belgium
Belgium is a small country, divided into Dutch-speaking Flanders in the North and French-speaking Wallonia in the south. Despite its small size, Belgium is important due to its administrative role in the EU and NATO. Our trip to Belgium focuses on Brussels.
Cities visited: Brussels
Brussels
Brussels, a city of one million, has become Europe's de facto capital through the European Union.
Scheduled Events
In Brussels we:
Take a walking tour of the city to see the Grand Place, the grandiose Town Hall, the King's House (now a museum) and several guild houses where Karl Marx wrote the "Communist Manifesto" and Victor Hugo served part of his exile.
See the Place Royale with the statue of Duke Godefroid de Buillion, the leader of the first crusade or the "King of Jerusalem"
Free Time
In your free time, if the history of past programs is a guide, you will be eating.
Belgium is home to a large array of temptations, including dark chocolates, decadent waffles, fruity Belgian beers and delicious moules frites
Few can resist all of the above.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has smoothly transitioned from the Eastern Bloc, through its amicable dissolution with Slovakia, and into the European Union.
We will visit the historic and vibrant city of Prague - the "City of a Hundred Spires."
It is probably a statement of the obvious that we are in love with Prague and that you will be too.
Prague
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and its historic center is one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Scheduled Events
In Prague, we take an extensive historical tour of the city that includes:
See the Municipal House, the Old Town Hall, the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn and Havel's Market
The Church of St. NicolasIn the Bethlehem Square, we see the Bethlehem Chapel, the Naprstkovo Muzeum, and the Muzeum Bedricha Smetany with a great view of the Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle.
The Old Town Bridge Tower and the historic Charles Bridge
The magnificent Prague Castle which overlooks the city
Free Time
Like Paris, Prague is a great city to walk and soak in the visual feast that the city presents to you.
Prague is more compact than Paris and you will be able to easily make your way about the historic center from our hotel.
France
France is, with Germany, one of the largest and most powerful countries in the E.U. Stretching from the English Channel to the Mediterranean, France has been a force in European history, culture and politics for thousands of years. Even today, France maintains a strong presence in international politics and is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
We will focus our time on Paris, but also visit Strasbourg, which is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.
The academic focus of our time in France will be on the European Institutions (in Strasbourg), art history (from the vast collection of the Louvre to the Gothic Architecture of Notre Dame to the Impressionist collections of the Musee D'Orsay) and on Modern European history (our course begins with the French Revolution).
Cities Visited: Paris, Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg, meaning the city of the roads, has been the seat of the Council of Europe since 1949.
Strasbourg is a very quaint and pleasant town to relax and get a taste of a quieter France than Paris.
Scheduled Events
In Strasbourg, we will:
Take a tour of the city and its main attraction.
Free Time
During their free time, you can:
Visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame that dates to the 12th century
See the Pharmacie du Cerf, the oldest pharmacy in France and the Kammerzell house (Maison Kammerzell), both dating from 1268
See the Palais Rohan, the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Strasbourg
Paris
Is there anything to say about Paris that has not been said before?
Paris is the political, industrial, commercial, cultural and artistic center of France and is simply a wonderful city to visit.
Scheduled Events
In Paris, we will:
Visit the Musee du Louvre, one of the world's great museums, containing oriental, Egyptian and classical antiquities as well as sculpture, painting and art pieces. Among other priceless masterpieces, we will see the Code of Hammurabi, the jewelry of Ramses II, the winged victory of Samothrace, the Gioconda (Mona Lisa) by Leonardo da Vinci, the Wedding at Cana by Veronese, the Madonna of Chancellor Rolin by Jan van Eyck, the Virgin and Child by Donatello, the Dying Slave and Rebel Slave by Michalangelo, the Venus de Milo, the crown jewels of France and much more.
Free Time
It safe to say that you will find something to do with your free time in Paris:Visit Notre Dame, the cathedral of the nation. Built in the 12th century, the cathedral saw the coronation of Henry VI of England, the wedding of Mary Stuart to Francois II and a ceremony for Jean d'Arc. Outside is the zero point, from where all distances from Paris are measured.
