Discovering Budapest

            

After leaving Vienna we traveled to Budapest. Budapest was the city that I was least certain I would enjoy before the trip. However, I was proven wrong as I had a great time. Budapest was breathtakingly beautiful and I loved getting to explore this city.

Bridges over Danube

            The aspect of Budapest that I was most fascinated by was the many bridges over the Danube. Budapest is actually the combination of two different cities on either side of the Danube, Buda and Pest. The bridges connect these two different cities and make transportation and economic activity possible. During World War II, the retreating Nazis destroyed every bridge. These bridges are essential to life in Budapest and were quickly rebuilt. In Budapest I was impressed by how the locals utilized the waterfront along the Danube. Unlike the other cities we visited, the river seemed to still be essential. The use of the bridges to close the gap between the two sides of the Danube was a very interesting aspect of Budapest.

Szechenyi Chain Bridge Across Danube

            My favorite academic experience was attending a folk dance performance. We attended the performance with a Hungarian woman who met with us in the United States. She knew the songs and dances shown, which meant the dances we watched were really traditional not simply created as entertainment for tourists. Watching these performances felt like it gave me a better sense of what it meant to be Hungarian. These dances are a major part of Hungarian culture. The men’s dances were very aggressive and warlike with a lot of stomping and boot slapping. The women’s dances were usually more delicate. The dance that we watched was highly dominated by men’s dances. It was easy to see how these dances would be used at celebrations or other joyous events. I really enjoyed witnessing such an important part of Hungarian identity and culture.

            My favorite extra-curricular experience in Budapest was visiting Memento Park. This relatively isolated park is where statues from the Communist era were moved and housed. Unlike other countries who destroyed all these statues when the Communist government fell, Hungary kept the statues as reminders. As a history student I really enjoyed seeing these massive statues. It is clear that many of these statues represented the values of a Communist society such as stoicism and hard work for the state. I was most struck by the gigantic size of the statues. When they stood in the main streets of Budapest they would have been impossible to ignore. I am glad that I was able to visit this site and see statues that would have been completely destroyed every else.

Statue in Memento Park

            My food recommendation for Budapest is in the Great Market Hall. The Great Market Hall is a massive building that houses many shopping and food vendors. The entire first floor is essentially like a massive farmer’s market with almost any type of food you can imagine. Fantastic fresh foods can be found here. The second floor has small vendors for souvenirs and fine hand-stitched fabrics. On the second floor is also a food vendor that has a large selection of traditional Hungarian food. Although this is always very crowded and there are few places to sit, this is a cheap and tasty place to grab lunch. There is a wide selection of food and everything that I tried tasted fantastic. When visiting Budapest, I highly recommend a stop in the Great Market Hall both for some shopping and to grab some lunch.

Great Market Hall

            I had an amazing time in Budapest. It was truly a beautiful place that I will never forget. Next blog post I will be talking about my experiences in Krakow, Poland.

References:

Bridges of Budapest. “The eight famous bridges of Budapest.” Accessed July 15, 2014.

            http://www.bridgesofbudapest.com/.

Budapest by Locals. “Great Market Hall Budapest.” Accessed July 15, 2014.

            http://www.budapestbylocals.com/great-market-hall.html.

Hungarian Folk. “Hungarian Folk Shows.” Accessed July 15, 2014.

            http://hungarianfolk.com/.

Memento Park. “Statue Park.” Accessed July 15, 2014.

            http://www.mementopark.hu/pages/sights/.

Picture References:

1.      Emily Herkert. Budapest from Citadella. June 21, 2014. Budapest, Hungary.

2.      Emily Herkert. Bridges over the Danube. June 21, 2014. Budapest, Hungary.

3.      Emily Herkert. Szechenyi Chain Bridge. June 18, 2014. Budapest, Hungary.

4.      Emily Herkert. Folk Dance. June 17, 2014. Budapest, Hungary.

5.      Emily Herkert. Memento Park. June 19, 2014. Budapest, Hungary.

6.      Emily Herkert. Great Market Hall. June 17, 2014. Budapest, Hungary.

Ventures in Vienna

            After a day in Brno we traveled on to Vienna. Vienna was one of my favorite cities on the entire trip. Everything was clean and classy. It was expensive of course, but I did not expect anything else. I truly enjoyed everything that we saw in Vienna, and I would be willing to return in a heartbeat.

