2010 European Odyssey
Welcome to the 2010 European Odyssey Web site, where we will follow the experiences of 12 students and their two professors as they travel through Europe in one of the most unique study abroad opportunities ever offered.
Starting February 27, 2010, this semester-long program allows students to study European history, politics and culture in the context of the developing European Union. This interdisciplinary program also challenges the students as individuals who must work within a group setting to learn, live and thrive.
About the Program
On February 27, 2010 a dozen Hofstra students will embark on the European Odyssey Program and spend 10 weeks traveling throughout western and eastern Europe while taking four Hofstra courses. This is the 20th anniversary of this unique program, which began in 1990 as a summer program in the Netherlands and eventually expanded to become Hofstra's only semester length study abroad program. The 12 students and two faculty travel in two minivans, and this mobile classroom setting enables students to experience a rich comparative array of ten diverse countries and cultures. Participants have the opportunity to interview politicians and policy makers, professors and students, as well as ordinary citizens throughout Europe.
The four courses that compose the program cover a range of topics. Ancient and Medieval Life and Thought examines the historical conditions and ways of thinking and being of early peoples with particular focus on ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. The program visits major archeological sites that illustrate the themes of the course. The Politics of the European Union provides a contemporary panorama of Europe's changing political, economic and cultural landscape and includes visits to the three major EU institutions---the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the European Commission in Brussels, and the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Human Rights and Human Values in Post WWII Europe is taught by Professor Timothy H. Smith and includes a visit to Terezin, a former Nazi concentration camp outside of Prague.
The final course, titled Know Thyself, takes a more philosophical and psychological approach to the journey and encourages students to reflect on their own evolution while reading some of the great European authors. For example, students read Sigmund Freud while visiting his former home and museum in Vienna; they read selections from Karl Marx while visiting his former home and museum in Trier, Germany, and additionally they study the existentialists Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir while in Paris where they lived and wrote. The laboratory of the Odyssey also provides an ongoing opportunity to learn about oneself and others.
Students must develop patience, empathy, compassion and creative problem solving while living together in close quarters. I often tell students that if they pay attention the 10 week program is the equivalent of 10 years of psychotherapy and a whole lot cheaper! Though so much is learned about Europe and the world during the intensive itinerary of the European Odyssey, the program is not just an external journey of discovery. It is also a life-changing excursion into self-knowledge. According to Dag Haamarskjold, a former Secretary General of the UN, "The longest journey is the journey inwards of him who has chosen his destiny." And this is a learning adventure which indeed helps participants discover their unique individual destinies.
Linda Longmire
Professor of Global Studies and
Director of the European Odyssey
Faculty
Linda Longmire
Professor and Teaching Fellow of Political Science
Linda Longmire, Ph.D. is Professor of Political Science at Hofstra University, where she teaches Women's Studies, International Politics, and Political Theory. She is the Director of New College's European Odyssey Program and the Co-Director of the Italian Odyssey Program. She is also the Producer and Host of a weekly radio show, "Visions and Choices" on WRHU, 88.7 FM, Radio Hofstra University.
Office: 103A Roosevelt Hall
E-mail | Web Page | Bio
Voice: (516) 463-5828
Fax: (516) 46(516)463-4832
Timothy Smith
Professor Emeritus of Foundations, Leadership & Policy Studies
Timothy H. Smith, Ed.D. is Professor Emeritus of the Foundations, Leadership and Policy Studies Department at the School of Education and Allied Human Services at Hofstra University, where he has taught Philosophy of Education, Cross-Cultural Education and Ethics for Educators. He also teaches Human Values and Human Rights in Modern Europe in New College's European Odyssey Program and Educational Psychology in the SOEAHS's Summer in Sorrento program.
Office: 277 Hagedorn Hall
E-mail | Bio
Voice: (516) 463-5773
Students
Elizabeth Burger
Elizabeth Burger is a 19-year-old sophomore from Albany, NY, who has a dual major in public relations and fine arts and a minor in marketing. The European Odyssey is her first time abroad, so she is very excited to visit every country. At Hofstra, she works as an Admissions Pride Guide and also in the Chemistry Department. She is an editor of Hofstra's yearbook, Nexus, and is also involved in PRSSA and Hofstra's Society of Leadership and Success.
Samantha Colvin
Samantha (Sam) Colvin is an 18-year-old sophomore from Kennett Square, PA, who is a speech communication and social rhetoric major and is considering taking on history as a second major or minor. This will be her second trip to Europe, and she is most excited about visiting Italy and Greece.
TJ Fabian
TJ Fabian is a 21-year-old junior from Norwalk, CT, who is double majoring in film/television production and graphic design. His dream job is working for some sort of film company that documents the various environments of our world, like Planet Earth. Currently, he is a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity and Hofstra's Association of Graphic Artists. When he first heard of the European Odyssey, he was instantly intrigued because he has always wanted to study abroad. Previously, he has visited London and several locations in Italy. This time around he is most excited to see Greece because of its history and beauty and Hungary because his dad's family is from there. He hopes to make a documentary during the trip since he plans on filming most of the journey. "I also hope to get close to the 11 other students going, because this should be an amazing experience we might never have again,” he added.
Adam Lopiccolo
Adam Lopiccolo is a 20-year-old sophomore from San Jose, CA, who is a dual major in video/television and business. At Hofstra, he works as an instructor at the Swim Center and was a volunteer at the 2008 Presidential Debate. He has travelled to England before and is most excited to visit Paris and the Vatican, because they are known to be among the most beautiful places in the world.
Amanda Martin
Amanda Martin is a 19-year-old freshman from Plainville, MA who is a liberal arts major. This trip will be her first time traveling to Europe, and she hopes the experience will allow her to gain a broader view and understanding of the world. She hopes to acquire a taste for different cultures, friendships, good times, and maybe even some souvenirs. Some of her extracurricular activities at Hofstra include belly dancing, Women of Action, Students for a Greener Hofstra and the Student Government Association.
Denise McGuigan
Denise McGuigan is a 20-year-old junior from Huntington, NY, who is a print journalism major and psychology minor. After attending Boston University her freshman year, she transferred to Hofstra and has never looked back. She is very excited about attending this trip because she absolutely loves Europe and plans to live there one day. This is her fourth time traveling to Europe, having previously been to Paris, London, and several cities in Spain. She is most excited about going to Italy, Greece, and Prague.
Luke Moseley
Luke Moseley is a 20-year-old junior from Shelton, CT, double majoring in television production and political science. He has been able to experience a lot of great opportunities at Hofstra, such as volunteering at the 2008 Presidential Debate, and he can't wait to experience this once-in-a-lifetime trip through Europe. He loves to travel, and usually finds himself planning his next trip while on the return flight from last one. He has been lucky to see most of the United States, but this will be his first time overseas. During the 10-week journey, he hopes to learn more about a different part of the world and gain a different perspective on life from the people he meets in each of the countries. After graduation, he hopes find a job that allows him to create memorable experiences for people through the use of television production and further engage them in the issues of our day.
Jake Nolan
Jake Nolan is looking forward to the Odyssey. He is a black belt martial artist and an avid reader.
Siera Reicher-Crandall
Siera Reicher-Crandall is a 20-year-old junior from West Babylon, NY, who is a business major. She hopes to continue on to graduate school for her masters. She has worked at a bank for almost five years, and in her free time loves spending time with her friends and family and listening to music. The European Odyssey caught her eye because it offers the chance to see many different places rather than stay in one country like most study abroad programs. She is most excited to see Greece for its beauty and history. This will be her first time leaving the country and is excited for the challenges and opportunities this trip has to offer. "All this seems surreal to me, and I am in awe at the different stops we'll be taking on our trip,” she said.
Janey Robson
Janey Robson is a 19-year-old sophomore from Salisbury, MD, who is majoring in global studies. She was drawn to the European Odyssey because the trip seemed like an amazing opportunity and experience that won't soon be forgotten – a way to see all of Europe, meet new people and learn new things. She is most excited to visit Eastern Europe since she may not have another opportunity to go to places like Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Hungary. She has previously been to France and Spain, and one day hopes to live abroad and become an English as Second Language teacher.
Hannah Skahill
Hannah Skahill is a 19-year-old freshman from Memphis, TN, who is a film/media studies major. She would like to someday be a screenplay writer or work in advertising. She enjoys participating in theater and dance any chance she gets. She has an affinity for Alfred Hitchcock films and absolutely loves traveling and learning about different cultures. After she graduated high school she took a year off to study and volunteer abroad in Israel before attending Hofstra. It is difficult for her to pick just one country that she is most excited about seeing. "I am excited to visit them all!” she says. "I really hope to become more independent while on this trip and learn more about European culture.”
Richard Woodward
Richard Woodward is a 24-year-old junior from Holtsville, NY, who is a history major and a political science minor. He is excited for the trip since this is going to be his first time traveling to Europe, but he is most excited to visit Athens, Olympia and Paris. "The whole trip is going to be wild,” he says.
Itinerary
The 2009 European Odyssey itinerary:February:
Feb 28 Departure for Paris
March:
March 1 Arrive Paris
March 1, 2 Paris, France
March 3, 4 Mont. St. Michel, France
March 5, 6 Bordeaux, France
March 7, 8 San Sebastian, Spain
March 9 Bilbao, Spain
March 10 Salamanca, Spain
March 11 Coimbra, Portugal
March 12, 13 Lisbon, Portugal
March 14, 15 Seville, Spain
March 16, 17 Mojacar, Spain
March 18, 19 Barcelona, Spain
March 20, 21 Carcasonne, France
March 22-24 Nice, France
March 25-27 Florence, Italy
March 28-30 Rome, Italy
March 31-April 3 Sorrento, Italy
April:
April 4 Ferry to Greece
April 5, 6 Nafpaktos, Greece
April 7, 8 Olympia, Greece
April 9, 10 Athens, Greece
April 11-13 Meteora, Greece
April 14 Ferry from Greece
April 15 Ferrara, Italy (Venice)
April 16, 17 Piran, Slovenia
April 18 Ljubljana, Slovenia
April 19-21 Budapest, Hungary
April 22-24 Vienna, Austria
April 25, 26 Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
April 27-29 Prague, Czech Republic
April 30-May 3 Berlin, Germany
May:
May 4 Nuremberg, Germany
May 5, 6 Luxembourg
May 6 Visit European Court of Justice
May 7 Visit European Commission
May 7 Bruges, Belgium
May 8 Paris, France
May 9 Departure for New York
Odyssey Journal
European Odyssey 2010
May 14
Reflecting on the European Odyssey, I find that I have learned a great deal from the experience, although this is no surprise having been a part of something so unique. It is interesting to see how the 12 of us have grown throughout the journey. We started as separate people, who quickly developed into a group who perhaps know each other in ways no one else ever will.
Much like the way in which the European Union is comprised of extremely different countries and cultures, we too have become a community, united regardless of our differences. Whether these differences are in background, opinion or lifestyle, this group managed to create a bond.
The Odyssey has taught me so much, but mostly it has strengthened my respect for these people and how they treat others. There have been so many instances of kindness and partnership that made this experience better than I could've imagined. The European Odyssey had its challenging moments, but each test was met with the amazing effort of a great group, and it's that sense of solidarity and community I'll always remember.
May 13
As the country at the heart of the evil that was the Holocaust, the German government strives to ensure that its people know and never forget the horror that came from the Nazi regime. Its school children are even required to visit concentration camps and museums to teach them about this history and the crimes committed during the war. Berlin is home to one of the world's most remarkable Holocaust memorials. It was dedicated in 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, in honor of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. It is absolutely beautiful and unique, designed by an American architect named Peter Eisenman. Located near the Brandenburg Gate, it is made up of thousands of slabs of stone, all of different sizes and shapes and arranged in no particular order, and blank with no markings of names. This creates a wave-like feel, intended by the architect to create a feeling of disorientation. The memorial, also known as the Monument to the Murdered Jews in Europe, is naturally incorporated into the city, and visitors can stroll through any time, day or night. It is this type of powerful reminder of the importance for our world to remember what people have been through.
May 13
While in Brussels, Belgium, we had the opportunity to visit the European Commission, one of the major lawmaking bodies of the European Union. The Commission is comprised of one appointed member from each of the EU's twenty seven member states and is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions once they are made and enforcing treaties.
During our trip we were briefed by a member of the Commission's communications department, who offered us insight into the mechanics of how the EU functions along with its history. We engaged in a meaningful question and answer session where we discussed Greece's financial crisis (and subsequent bailout by the EU), Turkey's continuing attempt to enter the Union and the structure by which the European Union is funded by its member states. It's this type of experiential learning that allows you to understand what you learn in a textbook at a much deeper level!
May 13
On our last night in Berlin, we were lucky to visit the historical Reichstag building in heart of the city for one last memory of our time in Germany. As we stood in line eagerly awaiting entry into the ominously lit building, we learned more about its function and significance in German government. Built in 1884, the Reichstag was used as the meeting place for the German parliament and went through many turbulent times during the Cold War and the Third Reich. It was not until German reunification in 1990 that the building returned to the world stage. After the German government almost entirely gutted the building in the 90s, it took 9 years to remodel and reconstruct and is now one of the most visited attractions in Berlin.
Today visitors to the Reichstag can view the meeting hall of the Bundestag, the only German lawmaking body which is directly elected by the citizens. The building also has a fantastic new open-air glass dome on its peak which offers incredible views of the city at night. The dome was created to attract visitors inside this historical building in hopes that they would engage in the German law making process. An audio-tour takes visitors around the spiral ramp way up to the top of the building, telling about important city landmarks and government buildings. The dome was designed to be energy saving addition to the building, harvesting the natural elements and using them to their advantage. For example, an opening at the tip of the dome allows rainwater to be collected and used for the cooling of the building during the summer. The building is also outfitted with a large column of mirrors that adjust to reflect natural sunlight into the Bundestag chamber during its sessions.
