On Memorials to the Holocaust

What struck me the most about Berlin were the memorials. There are memorials everywhere: the Berlin Wall Memorial, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a memorial to all victims of war and tyranny, a memorial on the site of the massive book burning at the beginning of the Nazi regime, a memorial to fallen Soviet soldiers in World War II, and, most importantly, the Holocaust memorials. Throughout the month, I’ve made an effort to visit the Holocaust memorials in each place we went. It's interesting to see the different approaches to creating a memorial to such a horrific period of human history, and each brings out a different emotion. I'd like to use this post as a chance to discuss the various memorials I saw throughout the month.

The first memorial I visited was in Prague. The main Holocaust memorial is located within the Jewish Quarter in the first synagogue you can enter after you purchase a ticket. The walls of the synagogue are filled with the names of every Jewish Czechoslovakian that was murdered in the Holocaust. There were hundreds of thousands of names, listed one right after another, filling each wall of the synagogue. Six million, the total number of Jews murdered in the Holocaust. is a hard number to fully grasp, but when a portion of those names are listed out in front of you the weight of the loss of life begins to hit hard. Around 263,000 Jews who had resided in the territory of the Czechoslovak Republic were murdered in the Holocaust.

 

In Leipzig, the Holocaust memorial stands on the foundations of the synagogue that was destroyed during Kristallnacht on November 9-10, 1938. There are around one hundred metal chairs set up as they would be if the synagogue was still standing. Perhaps the empty chairs are representative of the murdered Jews who used to sit in that exact spot before the synagogue was destroyed, or perhaps, as Ashley suggested, the chairs are waiting to be filled again. It’s an interesting duality to consider: the memorial serves both as a way to remember the horrible things that happened there in the past as well as a suggestion of hope for the future. Almost all of the Jewish population in Leipzig, over 11,000 people, were murdered in the Holocaust.

As is to be expected, there are many Holocaust memorials in Berlin. Near the Brandenburg Gate and the eastern entrance to Tiergarten Park is a collection of memorials to the various groups persecuted in the Holocaust. I only found a small part of the memorial to the Roma and the Sinti peoples, but this part of the memorial includes two quotes from a former chancellor and former president calling the persecution an act of genocide. The memorial to the victims of the euthanasia program stands just outside the Berlin Philharmonic concert hall. It consists two large steel structures that form a sort of echo tunnel. As you walk through, the send of your own footsteps echoes almost overwhelmingly loudly in your ears. The memorial to the LGBTQ victims is a large concrete rock with a window that shows a TV screen. The screen shows scenes of gay and lesbian lovers kissing in public. The final memorial in this collection is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. There are 2,711 concrete slabs of varying heights laid out in straight lines along uneven ground. Each of these memorials requires interaction. With regards to the Jewish memorial, our tour guide told us that the memorial is not complete until you are standing within it. I feel like the same is true for all of them. You gain the full experience when you walk through the echo tunnel, watch the screen in the LGBTQ memorial, and walk among the stones in the Jewish memorial.

Memorial to the Roma and the Sinti

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

Memorial to the victims of the Euthanasia Program

Memorial to LGBTQ victims

Memorial to LGBTQ victims

We also went to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, now a memorial and museum, while we were in Berlin. Though its now been a few weeks since we were there, I still don’t quite have the words to describe it. It was a tremendously moving experience, and one I don’t think I can forget.

The memorial in Wittenburg had the strongest imagery of all those that I saw. Located directly under an offensive, anti-Semitic carving on the Stadtkirche, this memorial is a small, bronze square with something coming up at the cracks. At first glance, I was confused as to what it was supposed to represent, but our guide explained that it represents human flesh seeping up from under the ground, suggesting that what happened can not be ignored or swept under the rug, nor can the fact that writings by Luther were used as justification for anti-Semitic actions during the Nazi regime. 

There is not a large memorial to the Holocaust in Salzburg. There are, however, small gold squares on the streets marking where Jewish people once lived before they were deported. Though a smaller memorial compared to otheres, seeing these markers really struck me, perhaps because of how personal they are. Each marker details the persons name, when they were arrested, when they were deported, where they were deported to, and when and where they died.