Take a walking tour of central Paris from Hotel de Ville through the Champs D'Elysee to Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower
Visit the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) and the Sorbonne University, a successor of a theological school founded in 1253 by Robert de Sorbon
Visit the Musee d'Orsay to see works by Ingres, Cezanne, Degas, Van Gogh, Renoir, Seurat, Gauguin, Rodin and Lalique (optional)
Visit Versailles, the most magnificent palace in Europe and spend some time in the gardens
Germany
From Charlemagne to Bismark to the World Wars to the Berlin Wall, Germany has been in the heart of Europe. Germany has over 80 million people and is the largest economy in Europe. We will visit Berlin and Dachau.
Our focus in Germany is on the political history of the country and how it has shaped European history in the 20th century
Berlin
Berlin is the famous, formerly divided, capital of Germany. Berlin was first divided in 1945 and the Berlin wall was erected in 1961 and remained until November 9, 1989. The city has two town centers: the zoo station and the Kurfurstendam in the West and the Mitte along Unter den Linden and Alexanderplatz in the East.
In Berlin, we will:
See the landmark Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), a symbol of former division and now reunification.
Stroll the aristocratic Unter den Linden of old Berlin to Alexanderplatz with the world clock and the TV tower. On the way we will see the Schlossbrucke (Palace Bridge), the Kronprinzen-Palais (Crown Prince Palace) and Humbald University.
Visit Checkpoint Charlie at the junction of Friedrihstrasse and Zinnerstrasse
Visit the famous Reichstag (Parliament)
Dachau
On the outskirts of Munich, we will visit the city of Dachau and the Dachau concentration camp memorial. Built in 1933, the concentration camp processed 200,000 prisoners and killed over 30,000 of them.
We will visit this camp to pay our respects and remember one of the darkest moments in European history.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg is the smallest nation on our trip and is organized as a Grand Duchy.
Luxembourg City is the capital.
Luxembourg City
We will visit Luxembourg City. Important attractions include:
The Fortifications that have protected the people over centuries.
The Palace of the Grand Dukes.
Notre Dame Cathedral.Important European institutions located here are the European Court, the EuroStat and the Euro-tom.
The Information Office of the European Parliament and the Representation of the Commission
Three miles east of Luxembourg City, at Hamm, is the U.S. Military Cemetery with over 5,000 graves of American servicemen that fell during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944-45 and the Liberation of Luxembourg on February 12, 1945. Here is also the grave of General George S. Patton, Commander of the Third Army.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, we will focus on the capital, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city famous for its many canals and bridges and is a modern, liberal and tolerant city.
Old Amsterdam still reflects its prosperity as a trading center in the 17th century and as a haven for the persecuted and the oppressed.
Amsterdam is also noted for beer-brewing and as a diamond center.
In Amsterdam, we will:
Visit the Van Gogh Museum with more than 200 examples of the artist's work
Additionally, you can:
Take a canal cruise that will give us a canal view of its major attractions (Ann Frank's house, the Old Stock Exchange, the Royal Palace and the Weigh House) as well as the gabled houses of merchants from the Golden Age
See the Old Stock Exchange (Beurs von Berlage) designed by Berlage
See the Royal Palace (Koninlijk)
See the West Church (Westerkerk) - a 17th century church with a 277 ft tower. The remains of Rembrandt lie here and Queen Beatrix was married here in 1966
Slovakia
Slovakia and Bratislava will be an interesting counterpoint to Austria and Vienna. They are both countries of the Austria-Hungarian empire, but, during the Cold War, developed under very different political regimes.
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic that split amicably from Czechoslovakia in 1993. The castle overlooks the city where one can take a walking tour. Bratislava is right on the Danube (Danau) River that flows from Vienna down to Budapest.
Previously known as Pressburg, Bratislava was for centuries part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Ten kings and one queen were crowned here. The golden age was under Maria Theresia. Except for six years during World War II, Bratislava was part of Czechoslovakia from 1919 until 1993.
