Sunday, November 8, 2009

I finished off my Eurail pass!

I used the final two travel days on my Eurail pass this weekend to go to Strasbourg, France. Emily and I visited our friend Kirgens, who was in Vienna last weekend. It was a very fun time. I remember talking about Strasbourg in French class in Middle School, and it always sounded like a beautiful place. It was very charming. Highlights of the trip included going on a boat tour, eating lunch in Petite France, an area that looks like the town in "Beauty and the Beast," and eating crepes (at the train station in Munich).

The Eurail pass got me to Venice, Rome, Milan, Nice, Paris, Mannheim, Munich, Krakow and Strasbourg. I would say it was definitely a good investment!

I am now back in my apartment, ready for another week of classes. It was pleasantly surprising to arrive home and see that Christmas lights have been put up on a street near my house. It was a nice welcome back to Vienna.

Here are the highlights of this past week:

Monday, November 2nd: I cooked a nice meal after classes: brocolli, carrots, and rice with soy sauce. It was simple, but I haven't been taking a lot of time to actually cook here, other than canned soups and pastas with pre-made sauce.

Wednesday, November 4th: My Art and Architecture class went to the Kunsthistorisches Museum and studied some of its Renaissance works. I have a new favorite painter: Pieter Bruegel. His paintings have a lot going on in them, somewhat similar to a "Where's Waldo" drawing, yet each contains a very important message. For instance, at first glance, one of his paintings just looks like a bunch of children playing games in a town square. Upon closer inspection, though, you see that the games are mostly dark and abusive. It makes a point that everyone is always playing their own games, and not paying attention to others around them.

Thursday, November 5th: Linda Watson, a professional Wagnerian Soprano, came to IES to give a masterclass, and I was selected to sing for her. It was a great honor, and a fun experience. I sang "O du mein holder Abendstern" from "Tannhauser," a Wagner opera. The feedback was good, and I got a much better grasp on the character of the piece.

Friday, November 6th: I skipped my classes to catch a train to Strasbourg. When I was chatting with a friend on Facebook the night before, I said "I think I'm going to skip my classes tomorrow. I'd rather go to France." He said it was one of the best excuses for skipping he has ever heard.

Saturday, November 7th: I spent the whole day in Strasbourg. It was wonderful.

Sunday, November 8th: Our train left France around 10:00, and it took most of the day to make it back to Vienna. But I feel rested and I was able to get my homework done on the train. All is well.

I love you all.

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