I think that a critical piece of remembering the Holocaust is witnessing the places in which it took place. In bearing witness to the sites of such misery, we try to remember it in as much an entirety as we can. Remembrance is the first step towards creating a world in which acts of extreme persecution and genocide cease to exist.

Mozart's Birthday

On Mozart's birthday we traveled to the quaint town of Salzburg to celebrate in the musical festivities. The train ride from Berlin had a gorgeous view of the alps all the way to Salzburg. We arrived to our hostel under the impression that all of the girls would be sharing one room. To our surprise, we discovered the Jufa hostel had arranged rooms for groups of threes (and one group of two). This was by far the most luxurious hostel experience. There were even fresh towels in our bathrooms and a beautiful view of the mountains from our window. It was a nice change of pace coming from the busy city of Berlin. The Vienna Philharmonic concert that evening was among the most memorable for me. Mozart's spirit truly lived in the music performed that night. The concert opened with a Concerto for Violin in B minor by Edward Elgar. The violin soloist Renaud Capucon was a true virtuoso. His artistic excellence blew away the entire audience. I will never forget the way my ears felt like they were dancing. I was so invigorated by the music, I could feel my energy blossoming as each movement took me on a journey. The conductor Robin Ticciati was spectacular. It was if the air was a canvas and he was painting the music with each rhythm and vibration, truly bringing the ensemble to life. He was the most unique in conducting style out of all the concerts I have seen. When he conducted the Jupiter Symphony I noticed that he chose not to use a baton. It felt very personal for him. I could feel how special this piece was in honor of Mozart's birthday. 

The next morning we attended Catholic Mass in the Cathedral where Mozart was baptized. The ceremony was so special. The intricacies of the detail inside the church was overwhelming. I visited this church four times during my stay in Salzburg. The architecture and history was breathtaking. 

 

Hingelstad to Tingelstad

As my final blog post, this will serve to wrap up the last few days back in Vienna and to provide final thoughts on the experience as a whole.

Thursday, Feb 1st

After making some turtlenecks for the road, we headed to the train station one last time. We would be traveling to the starting point of our trip, Vienna. As there were just two evenings left, I made a small list of the things I wanted to do. The first on this list was to visit the naschtmarkt, Vienna's largest outdoor market. I headed there with Matt and Alex and we quickly realized it was primarily a conglomeration of food stands and small restaurants. This was, of course, no problem for us as we had yet to eat dinner. We strolled through the market and couldn't help but notice the mass of falafel stands. There were a few bakeries, cheese stands, and Asian restaurants, but by far the most common was the middle eastern cuisine. As we strolled past stand after stand of olives, baklava, shawarma, falafel, and hummus, the vendors eagerly tossed out samples in hopes of roping us into a sale. Alex accidentally ended up with about a pound of Turkish delight, even though his original intent was to buy just two or three pieces. We scored some falafel for an all-time low price: 20 pieces for €2! After a few more free samples of hummus and sausage, we settled on a little Asian restaurant that covered multiple cuisines. Alex ordered crispy duck noodles, Matt got dim sum, and I went with sushi.

We finished our trip to the market with just enough time to get back to the hostel and make our way to the final concert of the trip. We would be at the musikverein seeing a concert featuring works by Bach and Mozart. The pianist and conductor, Sir Andras Schiff, played incredibly well and even conducted while playing piano. His take on Mozart's C minor piano concerto and his encore piece were both awe-inspiring. This is a man whom I've seen play in YouTube videos, but to see him perform in person was truly remarkable. Matt and I tried to get his autograph after the concert, but unfortunately he eluded us.

Friday, Feb 2nd

Our last real day in Europe had arrived. We took one last class photo by the towering statue of Maria Theresa before visiting the massive State Art History Museum. After I thought I'd seen all the paintings on the first floor, I realized there was another wing full of them on the other side. I don't consider myself much of an admirer of paintings and this type of artwork, but I could have easily spent hours in here; the paintings were breathtaking. Eventually, however, we had to get on with our day to accomplish the last couple of things on the to-do list.

An artifact from the Greco-Roman exhibit.