Our trip to the Reichstag was an important one, offering a glimpse into Germany's political process as well as a beautiful view of a city on the rebound after years of divisions.
May 12
Many beautiful and historic cities and towns make up the country, The Netherlands. One of these beautiful cities is that of Utrecht, which is the capital and most populous cities of the Dutch province, Utrecht. The population is about 300,000 people, making it the fourth largest city in the Netherlands. Utrecht's historic city-center still has many buildings from some of the Netherland's earliest origins. It has been the religious center for the Netherlands since the eighth century. Today, the Archbishop of Utrecht, who is considered the most important Dutch Roman Catholic leader, resides in Utrecht. Up until the golden age, Utrecht was the most important and main city in the Netherlands, until Amsterdam's cultural immersion. Though certainly not one of the most populous cities we have visited on the European Odyssey, Utrecht still can be considered a highlight due to its rich culture and history and the overall beauty that is the Netherlands.
May 12
There is no question as to why the Brandenburg Gate is considered not only one of Germany's most monumental sites, but all of Europe's as well. It is the former city gate to Berlin, Germany and is still one of the main symbols that represent sBerlin today. The Brandenburg Gate is the only remaining gate left in Berlin that was originally part of a series of gates all entering the city. The gate is only one block away from the historic Reichstag building and forms the entryway to Unter den Linden, which is the renowned street in Berlin that led directly to the city palace. King Frederick William II of Prussia originally commissioned the gate as a peace offering. This famous landmark consists of twelve Doric columns with a chariot atop the gate drawn by four horses and driven by Victoria, who is the Roman goddess of victory. Between the horses, the columns, and the golden shine the Brandenburg Gate creates a majestic sight for all the lucky visitors and locals alike of Berlin, Germany.
May 11
This trip has taught me many things. One of them is that no matter how many times you read about something in a textbook, or learn about it in a classroom, you will never be able to fully understand it until you experience it for yourself. Learning through experience not only allows you to gain a new perspective and acquire a more intuitive understanding, but you also learn more about yourself in the process.
This trip has taught me about how I need to live my life in order to have fewer regrets and in order to feel fulfilled. It has taught me what I can handle and what I can't handle, and about the kinds of people I want to be around. I learned about other cultures that I never would have come into contact with if it hadn't been for this trip, and I learned how to better relate to them.
Throughout our lives we learn about important historical events that we may find interesting but that we can't necessarily understand. We learn about the Holocaust, and we have an emotional reaction to it, but we can't feel the full horror of it until we set foot in a concentration camp and lay our eyes on the rooms in which people lived, worked, and died. Learning about the Holocaust and about concentration camps is not the same as walking through the actual grounds and feeling the tragedy and the death that radiate from the walls. It is not until then that we fully see for ourselves the devastation that had once taken place there. Reading and learning about the Berlin Wall is not the same as walking alongside it and hearing the stories of the people who tried to escape over it. It's not the same as staring in awe at the graffiti drawn on its remnants and feeling the important history that had once taken place there.
It is unfortunate that most people in the world will never be able to see and experience directly most of the things they have grown up learning. Not only is this unfortunate because they may never be able to fully appreciate their historical value and meaning, but also because they may never be able to have a personal reaction to these events and learn valuable things about themselves in the process. I have learned more throughout the course of this 10-week trip about myself and about the world than I ever could have in a classroom. I have learned that I need to live for myself, and now I know I must continue my travels after graduation if I want my true education to continue.
May 11
Today the Odyssey group went to the headquarters for the European Union Court of Auditors, which is located in Luxembourg. The Court of Auditors is very similar to the IRS in the United States except that instead of monitoring citizens' taxes, it is responsible for making sure that the EU money is being spent and implemented correctly. The Court of Auditors was created from the 1975 Budgetary Treaty, which was signed on October 18, 1977. During this period the Court of Auditors was not considered a formal European Union institution. Instead, it was a third party body, which was designed to audit the finances of the European Communities. The Court of Auditors was the result of two separate audit groups, one that dealt with the finances of the European Economic Community (EEC) and Euratom, and one that dealt with the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). It was not until the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 that the Court of Auditors was given a defined legal status and became the fifth EU institution. One of the most important functions that the Court of Auditors fulfills is the production of a budgetary report to the EU Parliament. In this report the Court discloses the spending costs to the Parliament. The spending report then acts as a decision-making sheet for the Parliament to decide whether or not to approve the EU Commission's budget proposal. Overall, our visit to the Court of Auditors was very interesting, and it gave us a more detailed look into the financial sector of the European Union.
May 8
The house of Karl Marx in Trier, Germany, is the home in which the famous author of the Communist Manifesto was born. It is now a museum about Marx and his family history, as well as an extensive documentation of the influence he has had on the history of the 20th century. The views of Marx have influenced Communist governments in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Marx believed that as the economic state of feudalism was replaced by capitalism, capitalism would be replaced by communism. One interesting thing about his family life is that every member of his family chose a personal motto which they lived by. His wife, Jenny Marx, had the motto "Never despair,” a rather optimistic view considering four of her seven children died at early ages, and most of her life was one of great hardship.Marx died in 1883 in London England, where he wrote his analysis of capitalism, Das Capital, in the Reading Room of the British Museum.
May 8
While staying in Utrecht, the Netherlands, a group of us took the train into Amsterdam for the afternoon. When we arrived in Amsterdam, the crowds of tourists surrounded us. There were so many tourists, and Amsterdam had a souvenir shop every step you took. But the beauty of the city and the canals shined through. Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. Amsterdam is also referred to as the "Venice of the North" due to its beautiful waterways that run straight through the city. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, is the oldest stock exchange in the world and is located in the city center. The Anne Frank House is also located in Amsterdam. It is dedicated to the Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank, who hid from Nazi persecution with her family and four other people in hidden rooms at the rear of the building. Not only can you see the rooms, there is also a exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank.
We were also in Amsterdam for Memorial Day on May 4th. At 8 p.m., the whole country takes two minutes of silence in memory of all the lost people of The Netherlands. We were on our train back to Utrecht when the moment of silence happened. The train stopped, and the conductor made an announcement. After two minutes, we continued on our journey.
May 5
The Greek economic crisis has been a longtime coming, and there were predictions about the growing instability even last year when we interviewed Greek journalists and academicians [during the 2009 European Odyssey program]. This year in Greece we were told in all the places we visited that extensive social protest would occur if the Greek government was forced to pass the austerity package proposed by the IMF, the European Central Bank, and other funders. Unfortunately this week we've seen this prediction become reality.
When we were Athens about three weeks ago, for example, we met with a linguist and his wife, who is a civil servant in the Greek Housing office. She described to us the austerity measures that were being proposed, particularly for civil servants, and these measures sounded Draconian. She conveyed her frustration with the Greek government for its corruption, and she echoed the often-heard concern that nothing would really change with the bailout. She felt that – as was too often the case – the poor and middle class would pay for the incompetence of the rich and the political class, which protects them. She also felt that it was easy to target civil servants because they are visible and publically accountable. Now it looks like her fears have been realized as we see the news that social protest against the bailout package is escalating.
With the death of three people in the bank that was recently firebombed, the conflict has taken on new proportions. Some analysts are predicting things will quiet down as the economic conditions that are being imposed are accepted of necessity. Others feel that this is only the beginning of the economic instability and social unrest that will potentially spread to other countries.
May 5
Checkpoint Charlie was the most famous crossing point of the Berlin Wall located at the junction ofFriedrichstraße with Zimmerstraße and Mauerstraße. This wall stood as a prominent symbol during the Cold War showing the separation between East and West Berlin. It was given the name "Checkpoint C” by Western Allies as all the checkpoints were named in alphabetic succession. Soviet and American tanks faced off at this checkpoint during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. On the corner of this checkpoint is Café Adler, which is frequently featured in spy books and movies due to its location. This café is a great place to grab a coffee while being able to see into East Berlin. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie became a popular tourist attraction as it still stands as a reminder to Germans of their once separated city and country.
May 5
The Bebelplatz is a public square in Berlin, the capital of Germany. The square is on the south side of Unter den Linden, a major street in the center of the city. The square was built between 1741 and 1743 under Frederick II of Prussia. The Bebelplatz is best known as the site of the book burning ceremony held on May 10, 1933 by members of the S.A. and Nazi youth groups, on the instigation of the Propaganda Minister, Joseph Goebbels. The Nazis burned around 20,000 books, including works by Thomas Mann, Heinrich Heine, Karl Marx and many other authors. The buildings surrounding the square were largely destroyed during World War II but were later restored. Today a glass plate set into the ground of the Bebelplatz, giving a view of empty bookcases, commemorates the book burning. Furthermore, a line of the poet Heinrich Heine is engraved, stating "Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen" (in English: "Where they burn books, they ultimately burn people"). Students at Humboldt University hold a book sale in the square every year to mark the anniversary.
May 5
The Sony Center is definitely one of Berlin's more "American” attractions. This grand luxury mall was the product of a redevelopment effort after the Berlin Wall separating East and West Germany fell. The Sony Center was built in the middle of "No Man's Land”, located between the two sides of the Berlin Wall. It was designed by Helmut Jahun, and the construction of this giant mall was completed in 2000. It's no ordinary mall; not only does it have an assortment of shops and restaurants, but it also has hotel rooms, luxurious suites, condominiums, offices, art and film museums, cinemas, and even a small version of LEGO land. All of this modern splendor makes the SONY Center a must see attraction for when you come to Berlin.
May 5
The Pergamon Museum which is located on Museum Island in the heart of Berlin is home to some of the world's most famous artifacts of antiquity; it was built over a period of 20 years from 1910 to 1930 by Alfred Messel and Ludwig Hoffman. The museum contains the world famous Ishtar Gate which was one of the Seven Wonders of the World until it was replaced by the Lighthouse at Alexandria. The gate is the 8th entrance to the city of Babylon and is dedicated to the Goddess Ishtar in ancient Babylon; it was constructed in the year 575 BC by King Nebucenezzer II. Also on display is the Pergamon Altar which was taken from the ancient city bearing the same name, but which is now present day Bergama in western Turkey. The Altar is an artistic sight to see; it was built by King Eumenes II on one of the terraces to the Acropolis in the ancient city, and within it there are illustrations of the legendary founder of the city Telephos who was also the son of Hercules. These two monuments alone makes the Pergamon a must see when visiting Berlin, not to mention its vast array of Roman, Islamic and Middle Eastern exhibits.
May 5
Throughout the trip, we had been anxiously awaiting our stay at the Circus Hostel in Berlin, and we were not disappointed. Upon arriving, we learned that due to renovation on the outside of the building, we would receive some free gifts from the hostel. These free gifts included: massages at 4 p.m. in the lobby, cake at 2 p.m., drinks at 8 p.m., Berlin history tours, and walking tours. These gifts have thus far made our stay quite enjoyable, as well as providing us with discounts at nearby restaurants.
Though these gifts, and the general accommodations provided by the hostel have been wonderful, my favorite part by far was the historical walking tour. Our tour guide, Matt, was incredibly knowledgeable about the city, walking us through the streets of both East and West Berlin, pointing out the important sites, the beautiful artwork lining the Berlin Wall, and leading us to the Mayday celebrations. I learned much more from Matt than I ever could have from a more formal tour guide or textbook, probably because his sense of humor added a fun element to the tour. Overall, the Circus Hostel has been one of my favorite hostels, mainly for its environment, accommodations, and wonderfully large breakfast.
May 5
Alexanderplatz is a large public square and transportation hub in the Mitte district of Berlin. The Fernsehturm in the center of the square is the large television tower which is one of Berlin's most famous landmarks. Because the two landmarks were located close to our Circus Hostel in Berlin, If we got lost, we could find our way back by looking for the large needle in the sky.
Alexanderplatz is full of shopping centers and daily markets, and the Alexanderplatz station is the main rail station for all Berlin trains. The Fernsehtrum was constructed between 1965 and 1969 by the Former East Germany. It is the fourth tallest freestanding structure in Europe. It was intended to demonstrate to the West Germans the technological superiority of the East, but the East Germans couldn't finish it themselves and had to call for help from the Swedes. The Fernsehtrum is also known as the "Pope's Revenge" because when the sun shines on the tower, the tiled stainless steel dome reflects a cross. This effect was neither predicted nor desired by the creators. As a joke against the atheist foundations of the Communist government, Berliners call it the "Pope's Revenge".
May 5
The longer I've been in Europe the more I've enjoyed seeing the statues and portrayals of Nike or Victoria, the goddess of victory. In addition to Athens and Olympia, I have seen it in Berlin, where she drives the carriage on top of the Brandenburg gate, and she is also poised atop a tall column just down the road from the gate in the Tiergarten. In essence the Nike on the Victory Column, aka the Siegesäule, aka the "chick on a stick”, is a memorial to celebrate Prussia's victory over France in 1870. The statue is in fact made out of melted down French cannons. The actual pillar that the statue is standing atop is comprised of four solid blocks of sandstone, one of which was added by Adolf Hitler after the Battle of France.
May 5
It was a magical setting, an old manor house in the outskirts of Utrecht, and a rather cool and misty day. We'd just returned from a visit to the dentist in town because Tim was having some tooth pain. After a quick stop in our rather rugged but comfortable enough youth hostel room, we stepped out at about 7:30 p.m. to go for a quick dinner. The woods had a quiet radiance with the crepuscular light of the end of the day, and the narrow path lined with perfectly symmetrical Dutch trees had a green glow that is the unique combination of new spring greenery and the haze of a drizzle just past. We walked down the path where we saw a handful of people gathered, and just as we approached the most haunting choral music began. We had suddenly entered a very sacred space because at the intersection of two paths a quiet procession had begun. The music was made all the more solemn by the woods, and as people slowing processed through the 16th century arch of the forest entrance and made their way past the singers, it dawned on us what was happening. This was May 4, the Dutch Memorial Day, and soon the entire country would stop for two minutes of silence to honor those who had died here.
