The night train to Munich was awful. We spent an hour stuck on the tracks and the old man in front of me snored loud enough to wake the dead. Once we got to Munich though things were much better. We took a bike tour with James, who screamed at small German school children to scare them, who was an Aussie. Go figure. There was lots of shopping and we got to see the Olympic stadium and grounds from the 1972 summer Olympics. Munich was definitely a cool city and I would like to visit there again sometime.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
North to South
We went to Munich! But more on that later...
After our "water walk" day in Norderney, we spent the day enjoying more scenery on our bike tour, and learning much more about the ecosystem of the tidelands out in the North Sea, both on the bike tour and once we were back on land. On the mainland, we got to visit a seal rehabilitation center on the coast and a "Waloseum" or "Whale Museum." The museum reminded me a lot of something out of a natural history museum, but focused more specifically on the North Sea and its ecosystem. The coolest exhibit by far was the while sperm whale skeleton suspended in its own room.
From there, we all went our separate ways once again- this time our group went to Munich! I've been excited about this trip ever since another group went last weekend and told us all about it, and it's been everything I could have possibly hoped for and more!
Our first trip was to Dachau. The sadness in this place is incredibly overwhelming. I don't consider myself naive to what happened in concentration camps, but spending so much time in one and really immersing yourself into what it must have been like to have something like this thrust upon you in real-life is extremely intense. I think one of my peers described it best when she said that coming out of that museum to the sun shining and the birds chirping is surreal. There's a lot of darkness in something like this. That said, the numerous memorials, mostly dedicated to those unknown that perished here, were beautiful. It's not something one is likely to forget any time soon, if ever.
That night we went to a beer hall and I tried my first radler (beer with lemonade) in a liter glass. It was delicious. I'm in love.
Day 2 started off spectacularly with one of the most amazing bike tours I've ever taken. It was technically a "5 hour" tour, but it included and hour's stop for lunch at the beer garden in the middle of the English Gardens- the one with the Chinese pagoda. But it was so much fun. The tours are meant to present a broad spectrum of the history of Munich and some of it's most famous locations, while still including a lot of folk lore and popular locales (like the part of the Isar River where the Germans literally surf). The weather was fantastic, which only added to the experience. Much of the rest of our time was just spent walking around and seeing the city. I feel like there was so much more to experience, and hopefully this is somewhere I'll get to come back to once the program is over!
From Munich we headed up to Basel, Switzerland, where, hosted by Novartis, we'll be staying in what is probably the most luxurious hotel we'll stay on our entire time in Europe! The lap of luxury...hot water! Never underestimate the power of a long, hot shower after traveling.
After our "water walk" day in Norderney, we spent the day enjoying more scenery on our bike tour, and learning much more about the ecosystem of the tidelands out in the North Sea, both on the bike tour and once we were back on land. On the mainland, we got to visit a seal rehabilitation center on the coast and a "Waloseum" or "Whale Museum." The museum reminded me a lot of something out of a natural history museum, but focused more specifically on the North Sea and its ecosystem. The coolest exhibit by far was the while sperm whale skeleton suspended in its own room.
From there, we all went our separate ways once again- this time our group went to Munich! I've been excited about this trip ever since another group went last weekend and told us all about it, and it's been everything I could have possibly hoped for and more!
Our first trip was to Dachau. The sadness in this place is incredibly overwhelming. I don't consider myself naive to what happened in concentration camps, but spending so much time in one and really immersing yourself into what it must have been like to have something like this thrust upon you in real-life is extremely intense. I think one of my peers described it best when she said that coming out of that museum to the sun shining and the birds chirping is surreal. There's a lot of darkness in something like this. That said, the numerous memorials, mostly dedicated to those unknown that perished here, were beautiful. It's not something one is likely to forget any time soon, if ever.
That night we went to a beer hall and I tried my first radler (beer with lemonade) in a liter glass. It was delicious. I'm in love.
Day 2 started off spectacularly with one of the most amazing bike tours I've ever taken. It was technically a "5 hour" tour, but it included and hour's stop for lunch at the beer garden in the middle of the English Gardens- the one with the Chinese pagoda. But it was so much fun. The tours are meant to present a broad spectrum of the history of Munich and some of it's most famous locations, while still including a lot of folk lore and popular locales (like the part of the Isar River where the Germans literally surf). The weather was fantastic, which only added to the experience. Much of the rest of our time was just spent walking around and seeing the city. I feel like there was so much more to experience, and hopefully this is somewhere I'll get to come back to once the program is over!
From Munich we headed up to Basel, Switzerland, where, hosted by Novartis, we'll be staying in what is probably the most luxurious hotel we'll stay on our entire time in Europe! The lap of luxury...hot water! Never underestimate the power of a long, hot shower after traveling.
Oh, what did you do this weekend? Just Paris, no big deal...
Night sleeper bunks, so much fun! We really enjoyed the whole experience with the exception of us arriving 45 minutes late in Paris. We first checked into our Marriott hotel, then it we were off to explore and go to mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Words cannot explain what it is like to participate in mass there. Knowing as a Catholic that for over 1000 years people have gone to worship in such a beautiful setting is surreal. You catch yourself staring off into space at the architecture and artwork that you fell like you are apart of a different time and different world.
After we washed off the train feeling and got dressed for an afternoon enjoying the view on top of the Eiffel, hen dinner at a near by authentic French bistro. To top it off everyone tried escargo at dinner, then we bought a bottle of wine and watched the Eiffel light up and take many entertaining pictures.
Monday was amazing as well, we went fabulous Louvre! Most of the worlds most famous artwork in our mist nd at arms length was great! Jenny and I listened to Rick Steve's guide of the main highlights on her iPod and looked ridiculous as we were joined at the hip with one set of headphones. But we had so much fun, from battling the crowd around the Mona Lisa ( which was rather unimpressive) to taking in the Wings of Victory, it truly was an experience like none other.
Later I went exploring on my own in search of a dress to buy from Paris. I found instead the stereotypical rude French
woman at Louis Vuitton. Apparently you get yelled at when you take pictures outside their establishment of their brand... lesson learned as well as me not ever purchasing anything from there.
All in all Paris was great, the people weren't as rude as they say, the bistros and macaroons were oh so tasty, and being in the Louvre and Notre Dame was like you were in a movie.
Can't wait for Basel!
Words cannot explain what it is like to participate in mass there. Knowing as a Catholic that for over 1000 years people have gone to worship in such a beautiful setting is surreal. You catch yourself staring off into space at the architecture and artwork that you fell like you are apart of a different time and different world.
After we washed off the train feeling and got dressed for an afternoon enjoying the view on top of the Eiffel, hen dinner at a near by authentic French bistro. To top it off everyone tried escargo at dinner, then we bought a bottle of wine and watched the Eiffel light up and take many entertaining pictures.