Here we will:
See The Slovak National Theater
See the Main Square, the heart of the historic center, with the Old Town Hall that contains the City Museum and the City Archives.
See Maximilian's Fountain
See the Archbishop's Palace
See the Old Market Hall
See Mirbach's Palace, a rococo building, which is today the City Gallery.
See St. Martin's Cathedral, a Gothic structure with the chapel of St. John the Almoner, the coronation cathedral of Hungarian kings.
See the Castle that overlooks the city. Its Siginmund gate is the best preserved Gothic structure. Maria Theresia is the only queen who lived here.
-There you have it. From January to May I will be exporing all of these wonderful places along with taking five college courses from these selections:
ART-281: History of Art (3 credit hours)
EUS-105: Intro to the European Union (3 credit hours)
EUS-201: European Geography (3 credit hours)
EUS-210: European Cultures (3 credit hours)
HIST-203: Modern Europe (3 credit hours)
GREK-101: Greek Language and Culture I (3 credit hours)
DES-260: Photography I (3 credit hours)
IREL-325: Nationalism and International Relations (3 credit hours)
Jan.
24-25 Th-F Students Arrive in Cyprus
26 Sa GLS Orientation Presentation
28-31 M-Th Orientation week
Feb.
1 F Troodos, Cyprus trip (All)
4 M Classes start
Mar.
9-17 Sa-Su Travel to Greece-Italy
18 M Holiday – Green Monday
25-29 M-F Free week
Apr.
5-7 F-Su Limassol-Pafos, Cyrpus trip
19-21 F-Su Larnaca-Ayia Napa, Cyprus trip
26-12 F-Su Travel to Europe
May
5 Su Easter Sunday
15 W GLS Graduation
17 F Departure
Trip 1 Details: Greece & Italy
March 9-17
Duration: 8 days
Countries: Greece (2-3 days), Italy (5-6 days)
Cities: Athens, Florence, Rome, Venice
Greece
Country Description:
Greece is the birthplace of Western civilization, having given rise to reason, philosophy, science and democracy. In Greece, we will be based in Athens and will spend several days exploring the city.
Athens
In Athens, we will visit:
The town center which includes the Syntagma (Constitution) square, the Greek Parliament building (old Royal Palace) and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The Plaka, which is the oldest continuously inhabited section of Athens, full of archeological sites, including Monastiraki (little monastery) and the ancient Agora (market), as well as restaurants, bars and tourist shopsThe Acropolis hill with the Propylaia entranceway to the world famous Parthenon temple dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the Erechtheion and the Caryatids that support it, and, of course, the Acropolis Museum
The National Archaeological Museum which houses a great collection of large sculptures, bronzes, figurines as well as gold masks, cups, dishes and jewelry
Italy
Italy has a magnificent heritage and was the home of the Roman Empire, the Catholic Church and the Renaissance. In Italy, we will see an amazing collection of architecture and art.
We plan to travel extensively in Italy and will visit Rome, Florence and Venice.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy, a city with seven hills. In the historic center, we will:Visit the Colosseum, the amphitheater where gladiators and the first Christians combated wild animals.
See the Arch of Constantine, commemorating Constantine's defeat of the pagan Maxentius
See the Roman Forum where orators spoke and Caesar was glorified
Visit the church of St. Peter in Chains that houses the chains of St. Peter and Michelangelo's most important sculpture, Moses
Visit the Vatican complex which includes St. Peter's Square, an ellipse with a colonnade with an Egyptian obelisk and the Swiss Guard, St. Peter's Basilica (with Michelangelo's dome and the Pietà ), the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel (perhaps Michalangelo's most beautiful religious art)
Walk from the Piazza del Popolo (with the church of Santa Maria del Popolo and the Mausoleo Di Augusto) through the Via Del Corso (Rome's Fifth Avenue) to the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), the Trevi Fountain and the Piazza Venezzia See the Piazza Venezzia with the Vittorio Emanuele Monument, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Palazzio Venezia (with the balcony where Mussolini used to speak), the Palazio Doria Pamphili, the Palazio Colonna and the Santa Maria in Aracoeli
Visit the Piazzza Navona with the Fountain of Neptune, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, and the Fountain of the Moor
Visit the Pantheon, built by Marcus Agrippa in the 1st century BC and reconstructed by Hadrian in the 2nd century B.C and dedicated to all Gods. It has a massive dome which Michalangelo studied before working on the dome of St. Peters
Florence
Florence in Tuscany is the city of the Medici and a Renaissance city second only to Venice. The river Arno runs through the city with the historic center to the north.
