Enormous Space is near. . .

Rome, Italy... for starters

2005-12-17T05:51:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I have posted and this will not be much of a post. It appears that I put too many photos in my on-line Rome album because when I try to arrange the photos or add text, the page freezes. I can't even seem to delete the album and start over. So... the photos are there... all out of order, but beautiful nonetheless.

Hmm... Rome. I will have to return! Andria and I explored all the main sites - the Collosseum, the Roman Forum, St. Peter's and the Vatican museum, the Pantheon, Piazzas Navona and Venezia, the Circus Maximus, and the Trevi Fountain. We also stumbled across events like the movement of a piece of art from a museum, the passing of the torch for the 2006 Olympics in Torino, a track meet, and a Silcian folk celebration.

I hope to write more later... but more than likely I will see many of you in the coming month and will not be able to stop talking about my travels. I think you will have had enough by then!

p.s. I had to sneak this photo of the Sistine Chapel! Zoom in... it is fantastic!

Roaming Vienna

2005-11-26T01:50:00.000-05:00

We (the students here) all know that the countdown has begun and that we will soon return to our “real lives.” First there was the fun travel phase, then school began, and now the countdown. With the exception of a few last travels and of course classes, we all seem to want to spend time around Vienna and with each other. After the Asian dinner, we decided that this group should continue to get gather on a weekly basis. I missed Thanksgiving due to group work. I missed it more than I thought, so I guess that I'll just have to have my own Thanksgiving in January. I did manage to find some dried cranberries, so at least I can put those on my musli!

This week we had an international dessert party. Andria and I took a turtle cheesecake (thanks to Mom and Dad for sending some key ingredients!) and we made s’mores. Of course the s’mores were the big hit! We also had desserts from Portugal, Japan, Italy, and the corner grocery.

This morning, I decided to take a long walk before starting to do my work. I visited the Hundertwasser Haus, which I had seen briefly during the orientation tour in September. Then, I wandered to Grüner Prater, which is a 3-mile long public park. There is a small amusement park, which is of course closed this time of year. The main attraction is Riesenrad, which is a “panoramic,” or as we call it a “Ferris wheel.” This is different, though, because it has trailer-like cars, not just little seats, to give tourists a ride and view of the city.

Enjoy your warm weather when you look at the snow we have here!

p.s. There are Christkindlmarkts everywhere!

Classes & Christkindl

2005-11-20T10:59:00.000-05:00

Contrary to what you might think by looking at all my photos, I do have school work! This weekend in particular, I have two papers and two presentations to finish for the coming week. Ok, it's an unusual week but nevertheless I am not just playing and touring! Actually, the classes are just as much a cultural experience as my travels. I am definitely getting to know more people from more countries. My teams thus far have been great to work with!

Frohe Weihnachten = Good Christmas = Merry Christmas

There is a festive spirit here! Not only are there minor snow flurries, but the Christkindlmarkts have opened. Wooden stalls are set up all over town, but mostly concentrated in a few areas where there are large markets are held. They sell food and pastries as well as handmade goods like ornaments, toys, sweaters, and much more! This is where the tourists and locals go to Christmas shop and to gather for good company and cheer! Several booths serve punsch (punch with rum) and gluhwein (mulled wine), where people young and old congregate. You can also take a mug of hot punsch or glum with you while you walk around. It helps in this cold weather!

It wasn't until recently that Santa Claus made an appearance into Austrian holidays, but with Westernized TV and goods, the kids are getting confused. Traditionally, they have been told that Christkindl, or the Christ baby, brings the gifts on Christmas eve. Even more confusing is that while this is supposed to be a baby boy, somewhere along the way, people here started putting wings and blond curls on him and some Austrians think of him as a baby girl angel. In fact, the little figurines that are sold, definitely look like little baby girl angels. You can imagine the confusion for young kids!

I only visited one market briefly and it was raining, so when I return (and I will!) I hope to get some photos. In the meantime, if you are interested in seeing what it's all about you can visit the Web site for one of the markets - this one is at the Rathaus (the city hall) at http://www.christkindlmarkt.at/.

OK... back to my homework!

Venice, Murano, and Burano

2005-11-19T23:09:00.000-05:00

So, Andria and I were able to visit Venice, Burano, and Murano in just one full day. My blog will be short and hopefully, the photos and the descriptions will tell all. From now on... just one link to the photos.... look to the right (you have to be either on the main page or in the archives). If you don't see the Murano and Burano photos up, give me another 24 hours.

Venice is made up of 118 "land masses" in a lagoon. Everything is connected by and run by the rivers and canals. It is easy to get lost on land and you just have to be laid back enough to realize it's all an adventure and you never know what you will find on the side "streets" (canals). I remember being in Las Vegas and talking with my sister-in-law, Aundrea, about whether the Venetian Resort is really what it looked like in Venice. Maybe a little too pristine, but Las Vegas did a pretty good job ;-)

Murano is a 20 or so minute boat ride from Venice and an island all it's own. It is famous (since 1292) for its artisans that blow and spin glass. There were amazing products from vases, jewelry, frames, chandeliers, figurines, and those paperweights that my aunt and uncle have collected for years. Some patterns recognizable. It will be interesting to find these patterns back in the U.S. and see if they were made in Murano.

Burano is another 20 or so minutes past Murano via boat (what else?) and is another, smaller island. Known for it's lace and brightly colored homes.

Even though we packed a lot in one day, it was completely relaxing being by the water. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Return to Florence

2005-11-12T00:34:00.000-05:00

Oberservations:

- Men often stand in front of women’s shoe stores and seemingly debate about… well, I don’t know… maybe the quality, the price, the design?

- Whether they are on foot, bicycle, scooter, or in a car, the people in Florence have perfected the art of swiftly moving past each other on the narrow streets and sidewalks, leaving just enough room for a slip of paper to fall between them.