Earlier in the day we had driven past a field full of cows, goats and bunkers, and now it all made sense because this was the site of an important battle of WWII; and these woods were full of feelings—sadness, loss, fear, but also gratitude, honor, respect and reverence. Silently walking to the nearby fort further into the forest were old veterans, young families, those who lived nearby and those who'd come from a long way. They carried spring flowers—tulips, lilacs, and forsythia---rather than flags. We listened and watched and then spontaneously joined the rear of the procession as it wound its way through the trees. A little later we stopped in at a small restaurant in the woods for dinner, and again we were moved when the bustling place went quiet as the entire country observed two minutes of silence at 8 p.m. in commemoration of the lives that were sacrificed. In case we didn't understand what was going on, the waitress took time to explain to us what was going to happen. Sitting there in the twilight in these beautiful woods with such a cross-section of Dutch people in this intimate and yet public moment, reminded us again of how important it is to stop and reflect and appreciate how and why we are all here. When we told the young waitress how moved we were by the event, she said with a modest smile, "Well, after all, it was you who saved us.” Because we have in the past experienced so much anger and distress with American foreign policy since WWII, it was a joy for us to feel this wave of gratitude.
May 5
The Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic, is a very popular tourist spot in Europe, and during the summer has a visitor/resident ratio of 7 to 1. In the square are Prague's famous astronomical clock, the Tyn Cathedral and St. Christopher's church. The oldest part of the clock dates back to 1410, and it contains three main parts--the astronomical dial which represents the sun and the moon, the walk of the Apostles, which is an hourly rotation of the twelve Apostles, and a calendar dial which represents the months. Another feature of the clock is the zodiacal ring, which turns counter clockwise and represents the astrological signs. In addition to these features, there are four animated figures to illustrate what was despised when it was built: one animated figure is a man looking in a mirror which represents vanity; the second is a man who is admiring money representing Greed; the third is a skeleton which represents death; and the fourth is a turbaned man which represents the Ottoman Turks. Each of these figures rotates on an hourly basis. The Czech uprising on May 7, 1945, almost completely destroyed the building when the Germans hit the Old Town Square with incendiary bombs in an attempt to quell the revolt.
May 4
If you're feeling nostalgic for the revolutions of the 1960s, look no further than Vienna, Austria. Several days ago on the eve of the presidential election, a group of local university students started a mass protest against the fascist presidential candidate by the name of Barbara Rosenkranz of the FPO political party (or the Freedom Party of Austria), who would be giving a speech nearby. But this was no ordinary anti-fascist student group; this was a left wing pro-socialist group that led the charge. They marched on the Rosenkranz rally marching through the streets of Vienna, shouting slogans in English like, "if you hate the _______ Nazis clap your hands”, and German slogans which I couldn't understand.
The crowds that flooded the streets parted in front of the truck armed with loudspeakers, with the red flag waving crowd following closely behind it. Finally, they came to a barricade preventing the protestors from getting too close to the FPO speakers with police in full riot gear reinforcing the barricade. The protestors set up camp, and with the aid of megaphones and air horns, began harassing the FPO rally. The few poor souls from the rally that went the wrong way and got stuck on the wrong side of the fence were harassed mercilessly until police intervention. Barbara Rosenkranz came on and made her speech, but the protestors obviously made their impact since half the heads in the crowd continuously looked over at the protestors; to be sure, the anti-Nazi slogans were impossible to ignore. They may have heard her words, but not without those of the protestors as well in the back of their minds. And, sure enough, days later after the election, though she attained a modest vote for the FPO, Rosencranz did not win the presidency. If this result was not due entirely to the protest, I'm sure it had an impact.
May 4
In Prague our tour guide talked to us about Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle in the world, and later I went there to check it off my "bucket list”. The big cathedral that stands out on the hilltop is basically the center of the castle, and it extends all the way past the towers of Adam and Eve to the black tower. On the other side it extends to a flag post displaying the colors of the Czech Republic when the president is in his office. I got to explore the castle a little bit, but it was no easy task to reach. I had quite a workout that day, but the views were worth it. The cathedral was stunning as was the view of all of Prague to be seen perched on this mountaintop. I learned about an interesting superstition: during WWII the castle was used as a Nazi headquarters, and it was overseen by Reinhard Heydrich, who placed the Bohemian crown in the castle atop his head. Local legend says that any usurper who places this crown on their head will die in a year, and less than a year later he was assassinated.
May 2
Unlike the described backdrop of Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five, Dresden, which we recently visited, appears not only normal, but also beautiful. The city was alive and bustling. The horrors described in Slaughterhouse-Five and that were felt during the bombings are long gone, though I'm sure not forgotten. Visitors and locals alike are reminded of the painful past, for when reconstructing the city, officials left charred remnants on a few of the buildings to serve as a reminder. Dresden serves as the capital of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It has always been known as a cultural capital with a thriving artistic community, but so much of it was destroyed in the controversial Allied bombing at the end of World War II. It is estimated that 25,000-50,000 innocent civilians died here, and according to much historical speculation, unnecessarily so, because the war was basically over. Eisenhower himself objected to the firebombing, but the Allies, particularly the British, were angry, and understandably so. I guess that's war. Decades of reconstruction and the reunification of Germany have fortunately led once again to Dresden re-emerging as a political, economic, and cultural center for Germany.
May 2
During our trip to Vienna, a few of us were lucky enough to see the Andy Warhol exhibit at the Albertine Museum. Though the exhibition stated it was about Cars, I found it to have much more meaning than that. There was a room playing a video on three screens: the first was of a woman dressed fancily filing her nails next to a nice car in a mechanic's shop; the second was of a woman sitting on a platform next to a car shaking, then drinking, champagne as the platform rose up and down; the third and final screen depicted two cars of the exact same model, though one had lights on while the other did not, on two separate platforms rising up and down. Though to some it probably seems repetitious and boring, I found it to be incredibly intriguing.
The entire work was a reflection upon society. The first screen of the woman standing next to the car depicted the way society looks at material items – as trophies. Even women are viewed as trophies as long as they simply stand there looking pretty. The second screen showing the woman sipping champagne by the car portrays what society holds on a pedestal – material possessions (cars), beautiful women, alcohol, and sex. For a brief period of time during the film, the platform rose and stayed as high as it could. Finally, the third screen represented the weighing of good and evil within society. The ‘light' and ‘dark' cars alternated levels constantly; it appeared as though good and evil were being weighed upon a scale. Neither one ended up higher than the other.
While his work is clearly open to more than just my interpretation, I really loved seeing Warhol's work and learning that he was not just influential in America, but all over the world as well.
May 2
During our time in Vienna, I was lucky to visit one of several fabulous museums the city has to offer. I was initially intrigued by the Museum of Modern Art due to the peculiar sculpture of a torso in the courtyard in front of the entrance. As we entered the museum, I was excited to learn that the main exhibit for the spring was based on the art and culture created by the rise of television media in the 1960s-1980s. "Changing Channels” was an artistic exhibit that spanned several floors of the building and took a critical look at the economic, technological and social impacts that the medium of television has had on society both in the states and in Europe. A special section on the bottom floor allowed visitors to view works by Andy Warhol including viewing stations for all 42 episodes of his television show on MTV in the early 1980s.
My favorite piece in the exhibit was a replica of an installation done in 1996 titled Video Projection Outside the Home. The artist placed a large-scale television screen on the lawn of a typical suburban home as a way of blurring the boundary between the public and private spheres of what we watch on television in our homes. Here, a passerby's can see what the family is watching in private, and in doing so can use it as an indicator of their social status, preferences and interests. I've driven past glowing television sets in living rooms all my life, but I've have never given it a second thought; this exhibit made me think about this phenomenon twice.
As a television production major at Hofstra, I found Changing Channels to be a unique and challenging look at what video and media has become in culture today.
May 1
In Vienna, Austria, Berggasse 92 is the address where you can find the famous house of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. Inside this spacious apartment one can find many of Freud's original furniture as well as many items that were given to the famous psychiatrist by his patients. Freud and his family lived and worked in this second floor flat until they were forced to flee Austria to avoid Nazi persecution. Some of Freud's famous personal possessions can be seen in this exhibit. Some of the more notable ones are: his mirror, cane and hat. Many of these objects can be seen in the old pictures of Freud that are hung around the flat. It was exciting to imagine Freud living here, treating his patients, and formulating his groundbreaking ideas. Overall this historic spot was very cool and gave you a snapshot glimpse into where this great thinker once lived and worked.
May 1
While in Prague we're staying at Hostel Tyn, situated on a narrow lane just behind its namesake – the remarkable Tyn Church. The Tyn's twin spires atop matching towers constitute one of the city of Prague's most recognizable symbols. Not only is the church beautiful, but it is also the location of the tomb of the famous astronomer, Tycho Brahe. I loved being so close to such an amazing landmark, especially at nightfall when the church's outside lights turn on and illuminate an already dazzling sight
May 1
A group of us visited the Pinkas Synagogue in Prague, Czech Republic, which is dedicated to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust from Bohemia and Moravia. Their names are inscribed on the walls inside in the synagogue. The walls include the names of 77,297 victims. The names on the walls look like wallpaper from far away, but up close you are able to read them clearly. The memorial was closed in 1968 because the building was in an increasingly poor state of repair. After remaining closed for a long time, the building was eventually reconstructed and, following the collapse of the Communist regime, a project was launched to renovate the memorial, which reopened in 1996. The text of the inscriptions was compiled from card indexes, which were drawn up shortly after the war on the basis of extant transport papers, registration lists and survivors' accounts. The names of Holocaust victims, together with their dates of birth and death, are inscribed on all the interior walls. Where the precise date of death is not known, which is generally the case, the date of deportation to the ghettos and extermination camps in the east is stated instead; this is usually the last information known about the victims. Their names are arranged according to the towns and villages where they were living prior to deportation or arrest and are presented in alphabetical order.
The permanent exhibition "Children's Drawings from Terezin 1942-1944" is housed in the upper section of the synagogue. Among the Terezin prisoners there were over 10,000 children under the age of 15 at the time of imprisonment. Of the 8,000 that were deported to the East, a mere 242 survived the wartime suffering. The Jewish Museum has over 4,000 original drawings by these children in its collection. They provide a moving testimony to the cruel fate that befell the children and for the most part are the only relics of those who did not survive. We came to the exhibit before we went to the Terezin Concentration Camp, so we were able to get an insight into the camp before visiting. Most of the drawings were of family members, homes, friends and activities that the children missed. The exhibit was very moving, and I encourage anyone who is going to Prague to visit it.
May 1
After leaving Prague, we visited a place I had been simultaneously dreading and anxiously awaiting: Theresienstadt concentration camp (often just referred to as Terezin). Located in the Czech Republic, Terezin was a fortress city built in the late 18th century that was never used for its original purpose since it took too long to complete and soon became obsolete as a fort. Afterward, it was used to hold military and political prisoners.
The camp was split into the Small Fortress, used mainly to hold prisoners of war, and the Main Fortress, which was turned into a walled ghetto by 1940. Over 30,000 people passed through the small fortress, waiting to be sent to an extermination camp, or else dying beforehand due to starvation, disease, etc.
Our tour guide showed us around this area of the concentration camp, forcing us to envision the horrors that had once taken place there. The prisoners were housed in awful living conditions, cramming hundreds of people into small spaces with the SS leaders not caring about their hygiene, medical, or dietary conditions.
As I walked through the different rooms and areas of the camp, I could literally feel the tragedy and devastation that had taken place there. So many men, women, and especially children had passed through the camp's doors, waiting to meet their demise by the awful conditions.
Something that was interesting about Terezin was that it was mainly used as a propaganda tool. In 1944, the Nazis allowed Red Cross representatives to visit the camp in order to dispel these rumors that the extermination camps existed. The Nazis wanted to convince the Red Cross representatives that the camp was a model Jewish community.
In order to do this, the Nazis temporarily altered the camp's living conditions. To make the camps appear less overcrowded, they sent many Jews to Auschwitz shortly before the Red Cross' arrival. They also set up fake shops and cafes that were actually selling the prisoner's original belongings. They erected a "shaving room” to make it seem as though there was a high level of hygiene. The incredible thing about this "shaving room” was that the sinks lining the walls didn't even have water pipes leading to their faucets. The room was completely useless and was never, and could never be, used by the prisoners.
They also set up fake soccer games between the prisoners to make it seem as though these people were happy with their conditions.
Unfortunately, the Red Cross was fooled, and reported a positive impression of the town, never straying from the designed tour set up by the Nazis. Because of their success, the Nazis also set up a propaganda film in 1944 in order to further show how great the Jews had it during the Third Reich. The interesting aspect of this film was that the director was a Jewish prisoner as well, terrified of stepping out of line for fear of his life. He and his wife were later sent to Auschwitz.
In all honesty, it was incredibly difficult to walk around the camp, envisioning the horrifying events that had once taken place there. The experience particularly affected me since I have some distant family who had been affected by the Holocaust, though I suppose we have all been affected by the devastating period, how could we not be?
Though I walked around in nothing short of a zombie-like state for the rest of the day, I think this type of tragedy needs to be displayed to the world if only to slap us in the face and remind us that we must not repeat past mistakes.
We must not continue to be ignorant to current affairs that are no different than the Holocaust: Rwanda, the Congo, etc. We must not turn a cold shoulder to people facing genocide even in the present day.
