Jesse, Justin, and Calder got to go to
Europe this summer. Jesse's trip was with the BYU-I art department;
while Calder and Justin's was the result of two summers of long working
hours, and a self disciplined saving's plan. They
came back with opposite ways of expressing their experiences; the boy's
experience was told in lots of pictures, while Jesse's was told in
journal entries for a school assignment. I loved them both!
Because
I can't get enough of it, here it is in most of it's entirety (chapter
one removed because it was just the three week itinerary.)
Chapter 2 “Self-Discovery”
Day 4: April 25th - Belgium!
Today
we spent time touring around Bruges.
After the craziness of London, it’s so nice to be placed in a calm,
quiet town. My favorite part about Bruges is the little church that we found. (So far we haven’t really been able to go
into very many of the cathedrals ether due to time or they were closed.) Today I noticed that the doors were open with
plenty of time to enter. It was
beautiful! I’ve been to churches in
America that were pretty cool but there is simply no comparison to a European
cathedral. My favorite discovery was the
marble sculpture that rested right under the organ’s pipes. The sculpture was un-named, but to me it was
God with one arm out-stretched and a scepter in the other. His robes were constantly flowing, and he was
surrounded by little cherubs. I imagined how powerful that sculpture would look
with the sound of the organ coming out from behind him. It really was magnificent. I only wished I was able to hear the organ
playing. This church was one of the
reasons I loved Bruges so much.
Reflection:
I loved finding this church, because I felt like I had personally found it; it
was my little discovery. No one had told
us about the church, nor did I know anything about it so finding it made it
personal to me. It seemed like a hidden
treasure that I alone stumbled upon. The
sculpture felt like it was placed there just for me, and I was happy to claim
it as my own. I realized it’s important
to make little discoveries like these instead of just sticking to my list of
things to see just because I know about them.
Sometimes discovery creates understanding. It also helps create a more open mind towards
other works. Too often I think I would
get in the habit of skipping a sculpture, or painting, or building because I
didn’t recognize what it was or who created it instead of really being able to
enjoy the creation without the constraints of its label.
Day 7: April 28th - Versailles
Versailles
was drop-dead stunning. That being said,
it was a mess trying to get there, and trying to rush through the Orsay was
practically torture. On top of that
attempting to get on the underground to travel to the palace was major
confusion with the whole “other ticket” deal.
Add everyone’s emotions, including my own, and frustration was at its
height. Already stressful, once we got
there we frustratingly waited in line. When
we finally got into the entrance, I could not figure out how to get in the
“real” part of the building. I felt like
an idiot and practically on the verge of tears. Luckily, I met up with Jason and we decided to
head out to the gardens since the palace was going to soon close. Jason paid for my ticket and said “Alright,
let’s make your time here better.” So I
took off my shoes and stuck them in my bag as I wandered the gardens. We met three more of our contingents and tried
to go to Marie Antoinette’s palace.
Unfortunately by the time we got there, it was closed, which was a major
bummer especially after reading The Queen’s Confession. So instead we all walked the gardens some
more. I felt as if I was in a Jane
Austin novel because I was in a long skirt and was barefoot roaming through the
gardens of Versailles; honestly, it doesn’t get any more romantic than
that! It was hard to remember that only
a few hours before that I was so overly stressed; the quiet, peaceful gardens
zapped that away instantly. For the five
of us, I’m pretty sure it was one of our favorite days.
Reflection:
What I learned from today was to just relax; there are so many things on this
trip that would be so easy to stress out about like the metro, getting lost, or
trying to do exactly what I had planned for the day. But in the long run, usually the unexpected events
create the best days. If I don’t get to
go to every place that I want, it’s just more reason to come back. Jason provided me with a great example: the cure for stress is to think of others
rather than self.
Day 8: April 29th
- Paris
Last
day in Paris! The Louvre . . . oh my
goodness, one of my favorite places ever! The first thirty minutes of trying to figure out
the whole building was kind of crazy. A tip for future travelers- Don’t ever try
to navigate the Louvre without a map . . . not a good idea. My favorite part
about the Louvre was wandering room after room, finding so many paintings that
I love and yet had no idea where they were in the world. One of my favorite paintings that I stumbled
upon was “Ship of Fools” by
Hieronymus Bosch. I didn’t realize how
small the painting was compared to all the other paintings, which were twice
its size. I almost walked right by it. I’ve noticed size and proportion are really
difficult to grasp without seeing these paintings in person. I also found "An Old Man and His Grandson" by Ghirlandaio on my way to see
the Mona Lisa, and because of it, I
never even made it to the Mona Lisa! I’ve always thought the way that Ghirlandaio
portrays the moral of true beauty in his painting is pure genius.