Our tour of the city starts with a visit to the Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view of Florence below. Crossing the river to the historic center, we:
Visit the Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) with its tri-colored exterior. Of note are its dome built by the architect Brunelleschi, the bell tower (campanile) built by Giotto and the Baptistry dedicated to John the Baptist. The doors are the work of Lorenzo Ghiberti.
Visit the Official Gallery with a beautiful collection of Renaissance paintings and sculptures. Worth noting are Botticelli's Birth of Venus and the Primavera, Leonardo da Vinci's Annunciation and the unfinished Admiration of the Magi, Michelangelo's Holy Family and other masterpieces Time permitting, see the Piazza della Signoria with the Fountain of Neptune, a copy of Michalangelo's David (the original is in the Academia) and the Palazzo Vecchio and the Orsanmichele church
Time permitting, see the Piazza San Lorenzo and the Basilica of San Lorenzo built as a Latin cross. Nearby, are the Medici Chapels with a mausoleum designed by Michelangelo, and the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi
See on the Arno river the Ponte Vecchio, the only Medieval bridge that survived the Nazi retreat.
Venice
Venice is about 4 kilometers from the mainland. It has about 150 canals and 400 bridges. Transportation to Venice is via vaporetto (motorboat).
We will visit:
The San Marcus square with the Basilica of St. Mark (Basilica di San Marco). Adjacent is the palace of the Doges, the Palazzio Ducale with its magnificent stairway (Scala dei Gigantic), several works of Tintoretto and Veronese
The Grand Canal has many palaces, galleries and museums that one can admire from the vaporetto.
Time permitting, we might visit some of the following: Academy Gallery with work from Bellini, Giorgione, Veronese and Titan
The San Rocco Scuole which has many works of Tintoretto, such as the Flight into Egypt and the Crucifixion.
The Ferrovia (train station), the Piazzale Roma, the Rialto bridge and the Academia bridge
Trip 2 Details: Western & Central Europe
April 26- May 12
Duration: 14-16 days
Countries: Austria (3 days), Belgium (2 days), Czech Republic (2 days), France (3-4 days), Germany (2-3 days), Luxembourg (1 day), Netherlands (2 days), Slovakia (1 day)
Cities: Salzburg, Vienna, Brussels, Prague, Paris, Strasbourg, Berlin, Dachau, Dresden, Luxembourg City, Amsterdam, Bratislava
Austria
Austria has played a pivotal role in European history since the 13th century through the long reign of the Habsburgs. Over the centuries, the Habsburg empire was involved in the 30 Years War, stopped the Ottoman incursion into Europe, battled Napolean and triggered WWI.
On the cultural side, Austria has a rich history of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art and music.
Our trip to Austria is focused on Salzburg and Vienna, both historically important cities from a political and cultural perspective.
Cities Visited: Vienna, Salzburg, Melk (time permitting), Linz (time permitting)
Vienna
Vienna is the capital of Austria, a city of music and concerts and the Hapsburgs.
Scheduled Events
In Vienna, we:
Take a walking tour focused on Imperial Vienna. Highlights of the tour include: Parliament, the State Opera House, St. Stephen's Cathedral and Josefsplatz
Free Time
In your free time, you can choose to
Visit the Hofburg Palace (Imperial Palace)
Visit Schonbrunn Palace, a massive Baroque palace that is an imitation of Versailles in Paris
Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral
Attend a play or concert
Salzburg
Salzburg is the city of cathedrals, an important ecclesiastical center for centuries, and the setting for The Sound of Music.