- The olive trees are amazing!

Photos at http://www.ljkinas.shutterfly.com/

OK, I still revisited all the touristy areas this second time around and took more photos of the Duomo, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Battistero, with the Gates of Paradise. I spent my last evening sitting in the square by the Palazzo Vecchio watching a town hall meeting that was happening inside, but being broadcast on a screen for the public. Of course, I didn’t understand one word, but it was fun trying to figure out what was happening. Imagine my surprise when I heard someone call me name! It was a couple that I had met the day before, when I traveled to San Gimignano. The three of us figured that the city was trying to enthusiastically sell the idea of building some modern looking monstrosity as something that would fit in with the current architecture of the area. Ha!!

OFF THE BEATEN PATH: I also roamed the perimeter of my map. Although I stayed within the well traveled areas, I definitely found myself on side streets and in the midst of the lives of the people who live and work in Florence. I watched a man riding his bicycle with his dog sitting on a platform attached to the front of the frame. I listened to elementary school children reciting lessons. I got to know the woman at one shop well enough that when I saw her in the evening she waved to me. I also made it to an older area that did not look touristy. However, behind the walls of one block, I noticed that the Four Seasons was putting a lot of effort into renovating the grounds and buildings for a future hotel site. I decided to wander across the Fiume Arno and up the hill. I ended up on a single road, with walls on each side protecting gardens and homes that I couldn’t see until I found myself way up on a hill looking down on the area.

THE CHURCH ON THE HILL: Finally, I wove my way around the labyrinth of streets and found myself at San Miniato Al Monte, one of Florence’s oldest churches. The view of the city from here is amazing and would only have been better if there was a blue sky. So, there was this cat in the front graveyard. Everyone was saying, “Look at the cat” like it was a cute, cuddly stray. Well… my photos probably make this cat look like a big alley cat, but I am telling you that this creature was more like a bobcat! Just a little unnerving when I found myself roaming the back graveyards with no one in site. I normally do not photograph graveyards, but behind the church, I could not believe what I saw. I took a few photos, just with my friend Martha in mind, since she is interested in photographing and the history of graveyards and sites. Not just a few mausoleums were built here, but at least one hundred and each one was an elaborate chapel, down to the most minute details.

PALAZZO PITTI: I decided to travel a different, but still unknown, route down the hill and found myself at the Palazzo Pitti, a Medici family palace. I explored the gardens, finding more beautiful views of the city as well of a view of the valley behind the palace – the area where I had walked up to the church.

SANTA CROCE and THE LEATHER SCHOOL: Although it is deep into renovations, the Santa Croce church was one of my favorites! There was a narrow platform that hugged the high wall around the entire perimeter of the chapel. The frescos here were much simpler and the church just seemed so calming – maybe because most of the furnishings were taken out for the renovations! The church also houses a leather school, the Scuola del Cuoio, which was create after WWII to give orphans of the war a means to learn a practical trade. You can still watch things being made in the original work spaces. I was looking at a belt that was too big and before I knew it, a wonderful, little, old man came over fitted the belt and cut it to fit me right there on the spot.

Prague

2005-10-28T17:34:00.000-05:00

No, I did not visit Prague again. However, do not misunderstand this for, "I do not want to visit Prague again." I do, indeed! So many of you either thought I did not like Prague or you were disappointed that it was not as great as you had thought... I had to set the story straight!

Prague is fantastic!

Everything in my initial blog is true, but that was just the facts about my experience there. I also tried to get across that I thought it was a magical, storybook city. So... this blog is just for that...

Prague is a magical, storybook city! If you have never been there, you must go!

Munich

2005-10-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

Observation: Tall Starbucks coffee of the day 3.40 euros.

Jen wanted to go to Germany and although it was not on the top of my list to visit, the minute I stepped out of the train station I felt at home. The city was very easy to navigate and although beautiful, it did not seem touristy. It just felt like a big city, but yet not so big. We decided to make this trip about shopping! Maybe that is sad to hear for some of you… but it was a nice change of pace and a way to enjoy the city as a local would on the weekend.

This Innsbruck/Salzburg/Munich trip was the first time that I had ventured out without first having a reserved room. I was anxious about it, but it all worked out fine and we found great places to stay. At the 4 You hostel in Munich, we were in a 6 bed room and I had a woman on the bunk below me that had to be at least in her 70’s. I never saw her get out of bed except to go to the bathroom, but she had a pretty flowery duvet and pillow case. I’m not sure if she was traveling or if she lived there!

We went to visit the Olympic Village city that was built for the 1972 summer Olympic games. It is a beautiful site for the Olympics, but also sad because of the tragedy that occurred when terrorists took athletes as hostages.

You can’t miss Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), which is centered in the main town square in Munich. There are a few close-ups of the carillon figures that move as the clock strikes at 11, 12 and 17. There is also a very close-up shot (evidence that my camera can truly zoom in) of a few children waving from the tower. There was a big group of them singing and waving to the crowds below.

The train ride home was uneventful, yet eventful. We spent our time kidding about how the two guys next to us wouldn’t talk with us. Everyone else on the trains had been so friendly and during this long trip home, it was more lonely than usual with just the two of us. We went to the club car and ordered wine (more than once) and proceeded to chit-chat and giggle all the way home.

Photos at ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auWGH

Innsbruck

2005-10-21T09:20:00.000-05:00

Observations:

- All over Europe, we are already seeing the signs of Christmas. Stores are starting to string up the lights and sell decorations.

- Everything is still in bloom even though we are in a cooler climate and the leaves are beginning to turn. We see everything from roses to lantana! How can this be?
During most train trips and hostel stays, I meet both local and leisure travelers. This is one of the best parts of traveling as a “backpacker.” You gain insight to the country that you are visiting or tips about the “must see” sights or you just have a good chat. Often, you exchange emails to keep in touch.