Reflection:
Finding these pieces made me giddy, and I actually gasped finding each one of these
paintings. I’m grateful that art can make me so excited and that it moves me
deeply. I love that every single work
gives a different feeling and tells a unique story either by medium, texture,
or subject.
Day 12: May 3rd
Although
today was very busy, it was “chill” at the same time. First we walked around some Roman ruins. It was rather surreal. We arrived early in the morning so hardly anybody
was there except our group. There were
numerous red poppies scattered along the ruins. They reminded me of my old art
teacher in California; she was always painting scenes from Italy. For the remainder of the day, we spent time in
a little town on a hill. At the very top
was where the church was located. The
outside and inside of the building were all lined with a whitish gray and black
stone, which seemed like it was from a Wizard
of Oz movie. Since I paid to go in,
they gave me a little brochure that explained the outside of the façade. After I came out, Taylor and I sat there and
studied it until we had the whole thing figured out. It always surprises me about how much more I
enjoy something when I understand what’s going on. The interior scene of the Last Judgment was impressive as well. One thing that I noticed that I hadn’t
realized before about the Catholic Church was that during the last judgment the
righteous would be resurrected from the dead. Also I didn’t realize the extent of how much
the church focused on Mary, the mother of Jesus. After figuring out the façade it was
fascinating to realize that 3/4th of the whole thing was more about
Mary than anyone else.
Reflection:
I hate the feeling of seeing a great creation and knowing I’m missing so much
in the understanding of it. On the other
hand, I did notice a cool façade on a church we visited, but I didn’t give it
much thought beyond that. After Taylor
and I sat there for thirty minutes going over each relief, we took a step back,
and I realized this was one of my favorite facades from the trip. Not that it was more beautiful than the rest,
but I knew its story, and it became personal to me. Again, I’m being taught this lesson over and
over again: really understanding
something makes a tremendous difference in the beauty of the work.
Day 13: May 4th
I
went to the Uffizi gallery this morning. I was finally able to follow Brother
Geddes around for half of it as well! He
always has such good insights and is free and open about sharing them while we are
inside a museum or basically anywhere.
It’s really fun to follow him, except I’m not the only one who knows
this little secret, and it gets hard to stick in the circle to hear his
wisdom. Today, however, I got my
turn. It was nice just learning a little
about one or two paintings in a room then moving on. I think my favorite one that we talked about was
where Leonardo’s master let him paint the angel in his painting. After the master saw the angel, which young
Leonardo created, he put down his brush saying, “I am no longer the master, he
is.” I have heard this story many times
before, but I never knew which painting was referenced. In fact I had always thought it was a
completely different painting for some reason. If it wasn’t for Brother Geddes pointing it
out, I know I would have walked right by it without giving it much thought in
the first place. That and, of course, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. It’s such a
cool feeling to see works and places that I’ve been dreaming about for so long,
and now actually being able to see and experience it all.
Reflection:
In my English class we had a discussion about whether it’s better to be a Renaissance
man, like Leonardo Da Vinci, or whether it’s better to have a strong
specialized field in one subject. At
first I was thinking Renaissance man, but as the discussion continued, I began
to be swayed to the specialized field argument. I mention this in a lot of my reflections, but
as I walk through Europe, I’m very glad of the little knowledge I have of the
many places and things I have been able to see. I want to have that Renaissance
man idea because without it I think these things wouldn’t have nearly as much
impact on me. Brother Geddes convinced
me that it might be okay not to be completely specialized in just one thing.
Day 16: May 7th
Oh
man… So today was supposed to be the day to go to Venice, which is spelled Venezia
in Italian. A group of us left early to
get a good day’s worth of site seeing in Venice. When we got at the train
station the line was super long so Catherine and I went to check out the “fast
tickets” that were self-service. Not
long after that we were off! It was about an hour bus ride to Venice. Once we got off the bus, we looked around and
could not understand why the streets were paved with concrete instead of
canals. After asking the third person
who spoke no English the directions to St. Marks and only getting the response,
“The market?” we finally realized that we were definitely not in Venice! We just wandered around laughing trying to
figure out where we were. Once we got
the courage to ask one of the dumbest questions ever, “Excuse me, but this town
isn’t Venice is it?” Instead we were in Vicenza and they are two completely
different places! As we wandered the
city to get our bus ticket worth of site seeing, Catharine kept mentioning an
architect that she knew of that had designed many of the buildings in the town.