Monday was amazing as well, we went fabulous Louvre! Most of the worlds most famous artwork in our mist nd at arms length was great! Jenny and I listened to Rick Steve's guide of the main highlights on her iPod and looked ridiculous as we were joined at the hip with one set of headphones. But we had so much fun, from battling the crowd around the Mona Lisa ( which was rather unimpressive) to taking in the Wings of Victory, it truly was an experience like none other.
Later I went exploring on my own in search of a dress to buy from Paris. I found instead the stereotypical rude French
woman at Louis Vuitton. Apparently you get yelled at when you take pictures outside their establishment of their brand... lesson learned as well as me not ever purchasing anything from there.
All in all Paris was great, the people weren't as rude as they say, the bistros and macaroons were oh so tasty, and being in the Louvre and Notre Dame was like you were in a movie.
Can't wait for Basel!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Je t'aime Paris!
Bonjour from Paris everyone! This free weekend has been amazing. Yesterday we arrived in this great city and went off to Notre Dam and then payed a visit to the street vendors located right outside of this magnificent cathedral where we found some wonderful little treasures. Then we cleaned up and it was off to the Eiffel Tower! I have always wanted to go and visit this amazing piece of architecture and there I was, actually climbing to the very top! It was so incredible to be the eyes over Paris... you could see for miles, and it was a beautiful day outside! After that we went to a little bistro down the street, and returned to the tower to sit in the courtyard and watch the light show, but we just missed both light shows unfortunately, but it was still fun, and we saw the lights from a distance. Today we had all intentions of spending the entire day at Versailles; however, we were soon informed that the palace is closed on Mondays... what a bummer. But it actually ended up working out okay because we ended up spending the day at the Louvre instead. There we discovered many treasures that this museum had to offer. All of the masterpieces housed here were incredible to see in person and I think I could be lost in this museum for weeks, and still not see everything! We did get to see the most famous pieces like the Wings of Victory and Venus de Milo, and of course, Mona Lisa to name a few. Its amazing how many masterpieces could be housed in one central place, and I am so grateful that I got to see them. After the Louvre, we went to see the Arc de Triomphe in person, and pay a visit to the world famous L'aduree bakery pour les macarons. Well, that's all I have for now... Au revoir de Paris!
WInd and the Sea
Oh Norderney,
It is so windy and cold, but ooo the sea water smells so wonderful, like home and good memories! Although we didnt get to walk across the sea like origionally planned because of bad weather we only went out to one buoy. It was fun, we had worm races and took lots of pictures and at one moment we were standing on mudflats and then he told us to look around and we were surrounded by water, lol dont worry though it was shallow but wow did that tide come in fast. We saw seals...actual wildlife, no offense to seagulls :). The hostel was nice, pretty clean and comfortable and located in a great spot. This would be a wonderful summer vacation as long as it is a little warmer maybe galveston or some sort of texas heat. I have to admit I miss home a little bit but it still is a great time.
Paris, France...who new night trains could be so much fun. I did too much shopping the first day by Notre Dame, (sorry for bad spelling). We saw the Eiffel Tower, went to the top and also saw the night show thanks Laura N. We had escargot and did lots of other French touristy things. All in all a pretty good trip. See everyone in Switzerland, Au Revoir.
It is so windy and cold, but ooo the sea water smells so wonderful, like home and good memories! Although we didnt get to walk across the sea like origionally planned because of bad weather we only went out to one buoy. It was fun, we had worm races and took lots of pictures and at one moment we were standing on mudflats and then he told us to look around and we were surrounded by water, lol dont worry though it was shallow but wow did that tide come in fast. We saw seals...actual wildlife, no offense to seagulls :). The hostel was nice, pretty clean and comfortable and located in a great spot. This would be a wonderful summer vacation as long as it is a little warmer maybe galveston or some sort of texas heat. I have to admit I miss home a little bit but it still is a great time.
Paris, France...who new night trains could be so much fun. I did too much shopping the first day by Notre Dame, (sorry for bad spelling). We saw the Eiffel Tower, went to the top and also saw the night show thanks Laura N. We had escargot and did lots of other French touristy things. All in all a pretty good trip. See everyone in Switzerland, Au Revoir.
Bonjour!
We finally made it to Paris, but not with out trying! Before arriving here, the program had us go to Norrdeney, where there is NEVER a shortage of wind, cold, or rain. Now, being a true Texan, I’m use to the bright, scorching rays of the Texan sun, so being at literally the “land’s end” was not picnic in the park. I kept waiting for a break in the wind but to no avail. Now, I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy the Wattwanderung, but I sure am glad the 3-hour trek (or death march which I imagine it would’ve felt like to me by hour number 1) to the island was cancelled due to inclement weather. Unfortunately, though the island is thought to have healing air…I believe it made me sick because after leaving the island, my throat started to hurt and has not stopped.
BUT!! I’ll be damned if I let a simple sore throat ruin my trip to Paris!!! Yesterday, our weekend group rode the night train (my first ever!!!) from Hannover to Paris…where we arrived a good 45 minutes later than was scheduled…this pretty much meant we were definitely NOT in Germany anymore! Haha After dropping off our luggage, we made our way to Notre Dame where the Catholics of our group attended mass while the others toured the cathedral (which, in my opinion, looked very reminiscent of the Cologne Cathedral). Afterwards, we visited many shops along the side of the streets and spent way too much money! Next on our itinerary was the Eiffel Tower, where we waiting in endless lines but finally saw the top of the tower!! The view form here was, of course, amazing. After getting back to the ground, we asked the security guard where the best place to eat was. We went around the corner to a little bistro and ate outside (like true Parisians do). Finally, in a comical turn of events, when trying to find a place to buy a bottle of wine and some crackers to eat while watching the Eiffel Tower light show, we ran into a few Americans on the street who led the way to a small shop open on Sunday nights. After taking our spoils, sat on the greens in front of the Eiffel and watching the lights sparkle into the night. It was a truly wonderful ending to a great Parisian day.
BUT!! I’ll be damned if I let a simple sore throat ruin my trip to Paris!!! Yesterday, our weekend group rode the night train (my first ever!!!) from Hannover to Paris…where we arrived a good 45 minutes later than was scheduled…this pretty much meant we were definitely NOT in Germany anymore! Haha After dropping off our luggage, we made our way to Notre Dame where the Catholics of our group attended mass while the others toured the cathedral (which, in my opinion, looked very reminiscent of the Cologne Cathedral). Afterwards, we visited many shops along the side of the streets and spent way too much money! Next on our itinerary was the Eiffel Tower, where we waiting in endless lines but finally saw the top of the tower!! The view form here was, of course, amazing. After getting back to the ground, we asked the security guard where the best place to eat was. We went around the corner to a little bistro and ate outside (like true Parisians do). Finally, in a comical turn of events, when trying to find a place to buy a bottle of wine and some crackers to eat while watching the Eiffel Tower light show, we ran into a few Americans on the street who led the way to a small shop open on Sunday nights. After taking our spoils, sat on the greens in front of the Eiffel and watching the lights sparkle into the night. It was a truly wonderful ending to a great Parisian day.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Interlaken, Switzerland
Moin moin...