May 1
I've always believed in the power of experiential education, but never more so than at our recent visit to Terezin, a former concentration camp just outside of Prague. We'd prepared extensively for our visit by reading and discussing the works of Bruno Bettelheim and Viktor Frankl, both important psychoanalysts who were concentration camp survivors, and also the analysis of Hannah Arendt, who attempted to explain the Holocaust with her description of the "banality of evil.” Additionally, we viewed a detailed video about the history and conditions of Terezin during the Nazi period in order to better understand and imagine the enormity of the tragedy. But nothing is comparable to actually exploring with a guide the horrible drama of what was done to real human beings. We'd recently visited Holocaust memorials and museums in Budapest, Vienna, and Prague, commemorating the loss of so many lives. But here was one of the actual places where countless people – Jews, political prisoners, Gypsies, homosexuals, and others – had been taken, tortured, and killed. Most of the people at Terezin – men, women, and children – were transported to extermination camps elsewhere, though many died along the way from malnutrition and abuse. Though it was painful to expose our students to the grim reality of such human cruelty, it provided a vivid and unforgettable experience that was more powerful than any academic account could ever be. That's why all Czech school children in the area of Prague are required to visit the site as a direct and visceral reminder of what happened there. T.S. Eliot claimed that "human beings can only bear so much reality,” but, unless we learn to deal with the unbearable reality of human history, we will never be able to get beyond it.
May 1
Franz Kafka was one of the most influential novelists of the 20th century. Therefore, being in Prague, his hometown, was incredibly exciting. Some of Kafka's most well known works include The Castle and Metamorphosis. Though I have never read his work, I found another way in which to relate to him. Kafka was Jewish; however, he was not religious — he was Jewish culturally and spiritually. Further, Kafka was incredibly Zionist, as depicted in his essay Sadness in Palestine?! Unfortunately, because of his Jewish roots, much of his family was killed in the Holocaust.
Another interesting thing about Kafka was that his literary work did not draw much attention until after his death. Just before his death, Kafka wrote a note to his friend saying to burn all of his unread work; clearly his friend did not abide by these terms. He knew Kafka did not actually want that, and good thing too for our culture has blossomed due in great part to Kafka's writing. His use of ambiguity has intrigued readers for years; what exactly does the man in Metamorphosis turn into? Interpretations range between an insect and an animal unworthy of sacrifice.
Today, Kafka's memory is kept alive by the Kafka Museum in Prague.
April 30
The Charles Bridge is a famous bridge (or "most” in Czech) that crosses the Vltava River in Prague connecting two parts of the city. Construction of the bridge began in 1357 during the reign of Charles IV. The bridge is the cultural heart of Prague where locals and tourists both gather. It is a walking bridge, and during the day it is a very busy place, with painters, musicians, owners of kiosks and other traders along with a stream of tourists. Unfortunately for us, the bridge is under construction this spring, so we only got a glimpse of its vibrant cultural life.
April 30
Cesky Krumlov is a small town in the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic, best known for the exquisite architecture and art of the historic old town and the Cesky Krumlov Castle. Cesky Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle complex is erected on the rock promontory which has been sculpted by the Vltava river from the southern side and by Polečnice stream from the northern side. Construction of the town and castle began in the late 13th century at this fork in the Vltava River, which was important in the trade routes of Bohemia. It is a complex of 40 buildings and palaces, situated around five castle courts and a castle park spanning an area of seven hectares. The castle is very unique, because its fortification not only includes a moat, but live bears which guard the castle. These bears roam around the moat area and also serve as a symbol of the town. The history of bear keeping at Cesky Krumlov Castle goes back to the 16th century, and bears have been kept in the moat since 1707.
April 24
Across the water from Venice is Piran, Slovenia, which was our next stop. To be honest, I had no idea what to expect from Slovenia, but it was absolutely wonderful! It is one of the countries of former Yugoslavia, and Piran is an especially beautiful fishing village. We stayed in a hostel which was about a minute from the water. Simply walking around this beautiful town was probably one of my favorite experiences. We also climbed up to the top of the town, which has a gorgeous castle that overlooks all of Piran and the surrounding water. Though I had little knowledge of or expectations about what our Slovenian experience would be like, I am happy to say it was one of my favorite locations of the entire Odyssey.
April 24
Budapest is a city composed of two major regions – Buda and Pest – which are separated by the Danube River. The idea to unite these neighboring cities did not occur until 1839 with the construction of the Chain Bridge. The bridge was designed by English engineer T.W. Clark, and it took 10 years to complete. At first glance, the Chain Bridge looks like a suspension bridge; however, the construction is mainly a steel arch that gains its support through the strategic use of triangulation. A few years later, the Emperor Franz Joseph built The Liberty Bridge in 1894. When traveling over this bridge, there are two prominent pillars which both have the mythical Turul bird on top, which is also used in the Hungarian coat of arms. The Elizabeth Bridge is the third gorgeous bridge that crosses the Danube in Budapest. When construction of this bridge was completed in 1903, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, spanning 290 meters.
April 23
The Hungarian state opera house is one of the major landmarks in Budapest. Located on the Pest side of the river, the theater is the beacon of the street that it resides on. The Hungarian opera house is of neo-renaissance design and was constructed in 1884 by the famous architect, Miklos Ybi. While many onlookers are awed by the exterior of this beautiful building, the interior is equally stunning and is adorned with many beautiful statues and murals of ancient Greek gods and goddesses, as well as many gold inlaid carvings. Attending a performance here while staying in Hungary is a must! This grand opera house is one of the most famous in the world and should be a pilgrimage destination for opera lovers everywhere.
April 23
One of the many advantages of the European Odyssey is the opportunity to see so many foreign countries, some of which many of us would have never gotten the chance to see if it wasn't for this program. We get to meet people we never would have met, see places we never would have seen, and hear languages we might have never heard. With these new languages though comes the difficulty of communication. I think everyone of us has experienced one situation or another where we ran into a language barrier. Recently, however, all of us experienced an evening free of language barriers; in fact it was an evening free of language. We all attended a performance of the ballet Romeo and Juliet by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev at the Budapest Opera House. I cannot speak for everybody in the group, but the three acts took my breath away. One act was better than the next, and the amount of grace and beauty possessed by each dancer didn't quite seem fair. Their ability to convey such emotions with their only tool being their body was magical. Each movement they made showed such passion and feeling that the members of the audience were captured by each dancer's performance. We have seen many beautiful things in the past two months, but for me this particular experience was filled with such elegance, poise, and compassion that it will stay fresh in my mind for many years to come.
April 23
The Square of Heroes is one of Budapest's most visited landmarks, and one of four large squares in the city. It is located at the end of the grand Andrassy Avenue and is a World Heritage site. Built in 1896, the square's purpose was to pay homage to the heroes of Hungary. There are 14 people depicted in the square. In between the statues is a monument known as the millennium monument, which reads "To the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of our people and our national independence." Above the heroes are also depictions of the themes of labor and wealth, which are represented by a statue of a man with a scythe and a woman sowing seed. Surrounding the Square are numerous museums, which make it a hub of cultural activity for both the citizens of Budapest as well as tourists like us.
April 23
Though we were only there for a few hours, Venice, Italy quickly became one of my favorite places we've visited on this trip. Though I had, of course, seen movies set in Venice, I still could not picture how the city would look in person. Set in northern Italy, Venice is composed of and stretches across 117 islands in the Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea. Due to its long history of maritime power during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Venice became an important city of commerce, causing it to become an extremely wealthy city. At one time, it was known as the most prosperous city in all of Europe due to its ability to trade with the Byzantine Empire and the Muslim world.
Unfortunately, Venice lost much of its power near the end of the Renaissance period since Portugal had become the principal trading agent with the East. Also, the plague killed many Venetians by the end of the 17th century, leading to a period of extreme devastation. Even so, Venice's unique culture and beauty radiated as we took our water taxi to the Piazza San Marco, the main square within the city. The square was beautiful, with the Basilica in one corner, a dozen restaurants, the Doge's Palace, and stores selling Venetian and Murano glass. Venice is known for its skillful, ornate glass-work that is unique due to its elaborate colors and decorations.
We were fortunate to take a gondola ride through the waterways of the city (while receiving a group discount). There isn't anything better than relaxing on a gondola and floating around the waterways of Venice. Afterward, a couple of us were able to walk around the city's streets, and eventually came upon the Rialto Bridge, the oldest bridge crossing the Grand Canal. The view was exactly as I had pictured Venice to be from the movies. Something I have learned over the past few weeks is pictures can never do justice to the beauty that has constantly surrounded me throughout this trip.
April 23
The highlight of our visit to Slovenia this week would have to be our visit to the Postojna Cave, outside of the capital city Ljubljana. Postojna is the largest cave in Slovenia and has been experienced by over 30 million tourists since it opened to visitors in the late 1800s. As we boarded the train that would take us the 2 kilometers into the heart of this underground world, I was taken aback by spectacular hanging stalactites that have been suspended in place for centuries. We walked over a bridge in the first part of our guided tour that crossed the deepest part of the cave and saw the river that formed this natural wonder many years ago. As we ventured further down we saw "spaghetti hall”, a collection of fragile stalactites that are only 2 millimeters thick. The most breathtaking part of our journey was at the conclusion of the tour where we landed in the concert hall; an open air space that has been host to prestigious symphony orchestra performances. This space provided incredible acoustics for music with room for over 10,000 spectators comfortably seated in the cave. Our visit to Postojna Cave was an experience I will always remember, and I am grateful for the chance to have seen such a unique natural wonder.
April 22
Luckily we were not been personally affected by the eruption of the volcano in Iceland, but we met travelers who were and who had to change their travel plans drastically. I met a group of friends on the ferry going to Ancona, and one was a flight attendant who was affected by the plane cancellations. She had accumulated flying hours and was bringing a friend along for a vacation. They had planned to fly out of Rome the day I met them, but instead they had to change their plans and go back to Venice. They said they were worried because they didn't want their family to think that something bad had happened to them, but their hostel had no internet, few outlets to charge phones, and their phones were dead making communication difficult. I'm still amazed at the force of nature that can ground nearly every airport in Europe, including major ones like Charles de Gaulle. It just goes to show that humans may think they are above nature and can control it, but it's humbling to realize again that nothing is above nature.
April 22
St. Stephen's Basilica is an ecclesiastic basilica in Budapest, Hungary. It was located less than a block from our hostel. When you walk up to the Basilica, you instantly notice the detailed architecture. St. Stephen's was named in honor of Stephen, the first King of Hungary, whose mummified hand is housed in the reliquary. People from all over Hungary come to the basilica to pay tribute to the king. It was completed in 1905 after 54 years of construction. The architectural style is neoclassical; it has a Greek cross ground plan. Two large bell towers anchor the façade. In the southern tower is Hungary's biggest bell. Inside St. Stephen's there are large paintings adorned with gold and marble.
April 22
In Budapest we visited the grand and beautiful Budapest Central Synagogue, which is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world. Within the confines of the Synagogue is one of the most beautiful, symbolic works of art within Europe: the Tree of Life. It resides in a courtyard just behind the synagogue and is a tree with silver branches and leaves, which contain the names of the Hungarian families that were victims of the horrid Holocaust concentration camps. Though it depicted something so atrocious, it was incredibly beautiful and reminded me of the tree of life that my Jewish day school had while I was growing up. Anytime a family member died or someone received a bar or bat mitzvah, someone would receive a leaf from the tree dedicated to him or her. Seeing the exact same concept abroad made me feel a little bit more at home, and also made me connect more deeply with Judaism.
April 22
Today we took a driving tour around Budapest. My favorite stop was the Vajdahunyad Castle in City Park. The castle was built between 1896 and 1908 as a replica of a castle in Transylvania, Romania, also called Vajdahunyad. Today it is the home of an agricultural museum, though the real sight to see is the statue of Anonymus displayed in the backcourt of the palace. The statue is of the anonymous writer who called himself Anonymi Bele Regis Notarii ('the anonymous notary of King Bela). He wrote what is called the Gesta Hungarorum, a record of early Hungarian History.
April 18
I really enjoy it when something in my life can be related to something bigger in the world. Take the example of the hotel we stayed at in ancient Olympia, Greece. The name of the hotel is the Pelops, which as I learned when visiting the museum outside the ruins of Olympia, is the name of a Greek hero. He was the king of Pisa in the Peloponnesus, and the cult that worshipped him supposedly developed the myth of the origins of the Olympic Games. This is really interesting because the Pelops Hotel not only was named after him, but in several of the modern games, the hotel's owner, Theo, and his son, Alkis, carried the Olympic torch from the initial flame in Olympia to the next hand-off of the worldwide relay that proceeds the opening ceremony of the games.
April 18
Our second stop in Greece was to the historic city of Olympia, home to the first Olympiad in the 8th Century B.C. The city is site of ancient ruins including the Temple to Hera and Alter to Zeus, both from the 7th Century B.C. On the site of the ruins stands the spot where the Olympic torch lighting ceremony is held every two years in the weeks preceding the summer or winter games. As we entered the Olympic stadium, I was surprised by the fact that so few of the ancient elements were still preserved. To me, it looked like just a large grassy field; but upon further examination, I noticed the stone markers that designate the starting and ending line for athletes. The only other remaining artifacts include the entryway for athletes leading onto the field and a stone platform where the judges for the games once sat. Seeing such beauty and imagining what this place once was, inspired a bunch of us to run the 200 meters from one end of the field to the other in our own Olympic competition. As we headed back into the village to relax for the night, we had a new appreciation for the splendor and prominence this city once had and the tradition it continues to stand for today.
April 18
Today we drove up to the castle overlooking the small port city of Nafpaktos, Greece. The building of the castle was begun as far back as 400 BC, but each civilization added its own layer of fortifications and modificiations. From the castle walls we were able to see for miles across the Corinthian Gulf. Nafpaktos has belonged to many different civilizations throughout history, from the Athenians, to the Romans, and later the Venetians and Ottomans. Its most important victory was in the late 1400s when the Venetians battled for the port with the Ottoman Empire. The main battle was called the Battle of Lepanto and was one of the bloodiest battles in history. The battle was important because it stopped the spread of the Ottoman Empire further into Europe. More recently the area was devastated by the horrible forest fires of 2007, but this tragedy didn't detract at all from the magnificent view from the castle walls.