It was fun hearing her realizing the discovery
she had made. Catharine was the coolest
person to get completely lost with! She
was easy going and happy. Once we got
back to Padua, we headed out again to the real Venice, which looked much more
of what I was expecting. The great thing
about today is neither of us was worried and had the best time no matter if we
were in Venice or Vicenza.
Reflection:
Sometimes the best days are the ones
where things go completely wrong. Even though we both really wanted to go to
Venice and had to be home in time to get tickets for the Scrovegni Chapel. Our 3-4 hours detour didn’t faze us. I owe this experience to good company. Catharine was so easy going and willing to
make our situation an adventure. Again
our trip was too short to get flustered. Catharine was a great example in how to make
the best of any situation.
Day 19: May 10th
As
this trip has progressed, I’ve noticed that I’ve started to actually enjoy
viewing the Early Christian, Gothic, and Renaissance art more and more. Normally when I go to an art museum, the
beginning areas are most always portraying earlier periods, and I rush right
through them while maybe only stopping to look at one or two. Normally I don’t give them much of a second
thought, except for the fact that the rooms seem to drag on forever. Now, however, I can spend a bit more time in
these sections then I have ever done before because it finally has become
interesting to me. While it isn’t my
favorite, I can honestly say I somewhat appreciate it. It seems that the paintings of these periods
aren’t so much about the painting itself but about the symbolism. Since I’ve been able to recognize symbols and
understand a little part of the symbolic meaning, the painting becomes like a
puzzle with the deeper meaning waiting to be discovered. I know that there is
still a greater depth to learn and understand in these paintings, but I feel
like I’ve finally made that starting connection.
Reflection:
While I know little about St Sebastian,
I can at least point him out. He is the
one with all the arrows punctured into him. I’m not sure who he is other than that and why
he is full of arrows, but I’ve noticed that just knowing a little makes me want
to know more about the subject. When I
got home I looked him up to figure out his story. Apparently he was a Roman solider
and later captain. During the time of
the persecution of the Catholics, Sebastian himself was identified Catholic and
was shot with a bunch of arrows. He
survived the onslaught and recovered, but from there on he fought for
Christianity until he was ultimately and finally killed.
Day 23: May 14th
Flight home! Right now we are in the middle of
our ten hour flight back to the states. I’m
excited; we were told that when we go back it’s not going to be the same. I was
trying to think of all the things that might be different: 1) the food; 2) the architecture, buildings
are nowhere close to anything this old back
home; 3) the relationships made-I’m going home with 49 new friends; 4) the
thought of just being able to walk everywhere and end up somewhere awesome; and
5) being able to look at an authentic art piece and knowing that I’m looking at
the legitimate piece instead of just a copy.
Reflection:
It’s all true. It’s weird being back and not eating a huge
roll with Nutela every morning and disappointingly seeing the Americanized version
of European food. The architecture of course appears funny now. For instance Jamestown in the East is one of
our oldest American settlements, but after seeing Rome my “old” perspective has
forever changed. The history is so
different between Europe and newly founded America. Traveling overseas and
seeing old sites is one of the coolest things I have ever done. Although the states may not have as many cool
things, I appreciate going to U.S. sites because I can call it my history. It’s hard not to appreciate that there is
something special about that.
Chapter
3 “Spiritual Sensitivity”
Day 3: April 24rd
Today
was a day in the British Museum.
Tourists around me walk up to the paintings, snap a picture, and walk
away. I’m curious as to why they weren’t
willing to really even to look at the piece and enjoy it in the moment . . . in
person. What’s that picture going to
matter to them when they get back? Why
would they study a picture instead of the real art? I doubt they will study the picture, so why
take it? Last semester in class, Brother
Geddes would always say, “Oh these pictures don’t do it justice. I wish you could actually see it in person.” I’ve realized that’s very true. There really is nothing compared seeing the
actual lighting, texture, and depth that only the original can possess. I think that’s why all these people are kind
of bugging me as they just stare at the work through a lens. I know they are missing out. On the other hand, maybe I’m just upset that
I forgot my camera this morningJ.