Wachau Valley

           My favorite aspect of geography that we saw in Austria was our day trip to the Wachau Valley Vineyards. We biked through the gorgeous Wachau Valley, following along the Danube to little villages and vineyards. This picturesque valley was surrounded by mountains. As part of our day trip I was allowed to climb a mountain to visit the ruins the castle where Richard the Lionheart was held prisoner. The views of the valley were breathtaking. The Wachau Valley is a UNESCO world heritage site and has been a major producer of white wines for centuries. The modern villages, situated along the Danube, have grown out of their medieval counterparts. This land has changed very little throughout time and as we biked through the countryside it was almost like we could go back in time. The entire area was beautiful and the wine was fantastic. I felt completely rejuvenated my trip to the Wachau Valley despite the 18 mile bike ride.

 

The Art of Painting: Vermeer

            My favorite academic activity in Vienna was our trip to the Kunsthistoriches Museum. This massive art museum was the largest I have ever visited. I am by no means an artist, but I took AP Art History in high school. I greatly enjoyed that class, so I do have some background knowledge about how to look at and appreciate art. When we were given time to look around I headed straight for the Painting Gallery, because I knew what type of art I wanted to look at. The museum hand a fantastic collection, and I was able to see many pieces I remember learning about in high school. Some of the highlights of my visit included viewing paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Rubens, Raphael, Claesz, Caravaggio, Titian, Van Eyk, and Brueghel. The audio guide that we had for going through the museum was great. We could listen to further explanation about a painting or painter if we were curious. I could have easily spent all day in the Picture Gallery. It was rather overwhelming, but I loved visiting the Kunsthistoriches Museum. It was a fantastic experience.

Madonna of the Meadow: Raphael

            My favorite extra-curricular activity that I experienced in Vienna was my trip to the Austrian Military Museum. I went to this museum because it boasts an excellent World War I exhibit that includes the car and clothing of Archduke Ferdinand. Unfortunately, the exhibit was being redesigned for the centennial commemoration of the start of WWI. I still enjoyed the other exhibits we were able to view. We got to see Austrian military uniforms throughout time as well as different historical guns and weapons. I do not have much background knowledge about particular weapons, but the changes throughout the decades were interesting. The World War II exhibit was open, and this section of the museum was excellent. There were many artifacts from this time period ranging from military gear to Nazi propaganda. There was a yard out back completely filled with Austrian military tanks. I really enjoyed the museum despite the initial disappoint and I would recommend that anyone visiting Vienna stops by when the World War I exhibit is open.

Military Museum

            In Vienna I would suggest that everyone stops by Café Hawelka. This café has been open and owned by the same family for over one hundred years. It was a favorite meeting place for political dissidents. It is a small, intimate café with an incredible vibe. I do not even like coffee, but while in a famous café in Vienna I ordered coffee anyway. I ordered a drink called a Melange, which was essentially a cappuccino, and it was excellent. I am still not a coffee drinker, but I could drink it at Café Hawelka. The wait staff was incredible. Our waiter reminded me of my perception of a proper butler. The owner of the restaurant, the son of the original owner, walked around the café and shook hands with all the guests. It was a great café experience that I would recommend to anyone.

Cafe Hawelka

            I had an excellent time in Vienna and someday I would love to go back. Next blog post will be about my experiences in Budapest, Hungary.

References:

Café Leopold Hawelka. “Tradition History.” Accessed July 15, 2014.

            http://www.hawelka.at/cafe/de/geschichte/

Heeresgeschichtliches Musuem. “History.” Accessed July 15, 2014.

            http://www.hgm.at/en/museum/history.html

Kunsthistoriches Museum Wien. “Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien.” Accessed July

            15, 2014. http://www.khm.at/en/.

UNESCO.org. “Wachau Cultural Landscape.” Accessed July 15, 2014.

            http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/970.