Well we arrived in Interlaken, Switzerland yesterday morning. It was an interesting trip from Nordeney. We traveled 14 hours throughout the night on the Eurail train system! We had to change trains twice, but one of them was in a sleeper train. Quite interesting! If you ever get a chance, I would say you need to experience it. There are 6 platform beds stacked 3x3 into 1 small room on the train, with barely enough room to stand. The beds are only about 5.5 feet in length and are attached by bolts into the walls. So what happens if you over 6 feet tall? Needless to say, I was so tired, that I slept the entire time of that trip (7 hours).
Once we arrived into Interlaken, it was another adventure of trying to locate our hostel by foot. After quite a distance of walking with all of our luggage on our back, we finally found it only to discover that we had to wait until 3:30 pm to check in (it is 10 am at this point). But they were nice and let us leave our luggage in the lobby area while we trekked around Interlaken.
Upon recommendation of the hostel, we went to Schilthorn, a location on top of the mountains. After a tram, a bus, and 4 cable cars we were over meters high on top of a mountain with a spectacular view! It is truly a beautiful wonder of nature!
As far as today goes, I think we are starting the day off by doing laundry (yeah!)and then some are going Canyoning with a possibility of paragliding, and if time permits, seeing some waterfalls-but from the inside of the mountains.
Until next time.... Guten tag!
Well we arrived in Interlaken, Switzerland yesterday morning. It was an interesting trip from Nordeney. We traveled 14 hours throughout the night on the Eurail train system! We had to change trains twice, but one of them was in a sleeper train. Quite interesting! If you ever get a chance, I would say you need to experience it. There are 6 platform beds stacked 3x3 into 1 small room on the train, with barely enough room to stand. The beds are only about 5.5 feet in length and are attached by bolts into the walls. So what happens if you over 6 feet tall? Needless to say, I was so tired, that I slept the entire time of that trip (7 hours).
Once we arrived into Interlaken, it was another adventure of trying to locate our hostel by foot. After quite a distance of walking with all of our luggage on our back, we finally found it only to discover that we had to wait until 3:30 pm to check in (it is 10 am at this point). But they were nice and let us leave our luggage in the lobby area while we trekked around Interlaken.
Upon recommendation of the hostel, we went to Schilthorn, a location on top of the mountains. After a tram, a bus, and 4 cable cars we were over meters high on top of a mountain with a spectacular view! It is truly a beautiful wonder of nature!
As far as today goes, I think we are starting the day off by doing laundry (yeah!)and then some are going Canyoning with a possibility of paragliding, and if time permits, seeing some waterfalls-but from the inside of the mountains.
Until next time.... Guten tag!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Day 15: Dr. Wasser owes me a Narwhal horn…
We took a bike tour of the island today. It was cold, wet, and way too windy. End of story. We took the ferry back to the mainland and got to go to the seal canter and a whale museum. There were some baby seals that were really cute and we got to see the skeleton of a sperm whale at the museum. They didn’t have any Narwhals though, I was thoroughly disappointed.
Oh Oh its Magic... the Tide of Nordeney
Well we have officially found the spot in the world where the wind blows harder than in Lubbock, Texas: Nordeney! I can honestly say originally I was not looking forward to this part of the trip; cold, wet, wind, and mud doesn't quite roll off the tongue nor sound appealing.
However I was pleasantly surprised.
The original plan would probably have been too much for my body, but the simple tour we had for the Watt was superb. Learning about the different ecological systems and seeing them at work was a chance of a lifetime, and I'm happy I got the opportunity to do so. Dinner afterwards was great as well; the food, drinks, and atmosphere really toppped off the day with a fantastic relaxing note. Walking on the beachside to our hostel was just wonderful.
The bike ride the following day was very much unlike the Berlin tour; instead of battling traffic we battled the elements of nature. I am just not a good cyclist I suppose, but I tried my best to keep up. The sea side view was awesome and learning about the Islands maintenance for its inhabitants and tourist was very informative.
Back to the mainland at the seal center, I thought we were actually going to feed the seals. So when we only got to watch that was a little disappointing, but the seals cute faces force you to smile.
I look forward to a great weekend in Paris, and then for the Novartis lectures and tours in Basal!
However I was pleasantly surprised.
The original plan would probably have been too much for my body, but the simple tour we had for the Watt was superb. Learning about the different ecological systems and seeing them at work was a chance of a lifetime, and I'm happy I got the opportunity to do so. Dinner afterwards was great as well; the food, drinks, and atmosphere really toppped off the day with a fantastic relaxing note. Walking on the beachside to our hostel was just wonderful.
The bike ride the following day was very much unlike the Berlin tour; instead of battling traffic we battled the elements of nature. I am just not a good cyclist I suppose, but I tried my best to keep up. The sea side view was awesome and learning about the Islands maintenance for its inhabitants and tourist was very informative.
Back to the mainland at the seal center, I thought we were actually going to feed the seals. So when we only got to watch that was a little disappointing, but the seals cute faces force you to smile.
I look forward to a great weekend in Paris, and then for the Novartis lectures and tours in Basal!
Guten Tag form the Nordsea!
So we have made our way from Hannover and are spending the final part of the Germany leg of our trip in Norderney. Although it was raining with wind, and about sixty degrees when we got here, the environment still came across as very peaceful. The mudwalk was a pretty interesting experience since we took off our shoes and walked into the North Sea barefoot and had the mud squishing between our toes, I think this experience was so memerable because it was such a change of pace from the rest of the trip thus far. We also got to dig around in the mud to look for worms, and there were lots of them... now I would like to give a shout out to Stuart Little for winning the worm race, you rock! Later that evening we got cleaned up and went out to eat. It was a well deserved feast, and I do believe it is the most amazing dinner of the entire trip so far, and it will be difficult to beat in the next two weeks. It may have cost a little more than our other meals, but it was worth it for the view and the great food! We had a bike tour this morning and it was so much better and less stressful than the Berlin bike tour... even though I fell... but thats ok becouse I recovered and really enjoyed myself. Now we are off to the mainland to see the seal rehabilitation center adn then its off to PARIS, I can't wait!
Fun at the Beach!
Disappointed that the weather prevented us from doing the full wattwandering, but had fun on the ferry, and was really happy that we got to walk around in the mud without our shoes on since we weren’t going to be walking through the dangerous parts anymore. Learned a lot about conservation on the island. Got to be a little kid again digging for worms and playing with jellyfish. Learned about how blue mussels produce a super strong glue that science is trying to emulate. Was amazed at how much the beach here looks like the one back home…they need to do the same with the sand back home (dikes to prevent washout and bringing sand back in), because we keep losing sand, too.