It is also the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Situated between two mountains, Salzburg is divided by the river Salzach into the new and the old town.
You have free time to explore area like:
The Holy Trinity church and Mozart's later residence.
City Hall and the quaint streets of the old city
Residenzplatz, the largest square in the old city, and the Residence Fountain.
The Salzburg cathedral
The Hohensalzburg Fortress, the largest and best preserved citadel in Europe
Getreidegasse, a street of old-fashioned shops and restaurants, including No 9, the birthplace of Mozart
Melk
Melk is a small city about one hour outside Vienna. Time permitting, we like to make a brief stop here is to see the Melk Abbey and the Stiftskirche.
These are two of the most impressive Baroque structures in the world.
Belgium
Belgium is a small country, divided into Dutch-speaking Flanders in the North and French-speaking Wallonia in the south. Despite its small size, Belgium is important due to its administrative role in the EU and NATO. Our trip to Belgium focuses on Brussels.
Cities visited: Brussels
Brussels
Brussels, a city of one million, has become Europe's de facto capital through the European Union.
Scheduled Events
In Brussels we:
Take a walking tour of the city to see the Grand Place, the grandiose Town Hall, the King's House (now a museum) and several guild houses where Karl Marx wrote the "Communist Manifesto" and Victor Hugo served part of his exile.
See the Place Royale with the statue of Duke Godefroid de Buillion, the leader of the first crusade or the "King of Jerusalem"
Free Time
In your free time, if the history of past programs is a guide, you will be eating.
Belgium is home to a large array of temptations, including dark chocolates, decadent waffles, fruity Belgian beers and delicious moules frites
Few can resist all of the above.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has smoothly transitioned from the Eastern Bloc, through its amicable dissolution with Slovakia, and into the European Union.
We will visit the historic and vibrant city of Prague - the "City of a Hundred Spires."
It is probably a statement of the obvious that we are in love with Prague and that you will be too.
Prague
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and its historic center is one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Scheduled Events
In Prague, we take an extensive historical tour of the city that includes:
See the Municipal House, the Old Town Hall, the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn and Havel's Market
The Church of St. NicolasIn the Bethlehem Square, we see the Bethlehem Chapel, the Naprstkovo Muzeum, and the Muzeum Bedricha Smetany with a great view of the Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle.
The Old Town Bridge Tower and the historic Charles Bridge
The magnificent Prague Castle which overlooks the city
Free Time
Like Paris, Prague is a great city to walk and soak in the visual feast that the city presents to you.
Prague is more compact than Paris and you will be able to easily make your way about the historic center from our hotel.
France
France is, with Germany, one of the largest and most powerful countries in the E.U. Stretching from the English Channel to the Mediterranean, France has been a force in European history, culture and politics for thousands of years. Even today, France maintains a strong presence in international politics and is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
We will focus our time on Paris, but also visit Strasbourg, which is the seat of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.
The academic focus of our time in France will be on the European Institutions (in Strasbourg), art history (from the vast collection of the Louvre to the Gothic Architecture of Notre Dame to the Impressionist collections of the Musee D'Orsay) and on Modern European history (our course begins with the French Revolution).
Cities Visited: Paris, Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg, meaning the city of the roads, has been the seat of the Council of Europe since 1949.
Strasbourg is a very quaint and pleasant town to relax and get a taste of a quieter France than Paris.
Scheduled Events
In Strasbourg, we will:
Take a tour of the city and its main attraction.
Free Time
During their free time, you can:
Visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame that dates to the 12th century
See the Pharmacie du Cerf, the oldest pharmacy in France and the Kammerzell house (Maison Kammerzell), both dating from 1268
See the Palais Rohan, the residence of the Prince-Bishops of Strasbourg
Paris
Is there anything to say about Paris that has not been said before?
Paris is the political, industrial, commercial, cultural and artistic center of France and is simply a wonderful city to visit.