Picture References:

1.      Emily Herkert. Vienna from St. Stephens. June 11, 2014. Vienna, Austria.

2.      Emily Herkert. Wachau Valley. June 14, 2014. Krems an der Donau, Austria.

3.      Emily Herkert. The Art of Painting. June 12, 2014. Vienna, Austria.

4.      Emily Herkert. Madonna of the Meadow. June 12, 2014. Vienna, Austria.

5.      Emily Herkert. Military Museum. June 13, 2014. Vienna, Austria.

6.      Emily Herkert. Café Hawelka. June 15, 2014. Vienna Austria.

Traveling Through Brno

            

Tram in Brno

          After we left Prague we headed to Brno. It was miserably hot when we arrived and we only stayed for one full day, so I do not feel that I was able to fully experience and appreciate Brno. However, I was happy to visit and I enjoyed the sights we were able to see.

            The aspect of Brno’s geography that I found the most interesting was the effects of globalization on this Moravian city. Brno is actually considered the capital of Moravia, which is in what is now the Eastern portion of the Czech Republic. While globalization was present in every city we visited, I noticed it particularly in Brno. Brno was not as much of a tourist or “global” city as the other areas we visited. Here, we saw much more about what life is like for average Czech citizens living outside of the major urban center of Prague. This includes the massive impact of international brands and chain stores. For instance, after arriving in Brno, I went to a Tesco store to pick up some items that I needed. This Tesco, which is a British-owned chain, sold both groceries and other general merchandise. Many of the brands were familiar and I could recognize many products that I use at home. While globalization had been prevalent everywhere, I was much more struck by it in Brno because there was not a large tourist crowd demanding international brands. Globalized products has simply become a part of regular life in the Czech Republic.

            My favorite academic experience in Brno was our trip to the Roma Musuem. This Museum focused on the experiences and history of the Roma people in Europe. This group has faced many hardships and persecutions throughout time. Besides being often treated as outsiders and forced to move from place to place, these individuals also faced terrible discrimination. The Many Roma became victims of the Holocaust because they were viewed as “undesirable” by the Nazi Regime. I had very little knowledge about the history and struggles of the Roma people before visiting this excellent museum. We had a guided tour and our guide was fantastic. What struck me most was the discrimination that the Roma people still face. The vast majority of Roma are working members of society. However, many of Europe’s poorest citizens are Roma and stereotypes about the Roma continue to persist. I believe this evident discrimination is one of Europe’s major problems going forward.

Abbey where Gregor Mendel Lived

            My favorite extra-curricular activity in Brno was the trip I took to the Gregor Mendel Museum. I had learned about Gregor Mendel in my high school Biology classes, so to see the place where he lived and worked was quite interesting. Mendel is considered the father of modern day genetics. His careful recordings of his experiments with the cross-breeding of pea plants resulted in much further study about how genes are transmitted from one generation to the next. His work was incredibly instrumental in early genetics. He was a monk who was later made Abbott. The museum dedicated to him is now in the Abbey where he once resides. The museum featured many of Mendel’s belongings as well as several original documents. I had a great time visiting this museum and it was air-conditioned! It was a great place to learn about Gregor Mendel and beat the heat.

 

Gregor Mendel

            As for my food recommendation for Brno is a visit to a beer garden. We visited this beer garden for our group dinner in Brno. I am not certain of the official name of the beer garden. I believe it is called either Rosnicka or Plzensky Dvur. Both of those are beer gardens in Brno with excellent reviews. The service was very friendly and the food was excellent. I recommend the grilled barbeque ribs. There was so much food it was almost impossible to finish. I highly recommend visiting a beer garden while in Brno. It was a great place to unwind and forget about the heat.

            I did not have enough time in Brno to really get as much of a feel of the city as the larger cities where we stayed longer. However, I still greatly enjoyed every place I visited. Next entry I will be discussing my experiences in Vienna.

References:

Czech4you. “List of Beer Gardens.” Accessed July 14, 2014.

            http://czech4you.com/index.php?menuitem=150.

Mendel Museum. “The Exhibition Online: Introduction.” Accessed July 14, 2014.

            http://www.mendel-museum.com/eng/1online/.

Museum of Roma Culture. “About Us.” Accessed July 14, 2014.

            http://www.rommuz.cz/o-nas-2/.

Tesco. “Tesco Czech Republic.” Accessed July 14, 2014.

            http://www.tescoplc.com/index.asp?pageid=332.