Reflection:
Nope it still bugs me, I’ve decided I
don’t want to get stuck seeing Europe from the camera lens. I’ve also noticed that places where they don’t
allow for pictures (like the Sistine Chapel, a few of the cathedrals, and many
museums) have a completely different feeling or tone than those that do. It’s a much more spiritual and respectful
feeling. I enjoyed the places where
cameras were prohibited; I was touched much more by the art because there were
no distractions. All there was to do
was to soak up what the art had to offer and other people who came to these
places took the time for the experience.
Day 5: April 26th
The
St. Bravos Church was simply stunning. Best of all, however, was the back, left
corner in a little gated room where this little old man sat playing the harp. The music produced by his strings filled the
whole church, and as I walked around the chapel, I felt like I was gliding
through it. Right above the harp player,
a large stained-glass window made the room glow. It was one of the most beautiful sights I had
seen and I began to tear up just participating in the experience. Because of the harp player, this church had
touched me so much more than any of the other churches we have seen so far. I know that art is beautiful and powerful
standing alone, yet when music and art are placed together the result is
transcending.
Reflection:
I really wish that every church had a
harp player or another source of music to accompany it. I did notice throughout the trip that many
places do have some source of music . . . just in different ways than I
expect. It seems like the most beautiful
places will always have their harp player (so to speak) if I have the time to
notice. In one situation, I noticed a
small child asking his parents questions about a cathedral in the musical flow
of the Italian language; another time I noticed the chorus of light gasps of
wonder as tourists witnessed the Sistine Chapel. I guess if you’re willing to hear it, every
beautiful thing has its own music.
Day 6: April 27th
Today
I was able to see the Notre Dame. I just don’t know how to keep describing how
wonderful these places are. I don’t really
know how to articulate and expresses the sense of them. I was really surprised how dark it was in
this church compared to some of the other Gothic churches. My only explanation was that it was earlier
Gothic then later and they hadn’t been able to put as much window light as they
did in the latter. (That’s what I’m
sticking with anywayJ.) While exploring the Notre Dame the organs began
to play, and then the choir began to sing; it was just mesmerizing. Brother Davis was explaining to me that the
section where the congregation sits is called the “Nave,” like the navel of a
ship. Since a ship takes people from one
place to another, the symbolism of the nave is that it takes the people to a
higher place from this world. Sitting
there and listing to that choir I felt that I could understand the idea behind
the nave; it was like we were completely away in a separate and higher world.
Reflection:
As I think more about the nave, I’m fascinated
with that symbolism. One of the ways I
often feel the Holy Ghost is, oddly enough, through my feet. They often feel like they are weightless or
rising. I think that’s why I was so
interested in this because I get that feeling often, and it finally put a word
to a personal feeling that has meaning.
Day 11: May 2nd
We’re
at the beach . . . just somewhere on the Mediterranean Ocean . . . no big dealJ.
It’s nice to be out of the busy city for
a day. Earlier this morning we went to
Sistine Chapel. O.K., maybe the coolest
thing I’ve ever seen. I feel like this
journal is just full of “cool’s” and “amazing’s” and other meaningless words
that don’t even come somewhat close to all the things being witnessed. Maybe I should be studying vocabulary, and
then music, and then art. I really just
don’t know how one could describe everything. I got separated from everyone during the
shoving and pushing that seemed to occur at the Vatican Museum. Truthfully, I
was a bit glad I got separated from everyone. I’ve discovered that when I feel the
aesthetics through art I “hear” it best alone.
When I walked into the Sistine Chapel, I actually felt chills even though
there were tons of us packed in this room with guards shouting hushing
noises. It didn’t matter; it was all
just so exciting. I brought a map of the
ceiling with me, which told about each scene and character. It was helpful to know what I was
seeing. The Sistine Chapel is memorable;
I will never forget it. To say much more given my limitations in
verbiage, might cheapen the experience.
Reflection:
Before I went to the Sistine, I heard
from a few people who had been before and felt that the hype created a letdown
when they actually saw it. I’ve been
asked similar questions since my return:
“Was it what you thought?” “Was
it as great as you imagined?” I can’t
quite understand why that chapel would be a letdown to anyone. While it would have been nice to observe it without
the huge crowd, the ceiling and the Last
Judgment were astounding things to see.