The Seehund Station and Waloseum were great. The seal center takes in orphaned seals (like the ones we saw from the ferry) and raises them until they are old enough to release. Learned a lot about the anatomy of seals; I guess prior to this I had mostly just seen sea lions, but I can now differentiate them with certainty. I was most impressed by the whale skeleton at the whale museum. They have a giant head, but their brain is barely larger than that of a human. He died due to being crushed by his own weight after getting beached. Also, they exhale before diving and can hold their breath for 2 hours!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Day 14: And they walked on water, well… sort of …
We were supposed to walk from the mainland to the island of Norderney today but because of the weather we took the ferry instead. When we got there it was 50° F ish and so er all bundles up and put our shorts on for a walk barefoot through the tidal flats. We got to see some of the benthos (which would make Dr. Keith happy) and I collected some sea shells. That night we ate at the one swanky restaurant on the island and then we walked back to the hostel along the beach.
Willy Wattwurm!
And we are on the island of Nordeney!
I have to say that my first impression is that of the northwest corner of Washington State. It is cold, windy, and rainy. Not unlike where you might want to write a vampire book! ;)
At the same time I am thinking about vampires, I am also trying to realize that for the people and animals that live on this island, this place is home.
On the way up to the island we saw baby seals! aka Heuler! The gulls (Moewe) rode with the boat reminded me a bit of our own Moewen back home.
After dropping off our huge backpacks at the hostel, it was time for the Wattwanderung! I must say how proud I am of everyone! It was not easy to go out walking in mud flats when it is so cold that the only really rational way to spend the day is inside looking out of the window with a nice hot chocolate. However, I will honestly say that the Watt (mud flat) was amazing!
The first animals that we saw were the Geese and their offspring! Then our fearless, weather beaten leader said that if we really wanted to experience the Watt, we should take off our shoes. Shivering but still ready for an adventure, all of us then removed our shoes and waited for the next command. At which point we were instructed to go into a single line, touch the person in front of us, and close our eyes as our guide led us into the Watt....
My first impression of the Watt was how surprisingly warm the mud was! My second was that I have always been a bit worried about large bodies of water due to my being a born and raised desert rat! But after overcoming my fear and trusting in both my fellow students and in our guide, I made it too, eyes closed, into the Watt!
After becoming adjusted to the large area of Watt, we finally got to see the Wattwurm! I have to say that this animal now has a special place in my heart. We all got to dig them up, learn about their biology, and play with the Wattwurms. The Wattwurm adventure ended by racing the Wattwurms into the sand! My wurm (worm) didn't win but I still feel like he/she made a great effort!
I have to say that my first impression is that of the northwest corner of Washington State. It is cold, windy, and rainy. Not unlike where you might want to write a vampire book! ;)
At the same time I am thinking about vampires, I am also trying to realize that for the people and animals that live on this island, this place is home.
On the way up to the island we saw baby seals! aka Heuler! The gulls (Moewe) rode with the boat reminded me a bit of our own Moewen back home.
After dropping off our huge backpacks at the hostel, it was time for the Wattwanderung! I must say how proud I am of everyone! It was not easy to go out walking in mud flats when it is so cold that the only really rational way to spend the day is inside looking out of the window with a nice hot chocolate. However, I will honestly say that the Watt (mud flat) was amazing!
The first animals that we saw were the Geese and their offspring! Then our fearless, weather beaten leader said that if we really wanted to experience the Watt, we should take off our shoes. Shivering but still ready for an adventure, all of us then removed our shoes and waited for the next command. At which point we were instructed to go into a single line, touch the person in front of us, and close our eyes as our guide led us into the Watt....
My first impression of the Watt was how surprisingly warm the mud was! My second was that I have always been a bit worried about large bodies of water due to my being a born and raised desert rat! But after overcoming my fear and trusting in both my fellow students and in our guide, I made it too, eyes closed, into the Watt!
After becoming adjusted to the large area of Watt, we finally got to see the Wattwurm! I have to say that this animal now has a special place in my heart. We all got to dig them up, learn about their biology, and play with the Wattwurms. The Wattwurm adventure ended by racing the Wattwurms into the sand! My wurm (worm) didn't win but I still feel like he/she made a great effort!
We just spent a very cool week in Hannover. It's another city that doesn't really attract tourists, so it was interesting to see, although the majority of our "sight-seeing" was at TiHo, the vet school located there.
Small animal clinics are what I know best, so I took away a lot from that. They already have a Tesla 3 MRI, which TAMU is only just putting in, I think. I also thought it was very cool that they have a completely separate area for cats and dogs- waiting area, treatment area, ICU, everything.
The equine clinic was really neat. They have an extensive track system to move horses in and out of anesthesia/prep, surgery, and the recovery room. The coolest part was the lameness track, though, which was built for its acoustics- to actually hear the changes in gait when a horse is lame. And they have a mobile endoscope unit which allows the veterinarians to actually view the larynx while the horse is exercising...pretty much amazing.
We also got to visit a teaching farm they have just outside of the city where the students are expected to spend 2 weeks living and working with all sorts of animals- cattle, swine, chickens, turkeys, ducks. They learn a lot about the animal welfare laws and how they affect the raising of livestock. But the biggest emphasis is on working with the animals- the German vet schools don't require students to have any experience in the veterinary industry or with animals before they enter vet school, so many of them come into with no knowledge of how to even behave or interact with animals, especially food animals.
The cattle clinic was, well, a cattle clinic. The thing I noticed most was that they had no squeeze chutes anywhere. Germans raise a lot more dairy cattle than beef cattle, and I guess with them used to being handle, it's less of a problem for the veterinarians to examine them with only a halter on. We did get some hands-on experience at the repro clinc, however, practicing epidurals and ultrasound.
Our last experience wasn't at TiHo, however. It was at an old farm where a retired vet had amassed an amazing amount of historical memorabilia, from old veterinary tools that aren't used anymore to preserved specimens to war propaganda. He also had a working water wheel from the old mill that was attached to the farm, and you could see how the entire thing worked, from the water being diverted to the wheel to the grinding of the grain to the collecting of it.
Our last night there, we were invited to a huge party that the students throw every semester in the cattle clinic. Yes, the clinic. It was mildly insane to say the least. I've heard that the Dutch like to party, but they'll have to really go all out to match what these Hannover students put on!
So finally, at the end of the week, we ended up in Norderney, a small island off the coast of Germany in the North Sea. Which is extremely cold, by the way. And we got to walk in it barefoot on out "watwanderung" or "water walk." Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and made the walk interesting despite our freezing toes and the tide coming in around our ankles (really, I didn't even notice the water level rising!). The scenery on the island is just gorgeous. It's hilly from the dunes and just...wild, is really the only way I could describe it. But everything's low- there's very few tall, deep-rooted trees that grow in the sand on the island. Simply stunning.