April 18
The Battle of Lepanto was one of many battles in history that saved the western world. Like Marathon and Thermopylae before it, Lepanto was an example of the age-old struggle between east and west. The epic battle, which took place at the mouth of the Gulf of Corinth was the climax of two centuries worth of constant warfare between The Ottoman Empire and the Christian states of Western Europe. A loosely united Holy League consisting of the combined naval power of Spain, France and Venice clashed with the centralized power of the Sultan Selim and his Ottoman subjects. The battle was effectively a toss-up with ironically both commanders completely lacking naval experience. Don Juan Garcia headed up the Holy League in his flagship The Real, and the famous Ali Pasha opposed him in The Sultana. The battle itself, including the fate of Christianity, hung on the struggle between these two flagships. When The Sultana was taken and Ali Pasha beheaded (much to the dismay of Don Juan) the tide began to turn in The Holy League's favor, and Don Juan was victorious due to a very fortunate westward wind. It was history's bloodiest battle in so short a time until World War I; within four hours 40,000 men were killed, and of that number 25,000 were Ottoman. The outcome of this battle undoubtedly changed the course of history. It hit both sides with a shockwave of sobriety; western Europe turned its attention towards the new world, and the Ottomans focused on their own domestic affairs, thus setting the tone for the development of Europe for the next 400 years.
April 16
Amidst the high peaks and pinnacles of Meteora, Greece sits a monastery that towers above the rest, both physically and in terms of the grandeur and importance of this holy place. This is the Grand Meteoron monastery, a site of pilgrimage for Eastern Orthodox Christians from all over the world. Home to both guns and God over the centuries, it was at times as much a fort as a church, for example during the Greek Civil War and WWII. Its position overlooking the countryside with only one route leading to it, provided the perfect defensive position for the area. There is still a single cannon on the ramparts of the monastery near the Ecclesiastical Museum. One of the more grim aspects of this beautiful monastery is the Ossuary. A small window cut into the door serves as a window into this room and its morbid occupants. Monks long dead (or rather their skulls and long bones) line one wall on several shelves while femurs, tibias, ulnas, radii, and fibulas sit piled on a single stone shelf to the left of the room entrance. The chapel itself is a beautiful example of Byzantine iconography and stone work as well as gold and silver incense holders and chandeliers. There are also ancient manuscripts in the chapel. There are two parts to the monastery's folk museum, a reflection of the nature of the monastery in that half of the items are religious and artistic in nature, and the other half are weapons and uniforms. The kitchen and refectory are not only interesting for their historical value, but the hero portraits within the refectory are impressive as well. The walls are lined with Greek heroes from civil wars, world wars and revolutions. There is even the rare inclusion of a heroine of the Greek War for Independence named Laskarina Bouboulina. The wood shop and wine cellar are interesting aspects of the monastery as well, providing a glimpse into the daily lives of these monks and how they worked and made money by woodcutting and making wine as well as butter. The overall view of the monastery is breathtaking; the beauty that only faith could inspire is mixed with the natural beauty of the landscape. The monastery is an awe-inspiring place worth seeing at least once in a lifetime.
April 16
Accrocorinth or upper Corinth, is an ancient walled city that is positioned on top of a mountain overlooking the ancient city of Corinth and the Gulf of Corinth below. Acrocorinth is one of the most impressive acropolises on Greece's mainland; built in 10th century BC the acropolis on Arcocortinth was used as southern Greece's last line of defense in case of an enemy attack. When I first walked up the steps of Accrocorinth, I learned first-hand how geography and the placement of human structures can lead to a society's success or failure. Accrocorinth is surrounded by high walls and is located on an extremely high and steep mountain. The combination of both the walls and the natural landscape makes Accrocorinth an impenetrable fortress. In addition to this, Accrocorinth is also located relatively close to a port, which during ancient times allowed Corinth to become one of the richest city states in all of Greece. What made Accrocorinth so special for us were three things: its stunning views, its well-preserved ancient ruins, and the refreshing lack of other tourists. The interesting thing is that Accrocorinth's geography and position is so high and hard to get to, that it deters most tourists from this spot. That makes this archeological site a must-see for people who don't mind a tough hike. This impressive place brought the lessons we have learned in class to life, and the dramatic physical reality of this location made its history come alive.
April 15
When we got off the ferry in Patras, Greece, the first thing we had to find was the Rio-Antirrio Bridge. Officially known as the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge, the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, is an amazing cable-stayed bridge crossing the Gulf of Corinth from Patras on the Peloppessian side to Nafpaktos, Greece . The bridge was constructed in 2004. The bridge is named after the 19th century Greek prime minister, and he suggested the idea of building a bridge between Rio and Antirrio, though it was too expensive at the time. The bridge is beautiful due to its amazing architecture, and now it's a main icon of the Nafpaktos, Greece, region. When we got off the ferry in Patras, Greece, the first thing we had to find was the Rio-Antirrio Bridge. Officially known as the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge, the Rio-Antirrio Bridge, is an amazing cable-stayed bridge crossing the Gulf of Corinth from Patras on the Peloppessian side to Nafpaktos, Greece . The bridge was constructed in 2004. The bridge is named after the 19th century Greek prime minister, and he suggested the idea of building a bridge between Rio and Antirrio, though it was too expensive at the time. The bridge is beautiful due to its amazing architecture, and now it's a main icon of the Nafpaktos, Greece, region.
April 15
Here in Athens, Greece, our main agenda consists of a visit to the Acropolis. After leaving the hotel we walk to our destination, climbing all the way to the Acropolis, which sits at the top of a hill. This is why the ancient city was so well defended. The main attraction is the Parthenon, which is astounding. This building, known throughout the world, has seen thousands of years of history and survived numerous attacks and changes of power. It took a while to fully absorbthe reality of where I was standing. We took lots of pictures, and I enjoyed speaking with other tourists and also the locals who were spending their day enjoying the history of their country. One of my favorite attractions at the Acropolis was the Erechthion, and more specifically the Caryatids. The Erechthion is built on the location where Athena and Poseidon competed for the city, a competition that gave Athens its name. The building holds the statues of the maidens, known as caryatids, which were striking, powerful and majestic women.Another amazing site was that of the Theater of Herod Atticus. Its massive structure is amazing, and concerts and events are still held there today. Perhaps the best part of the Acropolis is the breathtaking birds-eye view of the entire city of Athens. Later we went to the top of Areopagus Rock, just below the Acropolis, and watched the sunset over the city and the Parthenon. It was a great way to end our dayexploring a city with so much to offer.
April 15
Hermes of Praxiteles, which is more commonly known as Hermes and the Infant Dionysus,is a famous ancient Greek sculpture, which we saw when we visited the museum at ancient Olympia, Greece. The artist, Praxiteles, is one of the most famous sculptors of ancient times, who lived during the 4th century BC. He is renowned mostly for being the first artist to sculpt the female form in a life-size statue. Hermes of Praxiteles was discovered in 1877 as a part of the Temple of Athena on the site of ancient Olympia. Today you can find it on display at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia which we recently visited.
This statue depicts the god Hermes, who was very popular amongst the gods due to his playful attitude, innocent persona, and helpfulness. Hermes of Praxiteles marks a very important time in ancient mythology, when Hermes helped his father, Zeus, with the difficulties surrounding the birth of Dionysus.
As the story goes, Zeus fell in love with Semele, who later was the mother of Zeus' baby Dionysus. When Zeus first met Semele he was disguised in simple clothes. Semele grew fond of Zeus, however trouble was brewing between Zeus and his wife, Hera. Enraged with jealousy, Hera disguised herself as Semele's nurse to learn more about the affair. Semele grew suspicious of her relationship with Zeus and began to question his identity. She urged Zeus that the next time he came to her, he must present himself in all his glory to prove to her who he really claimed to be. However, Semele should have been careful what she wished for, because when Zeus reveled his true identity, it was more than Semele could bare. As Zeus embraced Semele in his splendor, along with his thunder and lightning, she was instantly burned to ashes by his brilliance. However, Zeus knew that Semele was pregnant, so he took Semele's unborn child and sewed him into his thigh. Once Dionysus was ready to be born, Zeus gave the child to Hermes in order to save Dionysus' from the wrath of his jealous wife, Hera. Hermes took it upon himself to bring Dionysus to Orchomenus and placed him in the care of Semele's sister Io.
This statue serves as a depiction of the journey that Hermes embarked on with the child, Dionysus, and the honor he fulfills by serving his father in time of need. Some argue that there is a dual gender role that Praxiteles portrays in the statue, which is more clearly recognized when the statue is divided in half. On the left side, Hermes is in a stern masculine stance with one arm lifted and the leg stood up straight. In contrast, the right side of the statue has Hermes with a cloth draped over his arm while embracing the infant Dionysus. In addition, the leg is bent in front of him in a manner typical of female posture.
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
The famed statue of Zeus was crafted by the Athenian sculptor Phidias and completed and placed in the temple of Zeus at Olympia, site of the ancient Olympics, around the mid-fifth century B.C. The statue depicted the god of thunder seated bare-chested at a wooden throne. Holding up the thrones' armrests were two carved sphinxes, mythical creatures with the head and chest of a woman, the body of lion and the wings of a bird. The statue of Zeus was richly decorated with gold and ivory. At 40 feet, it was so tall that its head nearly touched the top of the temple. According to legend, the sculptor Phidias asked Zeus for a sign of his approval after finishing the statue; soon after, the temple was struck by lightning. The Zeus statue graced the temple at Olympia for more than eight centuries before Christian priests persuaded the Roman emperor to close the temple in the fourth century A.D. At that time, the statue was moved to a temple in Constantinople, where it is believed to have been destroyed in a fire in the year 462.
April 15
What better place to celebrate the end of midterm week than the city that embodies triumph – Olympia, Greece. Olympia was host to the Olympia Games from 776 BC to 394 AD when emperor Theodosius I abolished them. They were held in honor of Zeus every four years (known as an Olympiad).
Standing on the grounds where these ancient games were once held was incredible, yet, surprisingly, the museum fascinated me the most. The museum held many artifacts, ancient statues, and informative exhibits that described and depicted how the once-dominating temples once looked.
Some of the most notable statues were of Hermes holding the infant Dionysus and the Nike of Paeonius. However, my favorite exhibit was about the Temple of Zeus, an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the God of Thunder that was built during the tenth and ninth centuries BCE. The museum held the reconstructed pediments that once stood on the east and west sides of the temple.
The east pediment illustrated the myth of the chariot race between Pelops and Oenomaus, though only 15 figures have been recovered. The west pediment depicted the centauromachy, the fight at the wedding of Peirithoos between the Lapiths and the centaurs after they violated Xenia. Though the pediments have not been full reconstructed, the statues were still moving since they allowed us to visualize how the temple once looked.
The Temple of Zeus also held one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the Statue of Zeus. It was sculpted by the Greek sculptor Phidias in the mid-fifth century B.C. and stood 40 feet tall. Unfortunately, this magnificent marble statue no longer exists since its demise after its transportation to Constantinople in the fourth century A.D. We know of its appearance and history due to a detailed account recorded by the traveler Pausanias in the second century AD.
After Olympia, we made our way to the city many of us had waited our whole lives to visit – Athens. Though Athens will always be an epic city due to its thriving culture and longstanding history, safety precautions were necessary due to the ensuing economic crisis affecting its citizens.
Greece is currently facing every nation's greatest fear – potential bankruptcy. The effect of this crisis was transparent as we wandered the city's streets. The people have become more and more desperate, causing increased levels of crime as well as rising levels of anxiety. One of the biggest questions facing Greeks is: will the European Union bail them out in order to lessen economic tensions and avoid bankruptcy?
Fortunately, it would seem the answer is yes. Even so, the struggle is still thriving and some say the crisis has only just begun.
Though devastation throughout the city was prominent, so was the culture. Athenians crowded the streets, as did the thriving tourist industry, as we walked through street fairs to the Acropolis.
The Acropolis was everything I had always imagined it to be. It was even better during dusk as some of us gathered on a large boulder facing the landmark in order to enjoy the sunset.
Following Athens, we arrived at what would soon become many of our favorite destinations – Meteora. This city, located near Kalambaka, is known for housing six monasteries resting atop large natural sandstone rock pillars. Pictures, let alone words, cannot begin to describe the immeasurable amounts of beauty we witnessed after hiking up to the mountaintop and viewing the heavens below.
It was amazing to me because I had never gone hiking before, let alone trekking through a place that many had compared to that of Avatar.
The following morning, we were able to visit the local radio station to meet with a local journalist who had apparently predicted the current economic crisis. Professor Longmire, a fellow student, and I were allotted some time in the studio to broadcast some of our traveling experiences, as well as our feelings regarding Meteora.
One thing was for certain: we could all agree that if we had a chance, we would surely return to this magical place once again.
April 15
One of the many claims to fame of the ancient city of Olympia is the original site of the Temple of Zeus. It was built as a dedication to the king of the gods, Zeus. The temple consisted of a 40 ft statue of Zeus made by the sculptor Phidias in the mid-fifth century B.C. The statue was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Its majestic size is just one of the many reasons that it was one of the seven wonders. Unfortunately, the tremendous statue was moved around the fourth century A.D. to Constantinople, where it was destroyed in a fire. Today, one is only able to imagine the grandeur of the temple and marvel at how such a feat of this nature was accomplished in such ancient times.
April 15
Walking through the Archaeological Museum on the grounds of ancient Olympia, Greece, I was in awe of the various sculptures and artifacts that laid the foundation for the city's unique history. As I wandered through the rooms, I discovered some of the artifacts that Professor Longmire had told us to look out for: the sirens and the sphinx. As you may remember, the sirens were depicted in Homer's epic, The Odyssey. The sirens, in Greek mythology, were dangerous bird-women who were known to be seductresses. When sailors sailed near the sirens, they became hypnotized by their songs and were shipwrecked. In order to avoid this, Odysseus and his men plugged their ears and restrained themselves in order to block out their enchanted songs. When I saw showcases of these sirens in the archaeological museum, I immediately thought of how they tie into our modern world, or else, my world. The siren is actually depicted on the Starbucks emblem, a fun fact I learned when I used to work there!