On the trip to Innsbruck, Austria, we met Christian. During the trip, we watched the sunrise and as the sky brightened, the fog lifted and exposed Colorado-like mountains with trees just beginning to turn red and gold. Beautiful. Christian mentioned a few times that they energy outside was what energized him. He struggled a bit to explain himself in English, so I couldn’t tell if he just enjoyed nature or if there was something else going on there. Then, out of the blue, he asked what we thought about gene cloning. Jen had her eyes shut (and that this point made sure to keep them shut) and later told me that she could tell by my response and tone of voice that I didn’t know how to respond. I wasn’t sure what he thought or how he might react to my response. So, I merely said, “That’s a loaded question!” Long story… shortened… Christian practices alchemy - part chemistry, part mysticism, part religion, part medicine, part astrology. Christian was a really nice person, but we didn’t exchange emails.

Innsbruck was more charming than Salzburg. You really felt the warmth and comfort of being in this tiny valley tucked among mountains. The town is made for tourists with plenty of side streets to wander and shops lining every one of them! If you are not there to ski, Innsbruck is about soaking up the scenery and enjoying a beautiful autumn day rather than visiting museums, churches, and other attractions. The history and architecture is amazing and much was built by Emporer Maxiillian I and later changed by Maria Theresia. Is there anything that she didn't get her hands on!?

A 1925 rebuilt ski jump erected for the Olympic Winter Games in 1964 and 1976, the Bergiselstadion, could be seen from a distance. If we had more time, I would have liked to go to the Olympia Bobbahn (venue for bobsleigh, toboggan, and skeleton competitions) where you can take a passenger ride!

Gaspare, Jen, and I wandered the streets to find a place to eat. We found a local bakery, but wanted something more substantial + coffee, so we kept looking. We finally stumbled on a café, but realized that they had only drinks. We took our coffee there and headed back to the Moschen Bäckerei. This was definitely off the tourist track – amazing! Then, we spent much of the morning in the Hofgarten playground and park. We played just like kids.

After that, we just strolled around town and enjoyed! We took the train back to Salzburg that night. Jen and I stayed on the platform to wave goodbye to Gaspare who was headed back to Vienna. We did not want Gaspare to feel slighted, so we gave him the same performance as we did the night before for Alberto and Gulni. Through gestures, yelling, and finally a hand written note pressed up to the window, we tried to get him to ask the gentleman in the next row about gene cloning. :-D

Photos at ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auWF4

Slight Homesick Admittance

2005-10-20T18:19:00.000-05:00

Before I update my travels, I had to just pour out some thoughts. No photos, so if you perusing the text just to get to a hyperlink… forget about it!

Observations:
- Have I mentioned yet that recycling is important here? At home, we have four bins: 1) newspapers, cardboards, paper bags, prospectuses; 2) plastics, bottles, plastic bags, yogurt cups; 3) colored bottles; and 4) restmüll (rubbish), dirty paper, and leftovers.

- At the end of class, it is a university tradition for students to knock on the desks. This is how they say thank you and goodbye to the professor.

I have noticed that I miss real life in the U.S.… just a tad ;-)

Global Consumer Behavior was my first class this week and what I missed most was stopping at a Helios or Whole Foods to get a large to-go coffee. This confirms that what I like about coffee is not just the taste, but also the comfort! The class should be interesting, since I thrive on figuring out what makes people tick and why they make certain choices. I am in a group with two Austrian students and two Swedish students. We have to lead a class discussion, give a presentation, and write a paper as a group. There are also some individual projects, the first of which is to visit an electronics store, shadow two shoppers, and document what they do! Shall I wear a trench coat and dark glasses?

One activity that is semi-normal is that I have Desperate Housewives to watch! Patrick sent me the complete first season on DVD and so every night, I watch a little before I fall asleep. Maybe it’s not so normal to watch these shows over and over again and EVERY night, but it as close as it gets here. Donna, and the MBASA, also sent a few home recorded DVDs, which now give me alternatives. I already watched the Manchurian Candidate, for the first time. Definitely not Desperate Housewives! ;-)

I would like to publicly thank those who send cards, notes, and packages. They are a tremendous pick me up!

Andria’s parents are here and they took us out to dinner last night at an Italian restaurant. Even thought it’s not real life, I do miss Italy and want to go back there someday! For now, I will remember each time I have a glass from one of the readily available €3 bottles of 2003 Badiolo Chianti. This bottle in a Raleigh grocery store would be about $12 or so.

Salzburg

2005-10-18T19:21:00.000-05:00

FYI - we are sharing so many photos now, I just want to be sure to give thanks and credit to the others!

Gulni, Gaspare, Jen, Alberto, and I took the morning 3 hour train ride (long enough to dry clothes fresh from the washing machine) to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and as Americans know it, the home of the Von Trapp family. We were able to take decent photos of the landscape on during the train ride. That is, those of us who were not sleeping ;-)

We did not experience “The Sound of Music” in Salzburg, but instead spent one day roaming the streets, visiting museums, and climbing up to the castle.

This is when Gaspare and I realized that all it takes for us to have fun in any museum is to each have one beer at lunch. Mozart’s birthplace was under construction for his 250th birthday celebration next year, but the museum on the floor below was open. We also went to a museum that adjoined a church. You will see some photos of us lying on our backs taking photos of the ceiling, which we all found amazing. Silly us – we did not even consider the fact that there were guards, watching us on camera. We quickly left that museum!