Small animal clinics are what I know best, so I took away a lot from that. They already have a Tesla 3 MRI, which TAMU is only just putting in, I think. I also thought it was very cool that they have a completely separate area for cats and dogs- waiting area, treatment area, ICU, everything.
The equine clinic was really neat. They have an extensive track system to move horses in and out of anesthesia/prep, surgery, and the recovery room. The coolest part was the lameness track, though, which was built for its acoustics- to actually hear the changes in gait when a horse is lame. And they have a mobile endoscope unit which allows the veterinarians to actually view the larynx while the horse is exercising...pretty much amazing.
We also got to visit a teaching farm they have just outside of the city where the students are expected to spend 2 weeks living and working with all sorts of animals- cattle, swine, chickens, turkeys, ducks. They learn a lot about the animal welfare laws and how they affect the raising of livestock. But the biggest emphasis is on working with the animals- the German vet schools don't require students to have any experience in the veterinary industry or with animals before they enter vet school, so many of them come into with no knowledge of how to even behave or interact with animals, especially food animals.
The cattle clinic was, well, a cattle clinic. The thing I noticed most was that they had no squeeze chutes anywhere. Germans raise a lot more dairy cattle than beef cattle, and I guess with them used to being handle, it's less of a problem for the veterinarians to examine them with only a halter on. We did get some hands-on experience at the repro clinc, however, practicing epidurals and ultrasound.
Our last experience wasn't at TiHo, however. It was at an old farm where a retired vet had amassed an amazing amount of historical memorabilia, from old veterinary tools that aren't used anymore to preserved specimens to war propaganda. He also had a working water wheel from the old mill that was attached to the farm, and you could see how the entire thing worked, from the water being diverted to the wheel to the grinding of the grain to the collecting of it.
Our last night there, we were invited to a huge party that the students throw every semester in the cattle clinic. Yes, the clinic. It was mildly insane to say the least. I've heard that the Dutch like to party, but they'll have to really go all out to match what these Hannover students put on!
So finally, at the end of the week, we ended up in Norderney, a small island off the coast of Germany in the North Sea. Which is extremely cold, by the way. And we got to walk in it barefoot on out "watwanderung" or "water walk." Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and made the walk interesting despite our freezing toes and the tide coming in around our ankles (really, I didn't even notice the water level rising!). The scenery on the island is just gorgeous. It's hilly from the dunes and just...wild, is really the only way I could describe it. But everything's low- there's very few tall, deep-rooted trees that grow in the sand on the island. Simply stunning.
Visiting with Vet Students!
Went to Prague for the first weekend. It was nice to take it at a slow pace after the week we had. I found it interesting that after only one week in Germany, it felt like coming home after the weekend.
Visited the vet school in Hannover (the TiHo) and got to stay with host students this week. It was a great experience staying with a student, because you got to see how they live, what an apartment looks like (instead of a hotel), eat an authentic breakfast, go to a German party (they dance to American music too), and ask them lots of questions, plus I got a tour of the city. The vet school is nice; it’s new, so it’s very up-to-date. I was really impressed by it. Learned that “rinder” is the German for cattle, hence the disease rinderpest.
Also visited a privately owned museum of veterinary medicine. The couple that owns the museum were really hospitable (enjoyed the tea and cake afterwards) and Mr. Küchenmeister is so excited about his collection that it’s hard not be also. I have a great appreciation for history, so seeing how this profession has evolved over time made for a great day. I’m impressed by how much they did have and know 100 years ago, because we often focus on how much they didn’t know (for example, something as simple as the importance of washing your hands). We still use some of the same drugs and twitches still look the same.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Day 13: Decades of history and all we wanted to do was play with the dog!
We started our day by visiting a vet museum in Badersleben. The couple that owns it was very nice and welcoming but didn't speak any English which made our visit a little interesting. There were some really interesting tools there as well as books and specimens. To me the funniest thing about the whole visit was that with all that cool stuff all we wanted to do was play with he dogs and the cat! I think we all miss our pets. The couple also had a fully restored watermill which they turned on for us and I found it absolutely fascinating. When we left there we went to a "water castle" which also had some neat stuff in it ans was an interesting contrast to the other castles we had seen.
Hanover, Germany
Wow! I can't believe that we have been here almost 2 weeks already! Time is flying! Germany is so beautiful & the people are so nice. I have stayed with my German host this week & she has been wonderful! She is super nice & we have quite a few similarities even though we are from two different countries. We are headed to Nordeney tomorrow where we are to do the mudflat hiking although I think the weather will be postponing it for a day. Bad weather is being predicted. After Nordeney, we are headed to Interlaken, Switzerland where we will get a look at the beautiful mountains & hopefully partake of some Swiss chocolate.
Until next time...gute nacht!
Until next time...gute nacht!
Hannover has been a blast, we stayed with a host student, Laura was mine. They are very nice and are great hosts. It was fun to make new friends that are studying the same things we are. I have to admit there system of schooling still confuses me even though its been described to me many times. All in all a good week, I was a little nervous considering the group was splitting up and we were staying with strangers in another country but it was a wonderful experience. I also enjoyed the tours we did of the vet school especially the tour that ended with us palpating a cow, AMAZING! This week we also were able to go to the Stallion testing center in Adelheidsdorf and were able to observe a collection and learned a little about their facilities and what they do there. Beautiful horses! Another wonderful thing...the Veterinary Medicine Museum. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the instruments this doctor has collected and the specimens and things he has, it is amazing to see what we have improved upon instrument wise and those that are still used today that were used hundreds of years ago. The owner of the museum did not speak much English but of all the translations on this trip, I was able to interpret what he was trying to say and only because of learning so much in my first year. When you have something in common, i guess the language barrier diminishes. Well off to Norderney
Hannover!
We are now in Hannover! I am so amazed at how nice my host student is! In order to give us the full German experience she made coffee and breakfast every morning (the most important meal of the day in Germany!). Also I realized that when you are invited to a friends house they tend to offer their own bed for you to stay in! Which honestly was slightly awkward for me as an American :) It was a new idea for me, and something that I am sure no one in the US would even have thought about doing!
The area around here is so much fun because there is a forest right next to the apartment and my host student and I went walking there with her dog. Which was really great to watch because her dog is so well trained! It is kind of like watching a free style dog show routine :) I was very impressed!
Later we did a small excursion to Badersleben in former east Germany. Here the veterinarian in this small town showed us a bit of what it was like to be a veterinarian in the GDR. I was surprised about the lack of plastic in general. I think it would be very difficult for me to imagine a hospital today without plastic!
In general Badersleben was a lot of fun due to the common link between veterinarians and their students. We definitely had cross cultural bonding over pathology! It was a lot of fun for me in particular as it was my first direct translation experience. It was exhausting but I learned a lot and have a new level of respect for the real translators out there!