To think someone like Michelangelo would spend four years of his life, day
in and day out, working to create this treasure is enough to make the
experience worthwhile.
Day 17: May 8th
Oh
wow! The Alps . . . and all of
Austria is beautiful! The drive was
breathtaking. I especially enjoyed that
bus ride. Secretly I loved going through
the tunnels in the mountains and then popping out again on the other side. Each time it was like getting to see
everything again for the first time, just over and over again. It never got old either; there was always
something new and exciting and the end of those tunnels. Once we arrived in Salzburg and had our “Sound
of Music” tour a small group of us and Brother Flora went to climb up to the
Abby from which Maria ran away. We were
lucky enough to even be able to sit and listen to the nuns singing for a few
moments (until we were kicked outJ). Once the Abby closed, we continued to the
fortress at the top. As I was walking
around, I found this little opening that led to a small balcony that looked
over the whole city. The clock struck
eight and about five of the churches scattered throughout the town all started
dancing, pounding, and making a beautiful mess with all different kinds of bell
ringing. It was beautiful all at once. After the bells, we all met up and watched the
sunset from the ledge of the fortress. Does life get any better than this?
Reflection:
What made this day special is because it
was a bit different from the rest. Most days are going, going, going, and even
though today was a busy day, there were many opportunities to watch and
listen. Watching the mountains and the
sunset and hearing the singing and the bells, I appreciated just taking out the
busyness and listening to what the smaller and quieter things had to say.
Day 18: May 9th
In
Germany! Earlier today we went to Dachau, a concentration camp. It was very sobering. I was curious how it would be different from
all the holocaust museums I’ve been able to go to in the states. Since we were only given about an hour and a
half to tour the place, I decided to save the Dachau Museum for last so that I
could spend my time touring the grounds.
I hoped to have later time for the museum (which never happened). I’m
really glad I decided to go that route. Actually
walking on the grounds where many people labored, died, lost hope, and were
buried was a very humbling experience. It
really made me realize how blessed I am to never have had something as
traumatic in my own life or those of my loved ones. One thing I couldn’t help but realize was that
this spot was really a beautiful place. The
nature surrounding the whole area was very green and lush, but it was even more
abundant near the back where all the bodies were buried. I tried to block the thought of the beauty out
of my head, it didn’t seem right to think about how beautiful the land was when
so many had died in vain and were broken and torn in this very spot. Still, the earth has a way of cleansing
itself and is very forgiving. The earth
brought life back to this hallowed place even though the land and its people
had been broken and beaten. It hadn’t
always been this way. Old pictures at
the time of the atrocity didn’t show a land as beautiful as it is now. I determined that it was appropriate to
consider this a beautiful land because it is now stronger.
Reflection:
From this experience I noticed that
nature can teach some of the biggest lessons if I pay attention to them. When hard things happen it is very easy to
stay bitter, which would be like staying a dusty wasteland stained with the
past. Instead I can learn to forgive as
nature does and grow and become beautiful.
Day 21: May 12th
Happy
Mother’s Day! Of course, it’s another
rainy Sunday, but today was different.
Instead of going to mass or an LDS church, we got to go to a Lutheran
church, which was unusual and a new experience for me. If I had lived in the time that Martian
Luther was breaking away from the Catholic Church, I would have totally
followed him. The Lutheran music was
absolutely beautiful! There was one lead
singer by the organist who would sing little solos in the numbers. There were many more songs in the
meeting. I loved the strong presentation
of the music. Sitting in the church
during the service, I was trying to decide if I liked having all the church
ceremonies in Italian, French, or German, or if I wished I could understand
what they were saying. The good thing
about them being in a different language was that it was nice to just focus on
the beauty of voice and to realize that the sprit can be felt even without
understanding the words spoken. One
reason that I somewhat wished that I could understand what was being spoken was
to be able to compare and contrast the different churches and their messages. What I loved about the Lutheran church was
that at the end of the ceremony the organist played this big long piece of
Bach, and then everyone clapped and dismissed. I loved that! It was such an “umph” to the end
of a meeting.
Reflection:
Later that night Bother Flora mentioned
that it was okay to want those things in our church, like that ending Bach
piece. . . .That was a comfort because I was having some major jealousy (righteous
envy?) earlier today with all that music. One thing that I did miss in both the Lutheran
Church and in the Catholic Church was prayer. I think I take for granted how close and
personal a relationship can be and that I am able to have through personal prayer
with my Heavenly Father.