Scheduled Events
In Paris, we will:
Visit the Musee du Louvre, one of the world's great museums, containing oriental, Egyptian and classical antiquities as well as sculpture, painting and art pieces. Among other priceless masterpieces, we will see the Code of Hammurabi, the jewelry of Ramses II, the winged victory of Samothrace, the Gioconda (Mona Lisa) by Leonardo da Vinci, the Wedding at Cana by Veronese, the Madonna of Chancellor Rolin by Jan van Eyck, the Virgin and Child by Donatello, the Dying Slave and Rebel Slave by Michalangelo, the Venus de Milo, the crown jewels of France and much more.
Free Time
It safe to say that you will find something to do with your free time in Paris:Visit Notre Dame, the cathedral of the nation. Built in the 12th century, the cathedral saw the coronation of Henry VI of England, the wedding of Mary Stuart to Francois II and a ceremony for Jean d'Arc. Outside is the zero point, from where all distances from Paris are measured.
Take a walking tour of central Paris from Hotel de Ville through the Champs D'Elysee to Trocadero and the Eiffel Tower
Visit the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) and the Sorbonne University, a successor of a theological school founded in 1253 by Robert de Sorbon
Visit the Musee d'Orsay to see works by Ingres, Cezanne, Degas, Van Gogh, Renoir, Seurat, Gauguin, Rodin and Lalique (optional)
Visit Versailles, the most magnificent palace in Europe and spend some time in the gardens
Germany
From Charlemagne to Bismark to the World Wars to the Berlin Wall, Germany has been in the heart of Europe. Germany has over 80 million people and is the largest economy in Europe. We will visit Berlin and Dachau.
Our focus in Germany is on the political history of the country and how it has shaped European history in the 20th century
Berlin
Berlin is the famous, formerly divided, capital of Germany. Berlin was first divided in 1945 and the Berlin wall was erected in 1961 and remained until November 9, 1989. The city has two town centers: the zoo station and the Kurfurstendam in the West and the Mitte along Unter den Linden and Alexanderplatz in the East.
In Berlin, we will:
See the landmark Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), a symbol of former division and now reunification.
Stroll the aristocratic Unter den Linden of old Berlin to Alexanderplatz with the world clock and the TV tower. On the way we will see the Schlossbrucke (Palace Bridge), the Kronprinzen-Palais (Crown Prince Palace) and Humbald University.
Visit Checkpoint Charlie at the junction of Friedrihstrasse and Zinnerstrasse
Visit the famous Reichstag (Parliament)
Dachau
On the outskirts of Munich, we will visit the city of Dachau and the Dachau concentration camp memorial. Built in 1933, the concentration camp processed 200,000 prisoners and killed over 30,000 of them.
We will visit this camp to pay our respects and remember one of the darkest moments in European history.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg is the smallest nation on our trip and is organized as a Grand Duchy.
Luxembourg City is the capital.
Luxembourg City
We will visit Luxembourg City. Important attractions include:
The Fortifications that have protected the people over centuries.
The Palace of the Grand Dukes.
Notre Dame Cathedral.Important European institutions located here are the European Court, the EuroStat and the Euro-tom.
The Information Office of the European Parliament and the Representation of the Commission
Three miles east of Luxembourg City, at Hamm, is the U.S. Military Cemetery with over 5,000 graves of American servicemen that fell during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944-45 and the Liberation of Luxembourg on February 12, 1945. Here is also the grave of General George S. Patton, Commander of the Third Army.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, we will focus on the capital, Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city famous for its many canals and bridges and is a modern, liberal and tolerant city.
Old Amsterdam still reflects its prosperity as a trading center in the 17th century and as a haven for the persecuted and the oppressed.
Amsterdam is also noted for beer-brewing and as a diamond center.