Matt and I headed to the Cafe Frauenhuber to meet Jeffery for lunch. This cafe, pointed out to us nearly a month ago by our Vienna tour guide, was the site at which Beethoven and other composers premiered some of their works. We didn't get the chance to eat here during our initial stay in Vienna, so we made sure to fit it in this time. It’s a very formal cafe and definitely more expensive than what I'd grown accustomed to spending on meals. Nevertheless, all the street food I'd purchased up to this point allowed me to splurge a little and afford a nice meal at the tail end of the trip. I ordered a dish simply called “Spinach” on the English menu, which turned out to be spinach puree, a fried egg, and some kind of potato cake, and it was all very delicious.

Our last event of the trip was a group meal at a winery in Heiligenstadt (or, as Jeffery first called it, Hingelstad), the site at which Beethoven wrote the famous Heiligenstadt Testament. For this reason, the winery was a bit Beethoven-themed, providing a nice contrast to all the Mozart-themed things we’d seen in Vienna and Salzburg. The buffet from which we got to eat, for example, was called the “Für Elise Buffet,” and featured bread dumplings, chicken schnitzel, and sauerkraut, among other yummy foods. We even got to take leftovers, and only after boxing them up did we realize we wouldn't get a proper chance to eat them with our flight the following morning. Matt, MariHa, Caroline, and I then decided to leave Vienna with a little something after the city had given so much to us. We took our leftovers back to the hostel, gathered up what food was left in our rooms, and pieced together eight little care packages to hand out to the homeless people around Stephansplatz. They each got a medley of dumplings, strudels, potatoes, schnitzel, falafel, sliced bread, Nutella, and even some of Alex’s Turkish delight. Seeing the looks on their faces when we handed them the food was more than enough reward for our actions, not to mention the perfect way to end an amazing month in Europe.

Final Thoughts

There aren't really any words to adequately describe the trip, although through this series of blog posts I have attempted to do so. Everything exceeded my expectations, from the people I met to the music I got to experience and everything in between. The sights were incredible, the museums were fascinating, the food was delectable, and the train rides were even mildly entertaining. I fell in love with two cities and thoroughly enjoyed my time in all of them. I can't thank Dr. Powell enough for coordinating this fantastic program and for being the first professor to buy me a drink. I can easily say that this was the best month of my life and I will remember it for the rest of my life. As our tour guide in Salzburg told us, the best souvenirs are the ones we carry with us in our minds.

Turtle Noises, Trdelnyk, and Social Tortoises

Home at last, with an experience I will never forget behind me. At least, I know I won’t forget how uncomfortable the seats on the trains were. But one thing I noticed was how much this trip could be personified by a turtle. In the beginning we were all still inside our shells at first, and then we slowly peaked our heads out, and then by Berlin all of us were out of our shells and walking, and then something scared us in Salzburg and we crawled back in. But this time when we crawled in with a memory of what was outside and felt more secure in this manner. Or I’m just a little loopy still and I’m being that one guy who talks stupid things after smoking weed. Or drinking. Or just because they feel the need to talk. You know, people like me.

The turtles also surfaced when I made the mistake of making the noise a turtle makes when it humps a shoe, so all of the guys started making the noise at random intervals and just to annoy Dr. Powell. I regret that course of action. But it was fun to just hear the random Ngaaaa, and know someone you know is nearby.

Time will tell if this actually has an impact on my life, but some things I know for sure, is that Beer is good,  I need to play more clarinet and learn more instruments, Always drink the house beer, listen to local suggestions, never trust the ground, your eyes and ears are your most valuable tools abroad, pack extra, wander, have what you like but remember consequences, and some of the prettiest things you’ll ever see will be found on accident. This trip has been an amazing experience I will never forget, with people I regret not knowing sooner, places I’ve seen in only movies and books, and music I should have listened to live earlier.

Berlin Excursion

January 26, 2018

   
     Our last day in Berlin was packed with adventure. We took the tram to Boxhagener Platz, a cozy part of town outside of the main city, where we had discovered a hole in the wall sushi and ramen restaurant for dinner two days prior. It was exciting to return and spend more time there during the day. We stumbled upon a wonderful coffee shop that had books, boardgames, a piano, beer on tap, and art work covering the walls. After some espresso and nachos we began exploring more of the area. Next stop: a record store! We enjoyed listening to records and experiencing the shop. There were some special finds here!