You will see a photo of Alberto on a “bull” which represents “Bull-washer-Bull.” Here is the story:

Around 1525, Salzburg was besieged by an enemy army. There was a risk of starvation and there was only one ox left. If the enemy knew that the town would soon starve, they might believe it easier to take over. The town commander took the ox along the castle to show the enemy that the people were not suffering from a lack of food. The enemy assumed that Salzburg would have enough food to last a long time and withdrew. Salzburg rejoiced. The ox was washed a final time and the people of Salzburg still are known as the “Oxen washers.”

We were very sad to see Alberto and Gulni return home that evening, so Gaspare, Jen, and I stayed on the train platform and waived and blew kisses to them and to every other stranger sitting around them. Of course, they were embarrassed and had to remain on the train with these folks, so we continued to act up and even ran with the train as it pulled out of the station.

Photos (NO CAPTIONS THIS TIME ;-) at ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auWFp

Still to come... Innsbruck and Munich...

Vienna Nights

2005-10-18T18:15:00.000-05:00

Oberservation: Almost every night now, there is someone practicing voice, piano, or violin in Haus Erasmus. I just wish that the student who sings opera was living here!

My next visitor was Jen. Of course, I knew that I'd have to go out at least once with her! It just so happened that it was the beginning of the semester and WU put on a party for all new students. I dont even know what the place was called, but it was an old building, maybe even a home, converted into a dance club. There were portraits on the walls of people who I am sure were turning over in there graves while they watched everyone party! There are a few photos of some of us on the dance floor.

Observation: The clubs here play a lot of music from the U.S. and all music in English. It is quite an eclectic mix and mostly old songs. For example, one sone is from the musical Grease and the next is Duran Duran.

Another evening, all the museums were open for one flat price. So, a group of us went to the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Modern Art), the Belevedere, and the Hofburg Palace. The best part with without fail, a very popular paiting by Gustav Klimt, "The Kiss." We must have sat there for at least 1/2 hour staring at this painting. My illegal photo, a print, or a reproduction can not do it justice. It was breathtaking.

Photos at ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auWFa

Bratislava

2005-10-18T17:12:00.000-05:00

Bratislava, Slovakia is an easy and inexpensive trip just about one hour from Wien (Vienna). Patti and I first ventured there so that she could get one more stamp in her passport before leaving. The next visit was a group with me, Jen, Gaspare, Carla, and Ilaria. Bratislava is a small city along the Danube River and it was strikingly different from Prague and Budapest in terms of the cityscape, businesses, and people.

There were many office buildings near or in Bratislava and many had recognizable company names. This is not to say that these companies do not exist in the other countries, but they are either not downtown or not as visible in Prague and Budapest.

The people were more outwardly demonstrative – smiling, laughing, and making gestures which is different from not only Prague and Budapest but also the Austrian cities. Patti noticed that even the dogs seemed to be more outwardly “friendly” than in Austria. My observation has been that the people here in Austria are very nice, but they just do not regularly or publicly fuss about things, make gestures, moan and groan, or smile and laugh.

There is a wonderful chocolate shop where they serve hot chocolate that seemed to basically be a melted chocolate bar! It was scrumptious with a side of whipped cream and thin biscuits for dipping!

I will go back to visit again!

Photos at share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZuWrFo4auXSw

The Italian Dinner

2005-10-18T04:04:00.000-05:00

On Patti's last night here, we had a wonderful dinner hosted by our Italian friends. Carla, Alberto, Gaspare, and Ilaria wanted to give a "thank you" to Patti. Also, we had been promised a real tiramisu! It still amazes me that I never, ever liked tiramisu in the U.S. but now it is right up there with ginger creme brulee, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and Foster's cheesecake (all my favorite non-chocolate desserts).

In Haus Erasmus, there is always "the kitchen tour." When a large group of people want to cook, they have to tour each floor to find an open kitchen. This night we found the 7th floor available, because mostly there are Austrian students on this floor and they were all studying for exams. We took over the entire kitchen! The cooks had something on every burner and served two types of pasta, both versions from Rome. Then, the surprise of the evening was that Martina had made Tiramisu... simply amAzing!

Photos at ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auWE8

Budapest

2005-10-18T03:45:00.000-05:00

Patti and I swore we were catapulted back to 1940’s Eastern Europe when we took the overnight train from Prague to Budapest. Gaspere would have summed it up in one word - squalid. Needless to say, I was knitting all night, not sleeping! As we approached Budapest, the Hungarian landscape looked a lot like the Midwest U.S. - a flat, farm landscape dotted with tree groves that surrounded a single home.

Aside: At the train station, there is a woman sitting just before you enter the WC and it appeared that her only job was to separate the squares of toilet paper and give exactly four to each woman entering the WC.

Andria met us at the train station and off we went to the Backpackers Guesthouse. In the midst of a nondescript and quiet neighborhood stands a little bohemian hostel with a jungle theme. If the weather were warmer, we would have enjoyed the back yard, patios, and hammocks. There was also a TV room, where I found myself awe-struck by a soccer game. When I finally snapped into reality and closed my jaw, I realized how long it had been since I had watched TV!

Being off-season, cold, and rainy, put a little damper on our view of Budapest. Like always, though, things seem to turn around for the best.

The Terror Museum. I had no idea of the post-world war II situation in Hungary. This museum was put together in a way that gave you enough, but not too much information. The displays and layout set the right tone and atmosphere. This has been so far, my best museum experience in Europe. Each room had detailed descriptions in English and I read most. This was also a turning point for me - no longer was Budapest dull, but a place that I wanted to visit again someday.

We roamed along the main street of Andrassy ut and found the Menza. A menza was a state-run canteen and my travel guide says that Hungarians used to take their out-of-town guests here to see what much of the 1970s Budapest looked like. Now, it’s a “parody of communist style.” We considered our meal a 4 or 5 star meal and like Prague, the price tag was probably less than most people spend at McDonalds!