Picture References:

1.      Emily Herkert. A Tram in Brno. June 10, 2014. Brno, Czech Republic.

2.      Emily Herkert. Muzeum Romanske Kultury. June 10, 2014. Brno, Czech Republic.

3.      Emily Herkert. Gregor Mendel’s Abbey. June 10, 2014. Brno, Czech Republic.

4.      Emily Herkert. Gregor Mendel Statue. June 10, 2014. Brno, Czech Republic.

Exploring Prague

            After departing from Leipzig we had a brief delay in Dresden before proceeding on to arrive in Prague. I had a fantastic time in the Czech Republic and it had a very different feel than Germany. I think one of the highlights of this trip was being able to visit such a wide variety of places.

            In Prague, the aspect of the city’s geography that most fascinated me was the placement and development of the Nové Butovice Panaláks. These communist era apartment buildings were constructed so a large population of people could live in a concentrated area. The apartments themselves are quite small, but all necessary services besides work are nearby or in the same apartment building. This includes grocery stores, schools, and plenty of green space outside the buildings. All residents were intended to be a short walk away from the metro. Unlike in the United States, these complexes do not have any negative associations and middle class families often reside in them. I was struck by these complexes because they are so different than Old Town Prague. Since Prague was not bombed during World War II many old buildings still stand. The Panaláks in Nové Botovice offer a strong contrast to the much older feel of the city in general. I was glad to have the opportunity to view a place where citizens of Prague live outside of the Old Town area.

Village of Lidice

            My favorite academic experience was our class trip out to the destroyed village of Lidice. Many of my fellow students had no idea of what happened at Lidice although I had heard of it before in my history classes. After the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich in Prague, the occupying Nazis wanted to make an example to suppress any thoughts of resistance to their control. Lidice was the small village that was decided upon. The men were shot and the women and children were sent to concentration camps. The Nazis then systematically destroyed each building to make it as if the village of Lidice had never existed at all. For me the most powerful statue was of the children of Lidice standing in a group. The sculptor managed to capture the unique emotion of each child. Where the village once stood is a well maintained field with the former locations of important buildings in the village marked. These locations included the church and the school house. There is a new small village located next to this site that developed after the war. Visiting Lidice was a very powerful and emotional experience.

Statue of children at Lidice Site

            My favorite extra-curricular experience was walking and shopping along the famous Charles Bridge. We went to the Charles Bridge as part of our class, but it was still early when we arrived and the street vendors had not yet begun to sell their goods. I returned much later that evening with a small group and we walked the bridge, shopped, and looked out at the beautiful view of Prague. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. The goods available for purchase were all homemade and of good quality. The prices were also reasonable. It was still crowded of course, as the Charles Bridge is a major tourist area, but as long as I paid attention to my belongings I felt secure. It was a lovely walk that was very much worth the return visit to the bridge.

On the Charles Bridge

            As far as food recommendations for Prague, I would suggest a visit to a small café near the Smetana House. This café and house is just off the Charles Bridge. It is called Klub Lavka. This was a small sit-down restaurant with a traditional Czech menu. The prices are not unreasonable and it is right along the Danube, offering excellent views. For the more adventurous food-lovers, this restaurant does serve pork knuckle, a Czech specialty. I stuck to more familiar sounding dishes but one of my companions tried the pork knuckle and quite enjoyed it. Whatever food you choose, Klub Lavka had good service, was relatively quick, and offered us blankets as the sun began to set. It was a lovely place for a meal.

            I truly enjoyed my time in Prague and there were so many other wonderful experiences I could document here. It is so hard to pick favorite sights when we truly saw so much. Next time I will be talking about my brief time in Brno.

References:

 Památník Lidice. “History of Lidice Village.” Accessed July 14, 2014.

            http://www.lidice-memorial.cz/history_en.aspx.

Klub Lávka. “Klub Lávka.” Accessed July 14, 2014.

                http://www.lavka.cz/en/.

Ryan Scott. “Cemented In: Prague’s Panalák Estates.” Accessed July 14, 2014.

            http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/czech-culture/prague-panelaks/.

Picture References:

1.      Emily Herkert. Charles Bridge from Bridge Tower. June 8, 2014. Prague, Czech

Republic.