The area around here is so much fun because there is a forest right next to the apartment and my host student and I went walking there with her dog. Which was really great to watch because her dog is so well trained! It is kind of like watching a free style dog show routine :) I was very impressed!
Later we did a small excursion to Badersleben in former east Germany. Here the veterinarian in this small town showed us a bit of what it was like to be a veterinarian in the GDR. I was surprised about the lack of plastic in general. I think it would be very difficult for me to imagine a hospital today without plastic!
In general Badersleben was a lot of fun due to the common link between veterinarians and their students. We definitely had cross cultural bonding over pathology! It was a lot of fun for me in particular as it was my first direct translation experience. It was exhausting but I learned a lot and have a new level of respect for the real translators out there!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Day 12: This right here made the whole trip worth it!
Today was all about my favorite things, cows and repro. We started with a tour of the cattle clinic which to me looked more like a horse clinic with all the box stalls and automatic waterers. It was mostly dairy cattle so I felt right at home. their cannulated cow is HUGE and they have several blood donor cows as well. I dont know if they have a Bangs problem but they have a bigger IBR problem then we do. After our tour we went to see their repro barn with their collection dummies and their embryo lab. While in the embryo lab we had to wear disposable coveralls which made us look like 00mpa loomas The professor in the embryo lab showed us the equipment and procedure for ultrasound guided trans vaginal follicle aspiration and then let us have a try if we wanted. I got to go first and I successfully aspirated a follicle. this just confirms to me that I need to go into repro. It was so much fun. After the cows we went to the stallion testing station and got to see the grounds and some of the studs. They also collected a stud for us and gave us a ppt on their techniques and horse breeding in Germany. I need to bring T back here some day, I know she would love it!
Hannover, 25/05/2011
So, it is the first time in the trip that we have host students. I really enjoy having a German host, it is quite a nice experience to be able to see how students live differently from us. It has also helped me with my German speaking some, even though I am still not very good.
I think Hannover is a beautiful city, and we have been able to visit all of the different clinics of the vet school, and they are fabulous!!! The small animal clinic and horse clinic are new buildings, and they are wonderful facilities. I was amazed at the small animal facilities especially, they are very nice and I would love to learn in a hospital like it! They also just got a 3.0 tesla MRI, which for me was a very exciting thing to see. The cattle clinic at Hannover is also a very nice hospital, and I think I enjoyed this tour the most. The best part was getting a demonstration in oocyte collection via ultrasound and palpation, and I performed the epidural anaesthesia! We also all got a chance to palpate the ovaries, so it was a wonderful experience and opportunity to practice our skills! We also visited a large stud ranch where we learned about semen collection from stallions, and we got to watch a collection take place. I really enjoyed seeing the ins and outs of such a large operation, and how we as veterinarians played a role in such operations.
Tonight we had a barbecue with our host students, and we had a wonderful time just visiting and eating some fabulous food (sehr lecker!) But now we have 1 day left and I am getting ready for an early morning tomorrow and a whole new journey on Friday.
Biß später!
I think Hannover is a beautiful city, and we have been able to visit all of the different clinics of the vet school, and they are fabulous!!! The small animal clinic and horse clinic are new buildings, and they are wonderful facilities. I was amazed at the small animal facilities especially, they are very nice and I would love to learn in a hospital like it! They also just got a 3.0 tesla MRI, which for me was a very exciting thing to see. The cattle clinic at Hannover is also a very nice hospital, and I think I enjoyed this tour the most. The best part was getting a demonstration in oocyte collection via ultrasound and palpation, and I performed the epidural anaesthesia! We also all got a chance to palpate the ovaries, so it was a wonderful experience and opportunity to practice our skills! We also visited a large stud ranch where we learned about semen collection from stallions, and we got to watch a collection take place. I really enjoyed seeing the ins and outs of such a large operation, and how we as veterinarians played a role in such operations.
Tonight we had a barbecue with our host students, and we had a wonderful time just visiting and eating some fabulous food (sehr lecker!) But now we have 1 day left and I am getting ready for an early morning tomorrow and a whole new journey on Friday.
Biß später!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Hannover!
Hello there from Hannover, Germany! We have just completed our first full day in this great city. They have an awesome small animal clinic, and a nice horse clinic that we got to tour today. Then we saw all sorts of farm animals our t at the school's farm... there were so many birds in their poultry rooms, and the turkeys were huge! We had quite a full day with all of this activity, but we actually got out earlier than we thought we would, and my wonderful host student took me and a couple of classmates on a tour of Hannover! It was great to see all of the different sites that we otherwise would not have seen, its a shame that we had no city tours on our itinerary for this leg of the trip. The new city hall was really a site to see with all of this grand decor and fantastic architecture as well as a picturesque lake in the rear with a beautiful trail surrounding it. If you ask me, that would be an awesome place to get married and my host says that have many weddings and events at this venue all of the time. We also saw some crazy statues, the Nanas, and topped our tour off at a fantastic tea room. It was the perfect way to cap off our tour. What a great day in Hannover!
Day 11: Really? A map?
We got to see the small animal and equine clinics today. Both were really large and modern and our small animal guide even admitted that when the SA clinic opened they all carried maps to get around so they didn't get lost! The horse clinic was also interesting and we got to see a horse in the OR. After lunch in the cafeteria we headed out to the college farm. All the students are required to spend a couple of weeks living and working at the farm. The neatest thing to me was the dairy barn. They have a "robo milker" that lets the cows wander in and get milked whenever they want. It is totally automated and can take monthly milk samples and keep production records on each individual cow. I can't wait to show Stewart when we get home.
Week one
This first week has gone by fast now that we look back on the week. At the time, the week seemed to be draging on. Not due to lack of thrill and enjoyment, but due to the fullness of the days. I have been doing as much as I can as offten as I can to take in every moment this trip has to offer. I have forgotten to sleep a time or too but that can be ramified later, after the trip. Now is the time to explore. So in the mornings, most mornings, I have been getting up a little earlier than the others to go for a run in the morning. I love this because you see the places and cities in a completely different way, it is truly beautiful. The parks here are amazing and very common. They can be very large but they also seem to be very large in quantity not just size. The biggest difference I have enjoyed so far, besides the history, is the way the cities are designed. The center of these cities, like the market district, is designed for pedestrians. This is completely different than America, where cars and convience comes first. Cars are even after public transport, like trains and buses, here; again, very different. This next week is mostly Hannover with my new host students which are some of the kindest and wonderful people I have meet thus far on this trip. More about them later.
Munchen
After our 1st free weekend, I feel so incredibly independent and accomplished (I know I've said that many times before). To be honest, before we left, I was feeling quite worried about how Catherine and I would navigate Munchen on our own. But my fears were unfounded because we made it there and back with no problem!