Photos at http://ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auWEt

Prague

2005-10-07T18:09:00.000-05:00

To put it simply, the train station was scary, which made us almost want to turn around and head home. It was not kept up very well, we couldn’t find a cash machine, the ticket agents did not speak much English and was easily irritated by us, and we felt like we were getting ripped off before we ever stepped one foot into the streets of this enchanted city. There were panhandlers and graffiti everywhere. Then, we get out of the train station...

A beautiful town of towers, Prague looks like a picture book drawing. Then, you walk along the streets, there is a 1) t-shirt shop, 2) a nested-doll shop, 3) a jewelry shop, and 4) a marionette shop. Start at one and repeat… again and again and again. Still, if you roam on the side streets you find wonderful cafes and restaurants. One restaurant did try to rip us off by telling us the wrong exchange for their menu prices. At another restaurant we had a wonderful lunch for very little. A wonderful lunch for 6 in Prague = a decent lunch for 1 or 2 in a city of the same size (~ 1.9 mil) in the US . Then, think that most people who live here probably can not afford that wonderful lunch for 6. We are fortunate.

I somehow feel that we have to give this city a break. It has only been since 1989 that this country has been without communist rule. I have only met one student, Lucy, from the Czech. The younger generation seems friendly and interested in other cultures. The older generation, I believe, is still transitioning and trying to grasp the opportunities of capitalism. Although they are part of the EU, it has only been since last year and they do not yet use the same currency. It was difficult to figure this out! Prices are, for example, 940 czech crowns for an expensive dinner and the ATM (or, Bankomat... as it's called here) gives denominations like 1000 or 2000.

A few of the Italians joined Patti and I on this trip. It was SO much fun to have a group share the experience. Carla, Gaspare, Ilaria, and Alberto are amazing! They are a fun, warm, and inviting crew who are from a university in Rome.

The only down side? My "must see" in Prague - the 15th century Astronomical Clock is under construction :-(

Photos at ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auWEP (you shouldn't need a password anymore, but just in case.. bentley)

Catching up

2005-10-05T20:08:00.000-05:00

General observations:

- There are church bells ringing, sometimes all day and night, in each town where I have visited. The sound is beautiful.

- Hearing others talk, I get a glimpse of the European view of Americans. It varies, but there is a concensus that Americans get crazy and boisterous when we drink. That is the one resounding opinion among the students. A few seem to think that we only have fun and laughs when we drink. Others believe that the rules, restrictions, and the “all business” conservative attitude make us want to let loose when we get to Europe. Some say it’s not just the students who act this way, but tourists in general. Hmmm...

The past two weeks:

Patti Gilbride is a wonderful friend and travel companion! The past two weeks have been full of fun and laughter. Also worth mentioning is the fear of the unknown (esp. the language) in the ex-communist Eastern European countries. Together, we traveled to the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Although I can only scratch the surface of the places that I visit, I try to look beyond the buildings and tourist attractions. I know that it is not possible to get to know a place in just four months and definitely not during a 2-3 day visit, but I’m going to try!

Patti also toured Vienna and Salzburg while I registered for classes at WU, an experience that I only want to stand in line for once in my life. I finally have 4 classes on the schedule: Global Consumer Behavior; Negotiation Management; Global Strategic Management; and Intercultural Business Communications. I also hope to add Export Marketing Management. Right now, I am on a wait list.

Staatsoper

2005-09-27T21:56:00.000-05:00

Two observations:

- This is a great place to window shop. All the items in the windows have prices on them (it was like this in Italy, too). So, you know what you are getting into before you ever go in to the store!

- We learned that Austrians and Germans like their personal space. If you want someone to move out of the way, you don't tap them on the shoulder, you say, "Entshuldigung" which means excuse me.

Patti and I were walking around this morning and decided to stop by the Staatsoper (the opera house) to find out how to get the rumored inexpensive standing room only tickets. Guess where we ended up tonight?! I can't believe that I went to the opera! For my ticket, a program, and coat check for three it was about 10 US dollars. You'll have to take a look at the photos to see which opera. We only stayed for the 1st act, since standing for 3 1/2 hours can be painful. Even just seeing the 1st act was well worth it!

Visit http://ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auX8A for photos and to find out what opera we saw!

Orientation Wrap-up

2005-09-26T20:16:00.000-05:00

Last night we had a party that ended the two week orientation program. We saw so much in this short time. I will put short captions with the photos – hopefully enough to give you some idea of what you are seeing. I wonder sometimes it if everything is beginning to look the same. Is it? I have been the quintessential tourist snapping photo after photo. Thankfully, I have enough sense to tell myself that I must stop, look, and enjoy! Even though I don’t always know the history or name of what I see, it’s beautiful and I feel like I don’t want to loose that moment. I think that the Folon painting La Memoire that I saw in Florence sums it all up.

Beyond orientation, we have been out to eat a couple of times with the Italian group… I really like these people! It’s a kiss on both cheeks when you see them and plenty of laughter. Although they did not all know each other they come from the same school in Rome.

Also, Patti is visiting and we have been touring more around Vienna. She took a side trip to Salzburg today and on Wednesday we will go to Prague and Budapest. Some of my Italian friends will join us in Prague and Andria will join us in Budapest. Fun!

German class has been fun, too! Twenty students in our class and we are from 11 different countries. I will really have to practice and do not have too much opportunity because the students speak in their native tongue or English. We try some things in German, but we are so slow that sometimes even the waitress will take pity and start talking in English. We ended our week with a trip to the grocery store and then to a café to practice!

Today and tomorrow, I have to sit by my computer so that I can register for class at 2:00 p.m. sharp. Otherwise, the seats fill up quickly!