2.      Emily Herkert. Nové Botovice. June 8, 2014. Prague, Czech Republic.

3.      Emily Herkert. The Remains of Lidice. June 7, 2014. Lidice, Czech Republic.

4.      Emily Herkert. Children’s Statue: Lidice. June 7, 2014. Lidice, Czech Republic.

5.      Emily Herkert. On the Charles Bridge. June 5, 2014. Prague, Czech Republic.

A Brief Stay in Leipzig

Leipzig

            After we left Berlin, we traveled to Leipzig. We only stayed there for one full day, but we still had an amazing time in this city. We stayed primarily in the older parts of town and followed the Music Trail. In Leipzig we heavily emphasized music as this was the home of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Holocaust Memorial, Leipzig

            I was most fascinated by the location of the Holocaust Memorial in Leipzig. The city of Leipzig had a large Jewish population, but they were sent to concentration camps and largely exterminated. The memorial to these murdered Jews in Leipzig was a large cement slab filled with empty metal chairs. These chairs are meant to act as places where the spirits of the Jews can rest. The location of this memorial is significant as it is on the site of the old synagogue which no longer exists. The site is very powerful, but there are no identifying markers indicating exactly what the significance of the location. We were only informed about the site through a group presentation. I was glad to have visited the memorial.

Völkerschlachtdenkmal

Entrance Statue at Völkerschlachtdenkmal

            My favorite academic experience was our trip out to Völkerschlachtdenkmal or the Monument to the Battle of Nations. This massive monument commemorates Napoleon’s defeat at Leipzig. This was seen as a major accomplishment by Prussia and all Germanic peoples. The monument though, was not built until 1913. It is a very strange place. The building itself feels as if it should be much more than one hundred years old. It seems to symbolize the growing sense of nationalism in Germany, as it commemorates a victory one hundred years after the event. While at this location, it feels as if the purpose of the building is one of pure intimidation.  It makes sense that Hitler frequently visited this structure when he was in Leipzig. The figures and statues around the imposing monument are stone-faced warriors. The architecture does not match the style in which it was built. In a way it reminded me of the Mayan Pyramids I viewed in Mexico except with a more war-like theme. It felt out of place and imposing, but the view from the top was fantastic and I would recommend a trip to this site for anyone visiting Leipzig.

Mendelssohn Statue, Leipzig (Not at Mendelssohn House)

            My favorite extra-curricular experience was visiting the Mendelssohn House in Leipzig. This house was the location where the famous composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy lived and composed many of his famous works. We were able to view his piano and many of his personal belongings throughout his house. The recreation of his living quarters was on the second floor while the first floor was filled with more details about Mendelssohn’s life. One room allowed visitors to virtually conduct a few of Mendelssohn’s works. We were also able to walk into the garden behind the house, which was lovely. I was not very familiar with the work of Mendelssohn before this trip, so I greatly enjoyed learning more about this famous composer.

Statue of Faust and Devil outside of Auerbach's Keller

            I have a very strong recommendation for food in Leipzig. There is a restaurant underground in the Mädler Passage called Auerbach’s Keller (Auerbach’s Cellar). This restaurant has a bit of an eerie feel as it is down in an old wine cellar. This is the restaurant where the German poet Goethe wrote the famous epic poem Faust. The food is a bit pricier, but not unreasonable if you select carefully from the menu. Traditional German cuisine is served. I went with a larger group of fellow students and everyone had a satisfactory meal. Both the food and the atmosphere is great. This restaurant is a must see for anyone staying in Leipzig.

            Next blog post I will be detailing my favorite experiences and giving food recommendations for Prague.

 

References:

Auerbach’s Keller Restaurant.  “Auerbach’s Keller Leipzig.” Accessed July 13, 2014.                 
     http://www.auerbachs-keller-leipzig.de/#panel-tab-id2.

Mendelssohn Foundation. “The Mendelssohn House in Leipzig,” Accessed July 13, 2014.     
     https://www.mendelssohn-stiftung.de/r-house.html.
Trip Advisor. “Holocaust Memorial.” Accessed July 13, 2014.

     http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187400-d3336091-Reviews
     Holocaust_Memorial-Leipzig_Saxony.html.  
Voelkerschlachtdenkmal.eu. “Battle of the Nations Monument in Leipzig.” Accessed July 13, 2014.

     http://www.voelkerschlachtdenkmal.eu/.