In Amsterdam, we will:
Visit the Van Gogh Museum with more than 200 examples of the artist's work
Additionally, you can:
Take a canal cruise that will give us a canal view of its major attractions (Ann Frank's house, the Old Stock Exchange, the Royal Palace and the Weigh House) as well as the gabled houses of merchants from the Golden Age
See the Old Stock Exchange (Beurs von Berlage) designed by Berlage
See the Royal Palace (Koninlijk)
See the West Church (Westerkerk) - a 17th century church with a 277 ft tower. The remains of Rembrandt lie here and Queen Beatrix was married here in 1966
Slovakia
Slovakia and Bratislava will be an interesting counterpoint to Austria and Vienna. They are both countries of the Austria-Hungarian empire, but, during the Cold War, developed under very different political regimes.
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic that split amicably from Czechoslovakia in 1993. The castle overlooks the city where one can take a walking tour. Bratislava is right on the Danube (Danau) River that flows from Vienna down to Budapest.
Previously known as Pressburg, Bratislava was for centuries part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Ten kings and one queen were crowned here. The golden age was under Maria Theresia. Except for six years during World War II, Bratislava was part of Czechoslovakia from 1919 until 1993.
Here we will:
See The Slovak National Theater
See the Main Square, the heart of the historic center, with the Old Town Hall that contains the City Museum and the City Archives.
See Maximilian's Fountain
See the Archbishop's Palace
See the Old Market Hall
See Mirbach's Palace, a rococo building, which is today the City Gallery.
See St. Martin's Cathedral, a Gothic structure with the chapel of St. John the Almoner, the coronation cathedral of Hungarian kings.
See the Castle that overlooks the city. Its Siginmund gate is the best preserved Gothic structure. Maria Theresia is the only queen who lived here.
-There you have it. From January to May I will be exporing all of these wonderful places along with taking five college courses from these selections:
ART-281: History of Art (3 credit hours)
EUS-105: Intro to the European Union (3 credit hours)
EUS-201: European Geography (3 credit hours)
EUS-210: European Cultures (3 credit hours)
HIST-203: Modern Europe (3 credit hours)
GREK-101: Greek Language and Culture I (3 credit hours)
DES-260: Photography I (3 credit hours)
IREL-325: Nationalism and International Relations (3 credit hours)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Happy Birthday Damian!
Thank you to Damian Redding for being born, allowing us to take a trip to see the Mariners on Sunday =). It was so much fun.We had hotdogs, garlic fries, lemonaide, and strawberries on a stick. We also walked the field before the game. The Red Sox won 7-4 (big surprise there..ha!) but none the less we had so much fun! Thanks for the invite Redding Clan!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Rotary DLTA 2012
Aw yes, another year of amazing fun!It was Colin's first time in another country! We shopped, visited grandma, and I took him to all the wonderful dining places in Victoria including; The Garden Cafe in Port Angeles, Pagliacci's Italian Restaurant, Chen Mi's Chinese Restaurant, and The James Bay Tea Room and Restaurant-All my favorite places in Victoria. The only thing we didn't have a change to experience food wise was high tea at the Empress, the Bingow Room at the Empress, and breakfast at Murchie's. We'll have to save that for the next time we go.
A couple weekends ago we ran into a couple from Victoria who own a bed and breakfast called Abby Moore so we will probably be going back soon to visit Victoria.
Colin and I also took a night and explored bars in the city. We went to an Irish bar which made me want to travel and backpack the UK even more. There was live music, kilts, and attractive men and women for our pleasure of eye candy. We also went into a bar that is connected to several other bars. You just go room to room to room of different establishments! That was pretty neat. One of the bars attached has the walls filled with bras and knickers, it was pretty interesting.
The Ferry rides were tolerable and I didn't get to car sick. The rotary meeting like usual gave inspiration to better our club and make it the best it can be. It's amazing what people can do when they put their mind to it. I am happy for the trip and for having Colin be able to enjoy it with us!
Oh and we walked into the book store to look for the Buried life's book while we were there and it was on a back shelf hidden so I felt the need to move it to a front shelf to be seen so people would buy it and help them with their bucket list =). Good deed of the trip.
Friday, March 30, 2012
My Favorite Coffee Place!
I drove by this sign and instantly started giggling so naturally I had to take a picture and share it. It's at a cute drive threw coffee shop on Market Street, in Chehalis WA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)