Dessau and Leipzig Highlights

Dessau and Leipzig were awesome cities in Germany that we visited. They were both much smaller than Berlin so it was definitely a different vibe here. Geographically, the buildings here were a perfect combo of old and remodeled buildings and you could definitely see the effects that WWII had on the cities. it was easy to tell that there was a lot of damage done from the bombings, and lots of the cities were very new because of the rebuilding. Some of the buildings they rebuilt back to their original looks which I thought was really cool, because it is more time consuming.

            Academically, attending the Bach museum in Leipzig was my favorite part of going to these cities. I have a strong music background, and it was awesome to see so much of Bach’s history. The museum was very interactive which made it more interesting to me. There were things that made different music that you could play, a movie room, and lots of historical facts in the museum. It was fun to see!

            I really enjoyed shopping in Leipzig, because there was a huge mall there! The mall was three floors and had so many nice stores that we do not have in the States. I would definitely recommend going there, it was a lot of fun. It was nice to just walk around the inner city of Leipzig, because it is fairly small, but there is a lot to see. I find the city extremely cute! It is very old but modern at the same time which makes it unique.

            As far as food recommendations, a restaurant in Leipzig called Riquet was my favorite. I ordered a chicken salad and it was amazing! I was really impressed with the food there. They also had tons of desserts to choose from, and I ordered a hazelnut cream c

ake. Needless to say, it was delicious. 

Berlin Highlights

Berlin was one of my favorite cities that I had the privilege of going to. The subway system was the biggest thing to get used to in terms of moving around the city. I was fascinated by how complex the subway system is but how easy it is once you catch on to how it works. The city is so large, and the subway system is a great way of navigating around the city, and being able to get practically anywhere without a car or vehicle. There were a lot of close calls with getting our big group all onto the subway before it took off! Once the doors open, there is not much time to get on before the subway leaves, which can prove to be difficult when everyone is scrambling for a spot.

We saw many cool things as a group, but my favorite would

probably have to be the Olympic Stadium.  Seeing the rings when we entered the area was really cool, and they are the original rings from 1932! We had a guided tour which was nice to hear about the history of the Stadium, and our tour guide did a really good job. The stadium was bombed in WWII, but much of the original still stands today. We saw the original stairs where Hitler would enter when he attended the games, and we also saw where he would stand in the stadium. It was a cool experience to see a place where so much history has been made! It was a beautiful day, which also made the tour a lot of fun!

As far as extracurricular activities, my favorite experience was definitely experiencing a Berlin club on 90’s night. I went with Amber, Michaela, and Karli, and we initially wanted to go to a club called Club Soda. Unfortunately that one was closed, but we saw this club across the street and took a chance and decided to check it out. While standing in line to get in, we talked to these girls in front of us who let us in on the “password” for the night to get us in for free instead of 3 euro. The password was “bubbles & squeak” and we all had to say it or it didn’t count! When we entered, Britney Spears was playing and I knew it was going to be a good time. We all had so much fun dancing and meeting German people. People were not as aggressive as they can be in American clubs so we were all really impressed by that. It was definitely an experience we will never forget, and I am so happy we ventured out and discovered this club!

            Berlin had some of my favorite foods that I tried over the course of the whole trip. My absolute favorite food that I tried in Berlin was called a Doner kebab, and sold at a food stand by our hostel. It was similar to a gyro, but so much more delicious. I got one with meat, sheep cheese, lettuce and a really yummy sauce. I was surprised that it was so good! There are lots of stands around Berlin that have these, and I would definitely recommend trying them!

Travel Experiences

My travel experience to Europe was a very new experience for me. I have only been on a plane ride that was a couple hours, so flying across the world was a little intimidating at first. I woke up at about 6 am for my flight at 10:40 because I was so nervous about my trip! Once I got to the airport, I met Lizzy, and we waited in line to go through security together. For some reason I missed the memo that you can only have one little plastic bag full of liquids on my carry on, and I had to try to fit two, gallon bags of toiletries into one small bag. It was really stressful because the line was moving fast and I had nowhere to set down my stuff. I definitely made a scene in the airport trying to scramble to figure out what I was going to keep and what I was going to toss. Lizzy was helpful and so was the nice guy that was standing behind us, who helped carry my suitcase and bag as we moved through the line. There was a girl in line also who didn’t have any liquids so she took one of my plastic bags with her so I could keep more of my stuff. Minnesota people are so nice! After I made it through security, I had some time to relax after that unexpected stressful incident. We met up with about eight other people from our travel group. Our flight left the Minneapolis airport at 10:40 am with a layover in Newark, NJ for a couple of hours, and then we had an eight hour flight to the TXL airport in Berlin, Germany. One thing I was very thankful for was being on the same flight itinerary with so many people from our group. Airports can be confusing and it was nice to have other people around. I would definitely recommend others to try and plan the same flight as at least one other person, because it is always better to know someone on the long journey across the world. My eight hour flight was very long but it was nice that it was overnight so I could attempt to sleep. We made it to Berlin bright and early in the morning (it’s a 7 hour ahead time difference), and I was exhausted! We all stayed awake so we could sleep well that night, which I would recommend because I slept like a baby. Overall my travels to Germany were pretty smooth!