Picture References:

1.      Emily Herkert, Leipzig from the Battle of Nations Monument, June 3, 2014,

Leipzig, Germany.

2.      Emily Herkert, Holocaust Memorial Leipzig, June 2, 2014, Leipzig, Germany.

3.      Emily Herkert, Battle of Nations Monument, June 3, 2014, Leipzig, Germany.

4.      Emily Herkert, Soldier at Battle of Nations Monument, June 3, 2014, Leipzig,

Germany.

5.      Emily Herkert, Felix Mendelssohn Statue, June 2, 2014, Leipzig, Germany.

6.      Emily Herkert, Faust and Devil: Auerbach’s Keller, June 2, 2014, Leipzig, Germany.

Berlin Adventures

          

            I began my European adventure in Berlin, the capital city of Germany. I had so many fantastic experiences in this city that it is difficult for me to pick a specific place that I liked the best. In these blog posts about the cities we visited, I will be talking about the city’s geography, my favorite academic experience, my favorite extra-curricular experience, and recommending a place to eat for future travelers.

Walking Through Tiergarten

            An aspect of the geography of Berlin that I was fascinated with was the emphasis placed on having green space within the city. This was most prevalent when we walked through the massive Tiergarten. I am from a small town, but I have traveled to larger cities in the United States before. Usually in larger cities I miss the trees and grass of the countryside. Unlike these cities, Berlin seems to have made a commitment to keeping large green spaces within the city. While we were walking through the Tiergarten it felt like I could be visiting any forest back home in Wisconsin. This land would be prime real estate if were developed, but the people of Berlin chose to keep it as a park and the government agreed. I found it refreshing to have such a large, relaxed, natural environment in the middle of a modern city.

 Jewish Museum

            My favorite academic experience in Berlin was our visit to the Jewish Museum. I thought this museum was done very well. It is laid out in three different axis: the Axis of Exile, the Axis of the Holocaust, and the Axis of Continuity. The Axis of Exile focused on the experiences of Jewish individuals who were forced to leave their homes and resettle in new places. The Axis of the Holocaust highlighted the Jewish experience during the Holocaust. The Axis of Continuity was my favorite and by far the longest axis of the three. It detailed the history of the Jewish people throughout time. Instead of focusing solely on the tragedy of the Holocaust and more recent Jewish history, these exhibits detailed the early through modern history of the Jewish people. This included both their contributions to society as well as the many struggles they faced throughout time. I thought the entire museum was excellently done. The architecture of the museum was incredibly interesting. The windows were not designed to really function as windows in the building, but to look almost like scars on the outside of the building. It was one of the most interesting examples of modern architecture that I have ever seen. The Jewish Museum was an amazing experience.

Scars on the Building: Jewish Museum

            My favorite extra-curricular experience was my trip out to Olympia Stadium. Home of the 1936 Olympics, this historic stadium was a place that I was very interested in visiting. I took the metro out to Olympia Stadium with one of my classmates and a professor. The metro stop was conveniently located on Jesse Owens Lane. I imagine that the street’s name is a more recent change. The stadium was only a few blocks down the street. The building was rather imposing and an excellent example of Fascist architecture. There were several large Fascist statues around the stadium that represent strength. We walked to the main entrance, but were unable to take a tour because there was a concert going on in the stadium. However, we were able to see the front of the stadium as well as the Olympic Rings. As a history student I was excited to be able to visit such a historically significant place during my free time. If I ever return to Berlin I hope to be able to take a tour of the stadium.

            Finally, I will recommend a place to eat for future students and travelers. Berlin is famous for a type of sausage known as currywurst. They even have a currywurst museum. I must confess that I tried currywurst and I did not care for it. It was sort of like a bratwurst covered with a slightly spicy curry sauce. However, I would still recommend that any travelers try this Berlin specialty. Eating the food of a city is part of the cultural experience. For currywurst, I would recommend the small fast food restaurant where I got mine, near Alexanderplatz. Simply called Currywurst Express, this restaurant specialized in currywurst and French fries. It was a relatively cheap lunch and I was able to try one of the cultural foods of Berlin.

            I had an excellent time in Berlin and if I reflected on all my experiences I would have to start a separate blog. Next time I give advice and suggestions about Leipzig, Germany.