We visited the English Garden first and enjoyed a nice walk around the garden then some ribs (I know I know, NOT very German haha), some beers, and a large pretzel. Afterwards, we visited Dachau, the first ever concentration camp (see insert below), then the hofbrauhaus! The hofbrauhaus was probably the most fun. In the craziness of a large tourist attraction, we were finally able to sit down, and enjoy our own liters of beer! They always say the best way to make new American friends is to go to a foreign country, and true to form that is exactly what happened to us! We ended up sitting in front of 2 Americans from Wisconsin and were able to enjoy conversation and beers with them! We even danced and took photos with the hofbrauhaus regulars who were very friendly and willing to play along with us.
The hotel we stayed at actually offered us a free breakfast if we wrote a blog about something we did or visited in Munich. Below is my blog entry for the Dachau concentration camp memorial site:
When visiting Munich, one absolutely must visit the Dachau concentration camp memorial site. A quick ride on the S2 out of the Munich Hauptbahnhof and then another short bus ride on the 724 or 725 will bring any visitor to the very steps of the camp. Upon walking in, one is completely shocked into silence by the camp and the atrocities that took place within the walls of various undersized, overcrowded barracks and the prisoner-feared 'bunker'. The whole goal of the memorial site is to pay respects to and address directly what happened to those imprisoned there. Therefore the extensive museum does a very thorough job explaining how such a ruthless party could have taken power (the failing economy and plethora of starving people post WWI), what life in the camps was really like (daily beatings and forms of torture, a constant lack of food and healthcare, and constant fear of death), and even what types of human medical experiments were allowed to transpire under Nazi rule. The most ironic aspect of visiting Dachau on a summer day is the weather: bright and sunny with birds chirping. One almost forgets where he really is. This feeling, however, does not last too long as you walk past hundreds of markings showing the numerous barracks and large, ominous guard towers at each end. After leaving the main barracks area, you see the new and old crematoriums used to incinerate bodies post-mortem. Those forced to their deaths at the crematoriums were also forced to disrobe so the camp could reuse their clothes for new prisoners. Various memorials have also been added after the closure of the camps to honor the 6 million Jews persecuted and murdered by the Nazis and even the construction of a Russian Orthodox chapel to honor the Russian Army members taken prisoner by the party. After spending 3 or 4 hours at the camp, it is almost strange to return to reality. It takes a little while to get use to signs for, restaurants, sandwiches, and cell phones again. Overall, this site is not just for history or WWII buffs. It is a must see for all people (of the appropriate age) to see and understand what really happened behind those closed gates.
We visited the English Garden first and enjoyed a nice walk around the garden then some ribs (I know I know, NOT very German haha), some beers, and a large pretzel. Afterwards, we visited Dachau, the first ever concentration camp (see insert below), then the hofbrauhaus! The hofbrauhaus was probably the most fun. In the craziness of a large tourist attraction, we were finally able to sit down, and enjoy our own liters of beer! They always say the best way to make new American friends is to go to a foreign country, and true to form that is exactly what happened to us! We ended up sitting in front of 2 Americans from Wisconsin and were able to enjoy conversation and beers with them! We even danced and took photos with the hofbrauhaus regulars who were very friendly and willing to play along with us.
The hotel we stayed at actually offered us a free breakfast if we wrote a blog about something we did or visited in Munich. Below is my blog entry for the Dachau concentration camp memorial site:
When visiting Munich, one absolutely must visit the Dachau concentration camp memorial site. A quick ride on the S2 out of the Munich Hauptbahnhof and then another short bus ride on the 724 or 725 will bring any visitor to the very steps of the camp. Upon walking in, one is completely shocked into silence by the camp and the atrocities that took place within the walls of various undersized, overcrowded barracks and the prisoner-feared 'bunker'. The whole goal of the memorial site is to pay respects to and address directly what happened to those imprisoned there. Therefore the extensive museum does a very thorough job explaining how such a ruthless party could have taken power (the failing economy and plethora of starving people post WWI), what life in the camps was really like (daily beatings and forms of torture, a constant lack of food and healthcare, and constant fear of death), and even what types of human medical experiments were allowed to transpire under Nazi rule. The most ironic aspect of visiting Dachau on a summer day is the weather: bright and sunny with birds chirping. One almost forgets where he really is. This feeling, however, does not last too long as you walk past hundreds of markings showing the numerous barracks and large, ominous guard towers at each end. After leaving the main barracks area, you see the new and old crematoriums used to incinerate bodies post-mortem. Those forced to their deaths at the crematoriums were also forced to disrobe so the camp could reuse their clothes for new prisoners. Various memorials have also been added after the closure of the camps to honor the 6 million Jews persecuted and murdered by the Nazis and even the construction of a Russian Orthodox chapel to honor the Russian Army members taken prisoner by the party. After spending 3 or 4 hours at the camp, it is almost strange to return to reality. It takes a little while to get use to signs for, restaurants, sandwiches, and cell phones again. Overall, this site is not just for history or WWII buffs. It is a must see for all people (of the appropriate age) to see and understand what really happened behind those closed gates.
Müchen, and Now Hannover
While in Müchen we stayed at a hotel that if we wrote a blog about something we had seen during our visit, we could have breakfast the following morning for free. So in an effort to stay true to our budgets, of course Jenny and I participated; now I would like to share it with the rest of my classmates:
Upon our arrival to Munich on a summer day we decided to adventure toward the English Garden. The towering trees and wildlife is simply breathtaking in there, especially being in the middle of a metropolitan area such as Munich. It is easy for one to lose themself among the birds, bike riders, trails, ponds, and people of all ages and backgrounds. The garden seems to take you back to a slower pace of life, where there are no deadlines and cell phones cluttering the air only the laughter of children and smells of blooming flowers filling your senses. When dining at one of the popular beer gardens the food is classic German food that not only tastes great but is reasonable for those on a budget. The service is fantastic and the beer just adds to the atmosphere. Once seated along the picturesque view of the lake with people paddle and row boating one truly appreciates the German cultures love for the outdoors. While enjoying your beer and pretzel one feels a part of something bigger than themselves and instead of living in a divided world, we can all come together there appreciate the real joys in life. Whether in between sightseeing or escaping the everyday hustle of life the English Garden is a must do, not only for its beauty but for your health.
English Garden aside I really had alot of fun in Müchen. Everywhere we went there were nice, helpful people and I would reccommend all students go there one free weekend and get a taste of the old Bravarian culture.
Now we are in Hannover and my host student is so sweet. She is letting me sleep in her room, and just truly going out of her way for me. I troughly enjoyed the large and technologically advanced facilities they have here for the large and small animals. I also look forward to the rest of our visit and hanging out with my host student, and getting to know the vet student population here a little better.