We continued on to a mystical crystal shop that housed treasures I was both familiar and unfamiliar with. It was very interesting to see the collection in Berlin compared to the crystal shops back home. We spent some time feeling out which stones and gems spoke to each of us individually. It was time to get some lunch so we walked back to Rice In, relishing the artwork all along the streets and buildings on the way. After some delicious sushi we walked back to the tram, our hearts and bellies full. On our way back, we stopped at the LGBTQ memorial and walked through the park at dusk. That evening we attended the Jewels Staatsoper Ballet which unfolded in three distinct acts. The first and third act were traditional in style while the middle scene revealed sharp movements and artistic choreography intermixed with more seldom fluid movements of the traditional ballet style. I have read about this experimental style that came about to challenge the concept of beauty in dance, however this was my first time experiencing this style in a performance. Another incredible day in Germany!

Prague Has My Heart [Part 2]

     Before the Czech Philharmonic concert we explored the streets of Prague, experiencing street vendors and artists one of which had five birds that he trained to stand wherever he placed them, including my head!

After spending all day in the city, Leah and I got caught in a rainstorm with powerful winds. Soaking wet, we ran into a cozy coffee shop to warm up with some hot cocoa. There was a restaurant on the lower level and another room that was elaborately decorated with art on the walls. The cozy coffee corner we were in was a work of art itself with incredible works on the walls.

Our walk back to the hostel filled my senses with everything I love about Prague. The hustle and bustle on the street was warm and we loved being apart of it. The cobblestone streets, crisp night air, and the smell of street food became so familiar. I fell in love with Prague. Our spirits soared as we soaked in every moment here.

Boop

So, Salzburg. A pretty city surrounded by vistas and mountains aplenty, with history and gusto to match. With churches and old architecture dominating the landscape, it’s hard not to appreciate why the“Sound of Music” was shot here, with pristine old buildings cheaper by the dozen surrounding the picturesque Salzach river. Despite the steep prices of the city, it was quite amenable and affordable to eat here, especially considering some of the best Doner Kebap in Europe can be found here. I’m not sure what it was, but the veggies were fresh, the meat perfect, and the bread perfectly toasted. If there was one thing I could shout about in Salzburg, it would be the presence of delicious food everywhere, Doner Kebap, Wurst, Sacher Torte, Mozart Kuegel, too many things to count.

Another amazing thing about Salzburg was the thought and detail that went into the design of everybuilding, one really good example of this was when we viewed a statue of the Virgin Mary that, when approached from the right angle, would appear to have a crown placed on her head by angels. Every building seemed to have some form of artwork or sculpting upon it, except only the more modern ones. The cafes and the restaurants all advertised themselves with pride with brightly colored and intricate signs, all of them wooden or iron or paint upon stone.

Salzburg‘s most interesting thing however, was the ever looming and immense presence of Hohensalzburg Castle, which is situated in the middle of the city, on the top of a mountain, with massive walls that had sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. With towers and ramparts galore, this massive citadel stands as the most intact fortress of its kind. I may or may not have gotten lost here, wandered into an active construction zone, got yelled at by Italian people, made friends with some British people, then stumbled back down the mountain while the rest of my group was on a tour.

However, Salzburg was not too kind to me, I slid and hurt myself, had bounds of stomach problems, had no small number of times I got lost, and got bit by a dog. So fun times. I did have one great moment though, being able to buy my grandmother a MI Hummel figurine, which, if she’s reading this, spoiler.

Good Bye for Now

Tired. Sick. Maybe about to lose a lung? This is how I am ending this month long adventure. Send help please. Or maybe just send a decongestant.

Anyway, this trip has been an experience that I wish would never end. We started this trip as 22 strangers who would barely talked at the airport back in the beginning of January. Now at the beginning of February, we all have gotten to be such a close group...maybe a little too close. At the start of this trip, I was nervous about spending a month with people I rarely talked to and rooming with complete strangers.

The trip started in Vienna and ended there as well. However, Vienna seemed different the second time around. The first week, was figuring out the public transportation, adjusting to the time zones, and talking to to maybe 4 people comfortably. Returning to Vienna, seemed like coming home. Seeing The Wombats Vienna was familiar territory now. The city wasn't foreign anymore but instead easier to navigate. Walking around Vienna, felt like a walk in Seattle for me. I knew where I was going and didn't feel as overwhelmed as the first week.