The tourist highlights of last week:

Schloss Schönbrunn – An imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty. The photos of the Baroque gardens are the same layout that was added by Maria Theresa in the late 1700’s. The Gloriette, which is said to be a war monument, provides a gorgeous view of the palace with the city of Vienna as a backdrop.

United Nations Office – The office in Vienna is the UNO on Drugs and Crime. During the visit to the office we heard lectures on the UNO in general, the Vienna office, and more specifically the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). By upgrading equipment and training people in marketing, UNIDO provides incentive to promote sustainable growth in developing countries.

Melk Abbey – The history of Melk has been around since 996! There has been a school here since the 12th century! Today, Melk is still a working monastery and school. We toured the main buildings open to the public, including the library which is amazing! There was also a chapel, gardens, and a historically “recreational” building.

Dürnstein – Where we literally had a 15 minute self-guided tour - we were running late most of the week and we had to move on to the next stop. This was pretty much just a bathroom break.

Nastl – This Wed site is all in German but I had to include the link. The site is filled with photos of the family who owns this small operation. The wife, Renata, took us through the vineyards and her husband, Gūnter, and kids served us during the sampling. The winery has been in his family since 1659 and the children are studying to take over some day. Nastl is in Langenlois, the largest wine area in Austria, and has one gold medal wine and two on the top 200 list in Austria.

Photos at http://ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auX4Q (bentley)

The Imperial Chapel

2005-09-24T23:05:00.000-05:00

I'll catch up on the rest later, but for now I have to record my visit to the Vienna Imperial Chapel, which dates back to the 14th century. Patti (a friend from NJ) and I went there this morning for a catholic mass, in German of course! The chapel is tiny and we were able to sit in one of the tiny boxes that you will see in the photos. The Hofmusikkapelle, is historically a court orchestra that dates back to the 15th century. It is still in existence and includes members of the Vienna Philharmonic, The Vienna Boys Choir, the Men’s Choir, and the Vienna State Opera. A mix of these provided music for the morning service and to top it off the music was all Mozart. This has been my best experience thus far! I plan to immerse myself in music in this city! Even in our dorm, we’ve already heard an amateur opera singer and pianist. It’s wonderful!

Check out the photos at share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZuWrFo4auXPA (remember bentley)

Heuriger = "German Wine House"

2005-09-18T23:53:00.000-05:00

About 25 students went out tonight (well, they go out very night... but I actually joined them this evening). We went to a heuriger, which is a place that makes and serves it's own wine. A large mug of white wine was just 2 euros (about $2.40). There were two men playing, on a violin and an accordian, what I thought to be American tunes. Some danced, some sang. We all clapped. One student has an awesome voice - he is an opera singer. What did I learn? That the chicken dance is universal! Who knew!?

Graz

2005-09-18T01:21:00.000-05:00

Before I get to the trip details, let me say that I am in a 1^st level German class every afternoon. Our teacher is fantastic and I hope to practice more so that I can at least ask questions at the grocery store! ;-)

Graz was a beautiful city, even in the cold and rain! We had a walking tour all around town which ended with lunch at the Landerhaus-Keller (found out my cousin’s last name, Keller, means basement). It was more apparent in Graz, which is more acute than Vienna, that the open air courtyards are popular for coffee shops and meeting up with friends. There were courtyards everywhere!

A few other things to note about the photos are the clock that I keep zooming in on – if we would have been there at the right time, two wooden figures in traditional costumes would have emerged and the gold goose would have flapped it’s wings. There is a photograph or two of the Murinsel or “Island in the Mur.” The Mur is the river that runs through Graz and this island is a playground, café, and amphitheater. It is connected to the land only by the bridges and it rises to some extent with the level of the river. There is a photograph of a bakery with a wooden façade. Can you believe we had no time to even stop for a treat!? Look for the water spout made to look like a dragon. Finally – people in the photos! Us at lunch, on the bus, and Andria and Roser (from Spain) dancing to the sweet music of the violin!

Then, we ventured outside of the city to see an open air museum that had representations of traditional, historic homes, schools (Jaye - the close up is for you!), and churches from around the country. A large agricultural product in Austria was once the flax, used to make linen which was considered warmer than cotton clothing.

2nd look at Vienna

2005-09-18T01:18:00.000-05:00

Just figured out that my photo captions are cut short, so I may just start to put more in the text about the photos.

Week one of orientation was spent touring Vienna and Graz, the two largest cities in Austria. In Vienna, a professor talked with us about the political system in Austria and to some extent how that tied to the history of Austria. Then we visited the Osterreichishe Galeria, which has an exhibit called “The New Austria.” Although there are approximately 600 political parties in Austria, only 4-5 are relevant. The latest voting issues that were discussed: pension plans (2004), which are of concern to those who fit in our “baby boomer” generation; not allowing atomic energy (2003); and not allowing fighter jets (2002). Austria practices “active neutrality,’ which means that they get involved but don’t take sides.

We also had a bus tour of Vienna We passed the Hundertwasserhaus, which I plan to visit later, but wanted to point out because you will see some photos here of a garbage-incinerating plant which has an exterior that was also designed by Hundertwasser. This plant is right beside the WU so I see it each day when I get off the U. Hundertwasser’s designs incorporate man and nature. So, you can imagine that he had some issues with working on this plant, but he agreed when the plant promised to use the most modern and anti-pollution technology for the time. The Fermware sign is his design and is the name of the parent power plant.

High up in the hills, we were able to get a view of the city and the countryside – although the weather was not so clear you’ll get an ok view here in the photos: http://ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auXtA

Florence...

2005-09-16T18:30:00.000-05:00

On my way to Florence, I am looking over a shoulder reading a newspaper. I can’t read the language, but I can make out that there is an “Aquabomber” who has used a needle to sabotage bottled water. What a welcome!