Along with the sirens were the sphinxes. Interestingly enough, the Egyptian sphinx is slightly different than the Greek sphinx. In Greek mythology, the sphinx is meant to symbolize danger, mystery, and warning. It is represented as a monster with the head of a woman, the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and a serpent headed tail. The sphinx is an interesting mythical creature. It is said to have guarded the entrance to the Greek city of Thebes where it would ask a riddle to passersby in order for them to enter the city. The supposed riddle was this: "Which creature in the morning goes on four legs, at mid-day on two, and in the evening upon three, and the more legs it has, the weaker it be?” The answer was of course "man”. The sphinx was said to have devoured anyone who could not answer the riddle.
This interesting museum certainly allowed me to gain a greater insight into Greek history as well as Greek mythology.
April 15
My entire life, I have always wanted to visit Athens, Greece, for one reason: the Parthenon. It was not only because of its beauty as a building, but also because of its history. The Parthenon is the classical embodiment of ancient Greece, referring to the gods, the beginning of democracy, and Greek art. Needless to say, I was very excited to finally see it.
Sometimes, when you wait your entire life in anticipation, the end product is not what you were expecting; it is not worth the wait. Fortunately, this was not the case with the Parthenon at all. The (supposed) symmetry of the temple was absolutely beautiful, and the simple fact of it still being here thousands upon thousands of years later was astounding. The history of it, both ancient and modern, was very interesting as well; for instance, it is the temple of Athena, who supposedly won having the city named for her against Poseidon with her gift of an olive grove. Additionally, many of the sculptures were taken from the Parthenon during the time of Ottoman Empire—the Greek government is still working to obtain those sculptures (located in the British Museum in London) today.
Overall, my trip to the Parthenon was everything I had imagined. Good history, good friends, and great pictures to remember this wonderful experience.
April 10
Never have we been more grateful for smooth travel than in this last week in Europe! As we have glided through Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Hungary in our comfortable vans, we have been surrounded by tens of thousands of distressed travelers who have been stranded as a result of the 95,000 cancelled flights caused by the dangerous ash from Iceland's volcano. These travel traumas underline the reality of how interconnected our global systems have become. A natural disaster in faraway Iceland is felt throughout the European continent, and its aftershocks are experienced not only geologically but in our all-too-fallible human systems as well.
In the face of this type of melt-down, it's clear that we can no longer take these complex systems for granted. We've heard numerous stories about people who've had to cope with uncertainty and discomfort as a result of the crisis. But we've also heard of people's solidarity, empathy and support for one another, in addition to examples of human ingenuity and adaptability in difficult circumstances. Coincidentally enough, in this section of our coursework, we've been reading the works of Bruno Bettelheim, Hannah Arendt, and Viktor Frankl and their moving descriptions of the horrors of life in concentration camps during WWII. Though the challenges of stranded travelers are not comparable to the suffering people experienced in the concentration camps, there is something to be learned about dealing with extreme situations and the importance of maintaining our humanity in the midst of chaos and crisis.
April 8
One of our stops in Rome was a visit to the remarkable Trevi Fountain. As many know, it is believed that if you throw one coin into the fountain you will return to Rome; if you throw two, you'll fall in love. After seeing the Pantheon we walked to find the fountain. As we turned the corner to our destination, the entire area seemed to open up with the fountain as its focal point. The Trevi is a massive and beautiful structure that commands your attention with its marvelous statues and the bustling of not only the flowing water, but the many people amassed around it. The area is surrounded by shops and restaurants that add to its appeal. Before we left, we all took pictures and enjoyed the beauty of the fountain, then made sure to each throw our two coins in.
April 8
On our second day in Rome we were lucky to visit Vatican City, the spiritual home for one billion Catholics worldwide. The city is walled off from the rest of Rome functioning as its own independent territory with a separate postal system and military guard. We roamed the halls of the Vatican Museum leading up to the famous Sistine Chapel, home to the ceiling the Pope commissioned Michelangelo to paint in the 16th century. As we entered Saint Peter's Square, I was in awe of the beauty of such a space.
We later learned that the arrangement of the 284 columns was designed to symbolize the arms of the church reaching out and welcoming all, believers and non believers alike. As we entered the St. Peters Basilica, I was taken aback by the majesty and expansiveness of the building. Considered to be the largest Christian church in the world, it took over 100 years to construct.
But perhaps the most memorable experience I had in Vatican City was when I joined a few other students in waking up early on Sunday morning for mass with Pope Benedict in St. Peters Square. We followed the sea of humanity through the streets into the square where we were lucky to find seats for the Palm Sunday celebration. Hearing all the different languages of the world spoken by the people in attendance was truly amazing and made it an experience I will never forget.
April 8
Paestum is the historical name the Romans gave to a major Greco-Roman city in the Campania region of Italy. It was first settled by Greeks migrating from Sybaris around the end of the 7th century BC; they originally called this land Poseidonia in honor of the god Poseidon. The city was further settled by Romans during the Roman Empire, but went into decline between the fourth and seventh centuries. It was abandoned during the Middle Ages and was uncovered around the same time that Pompeii and Herculaneum were discovered. The desertion of the city is thought to be due to the poor drainage patterns that made the land very swampy leading to malarial conditions. But ironically it was the resultant mosquitoes that kept people away over the centuries helping to preserve the structures.
There are still three intact temples at the site of Paestum today, all built in the Doric style. The temples were constructed in honor of Athena, Hera, and Neptune. In the central part of the complex is the Roman Forum. To the northwest of the forum is the amphitheater. It follows the Roman pattern, although it is much smaller than later examples. Only half of the amphitheater is visible today; in 1930 AD, a road was built across the site, burying the northern half. Also found at the site of Paestum is a very unique tomb called the Tomb of the Diver.
This tomb is dated from the years 480-470 BC and is the only tomb found in a Greek city which has the internal sides of the case and the cover decorated with figurative scenes.
On the center slab is the scene depicting a young boy diving into a sheet of water off of a small pillar. Although it appears to be a diving board, it is rather columns he is leaping from that are placed at the border of the inhabited world to mark the limit of knowledge of man. The diver transcends reality, and his dive symbolizes the passage from life into the ocean of death and on to new forms of knowledge and existence. Because I am a diver myself, this tomb had special meaning for me.
April 8
Looking at the Coliseum today, the peaceful and ruined state of the building betrays no hint of the carnage that it once contained. Now it is a museum; 2,000 years ago, it was a bloody place of gladiator battles, mass murder, and mock sea battles where life and death were determined at the whim of the spectators, and fates being decided by thumbs up or down. Aside from being the social center of Rome, it was also the personal distraction for the emperor as well. The Coliseum was constructed by the Flavian family over a long period of time. Unlike most of the coliseums and amphitheaters of the time, this arena could not just contain hundreds but rather thousands of people. It stands today as both a monument to the best Roman aesthetic and architecture as well as the bloodthirsty nature of these ancient people.
April 8
After spending almost a week in what can only be described as paradise, more commonly known as Sorrento, we were on the road again. This time it was to Urbino, a walled-city in Italy known for being the home of Raphael, a famous Italian artist who painted the work, "School of Athens.”
Urbino was not as exciting as I'd hoped it'd be: the mood was slightly overcast since the skies were cloudy and the Internet was down. While normally we wouldn't care about the lack of Internet, wi-fi was unfortunately crucial since it is that wonderful time of year known as midterm week.
After searching the entire city for even the smallest pocket of wi-fi, we decided to prepare for exams the old-fashioned way, reading books!
Though Urbino did not offer much entertainment or technology, it was an excellent time for holding class. Our politics class mainly focused on the European Union: learning why and how the organization was developed, which countries joined the Union and when, and its core policies.
Prior to the trip, I didn't know much about the European Union, only hearing about the organization in passing conversation. After some intensive classes, as well as discussing the Union with passing Europeans, I would consider the European Union to be an overall positive institution.
The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member-states. All of the countries we are visiting on this trip are part of the European Union (a fact which will later be used in our final project). It began in 1951 with the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in order to unite Western Europe during the Cold War. The ECSC was composed of six member-states including France, the Federal Republic of Germany (since the Berlin Wall had not yet fallen), the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Italy. As the years progressed, so did the number of member-states, and after several years, the EMU (the European Monetary Union) was established, thus creating the euro.
As of today, the majority of member-states have changed to the euro as their currency and the number is constantly increasing. Additionally, more and more countries are applying for membership to the European Union, including Serbia, primarily so their economies can be aided by the other member-states.
Needless to say, I have learned a great deal about the European Union, learning that these countries have become nearly reliant on one another, utilizing empathy in order to better the other's condition.
After the European Union class, we took our Ancient and Medieval Life and Thought midterm and were on the road again, this time to Nafpaktos, Greece.
Unfortunately, in order to get to this beautiful area, we had to take a 24-hour ferry boat ride. This was disheartening to someone like me who is prone to seasickness.
However, as soon as I stepped off the boat onto hard earth, I immediately felt better. Finally, I was standing on the shores of Greece.
Nafpaktos is a town located near Patras on an incredibly scenic coast lining a bay. Ancient fortifications are visible along the coast, allowing an incredible view as we eat our meals, or when we sit on the balconies outside our hotel rooms.
Today, we visited the incredible Castle of Nafpaktos, offering us an incredible view of the entire city as well as the rustic port along its coast.
Unfortunately, afterwards, it was back to the books followed by our third midterm. As for now, I am going to rest for a bit, and study for our fourth and final midterm that will take place tomorrow morning. Afterwards, I plan on taking a deep breath, relaxing, and taking in the beautiful sights ancient Olympia has to offer.
April 8
Capri is an Italian island just a 25-minute ferry ride from off the coast of Sorrento, but it is better described as a paradise. It has become a huge tourist destination – and for good reason. While there, we went to the peak of Augustus' Garden, a fabulous garden whose beauty is honestly indescribable. We wandered the narrow streets and alleyways of the city of Capri, marveling at the villas that have been there for centuries. These include Villa Jovis built by the Emperor Tiberius who ruled from there between 27 and 37 AD. It is the largest of the 12 Tiberian villas on Capri, and it was mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus.
April 8
The European Odyssey visited the Roman Forum, which is part of the centralized area in which the Roman civilization developed. In ancient times, the forum was the economic center of the city; it was the city square where the people of Rome could gather for economic, political, and religious practices. Located almost adjacent to the Roman Coliseum, the Roman Forum contains various tributes to the gods by way of monuments and temples, including Saturn and the Temple of the Deified Caesar. Many of the Odysseans were particularly impressed with the Arch of Titus.
April 8
Imagery of all kinds comes to mind when thinking of the beautiful country of Italy. One immediately conjures up the images of the Roman Coliseum, the gondolas in Venice, or the leaning Tower of Pisa. It is not so common for the quaint hidden little town of Positano to be the first thing to come to mind. This is unfortunate for those who miss out on this hidden beauty, but a treasure for those who stumble upon this beautiful coastal village along the Amalfi Coast. It is the quintessential Italian village situated along the cliffs leading down to the coast. In the past Positano was a poor fishing village, but in recent years upon its discovery tourism has become the major industry, and there is no question as to why people are attracted to this community. As if the view alone wasn't enough, the villagers, shops, and cafes leave you absolutely begging to go back. I believe everyone who has had the opportunity to see it would agree that it is not something to be missed.
April 8
In Florence, Italy presides the vast Renaissance palace known as the Palazzo Pitti, or the Pitti Palace. It is on the south side of the Arno River and was built in 1458 by Luca Pitti, a banker in Florence. The palace was purchased by the Medici family in 1549 and became the central residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Over time, it amassed many paintings, plates, jewelry, in addition to other luxuries. The Pitti Palace was used in the 18th century as a power base for Napoleon. In 1919, the Palace was donated to the people of Italy and it became a museum boasting some of the largest art galleries within Florence. The view from the outside was enjoyable.
Just around the corner from the grand Palazzo Pitti, resides a small, seemingly unimportant apartment building. The tanned edifice blends in with the surrounding cobblestones; however, this small building housed one of the greatest poets of the 19th century: Elizabeth Barrett Browning. One of her best known works is "Sonnet Number 43” from Sonnets from the Portuguese ("How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...”). She was incredibly influential, even inspiring Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allen Poe's The Raven. Being in the presence of the home of such a great writer was very moving.
April 8
After climbing the Spanish Steps we walked a short time to get a bird's eye view of the Piazza Del Popolo. From the top of the hill we could take in the giant Obelisk in the center of the square along with the twin churches of Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. The Piazza Del Popolo literally means "People's Square”. Giuseppe Valadier designed the square, and up until 1826 the Piazza had been used for public executions. More recently it has been used for public and political rallies. In the center of the square is an Egyptian Obelisk of Ramses II that was brought to Rome in 10 BC. The size of the square along with the Obelisk in its center make the Piazza Del Popolo one of my favorite spots in Rome.
April 8
While in Rome, we walked to the famous Spanish Steps. The steps are the longest and widest staircases in Europe. The 138 steps were designed by Francesco de Sanctis. When we walked up to the Steps, they were covered almost completely with tourists. Although covered, the steps were very impressive due to its grand appearance and large obelisk in the center at the top. At the bottom of the steps lies the Piazza di Spagna which is known for its Fountain of the Old Boat. The piazza had high-end shopping stores in it such as Dior and Gucci. The whole group walked up the steps together, it was quiet a workout. At the top, there were street artists and people trying to sell you roses. The view from the top of the steps was magnificence because the sun was beginning to set and you could see most of Rome. You could see the St. Peter's Basilica off in the distance which got me excited for the next day's adventures.