Now that I am back home, I still can't believe that I got to spend a whole month is Europe! It was an amazing and I just wanted to thank my classmates for being so awesome. I'm glad we all bonded and hope we can continue to be friends after this trip! Also thank you to Dr Powell and Dr Rhyne for an amazing trip, being our fearless leaders and tolerating all of us!

While I am missing Europe already, I am happy to say I will be going back next year to study abroad in Vienna! Until next time Europe...
Auf Wiedersehen!

bye bye Europe

Well, here we are. Biertrinker here one last time, on a plane in Chicago about to fly back to the beautiful Northwest. It’s been quite a journey. There’s been laughter, tears, concerts, memes, and yes, a lot of beer. I learned a lot over this month, like the fact that beer is much better over in Europe, and the meat, and the street vendors, and, well, most stuff. They don’t have drinking fountains though so that’s really the only negative.

I loved the trip. That’s all i can really say for this reflection. It was amazing and I have made friends with people I may have never talked to in my coming years at PLU. I met people of all different ages and personalities, and honestly, I wouldn’t trade anyone else for these people. I also met and got to know some of the greatest and funniest professors I have known. I have never laughed so much in a single month, many of these instances turned into tears I had so much fun. 

I tried a lot of new things. I went to new concerts and operas, listened to new composers, saw various conductors and singers show their talents. I learned a lot about classical history, especially that Mozart was a bit of a baby, but, he’s still cool. I know so much about Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic now, and I will definitely be going back. When I got back to Vienna for the last few days, it felt almost like I had lived their for a long time, because I knew where I wanted to go and where to go for things. 

If I had to choose a favorite city, I would either say Vienna or Prague. Something about those two cities just stuck with me, and I really appreciated what they gave and provided. Prague introduces me to the Turtleneck that I will be bringing back to the Northwest with me. Vienna introduced me to the European transit system, fast walking, and Durum Kebabs. I loved every single city, and each brought their own fantastic piece of excitement that created an amazing trip.

I’m going to end this with a quote I saw at the Bach Museum in Leipzig. It says, “Can you see anything? Yes, wonderful things”. This quote to me represents the experiences I got to have with my newfound friends. Everything was new, and everything was wonderful. You have to take in everything to truly enjoy a trip like this. It’s not just about the music or the class or the tours. It’s about the feelings and experiences you take away from it and carry with you for the rest of your life. This trip to Europe gave me a new sense of appreciativeness for life and new beginnings. I saw everything I needed and wanted to see, and it was wonderful. Biertrinker out. 

Hey guys Biertrinker here again. By the way my name is actually Aaron. Okay so, I’d like to take this blog post to talk about Salzburg and my final days in Vienna, which include a lovely opera, Mozart’s birth home, and a great 7 hour trip to the hospital! Let’s do this.

Well, you might be wondering about that last part. It’s very interesting, but let’s talk about the other stuff first, keep all of you waiting, more fun that way. Anyway, Salzburg was very interesting. A lot like Leipzig it was relatively small, and you could figure your way through everything as long as you walked in a straight line. I’d just like to say and state here that Salzburg has the single best Döner Kebap in Europe. That’s a complete factual opinion. Salzburg also has other things, such as Mozart’s birth place. Mozart was not a very big fan of Salzburg, as I heard many a times. I don’t really relate because my hometown is pretty cool so I guess me and the child prodigy are different in that sense. Mozart’s house was pretty interesting, although it was nothing compared to the opera we saw. 

After watching the opera, my reviews on it were a lot different than others. I knew a lot about this opera, due to the fact I did my pre-departure presentation on it, or at least I thought I knew what it was about. Throughout the opera, I could comfortably answer people’s questions about the synopsis of the performance and acts, but the style of the opera really took everyone for a trip. It was nothing I had ever seen before, 100% different than any other opera I had previously seen. The opera we were seeing had a much more modern feel to it, and attempted to play it off as it was a movie being filmed, which made it seem different than what I had previously studied. I will admit I was confused at some points, but I have never laughed so much at an opera, so I would definitely give it an A+.