Myth: People in Europe do not wear jeans and can’t find them for reasonable prices in stores.

We met two Australians who were traveling for 6 weeks. They were fantastic! One was of Lebanese heritage and the other Greek. We hit it off with them and had fun exchanging stories about where to go, what to see, and where to eat.

Two fantastic meals in Florence – one was pasta (yummy!) and beans as a side, which were out of this world. I also tried the tongue that Andria had ordered – can you believe it?! It tasted like liver. I can say that I tried it now… the end. The other meal was an amazing salad sampler and then the best for last… the dessert sampler. It was all wonderful, but now I am a lover of tiramisu… not that stuff we get at home, though… the real tiramisu that you must only find in Italy! I have made friend with a group of Italians here at school and they say that they will make tiramisu some day! I look forward to that!!!

I have added the Florence photos (again… still Andria’s photos). Visit http://ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auXpQ (this should lead you to the same place as the Cinque Terre photos) to see them. Again, the password is bentley. I should be all caught up now!

Cinque Terre Photos Posted

2005-09-16T11:18:00.000-05:00

Finally, the Cinque Terre photos are posted! I have separated each town in separate on-line albums. Although, they may look all the same to you. I hope you enjoy.

Go to http://ljkinas.shutterfly.com/action/?a=8AZuWrFo4auXWg and type in the password bentley.

Florence photos still to come.

The Cinque Terre

2005-09-14T22:26:00.000-05:00

I am trying to keep the photos at a minimum, but still give you a good sense of the Cinque Terre. I don’t always have captions – most of the views did not need them anyway. OK… the real reason is that people are going out tonight and I really want to go… so I need to get these photos posted!!!

CHECK BACK HERE SOON FOR THE LINK!!!

The day we tried to hike along the cliffs between towns, the ground was wet so the paths were all closed. Guess I have to get back there someday!

Monterosso - this was home for two nights, woke up with the roosters, and ripped up the train schedule since the trains in Italy are NEVER on time.

Vernazzo – this is the postcard town, with many hidden pathways and a beach where the kids were on learning about the sand and water from an older teacher.

Corniglia – a small piazza surrounded by buildings with one large tree growing beyond the rooftops

Manarola – my favorite where we climbed the terraces and saw gardens close up and the town far below

Riomaggiore – it was raining our entire time in Riomaggiore, the smallest of the towns, so we didn’t spend as much time here.

Photos really don’t do justice to these five lands on the cliffs surrounding the Mediterranean. It was so beautiful and even more beautiful to me is the history of the area. It is called an “artificial landscape” because the hills were transformed into small terraces held together with only earth and stone – nothing more. Over generations, these terraces were made by men with very little equipment. The paths are too narrow for donkeys, mules, or complex equipment. The terraces hold grapevines, olive and citrus trees, squash and pumpkins alongside roses and hydrangeas. The plots of land vary in size, but generally are very small.

A woman was walking down the street into town and before she passed the church, she did the sign of the cross. I wonder if her family has lived here for generations. She may still tend to one of the terraces. The shops sell very touristy items, but I suppose that is exactly how these towns make their money. White wine, lemons, sardines, and salted anchovies have not survived the ages. The Cinque Terre National park is trying to bring the vineyards back if only to maintain a live history of the area, but it is a slow process.

The funny story of Cinque Terre:

The bathroom boy collects money for the public to use the restroom by the train station. I think they are collecting money because of the water shortage that seems to be just in Monterosso. He talked to me during my first visit – asked where I was from. He did not speak much English at all. The second visit, he stopped and asked me more about exactly where I was from and then how much something was, but I couldn’t figure out what he wanted to know. Then, he asked me where I was staying (of course I gave a general answer of in town) and he asked me how much. Then, he asked me to dinner. Was he asking me on a date (my ego says yes) or was he trying to prostitute himself out to me (I am SO naïve!)?

1st photos of Vienna

2005-09-12T19:46:00.000-05:00

Trying diligently to catch up on my photos/posts. I'll be honest, I was sick last week and felt horrible on Friday/Saturday. I made it through about 1/4 of the Ufizzi musuem in Florence and had to sit the rest out. I will try my best to catch up soon.

In the meantime, here are my welcoming views of Vienna . If the photos load to slowly for Mom and Dad on dial-up, let me know!

traveling in italy, hostel living, and foreign languages

2005-09-09T03:54:00.000-05:00

first things first... the keyboards here are crazy - everything is in the wrong place. so no caps for today. i have finally figured out how to type a question mark and a right parantheses, which i consider to be an accomplishment.

this isn't one of my regular touristy posts... more of a blog really... so it's not short and the text isn't broken up with scenic photos ;-)

i STILL have no Italy pictures to post. one of the reasons is that i left my camera battery at home (vienna). yes, the cinque terre and tuscany have always been on the top of my travel list and here i am with my camera, but no camera battery. i can probably find one now that i'm in florence, but andria has been clicking away with her camera and letting me take shots, too. the cinque terre really had the postcard picture towns and i couldn't find a battery there.

orientation starts on monday, so i'll be taking an overnight train on saturday night back to vienna. i'm getting anxious about school. mostly because this late start is unusual. i'm not complaining mind you - i know that my classmates back in the states probably have late nights and little free time right now. i am looking forward to my classes here, but don't have a schedule yet. that could be nerve racking, but of course when you are backpacking the everything else has a way of leaving your mind.

i will hate to leave italy - it is just as i imagined. the cinque terre and florence are as different as OBX and NYC. the best of the seaside towns and big cities. i will return to italy during the next few months.

hostel living has been quite an experience thus far. in cinque terre, andria and i had one small room in monterosso. we had a sink in our room and shared a shower with 3 other rooms. it was in a great location.