References:

Berlin.de.“Tiergarten,”  Accessed July 13, 2014.
     http://www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/tiergarten/index.en.php.
Jüdisches Museum Berlin. “Jewish Museum Berlin.” Accessed July 13, 2014.

           http://www.jmberlin.de/main/EN/homepage-EN.php.

Olympiastadion Berlin.  “Olympiastadion.” Accessed July 13, 2014.

    http://www.olympiastadion-berlin.de/en.html.

Picture References:

1.      Emily Herkert, Berlin from the Victory Column, May 31, 2014, Berlin, Germany.

2.      Emily Herkert, Walking Through Tiergarten, May 31, 2014, Berlin, Germany.

3.      Emily Herkert, Jewish Museum, May 30, 2014, Berlin, Germany.

4.      Emily Herkert, Scars on the Building, Jewish Museum, May 30, 2014, Berlin,

Germany.

5.      Emily Herkert, Olympia Stadium, May 31, 2014, Berlin Germany.

6.      Emily Herkert, Currywurst Express in Alexanderplatz, May 29, 2014, Berlin,

Germany.

Travel Advice

            Hello Everyone! I made it safely back from Central Europe and am now finishing the final portion of my class. I had an amazing time! As part of my class I have been asked to write ten blog posts about my experiences both for my own grade and as a resource for future students. This first entry is about traveling to Europe and advice for future students.

            The first tips I have for future students involve packing. I used a small suitcase not much larger than carry-on size, a large backpack that I use for school, and a cross-shoulder purse. This does not sound like a lot of space, and truly it is not. However, if you pack carefully, you can have plenty of room in this arrangement. I as far as clothes, I brought 5 shirts, a jacket, a rain coat, pajamas, 3 shorts, 2 capri pants, and a pair of jeans. This doesn’t sound like much for a full month abroad, but if you frequently wash your clothes in the sink, there is never a problem and you always have clean(ish) clothes. I suggest rolling your clothes when you pack them to save space. I used my backpack as my carry-on and the main space where I put the souvenirs I bought along the trip. I used my relatively large purse as my day bag. Space is limited, but if you plan ahead you will have no problems.

            I had quite an experience traveling to Europe, and I have a lot of advice for future travelers. First, I flew from a small regional airport to Chicago. I met up with another girl from my class to fly to Newark, New Jersey. Then we flew from Newark to Berlin Tegel Airport. We encountered no problems or setbacks until after we got on our international flight in Newark. We were on the runway when the plane’s back up battery did not work. We sat on the runway for a hour before there was finally a space open where it could be fixed back at the airport. It took another hour to get the plane fixed and most of another hour before we could take off. This would have simply been an inconvenience, but while the plane was being worked on, the power on the plane was turned off. It was 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside, making the inside of the plane around 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It was around dinner time so everyone was hungry and progressively more irritable. I was hungry and overheated just like everyone else. Finally, the plane and therefore the air conditioning turned back on and we were finally able to take off to Europe.

           

            Not long after we were in the air, dinner was served. I was hungry and my body temperature was finally returning to normal. Unfortunately, I ate too much too quickly and the addition of the warm food caused me overheat. I fainted and threw up. I do not get motion sick, so my illness was the combination of the stresses of traveling and the heat. Thankfully I had a change of clothes, so I could get cleaned up on the plane. I spent the rest of the plane ride trying to sleep. I was excited for Europe, but I had a relatively miserable plane ride.

            My advice for future European travelers (or travelers anywhere) is to always pack a change of clothes in your carry-on. Anything can happen when you travel and its best to be prepared. I also suggest either purchasing or filling up your water bottle at the airport before getting on the plane. Even if the plane has beverage service, you never know if you are going to get stuck on the tarmac for hours. It is important to stay hydrated when you travel. I also suggest always keeping a positive attitude. Traveling is hard on everyone and there are often many inconveniences. A negative attitude just makes it more unpleasant both for you and everyone around you. It is not worth getting upset about things you cannot control.

            It was easy to find our professor in Tegel Airport after we landed. It was time for our adventure in Europe to begin!

Picture References:

1.      Emily Herkert. Plane from Chicago to Newark. May 27, 2014. Chicago, Illinois.

2.      Emily Herkert. Berlin Tegel Airport. May 28, 2014. Berlin, Germany.