Day 22: May 13th
One
thing I have assumed is things are completely different in different countires;
however, I have noticed that people are still people, trees are still trees,
and buildings are still buildings. Even
though the people, the nature, and the architecture all have differences, those
same basics are still there. In Paris I
went into a small bakery close to our hostel, and the girl behind the counter
could speak French with barely any English.
I was trying to get a baguette for dinner, but we could not communicate
at all. We were both stumbling over each
other’s words. (I guess my pointing
skills aren’t so great either). After
another complete failure of trying to communicate, we both just burst out laughing
at the same time. Eventually we were
able to understand each other enough for me to get my dinner before we said,
“Goodbye.” Even though our communication
was pitiful, we were still able to have a connection with one another. That’s what I love about people, no matter where
you find yourself, there is always a way to make a connection. While we all
have differences we are all basically the same.
Reflection:
Traveling to new countries and seeing
that no matter where we are that there is a human connection gives me
comfort. I have a really hard time
understanding racism even more. I don’t
get how you can treat someone like they are not human when those human
connections are so easy to make even if the language, color, and features are
different. It’s confusing to even
imagine how this happens.
Chapter 4 “Cultural Awareness”
Day 1: April 22nd
I
woke up at 2 in the morning to catch the bus down to SLC, four of the other
students were on the same bus with me, and once we arrived we all sat in the
SLC airport staring at each other awkwardly… I hate that feeling where you know
that soon were going to be friends or know each other by the end of the trip
sense we will be all together for three weeks, yet at the moment your complete
strangers. It’s awkward… Also, I feel
kind of silly, I just brought T-shirts for the three weeks, and these girls
look super cute. Bummer…
Reflection: It’s funny to
have those first impressions of someone and then going back and thinking about
when you meet them first compared to how you know them now and seeing how those
thoughts change.
Day 2: April 23nd
Our
bus driver yelled out “Bloody Hell” to the cars all over the street . . . kind
of secretly made my dayJ. Looking out the window of London, it reminds
me about every Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, Peter Pan, and
so many other movies/books I have enjoyed. I didn’t really realize how much influence all
those books and movies could have on the entire environment here in London and
generally in Europe . . . especially Harry Potter. Every house we pass by is a mirror image of
the Dudley’s “muggle home.” It made me
think off all the things that we take in but don’t really notice. I’m really excited to experience the same
phenomenon with France as well and making connections with Les Miserable,
Tale of Two Cities, Count of Monte Christo, and the Queen’s Confessions.
It’s making me realize how making connections really are important prior to
making a trip, even if they are small.
Reflection: At the end of the trip I looked back and
thought off all the books that I have read that have unknowingly prepared me
for this trip. I think many times we do
challenging things like school and homework and reading, etc., and think this will
never apply to my life or is relatively unnecessary. Here I can tell that those little things do
improve my life by making connections and creating a desire to want to learn
more in information and have greater in-depth understanding.
Day 9: April 30st
We
are in Rome! It’s so different than anything that I have ever seen before, and
I really like it. Everything is just so
old; it’s fascinating. I really love all
the art venders along the sides of the roads. There are a ton of the
spray-paint artists. Although I’m not a
fan of the colors and the style, I do love to sit and watch them. While we were walking the streets of Rome a
gypsy/street vender was selling parakeets.
Usually I try not to look in their direction so I could avoid having to
tell them “No,” but since this lady was selling living animals, it was a little
harder to keep my eyes off the birds. As
we brushed by her on the busy streets, she noticed me looking her way and
placed one of the birds on top of my shoulder. I sort of freaked out for fear she would make
me pay for it now that it was personally roosting. The first thoughts that came to my mind were
“What in the world am I going to do with a bird?” In my frenzy, I hurried and tried to pull the
bird off of my shoulder and to give it back to her, but at the same time, she
started yelling at me in both English and Italian. I’m not sure about the Italian but the
English wasn’t the nicest! Once she took
the bird away, I bolted out of there. Behind
me I could hear her yelling, “Where are you from!? What kind of person treats
animals like that!?” I did feel guilty and stupid after that. Way to keep my cool . . .