Alright here it is guys, the moment you’ve been waiting for, answering the question of why I was in the hospital! So, let’s start from the beginning. Or not exactly the beginning, but in the beginning of where I start this story. We have spent a long time  in Europe going to different places, non stop and always moving. Maybe my body had enough of it and I shut down. Maybe my past medical history started affecting me. Or maybe it was just a random event. But, in Salzburg, on one of the last days, I started getting migraines, and even passing out. But the biggest incident was me passing out right after the opera. Fortunately, I had a lot of supportive friends with me. Unfortunately, none of those friends were with me when I woke up, due to the amount of “helpful” locals that took it upon themselves to surround me and just honestly stress me out more. As I explained to them that I was fine, they once again decided to be “helpful” and call an ambulance. Much to my liking, and with a little help from my friends, I managed to get out of going to the hospital, this time.

I went through the rest of Salzburg okay, not having any issues, and I traveled to Vienna, supposedly putting this behind me. I called for a doctor to visit me at the hostel, hoping she would just shine a light in my eye, testing for a possible minor concussion, as I did hit my head on the concrete. But, because I’m so lucky, she suggested I go to the hospital, just for a quick checkup. Im laughing as I write that, because the word “quick” is much different in Austria than I generally assume it is. As I got in the ambulance, I was lucky enough to have the company of my wonderful professor Edo Powell. For the next 7 hours, I went through test after test, sitting and waiting, and possibly seeing a dead person (still unconfirmed, probably will not be reading the Austrian obituary, so we can drop that). Anyway, after 7 hours of sitting in the hospital, bored beyond belief, I found out that everything was perfectly fine. Blood tests came out normal, CT scan came out normal, every other test came out normal.... surprise surprise. It was a great experience, I highly suggest going to a foreign hospital, it’s really fun not knowing what anyone is saying, or where to go, or what to do. There was no WiFi, so that made the experience even better! Honestly, the experience was much easier having Powell there. His company was silent for most of the time. But we suffered together, and observed some weird things.

My suggestion for you, is that universal healthcare is a real good thing, but also a very busy concept. But, After that long day of just sitting in a hospital, I had a nice beer, and it made the evening a lot better. On the up and up! Just remember to seize the day, you never know when you’ll be stuck in a hospital. Really made me realize the importance of being thankful for the free time I had. Peace and love. :) 

A trip in review

I would honestly say this was a hard trip to put into words. I have made friends I would never have met in the first place if it wasn't for this trip. I also learned a great deal and you know what they say, “knowledge is power.” By far one of my largest outcomes from the trip was my connection with Mozart…….and by this I mean we share the same birthday. Anyway, I’ve always looked up to Mozart as a composer and more of a fun fact that we shared the same birthday. However my view has changed after this trip. As I was able to walk through his birth room and stand where he stood something changed. I realized just how amazing he really was and I mean REALLY. After listening to many pieces this trip I can even more so add that he is my favorite composer of that era. I also find it interesting how their culture uses him as almost their identity. This is especially true for places like Vienna and Salzburg. One is of his death and the other of his birth. A great man for both cities that currently reside in Austria. One day I hope to visit them again and maybe a long way down the road…...live in one.

Love from the states

-Jeffery S.

Hello Seattle, I Am (Not) a Mountaineer ( But I did Climb lots of stairs!)

Last night was our final day in Vienna... I really can't believe that it has already been a month since we started our trip to Europe and I kind of didn't want to leave.  As I am sitting here writing this with a kitten in my lap who is being oh so helpful with my blog post by falling asleep on the mouse pad, I am thinking about how much I missed being home with my mom and the cats,  However, I am also thinking on this trip as a whole and just how much I am going to miss exploring the cities and learning about their history.There is so much beauty within the countries that we have visited and I'm not entirely sure how to put it into words what I feel about it.

This was my view of the castle from our Hostel

 I think my favorite city, hands down, would be Salzburg. I mean, the room I stayed in had the perfect view of the Castle on top of the mountain. The fact that the sky was absolutely clear and sunny made this particular part of the trip so much better as well.