April 8
The Pantheon is one of the most visited and greatest architectural achievements of ancient Rome. Originally built as a temple to all of the gods and goddesses of Rome, it was then converted when Emperor Hadrian came into power during 126 AD and turned into a Mausoleum for Rome's famous dead. One of the notable artists buried in the Pantheon is Raphael, who is famous for painting frescoes in the Vatican. Walking into the Pantheon is an awe-inspiring experience. When I first stepped foot in this ancient building I developed a new respect for hand built monuments like this. All of the walls and columns are covered with beautifully carved statues and tombs. One of the most spectacular views to be seen is the one above you. Looking up from the inside of the Pantheon was like staring into the portal of the heavens. What makes this view possible is the Pantheons large dome. The Pantheon has one of the largest unreinforced concrete domes in the world with a large skylight in the middle. The Pantheon was one of my favorite spots to the visit in Rome, because it not only gave me a better sense of the Roman architecture, but also the detail and effort that goes into making these works of art.
April 3
On the way from Rome to Sorrento we stopped at the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. Upon arrival I am immediately surprised because it is so much bigger than I had pictured in my head; it literally is an entire city and society, probably the size of my hometown. The city was destroyed in 79 AD by the eruption of nearby Mt. Vesuvius. Apparently many of the citizens of Pompeii knew the volcano would erupt, yet a majority of them stayed in the city; some can even be found frozen in time in the Fugitives Garden within the city. Pompeii is different from other ruins we have visited which are sometimes much more disintegrated and seem like piles of rocks. In Pompeii there are still nearly intact structures, and many of them! We walk down the hard-to-navigate cobble stone streets, and we marvel at the fact that these buildings are still standing. One amusing thing we see is an advertisement, which we later learned, was for a brothel, carved into the stone wall. My small group found two different amphitheatres, the second of which was huge and partially covered with grass, which in no way took away from its majesty. What a beautiful and peaceful place Pompeii is today, and what a contrast remembering what was once a place of fear and death.
March 31
After two rainy days in Nice, France (which is unfortunate since it is supposed to be incredibly beautiful, particularly during the summer months), we drove the few hours to Florence, Italy.
I have only three words to say: I love Italy.
Though our hostel was not in the most ideal location, it was a mere 20 minute walk to the heart of the lovely city of Florence. Our first full day there, we saw sights such as the Pitti Palace, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), and Dante's house.
The Duomo was an ancient church done in the Gothic style with fantastic marble covering its exterior in a variety of colors. Though at first glance it may seem overdone or mismatched, I thought this interesting design made it unique.
It was absolutely beautiful wandering around the cobblestone streets of Florence, learning about its history as we walked in and out of town squares, often home to statues of gods and goddesses shadowed by ancient cathedrals.
Even more beautiful than Florence, in my opinion, was Rome. What is amazing about Rome is how you can literally walk through a seemingly random alleyway and end up at an incredible landmark. This design made me appreciate the landmarks and ancient ruins more since you could see the juxtaposition between the modern-day and ancient times. Some of the notable sights we saw were, of course, the Colosseum, the Santa Maria Maggiore, the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain.
I think the most fabulous moment for me was pulling up to the famous Colosseum. I honestly couldn't believe I was not only able to see the Colosseum in person, but go inside it as well.
The Colosseum was a large amphitheater commissioned to be built in AD 72. Its practical design held 55,000 spectators who watched deadly gladiator battles, contests, and public spectacles, often involving wild animals.
Right after the Colosseum, we walked across to the Roman Forum, the center of political, judicial, and commercial life in Ancient Rome. An interesting fact about the Roman Forum is that as the Roman population grew, the forum was no longer large enough. As a result, Caesar built a new one in 46 BC, setting the precedent for future emperors to continue to add new forums of their own.
The next day, we visited the Trevi Fountain: standing nearly 85 feet high, it is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome. While there, each of us tossed coins over our shoulders into the fountain. Supposedly, if you throw in one coin, you will return to Rome; if you throw in two coins, you will fall in love. Of course, I threw in the latter amount. After the Trevi Fountain, we climbed the Spanish Steps – a steep set of steps built by way of French funds, but meant to link the Bourbon Spanish Embassy to the Holy See (the central government of the Catholic Church).
While Rome is amazing for its ancient sights and history, Sorrento (our next stop) could be more accurately described as a paradise.
Sorrento is a small city in southern Italy overlooking the bay of Naples. Its close proximity to Mount Vesuvius allowed us a stop in the ancient city of Pompeii, weaving throughout the devastation and destruction while still seeing the incredible beauty.
During our second day in Sorrento, we all took a 25-minute ferry ride to the island of Capri. While I thought I had previously seen beauty, I was mistaken. I have never seen anything more beautiful than the view from the top of August's Garden, a park on the peak of Capri.
The deep blue water below crashed against rocks, making for beautiful pictures as we all overlooked the entire island.
The next day, we traveled to Paestum, a major city in the province of Salerno. There, we visited three major temples dating back from 6th century BC, dedicated to the gods. There, even more so than Rome, I felt as though I traveled back in time, mainly because the temples were so well preserved even though they were built so many centuries ago.
Though I will be sad to leave Sorrento tomorrow, I have learned throughout this trip that the places to come are sometimes even more exciting than the places we've left. And so, Urbino, here we come!
March 22
Upon entering the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, I was not expecting much: a few paintings here and there, the occasional Oriental rug, and conference rooms upon conference rooms. However, to my surprise, this cluster of buildings turned out to be so much more than just a series of meeting rooms.
The UN in Geneva is focused upon human rights issues, working towards a brighter future where refugees, victims of sex trafficking, and victims of enforced disappearances have a haven to turn toward during their time of need. This theme was reflected in nearly every aspect of each building, whether through expositions (such as one depicting the struggle in Congo) or through other works of art lining the walls.
Something else I found interesting was how pieces of art, architecture, and other structures in each room were donated by different countries. For example, the stonework in the floor may have been donated by Italy, while the walls of art may have been donated by Spain, etc.
Most of this artwork emphasized the overall theme of peace to which the UN is dedicated creating a sense of community visitors cannot deny. This sense of community, as well as the empathy radiating from the UN's walls, made me feel compelled to work for this institution by the end of only one brief tour.
March 22
After a six hour car ride through the French countryside, we arrived in Geneva Switzerland and were greeted by former Odyssean Rachel Velasco. Rachel, a 2004 graduate of Hofstra University, is currently pursuing her doctorate in Human Rights Advocacy and helped orient us to the city and its culture. After a long day of traveling, we scoured for some food and settled in at our hostel for the night.
Our plans for Friday called for a relatively early start to the day as we packed in a power breakfast and headed to the tram for short ride to the United Nations Geneva Headquarters. Our tour took us between two buildings which created an interesting juxtaposition between 20th century architecture of old and new. The original building which played home to the League of Nations, was created in the elegant art deco style of the 1930s while the newer building was a modern space-age style from the 1970s.
After our tour, we met up again with Rachel and took advantage of a beautiful afternoon by eating our lunch, picnic style, in the local park. Afterwards we were off to a special meeting with Oscar Solera, an international lawyer and a Human Rights Officer at the UN High Commission for Human Rights. We were able to spend about an hour hearing from Mr. Solera about the work the United Nations does to monitor and report human rights abuses around the world. Through its special task forces, the department zeros in on areas of special human rights concerns including contemporary forms of slavery, labor abuses by large corporations and persecution of indigenous minorities. In our question and answer session, we delved more in depth into the moral choices a UN human rights monitor must make when faced with witnessing such atrocities. The human impulse to help stop injustice must be balanced with the role of the UN to diplomatically document and record what is going on, in hopes of creating widespread change and reform. Mr. Solera gave us an interesting perspective on the amount of patience needed in the slow and sometimes painstaking fight to bring human rights to oppressed people.
March 22
Though, there are many things to focus on when visiting the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland perhaps one of the most interesting is "room XX,” which is a controversial piece of artwork found on the ceiling of the new human rights chamber. The art created by Miquel Barcelo spans the domed ceiling and consists of what appear to be stalactites. These vibrant stalactites seem to drip from the ceiling. The execution of this project, revealed in November 2008, was no easy task. To begin with the existing ceiling had to be completely reconstructed in order to support the weight of the new structure. A special plaster substance was then used to create the unique work of art. Most was done by hand, but non-traditional tools such as paintball guns were also used. On top of the plaster a whopping 35 tons of paint was then applied. The project was complete after 13 months of tedious work and expands the entire 4,600 square feet that make up the ceiling of the human rights chamber. Between the process, history, and controversy this piece of art falls nothing short of a one -of-a-kind masterpiece.
March 22
During our stay in Geneva, Switzerland, we were given the opportunity to receive a guided tour of the United Nations Office for Human Rights. My favorite part of the tour was the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room that was decorated by the famous artist, Miquel Barcelo. What is interesting about this room is how ordinary it looks at first glance. However, as soon as one takes a closer look, he/she will see that the ceiling is filled with multicolored stalactites that make the room appear underwater.
What I found most interesting about this piece, besides its obvious beauty, was the controversy surrounding its installation in 2007. The room was a gift from the Spanish Government, costing 25.4 million USD. This astronomical amount of money sparked controversy among Spanish citizens since it was sent at the beginning of a recession. Some Spanish citizens not only questioned this decision, but also believed the money should have been allocated elsewhere such as towards alleviating poverty or toward health care funds in poorer nations. To this day whenever someone from Spain visits the UN Office in Geneva, they specifically ask to see the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room in order to see where their money went.
March 21
Travelling through France and Spain these last two weeks on the European Odyssey, I have begun to notice things about the similarities and differences between the United States and the European Union. Through readings, observations, and interviews I see some patterns emerging as I compare the United States and the Europe Union.
Though the United States and the European Union share many objectives, there is much to be said about their differences. Most evident and observable are perhaps the cultural ones. Of course diverse countries in varied locations and circumstances will have differing cultures, but it is a bit deeper than this. When it comes down to it, the United States is merely a child when compared to Europe. Though it is the most powerful country in the world, it has only existed for just over 300 years, whereas European countries have been evolving for thousands! This fact is quite obvious when observing lifestyle differences between the European Union and the United States. Europeans know the importance of recognizing issues such as contraception, health care, abortion, and many others. However, in America these things are far more controversial, and perhaps this is slowing progress in the U.S. This could also perhaps be attributed to the observation by some scholars that Americans are far more religious than Europeans. Because U.S. citizens' values are rooted more deeply in religion, laws in the U.S. are more highly influenced by religious views. Perhaps experience, as demonstrated by European countries, is needed to make clear decisions on so-called "hot button” issues, or perhaps this is just how the United States is and always will be.
Another very interesting difference between the U.S. and the E.U. can be seen in the work lives of their citizens. The United States is known for its innovation, production, and extreme hard work. A seemingly endless work week is becoming normal for people in the U.S. However, in many European countries the importance of relaxing and having your own time is valued as a priority. This is not to say that Europeans don't work as hard; however, they do know the importance of and require more vacation time, shorter work weeks, and even longer lunch breaks. It can either be argued that the United States is number one because we work so tirelessly, or that Americans are overworked and Europeans enjoy a better quality of life.
Another significant and often noted difference between Americans and Europeans is seen in their respective dispositions towards war. Though it is important to note that no country prefers war, it seems as though the United States is prone to act more quickly with military action than the European Union might. Europeans are more inclined to stress the power of non-violent negotiation and persuasion.
March 20
After several days of no contact with the outside world, we finally have Internet again! It seems as though this trip is flying by, so it's nice to finally be able to lie in a comfortable bed, use a computer, and take a deep breath.
These past few days have been hectic. After three days in Madrid we arrived in Tarragona, Spain – a city located by the Mediterranean Sea. While the drive to the city did not seem promising, as soon as we got into the heart of the town, the beauty was nearly overwhelming due to its close proximity to the Mediterranean. Also, its history as a Roman colony (formerly known as Tarraco) added to its splendor, since Roman ruins were close to the shore.
While we all would have loved to stay in Tarragona for more than two nights (since we arrived late in the afternoon the first day), we were just as anxious to get to Barcelona. This would be my third time traveling to Barcelona, so I was excited to feel familiar with a city though I may still be unfamiliar with the language.
Barcelona was just as amazing the third time around as it was the first. With its markets of fresh fruit, candy and other items, street art, and of course, fabulous clubs, it's difficult to not fall in love with Barcelona. I was even fortunate to see some new sights I missed on my first two visits, like Parc Guell (a beautiful park with an amazing view from its peak and street vendors selling jewelry and other goods) and Tibidabo (a mountain overlooking Barcelona with an amusement park and a Catholic church at the top).
Though it was disappointing to leave Barcelona, fortunately none of us feel disappointment for long since we are always on to the next beautiful town, city, or country. After Barcelona, we traveled back to France to a city named Carcassonne located in the former province of Languedoc. Though Carcassonne did not offer much to the amusement of college students, no one could deny its beauty and interesting history. The town, more accurately described as a fortress, has a drawbridge, a surrounding area that was formerly a moat, and towers at every corner.
After staying in this fortified city for two nights (and cooking a delicious meal in the hostel kitchen the second night), we continued our voyage to Geneva, Switzerland. Though our hostel was not close to them, we were able to see the Swiss Alps, a sight I never personally thought I would see with my own eyes. The most interesting part of this excursion to Geneva was our visit to the United Nations headquarters.
As we received our tour around the headquarters from an animated guide, I couldn't help but marvel at the establishment. I learned more about the U.N. than I ever could have from a textbook. For example, many conferences are translated into six languages: English, Arabic, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese. Conferences that are not translated into all six are translated into English and/or French; thus, delegates are required to know both.
As I wandered the halls of the United Nations, I couldn't help but be intrigued by the works of art present in each room, the history looming over each hall, and the overall tone of the organization's goals and purposes. The main purposes of the U.N. are: to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations, to work toward international cooperation on economic and social issues, and to establish a means to better human rights.