in florence, we are staying at the hostel archi rossi... fantastic! it's buzzing with travelers. there is a tv/lounge area where they serve a free breakfast and where everyone was hanging out last night while it was raining outside. there is also free internet, which is normally busy but since i wake up so early when i'm traveling there is no one here right now but me and the guy who is working the front desk. there are paintings all over the walls on the first floor and many travelers have put graffiti on the stairwell halls... it's actually fun to read and andria and i plan to put the ncsu logo up there before we leave. we have 4 roomates, two from australia on holiday, one from NYC who was studying in germany for a month before she started to travel, and one who just arrived last night and went straight to bed.

the most frustrating thing for me is not knowing the languages. i love to talk with the locals and ask questions about the history of a place and what they love best abuot their hometown. You can only do so much knowing a few words/phrases and making hand gestures. i'm getting better at both. here in florence many locals seem very willing to speak english, so it's much easier... not sure if that's better, but at least i ask all the questions that i want!

Random thoughts..

2005-09-04T10:44:00.000-05:00

It's late Sunday afternoon and I am too tired to go into details about today... maybe later tonight. Andria and I met up with Blue and walked through the 7th District (where we live) and down to the Museumsquartier. I promise to get my photos on line, but until then I hope you are happy with the few here in my blog. Oh... here is another one.It's of my neighbors... shall we call him Buster? When I sit at my desk, I can see him sitting in a window across the street 5 stories above the street.

One of the guidebooks says that if NYC is the big apple of the U.S. then Vienna is the wedding cake of Europe. The buildings here are beautiful and we saw more of this today as we walked around the more touristy area (more about that in a later blog).

Subways are on the honor system. You do pay and get a ticket, then get the ticket stamped with the date/time. There wasn't anyone to ever take the ticket. However, if they ever do come by to check tickets and you don't have one - it's a fine of $70 Euros.

Newspapers are found in plastic bags that are locked to the lampposts. You put money in a little box and take out a paper. The honor system again.

Vienna – the 6th District

2005-09-03T22:00:00.000-05:00

I explored the city with Andria today. We are living in a true city, so the Billa grocery stores and Bipa drug stores are small along with everything in them…the products are definitely not supersized. Looking up to view the architecture or whatever I might miss if I only look straight ahead. What did I notice? Gardens. Little gardens in window boxes, big gardens on rooftops, and hidden gardens behind huge double doors like these in apartment/loft buildings. The architecture is great, too, but I have a feeling that I haven’t seen anything yet.

The Mariahilfer Strausse (Street) is like an average Joe’s Chicago Michigan Mile. This is where you shop and I did…. window, that is. The crowd was diverse and I think many of them were local – or at least they were speaking German. Traveling off the beaten path, I found a kitchen store that my cousin Ja would love and a wedding at the St Aegyd church.

It’s another late night. I did put in a good 7+ hours of sleep my first night here, so I must be settling in to this time zone.

My Buddy

2005-09-02T21:00:00.000-05:00

Willi is a student at WU and he was assigned to be my buddy and to help me get acclimated to Vienna. He was not able to pick me up at the airport, so he sent his friend Florian. They both grew up in a small town in northern Italy that was originally was part of the Austrian Habsburg Dynasty. Their first language is German, then Italian, and they are learning English at WU.

Florian later told us that he had joked around that he was going to the airport to pick up an older woman and he ended up with three. “They’ll never believe me,” he said. Andria was also there to greet me and I met an Australian traveler, Blue, near baggage claim who didn’t really know how to get to her hotel. So, the four of us and several bags of luggage fit into Florian’s car. This brings me to another observation. Small cars. SUVs are certainly not the norm here. Florian was having a great time whizzing around downtown at high speeds in a tiny, borrowed car.

Just how small are these small cars? Check out the Axiam Luxe (the "truck") and the Mercedes A160...

London Gatwick ≠ London Heathrow

2005-09-02T20:00:00.000-05:00

The morning of my flight, I realized that I had to figure out how to get from airport to airport (a 1-½ hour bus ride). As it turned out, it was a good way to get through a 7 hour layover. Since I had never taken such a long flight, I was proud that I kept my patience. The only delays were in London - a long queue for passport checks and a late plane coming from Leeds to take us to Vienna. I did have to lug my luggage from Gatwick to Heathrow and as my sister Jaye and nephew Andrew know – I had a bum wheel on my 60 pound suitcase. The entire outside of the wheel finally fell off, but there was a mini-wheel hiding underneath that I think will work fine as a spare.

The overseas flight was not bad since I was able to sleep a few hours. Dinner blurred right into breakfast. The man sitting to my right was disgruntled and angry with British Airways since his previous flight was cancelled a few weeks ago due to the strike and he missed a holiday with his family. Already upset, he found his headset had an electrical short, his video wasn’t clear, and he forgot to ask for his free bottle of wine with dinner. He put on his eye mask, put in his ear plugs, and turned toward the window to sleep. The man to my left made up for him! He charmed the stewardess into handing over 4 bottles of wine. Since each bottle was 12 oz. he was happy for quite some time.

During the bus trip to Heathrow I couldn’t see much but trees and a few shingled elegant homes on the hillsides. Driving on the opposite side of the road wasn’t so odd, but then again it wasn’t me doing the driving.

Five Days and Counting...

2005-08-23T16:00:00.000-05:00

I'm only in Raleigh for 5 more days! Finishing up my "to-do" list and most importantly, visiting with friends before I go. Flying to Atlanta on the 29th to spend a few days with my sister, Jaye. Then on September 1st it's off to Vienna!

My semester will be spent studying at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. Classes don't start until October, so September includes a trip to Italy and a two week orientation program.

I am both nervous and excited about this trip - especially since I have never been abroad. I know that it will be a fantastic experience and I'll be sure to share those experiences with you via this blog.

Guten Tag!