Upon our arrival to Munich on a summer day we decided to adventure toward the English Garden. The towering trees and wildlife is simply breathtaking in there, especially being in the middle of a metropolitan area such as Munich. It is easy for one to lose themself among the birds, bike riders, trails, ponds, and people of all ages and backgrounds. The garden seems to take you back to a slower pace of life, where there are no deadlines and cell phones cluttering the air only the laughter of children and smells of blooming flowers filling your senses. When dining at one of the popular beer gardens the food is classic German food that not only tastes great but is reasonable for those on a budget. The service is fantastic and the beer just adds to the atmosphere. Once seated along the picturesque view of the lake with people paddle and row boating one truly appreciates the German cultures love for the outdoors. While enjoying your beer and pretzel one feels a part of something bigger than themselves and instead of living in a divided world, we can all come together there appreciate the real joys in life. Whether in between sightseeing or escaping the everyday hustle of life the English Garden is a must do, not only for its beauty but for your health.
English Garden aside I really had alot of fun in Müchen. Everywhere we went there were nice, helpful people and I would reccommend all students go there one free weekend and get a taste of the old Bravarian culture.
Now we are in Hannover and my host student is so sweet. She is letting me sleep in her room, and just truly going out of her way for me. I troughly enjoyed the large and technologically advanced facilities they have here for the large and small animals. I also look forward to the rest of our visit and hanging out with my host student, and getting to know the vet student population here a little better.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Day 10: Holy Flaming Pineapple Batman!!
We made it to Hanover and had a great meal with our host students. It was good to see Sabrina again. We shared a delicious desert of pineapple and other yummy goodness that came complete with a burning sparkler!
Prague, City of...Tourists?
Ah, Prague. I really don't know where to begin. I think the best word for this weekend was...overwhelming. The sights. The city. Just the number of people that can fit into areas that should be very large but end up feeling very small.
I found out about halfway through this trip that 90% of Prague's income comes from the tourist industry, and I can believe it. I'm sure there are some areas of the city where there aren't many tourists, but we never found it, and to be honest, that was probably a good thing.
Don't get me wrong, Prague was quite fascinating in its own way. The food was slightly different than Germany- a different accent on certain spices and meats (I had 1/2 a goose- it was delicious!). And everything was so cheap. You don't think about it because everything is measure in hundreds of kroner, but I pulled 2000 kroner out of an ATM (it gave it to me in one bill, that should have been a tip-off) and I think it was just over $120. And I lived off of right around that for the entire weekend, sight-seeing, souvenirs, and all.
There really are some amazing sights, though, if you can either get there early enough to beat the crowds or fight through them. The castle complex is enormous and extremely well-preserved. It was a little bit of a struggle getting information out of some of the exhibits because many of the titles would be translated into English, but much of the actual facts were not. The cathedral within the castle complex is nearly as impressive as Cologne's, although in a different way. The facade, for one thing, was just beautiful, especially situated in the middle of the enormous castle courtyard. The Oldtown Square was a slight disappointment (the astronomical clock is much smaller than I imagined), and it was packed. The souvenir shops here were thick and the crowd thicker. It was enough to make one claustrophobic.
The next day was better, and much more relaxed. The seven of us walked through much of the town to get to an old monastery that overlooked a different part of the town. The weather both days, but especially this day, was amazing- warm, sunny, no rain. Perfect for wandering around and aimlessly sightseeing. We went back to our hostel for lunch, and then spent the afternoon shopping, which I haven't really gotten to do much of. Found some pretty awesome scarves and really gorgeous, hand-made ornaments made out of real eggs. Now they just have to survive the next 4 weeks and the trip back to the states. Sigh.
Finally, some random impressions:
I found out about halfway through this trip that 90% of Prague's income comes from the tourist industry, and I can believe it. I'm sure there are some areas of the city where there aren't many tourists, but we never found it, and to be honest, that was probably a good thing.
Don't get me wrong, Prague was quite fascinating in its own way. The food was slightly different than Germany- a different accent on certain spices and meats (I had 1/2 a goose- it was delicious!). And everything was so cheap. You don't think about it because everything is measure in hundreds of kroner, but I pulled 2000 kroner out of an ATM (it gave it to me in one bill, that should have been a tip-off) and I think it was just over $120. And I lived off of right around that for the entire weekend, sight-seeing, souvenirs, and all.
There really are some amazing sights, though, if you can either get there early enough to beat the crowds or fight through them. The castle complex is enormous and extremely well-preserved. It was a little bit of a struggle getting information out of some of the exhibits because many of the titles would be translated into English, but much of the actual facts were not. The cathedral within the castle complex is nearly as impressive as Cologne's, although in a different way. The facade, for one thing, was just beautiful, especially situated in the middle of the enormous castle courtyard. The Oldtown Square was a slight disappointment (the astronomical clock is much smaller than I imagined), and it was packed. The souvenir shops here were thick and the crowd thicker. It was enough to make one claustrophobic.
The next day was better, and much more relaxed. The seven of us walked through much of the town to get to an old monastery that overlooked a different part of the town. The weather both days, but especially this day, was amazing- warm, sunny, no rain. Perfect for wandering around and aimlessly sightseeing. We went back to our hostel for lunch, and then spent the afternoon shopping, which I haven't really gotten to do much of. Found some pretty awesome scarves and really gorgeous, hand-made ornaments made out of real eggs. Now they just have to survive the next 4 weeks and the trip back to the states. Sigh.
Finally, some random impressions:
- This was my first time staying in a hostel, and we had it pretty good. We had seven people in one "suite" (it was pretty much an apartment) with only one bathroom, so that was fun. But we got free beer in the afternoons and a shot of some odd Czech liquer that was basically Christmas in a shot glass. No joke.
- Everything is paved in cobblestones. Big ones for streets, small ones of sidewalks. Makes walking mildly hazardous. And the horses for the carriage tours have to wear special elevated and cushioned shoes to protect their feet.
- Czech (or maybe just Prague?) drivers are insane. I feared for my life on the taxi ride from the train station to the hotel.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
AMSTERDAM!
Today was our one full day in Amsterdam and we covered a lot of ground. We took an audio-guided canal tour by boat around the city, which also served as our "bus" to get us to our many destinations. First we went to the Anne Frank House museum which was an incredibly impactful and solemn experience. Walking through the building where the Secret Annex was actually built makes the diary of Anne Frank truly come to life. Then we went to the van Gogh museum where we saw many beautiful works of art created by van Gogh himself, people that inspired him, and people that were inspired by him. The textures and patterns in the paintings were brilliant, it amazes me how some people can take millions of little splashes of color, place them on a canvas and create a vivid masterpiece. We also went to Picasso's exhibit in the van Gogh museum. After raiding the gift shop and getting some awesome van Gogh posters (that must somehow survive three more weeks...) we topped off our day by taking some awesome jumping pictures in front of the the "I AMsterdam" giant block letters. This was a great weekend and I'm looking forward to what this next week brings... Hannover, here we come!
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