Landscape and Memory Blog Post- Where Hitler died in Berlin

The location where Hitler died- Führerbunker

At the end of his life, Hitler was retreated in his bunker underneath the Reich Chancellery building in Berlin. The end of Hitler's regime was apparent, and on April 28th Hitler received a report that Himmler, head of the SS, had been in touch with the Allies regarding a surrender. Hitler decided that suicide was his only option. Around midnight on April 28th, Adolf Hitler married Eva Braun.
By the afternoon of April 29, Soviet ground forces were about a mile away from the Führerbunker. Inside the bunker the last news from the outside world was word of the downfall and death of Mussolini, who had been captured by Italian partisans, executed, and hung upside down and thrown into the gutter.Hitler's body was found sprawled on the sofa, dripping with blood from a gunshot to his right temple. Eva Braun had died from swallowing poison. None of the bunker’s survivors heard the shot that killed Hitler. 

This site is considered one of obliteration. There is no trace of evidence that this is the location that Hitler died, and there is nothing representative of the event here for people to remember. The location is now just a parking lot that is in front of residential apartments. 

 "I myself and my wife - in order to escape the disgrace of deposition or capitulation - choose death"- Adolf Hitler.

References:
 "The Death of Adolf Hitler." The Death of Adolf Hitler. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2013.
 "The History Place - World War II in Europe Timeline: April 30, 1945 - Death of Hitler." The History Place - World War II in Europe Timeline: April 30, 1945 - Death of Hitler. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2013.
 Eva Braun with Adolf Hitler [Photograph]. (2012). Retrieved from The Jerusalem Post website: http://www.jpost.com/Arts-and-Culture/Entertainment/How-did-Hitler-really-die

Krakow- Auschwitz-Birkenau II

                                                       Auschwitz-Birkenau II
                                                                                         A Horrible History
                                                                                  “final solution of the Jewish question in Europe”
   

      A horrible massive killing center, this marks one of the biggest massacres in history. Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was the largest of the German concentration camps, consisting of Auschwitz I (the Stammlager or base camp); Auschwitz II–Birkenau (the Vernichtungslager or extermination camp); Auschwitz III–Monowitz, also known as Buna–Monowitz (a labor camp); and 45 satellite camps. Jews were transported to the camp's gas chambers from all over Europe between early 1942 until late 1944. Close to 90% of the victims of Auschwitz Concentration Camps died in Birkenau, and about nine out of ten were Jews. 
      On January 27, 1945, Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet troops, a day commemorated around the world as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In 1947, Poland created a museum on the site of Auschwitz I and II, which gathers about 1,300,000 visitors annual. As visitors pass through the iron gates, the infamous motto Arbeit macht frei (“work makes free”) hangs above the passage. By 2011, more than 30 million people had visited the camp.
      The holocaust has been something I have been fascinated with since I remember learning about it in grade school. The stories I have read and the pictures I have seen have brought me to tears on some occasions, and always leave a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know that this will be one of the most emotional and heavy places we visit this summer. How could so many people participate in this disgusting event in history? To be in this building is going to be indescribable.

References
http://www.israelarbeitergallery.org/2011/09/07/auschwitz-birkenau/

http://www.firststreetconfidential.com/index.history.0120.html

Budapest- Dohany Street Synagogue

          Dohany Street Syngagogue
      The Dohany Street Synagogue is described as the most impressive synagogue in the country of Budapest. It is the largest synagogue in Europe, and the second largest in the world. In 2009, the massive monument celebrated 150 years of existence. The building can hold upwards of 3,000 people and is designed like a basilica. The synagogue includes architectural elements from the Byzantine and Moorish styles. This site is now part of the complex and home to the Jewish Museum.

      During the inter-war years, anti-Semitism grew quickly in Hungary. A series of anti-Jewish policies were passed, and fascist groups like the Arrow Cross Party started to attract more followers. Hungary became an ally of Germany and the Arrow Cross Party damaged the Synagogue in 1939. During World War II, the Great Synagogue served as a stable and as a radio communication center for the Germans. Today, the synagogue serves as the main center for the Jewish community.
      
      I find this synagogue so beautiful and classic. I think it is great that there is such a large and gorgeous place to worship for the people of Budapest, and for visitors to admire. This will be a fun site to see.

References:
"Great Synagogue Budapest - Dohany Street Synagogue." Budapest - Budapest Travel Guide and Information - Budapest, an Insider's Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2013.
"Budapest,inside The Dohany Street Synagogue Photos, Wallpapers." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2013.

Vienna- Schönbrunn Castle

                        Schönbrunn Castle

Schonbrunn Palace is a baroque synthesis of different arts and was the Habsburg's possession
for centuries, used as a summer residence. The palace contains an enchanting park, the Palm House, the Gloriette and a zoo. This land was in the possession of the Habsburg's since 1569, when the wife of Emperor Ferdinand II. had a summer residence built there in 1642, which she called "Schönbrunn". The palace and garden were rebuilt and redesigned by Maria Theresia after 1743.

<--- Palmhouse

Today, the palace is part of UNESCO’s cultural heritage due to its historic importance, its unique grounds and its splendid furnishings.
The rooms are mostly decorated in Rococo style and have walls and ceilings covered with white-lacquered surfaces with ornamentation covered with gold leaf. These rooms are available to the public through guided tours. Although Austria is now a republic, Schönbrunn has remained a place of high political relevance.
The magnificent architecture and the exquisite décor of its state rooms marks Schönbrunn out as a cultural treasure and tourist attraction of the first order.
References:
"Schönbrunn Palace." - VIENNA – NOW OR NEVER. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2013."Stock Photo - Vienna, Austria - June, 2011: Architecture of the Famous Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria." 123RF Stock Photos. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2013.