REFLECTION ON FIRST WEEK J

     We are one week into our program, and it feels like time is FLYING by.  I am having an absolutely amazing time exploring the magnificent architecture and interesting culture.  I hope to not only blog about what we are doing but also about what makes it so special.

Bonn: Just walking around Bonn, you get the feeling of a quiet small town.  For example, when we were told we were going to visit an organic farm, I totally thought we would be riding out of the city to some tiny little farm.  Instead, we ended up actually on a farm in Bonn itself.  I was completely surprised since that’s not really something one would see back home in Dallas, not to mention the fact that it was organic.  It was extremely cool to see all the animals and plants being raised so close to the city and unaltered by pesticides and drugs. 

      Everywhere you look in Bonn you see something breathtakingly beautiful, even while walking around while getting pelted by hail and torrential rain and being frozen by icy cold wind.  The cobbled streets, the very old cathedrals, and old architecture looks nothing like anywhere I have been before.  You really get a sense of history. 

     I think one of my favorite experiences in Bonn was climbing the mountain to see Drachenfels castle.  I really didn’t want to go, but my friends were dead set on it.  It ended up really showing me how much I can physically handle if I really push myself, and the long climb was absolutely worth it.  The view was spectacular and the castle ruins were really awe-inspiring considering how old they were.

Cologne:  Even though we only spent a day in Cologne, I felt like I got a great feel of the city.  I loved the cathedral, and it’s always impressive to see architecture like that.  I adored the zoo and was surprised by the vast number of animals they had.  The behind the scenes tour of the elephant house was probably my favorite part, as I don’t think I have ever been that close to an elephant (although I have been that close to a herd of angry rhinos); I can’t wait to see what the Berlin zoo has in store too! 

More to come on Rome and this coming week!