Reflection:
Brother Geddes was speaking to us about
the street venders and told us a little story about one he spoke to on a
previous day. Instantly, I thought about
the bird lady. He told us to realize how
blessed we are that we could be the ones coming to see all these things instead
of the being the ones that have to sell these things. Though I still never had
the guts to ask any of them their life stories, I tried to keep in mind that
they were not just the “street venders” but rather people in different situations. Though I still try not to have much eye
contact for fear of ending up buying a bird, I do respect these folks for
trying!
Day 10: May 1st
Happy
May Day! I picked one of those red Italian poppy flowers to press in my journal
for May Day (well I’m not sure if they’re Italian, but they’re all over
Italy). We’re staying in a convent while
we are in Rome, and it’s awesome. Every
morning, the little nuns run over to pour us our cup of hot milk to mix in hot
chocolate, which really looks like packets of pudding. The convent itself is beautiful. In my room, we have this large round window
sitting close to the floor. The window
itself has no glass and is laid in an iron design with two large wooden
shutters. It’s a beautiful window and
perfect for cuddling up and perching while surveying the gardens below. Another endearing quality of Italy is these
little hidden gardens and the courtyards full of a variety of flowers and
fountains. Italy also has numerous little
fruit stands. They pop color into the
ruins of ancient Rome. I just love Italy! I guess I love Rome which is the only part of
Italy I’ve seen, but I can’t imagine it doesn’t reflect the country itself.
Reflection: I’ve been trying to think of why I have
fallen in love with Rome. Since this
time, I can say that I have loved all of Italy, but there has definitely been
more of a pull to Rome than anywhere else. I’ve decided that Roman culture and history
were constantly in my view. Every
historical thing was easily observed.
Here sits a city that had once been the most powerful in the world. The inventions and discoveries in science and
art and philosophy are all products of this place. You can’t walk the streets and not feel it
and see it; it was all there.
Day 14: May 5th
Another
Sunday in Europe! I can’t believe that
it’s been a week since wandering the grounds of Versailles in Paris. This morning we went to the Santa Croce
Chapel for church in the rain, realizing too late that we got there an hour and
half early. Finally when the mass did
start, I realized how fascinating it was that the Catholics will create these
magnificent churches to hold their meetings and yet dress as if they had
nowhere special to go. As I sat in mass,
I contemplated this question: Why would
someone care so much about seeing to every detail in a building, but caring so
very little to the details of their personal reverence? The best thing I could come up with is that maybe
the effort in the building compensates for the regular attire and allows for
convenience to come to mass at any time and any place without preparation. Certainly wearing comfortable clothing may soften
the task of having to stand up every two minutes! The Santa Croce is where Michelangelo,
Galileo, and the empty tomb of Dante rest.
The tombs were fascinating; they were above ground and were surrounded
by marble guardian angles. I love how
they did tombs in this time period. With
marble sculptures everywhere, it is powerful and grand.
Reflection:
I
was having another “righteous envy” on these guys’ tomb. Not that I would
necessarily want one for myself, but it would be very cool if they kept doing
that for those of bigger importance. But then it wouldn’t have been as grand to
go see them in Italy if they were everywhere still. So, as cool as that would
be I’m glad I get to come and experience it here and be completely blown away.
Day 15: May 6th
This
morning we headed off to Bologna and were able to just walk around for a few
hours. I love how Italy has all the
cobblestoned streets. What I really enjoyed about today was just watching the markets
and the everyday people go about their daily tasks. The streets were small, not
big enough for cars to go through. The
streets were full of color from the flower stands, meat markets, fruit stands,
and bakery shops. I just basked in the
feeling of it all. I went inside one of
the little bakeries to buy a chunk of bread for lunch. Beside the door was a little hook. A man before us tied his dog to the little
hook and walked into the shop. The
little dog just started shouting and throwing a fit, but the little old man
would just give a little laugh at his howls and shake his head. I loved the feeling of those small streets; no
one seemed to be in a hurry. Everyone
was just happy and alive. I liked
Bologna; it’s a fun atmosphere. I guess
I should mention that the bread from the bakery was the best I have ever had!
Reflection:
No matter how much I enjoy the city of
Paris, London, and Florence, there is definitely something about smaller towns
that gives such a homey feeling. These
little breaks between cities were completely genius. I’m glad we get to have
these contrasts of city to small town. It makes me appreciate each for different
reasons.