 Honestly, this trip has definitely been quite the adventure! Going through six cites in three different countries within a month and being able to go on walking tours of  each place, go a significant number of concerts and museums are all experiences I would never trade for the world. Aside, not to mention many of the museums or tours we took included lots of going up hills or lots of stairs! It might not be as intense as mountain hiking, it definitely was a work out..I feel like I could conquer a Stairmaster step mill at this point! Anyway, I also learned so much about the history of our music and heard it first hand. But not only that, I've learned about the history of those specific places as well and it was very enlightening and sobering at the same time. On top of that, this trip has definitely gotten me to make and build some awesome friendships that I hope will last a while. At some point in the near or distant future, I would want to take the time to travel to these places again to do some more exploring and learning to stretch my brain a little more.

In the mean time, enjoy this picture of the kitten I got as she was falling asleep during the creation of this post.

Ending well

Coming back to Vienna for the last couple days of our trip was a little strange. In some ways it felt like we never left, and in others, like we’d been gone for months and are finally coming back home. Which was fitting, because by this point it's honestly felt like this group has been my family and my home for the past month.

For someone that is generally a little shy and hesitant to talk to people, having good conversation, whether lighthearted or in depth, is actually one of my favorite things to do, once I’ve gotten to know them a bit first, at least. This trip has definitely lead me to new friendships and has given me a greater appreciation for having friends or people around me that are interested in different things. Talking to my friends, which a lot of the time are people I have a lot of things in common with, is fantastic and it’s great to have conversations about things we both understand or are educated in. The best education I think I’ve gotten from this trip though, is from the friends I’ve made that do have different interests. Because of this I am able to learn so much more, whether it be about music, history, art, etc., and I am always happy to educate them when I can and talk about what I am passionate about. I’ve had some great learning experiences just from listening to music majors talk to me about music, what they love and have known for probably most of their lifetime. A couple of my most memorable conversations were actually with music majors, about music and social issues.

Being back in Vienna has really rounded out the trip. A large part of me wanted to stay in Salzburg, wanted the beautiful mountains and the shining sun (even though we only had it for half of the time there), and the hikes with friends and walks around old town to find the best desserts. But I’m glad we came back. It’s made me realize just how much I’ve experienced and learned in such a short amount of time, and I am truly grateful for it. Last year I spoke to an Alaska native, specifically Inupiaq, from Alaska. He told me that we learn from experience, which is something I knew but never really realized the impact of. I always have this in the back of my mind now, which is partly the reason why I decided to go on this trip, I wanted to experience and learn new things. I definitely did.

None of the pictures that I am posting are from Vienna, but I think they are definitely worthy of being posted.

 One of the many attempts at getting a group photo in the garden where we ended our walking tour in Salzburg, and where one of the scenes in The Sound of Music took place.

 View of the Austrian Alps (through the opening of a rampart) while on a small hike to look at every single ounce of gorgeous scenery in Salzburg

A field we saw down below while touring the castle, and ended up walking through afterwards

View of the castle from the field (following our walking tour).

Reflections and Writing on the Walls

Wow, what a trip! Spanning almost 4 weeks, 3 different countries, and six different cities and I can't even believe it's over already. But if there is one thing I found out during our extensive trip was that you will always be able to find Graffiti; the  art of the underground anywhere and everywhere. I have had a personal interest in Graffiti or Street Art as an Art form ever since I did my IB research paper on it my senior year of high school. So on this trip I made sure to take pictures of my favorite Graffiti and Street Art pieces in each city we visited. For each city's  culture and people were different in there own little ways. Which for me the effects of these small differences were noticeable in each of their respective Graffiti and Street Art scenes and in a way it became the way I felt I could get the best understanding for each city. And now as our trip comes to close these pieces of Graffiti serve as a kind of way to remember the culture and to an extent the very people of each cities we visited. So I felt no better way to end my part on this blog and the trip than to  share with you all may favorite pieces from each city.

Taken in Vienna, near our hostel.

Taken in Prague, this artist also had similar pieces all over the city.

Taken in Leipzig, on the way to the train station.

Taken in Wittenberg, as we entered the city.

One of my favorites from the East Side gallery in Berlin. 

Also taken in Berlin, on the "backside" of the East Side gallery.

Taken in Salzburg, on the forest path near the Monastery.

Hidden and later uncovered graffiti made by the prisoners at the Sachsenhausen Concentration camp.
One of the most beautiful pieces I have pictures of.