By the end of the tour, I was interested in a career working for this organization. After Geneva, we arrived at the location in which I am writing from now: Nice. Though we arrived late in the day today, this city (located on the Mediterranean as well) appears beautiful, and I am excited to wander its streets tomorrow.
After all, after a seven hour car ride, you truly learn to appreciate any amount of time you aren't spending in a van.
March 15
In Madrid we visitedthe Reina Sophia Museum, which is home to the famous Guernica painting by Picasso. The painting is a depiction of the Basque city of Guernica during WW II afterthe bombing by the Nazis in conjunction with the Spanish government. The city and the painting are nowseen as symbols of peace. It was particularly exciting to see this painting since we visited the actual city of Guernica and the Peace Museum there just a few days earlier. The painting was a sight to see; extremely large, the canvas commands an entire wall with a chaotic panorama of figures depicted in Picasso's well-known style. I really enjoyed being able to see such an influential work of art and to understand more about the history and circumstances that it depicted.
March 15
We spent three amazing days in the beautiful city of Madrid, Spain. Our hostel was right in the middle of the city, on the main street for shopping and restaurants. We spent our first day exploring the sites. We went to the Plaza Mayor and saw the plaque in the Plaza de Sol which designates the geographical enter of Spain. We visited the Prado Museum which houses artwork from all over the world. Our guide at the Prado revealed hidden secrets in some of the paintings such as Diego Velaquez's painting of King Philip IV of Spain. Velaquez painted over his original 20 years later and now one of the legs shows through, so it looks like the King has three legs in the painting. Another Velaquez painting we saw was the "Las Meninas" which creates a optical allusion when you step back from it. Other famous artists in the Prado include El Greco, Goya, and Raphael.
After Madrid, we traveled four hours to Tarragona, Spain. We spent the night in Tarragona which is on the coast of the Mediterranean. Tarragona is home to ancient Roman ruins and has a amazing view of the ocean. The Roman ruins of Tarraco have been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
We are currently enjoying our last night in Barcelona. Today was a sunny and warm day, ideal for site seeing. We visited the phenomenal Sagrada Familia Roman Catholic church which was started in 1882 and is not expected to be completed until at least 2026. It was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi. We visited another Barcelona landmark also designed by Gaudi called Guell Park. The park had a magnificent view of all of Barcelona. Afterwards, we keep moving higher up in the mountains to Tibidabo.
Tibidabo is a mountain overlooking the city. On top there is an amusement park and the Temple de Sagrat Cor Catholic Church. On top of the church is a statue of Jesus which is visible from most of the city. The amusement park is the oldest in Barcelona. A few students went on the rides while others took photos of the view. Our last stop today was the Las Ramblas street which is home to shopping centers, street artists, hotels, restaurants and native culture.
Tomorrow the group will be traveling back to France to visit Carcasonne! Adios, Espana!
March 9
Today was a fabulous day, partly because we didn't have to spend any money, partly because of all the delicious food we inhaled like savages, and partly because we were able to experience true Basque country.
The Basques are an interesting group to learn about. In case you've never heard of them (they are considered the true indigenous peoples of Spain), the Basque people are a minority who inhabit six provinces in Spain and France. They are an incredibly interesting minority mainly because they are so different than the rest of their respective countries. They have their own language, flag, traditions, schools, and culture.
In order to learn more about the Basque people and just have a fun experience, we visited one of Professor Longmire's friends, Mireila, who works as a school teacher at a Basque school outside of Bilbao. There, we were able to interact with the students and simultaneously learn more about each other.
It was interesting to see how different their way of life was than ours; they grew up learning five languages (Spanish, English, Basque, French, and Latin), have different school hours, drink at a younger age, and have very different traditions than our own. However, some things were not so different: they enjoy American movies, shopping, and they all knew who Lady Gaga was and enjoyed when we all sang "Bad Romance” together.
"I was almost jealous by how connected they are as a people,” said Sam Colvin. "They all just seem to be so proud of their culture, and are closer because of it.”
Indeed, when asked if the children feel more Basque or more Spanish, the answer was almost unanimous: Basque. They feel as one as a people and are proud of their heritage.
This sense of togetherness has helped the Basque people to survive. During the 1930s, Gernika, a Basque province, was bombed by the Germans. However, the media did not get the story quite correct. We learned at the Peace Museum in Gernika that Spain blamed the Basque people for the destruction of this town, saying the people set fire to their city and were never bombed at all.
Why would they do this? Probably because the ETA, a violent nationalist and separatist organization in Basque country similar to that of Al Qaeda, has been trying to become separate from Spain for many years, and so, the Spanish blamed the Basques for their destruction when it was not them at all. While several years ago the Germans apologized for this bombing, the Spanish government still refuses to acknowledge that this bombing occurred at all. As Mireila explained, reconciliation is difficult, though peace now seems nearly attainable.
The theme of Basque country seems to be, "Forgive but don't forget,” as this amazing, ancient minority continues to prosper.
Afterward, we had an actual home-cooked meal at Mireila's house, which was wonderful considering we've been trying to eat inexpensive meals consisting mainly of baguettes.
And now, it's on to Madrid!
March 8
On the way from France to Spain, we stopped at a beautiful town on the outskirts called Biarritz, a Basque city which lies on the Bay of Biscay in South-western France. I was honestly astonished by this place's beauty, which has qualities similar to St. Malo, except with an air of Mediterranean beauty. Afterwards, we finally arrived in Spain!
"I've been anxiously anticipating going to Spain,” says Hannah Skahill. "I'm so happy to finally be here.”
Our first stop in Spain was San Sebastian, the capital city of the province of Gipuzkoa in Basque Country. Our hostel, Olga's Place, was a bit interesting in its set-up and had less than accommodating levels of heat, but it wound up working out just fine. After a relaxing night, we had class the next morning in order to wrap-up all that we had learned and seen in Paris, and learned that March 8th is International Women's Day.
International Women's Day is a day to celebrate women; celebrations vary by region but are meant to show appreciation for women's economic, social, and political achievements. "I suppose every other day of the year is International Men's Day,” said Tim Smith.
After class, we explored San Sebastian and went to the base of the Igueldo Mountain. While usually a rollercoaster actually winds through the mountain, to the group's dismay, it was closed. Even so, we still got some beautiful pictures and enjoyed some crisp, fresh air from the mountain.
That night, we explored San Sebastian further and had our first experience of Spanish cuisine. We all enjoyed a huge pan of paella: a rice dish mixed with prawns, clams, and some other seafood.
March 6
Bonjour encore! (Hello again!)
These last couple days were a bit more relaxing than the others; we were able to walk around yet another cute town, visit wine country, and even do some laundry!
Wine country was fabulous, of course. We were able to visit an amazing vineyard and learn the interesting process of processing and producing wine.
"I absolutely loved the man who explained the vineyard process," said Hannah Skahill. "He was incredibly friendly, and so informative."
"What I found that was interesting was it is apparently illegal to irrigate the vineyards," said Samanthan Colvin. "Even during times of drought, the workers actually have to rely on destiny in order to process their wine."
The vineyards looked amazing, as was the experience.
And tomorrow, onward to Spain!
March 3
Though it was a bit disheartening to leave the City of Lights (Paris), onward we must go! We left this morning for Mont St.Michel. On the way to this beautiful area, we were able to stop at yet another beautiful village - Chartres. Chartres is most well-known for its incredible cathedral at its center. This cathedral was built during the 12th and 13th centuries and took at least 100 years to build. Inside, its stained glass windows are still maintained, depicting amazing religious themes. Though many Hofstra students may not be aware of this, we have a piece of Chartres on our own campus – the labyrinth by CV Starr. This small labyrinth is based on the labyrinth in the center of Chartre's Cathedral.
After Chartres, we drove on to Mont St. Michel – a place of indescribable beauty.
"As we drove up to Mont St. Michel, I felt as though I was staring at the true magic kingdom,” said Lizzie. It's as though if you saw a dragon breathing fire from the top, you wouldn't even be surprised. I have never seen anything so amazing looking.”
Though the nightlife was completely dead and the hotel did not have an elevator (I swear I almost broke my back), the beauty of this place made up for it.
Mont St. Michel is a walled-in city in Normandy, France, on an island with the fastest tide in the world crashing its shores.
"The tide was incredible,” said Hannah. "We would return to the island just two hours later and the parking lots would be closed since they were completely submerged in water.”
The island's population is only 41 (roughly the size of one of our classes!). It was built before the 6th century. However, what stands there today, including the amazing cathedral atop the city, is from the 12th century.
We were also able to make a day trip to St. Malo, a walled port city in Brittany along the English Channel. While there, we were able to take some amazing pictures, have delicious crapes, and do a bit of window shopping.
Afterward, we made a brief stop at St. James cemetery in Brittany as well. This cemetery is of particular interest to us since it is an American military cemetery. The land for the cemetery was granted to the U.S. Government by the peoples of France in order to show their appreciation for American soldiers risking and sacrificing theirlives in order to liberate Europe.
The cemetery contains 4,410 graves of American soldiers who lost their lives in Northern France during WWI and WWII.
Now, it's time for Dramamine and a sleeping pillow because we're hitting the road again – this time to St. Emilion.
"I can't wait for wine country!” says Luke Moseley. "I hear the scenery is supposed to be beautiful, and it's an experience I can't have back home. Plus, I'm keeping my fingers crossed there will be an elevator in this next hostel."
March 2
Today after the morning's class we visited the cemetery of Pere LaChaise where many French historical and cultural figures have been buried. There, we were able to find the graves of Oscar Wilde, Collette, Chopin, and the musician Jim Morrison.
Afterward, several group members visited Montmartre at sunset, a beautiful artist colony.
Tomorrow it is on to Mont Saint-Michelle! Au revoir pour maintenant!
March 1
Today we visited the Eiffel Tower! I have actually previously been there, but it really is an amazing landmark. What I think is cool about it is it really has every reason in the world to be ugly - it's made of iron, isn't it? - but it is so beautiful. Afterward, we visited the Louvre and were sent on a brief mission to find paintings or sculptures related in some way to either the Odyssey, the Greek gods, or just something from a historic time. I actually decided to discuss the painting of Dante and Virgo moving through the inferno since it was such a great novel and painting.
Later on, we were able to drive on to Notre Dame.
Tomorrow morning, we are have a class discussion on the book "On Caring," discussing separate sections on how to care for one another as well as ourselves. More on this later though!
February 28
After what seems like an endless amount of time, we are finally in Paris! After a delayed flight, a great deal of turbulence, and an even more delayed amount of time waiting for our luggage, here we sit in our first hostel – St. Christopher's.
The hostel was much more accommodating than our terrible stay in the airport, offering us discounts on food and drinks, and sitting on a surprisingly beautiful canal. This place is unlike any other I have ever stayed, with four sets of bunk beds, a sink in the room, and a community bathroom. Surprisingly, however, it is not difficult to get accustomed to this lackadaisical atmosphere.
Last night we tried a restaurant called Red Dragon in which I was actually able to speak French! The food was a bit different in some ways (my mushroom ravioli dish was definitely not the best I've ever had), but the white wine was, of course, fabulous.
"Something I find interesting about the hostel is all the American paraphernalia on the wall – Animal House, James Dean, etc.” says Adam. "Yeah,” adds Janey. "It's cool because it shows America has one of the more prominent entertainment systems.”
This morning (after a relaxing and satisfying night's sleep that left us feeling less jetlagged), we had a class in the basement of the hostel, our "Know Thyself” course. We discussed an article by Fritjof Capra called "The Turning Point: A New Vision of Reality.”
This article discussed the world collectively moving toward a new way of seeing and thinking, one in which we move away from the Cartesian-Newtonian model toward a more holistic way of thinking. The Cartesian-Newtonian model involves breaking down everything into parts. This reductionist way of thinking can often times lead to an incomplete analysis of a situation, whether economical, sociological, medical, etc. This fragmented vision can lead to cultural imbalance in which we are concerned more with power over nature, control, and patriarchy. While the feminist movement may help us move away from this perspective, if we do not stop this power imbalance, we could eventually have large-scale nuclear wars. Unfortunately, as we all know, no one can win in such wars.
Furthermore, the article discussed how we must use our mind over matter. Is it actually possible to almost immune yourself against certain levels of pain using only your mind? In helping to answer this question, Professor Smith shared an interesting story with us: a professor at Harvard visited Tibetan monks several years ago and witnessed a phenomenal sight. Apparently, the monks were able to sit in 30 degree weather wearing wet towels around their bodies and not only not freeze, but actually were able to dry the towels. How is this possible you may ask? Through meditation.
Whether possible or not, this is an amazing phenomenon which implies our minds may have the power to do more than think: they may be able to heal.
Not only do these stimulating discussions spark a great interest in each of us, but these courses will help to expand our knowledge of philosophies and different world perspectives.
I hope by the end of this trip, each of us will feel differently about the world in some small, positive way. Either way, I think it is safe to say that we will feel more empowered by our new levels of knowledge.
February 26
As we live our lives and later look back on them, it is usually difficult to pinpoint the moments and experiences that changed everything.
It is interesting to go into something knowing this is going to be one of those experiences.
As these last 24 hours count down to the moment where the 12 of us get on that plane to start the experience that will change each of us forever, it is difficult to label the swirl of emotions that are flowing through me at the moment.
Anxiety, nervousness, excitement, intrigue are just a few of the feelings I've been experiencing as this last week flew by. As excited as I am to develop close friendships with these people as we travel to each amazing place we are planning to see, I am nervous for those moments where we just feel as though we can do it anymore, where we can't just plaster a smile to our faces and deal with lack of sleep.
Even so, this is a small price to pay for all the magnificent, life-changing experiences we will share as a group. And so, the excitement triumphs the fear, as these last few hours trickle away to the moment where we go from being a study abroad group to (dare I say it?) a family.
So, I hope to continue this blog throughout our trip, not only so you can follow our experiences, but so each of us has a log written in stone (or, at least, on the Hofstra website) to remind us of those amazing moments that will change our lives forever.