Day 20: May 11th
Today
we are now in Rothenberg, and it’s a darling little town. After dinner we had the privilege to go to a
concert in the Rothenberg Cathedral. It
was a brass and Organ concert. I’m not a
huge organ or brass fan but the concert was worthwhile. My favorite song that they played was “Befiehl
du Deine Wege”. . . whatever that means.
I don’t think I had ever heard it before, and I really loved it. That song woke me up, which was very much
needed. Soon after that song they played
“When the Saints Go Marching In.” Once
that song was played, I got pretty excited! Even though the whole concert was beautiful
beforehand, it was a song that I had grown up with and recognized. It made me smile and feel at home again. The same feelings came when they performed
the song “Halleluiah.” It reminded me of
what happened with the guitarist when he played, “Time to Say Goodbye,” in the
chapel in Florence. I had the same
feelings and same excitement. I hadn’t
realized how strong and important that familiarity can truly be.
Reflection:
I don’t think if they had only played
familiar songs that I would be as excited because I do love trying new things
and experiencing something new. However,
those few recognized songs scattered in there was like the frosting on a cake. A whole lot of new but just enough touch of
home and familiarity, it was perfect.
Chapter
5 “Photo Reflections”
(sorry - couldn't get the pictures to upload)
Versailles, France.
There were many friendships made and a great deal of enduring done in the last
3 ½ weeks. But seeing this couple walking through the Gardens of Versailles I
realized that the friendships and the enduring will never end. There will
always be more even after this trip.
Bruges, Belgium.
I don’t know what this statue is called or who it represents. I couldn’t even name the church that holds
it, but it has to be one of my favorite sculptures discovered on this trip. What I love about it is that it has no label;
I can simply love it for what it is rather than who sculpted it, where it’s
from, or even who it is.
Paris, France.
Not until Jessica and I stubbled upon this lock bridge did I realize what an
utter hopeless romantic I could be. I
loved imagining all the stories and dreams that were locked up on that bridge.
Paris, France.
This man instantly became a hero. He may not look like much, or have much, but
he hasn’t given up. He knows that he
still has something to offer this world, no matter how grand or simple, it can
be powerful.
Venice, Italy.
One of my favorite things to do on this trip was to people watch. This included not only the locals but also
other tourists. I sat near this bridge
for about 25 minutes and took at least eight other pictures of tourists posing
at this spot. There is something
especially unique in every individual, and I could watch them forever.
Salzburg, Austria. I’ve always considered myself a 100%
follower. On this trip I often was a follower, but I noticed that when there
were only a few in the group, I would gladly take charge if nobody else would
take it. I realized I’m not a 100% follower,
but merely the filler where it’s needed.
Rothenberg, Germany.
I came on this trip to experience new
things for myself. Interestingly, those
experiences wouldn’t have been nearly the same without someone with whom to
share them.
Brussels, Belgium.
In one of the many art museums, I
noticed one of the professors taking a picture of a painting. But instead of taking a picture of the whole
canvas, he only took a picture of a small and detailed spot that he really
liked. I realized that this wasn’t a
time to get the whole picture; I could get that in a far better quality on the
internet. This was a time to take in the
details that I personally loved and seemed to be there just for me. I tried to apply this concept to my whole experience
not just the art.
Louvre,
Paris, France. Paintings for me are a lot like music; I’m
always searching for a new artist and new pieces that I am anxious to add to my
collection. I loved finding new
paintings on this trip; there are so many out there, and I feel that slowly I’m
making progress towards my collection.
Rome,
Italy. These little plazas were my favorite to stumble
upon. I felt so alive when I got to walk around these street’s that were just
clear full of local artist trying to sale their work. I would walk around and
want to get one from each artist. It was like an artist fairy tale, I wanted to
come out with my brushes and join them.
Chapter
6 “Afterthoughts”
Tips
1-
Florence is a huge place to blow money.
. . . Be prepared.
2-
Europeans love their dogs- Bro Geddes… consequently,
that is not spilt gelato on my shoe…
3-
Be ready to admit failure on navigating
the Louvre without a map.
4-
The crescents most likely have a filling
with ether Nutela, or an apricot jam. The
apricot is disgusting!
5-
Bring snacks, Bro. Stephenson, but bring
lots and lots of snacks!! Seriously, I am constantly hungry. (Grab a
handful of the individual Nutela packets at the hostels.)
6-
Don’t be afraid to take the nap, when a
nap is very much needed. An hour nap is
better than a long and cross afternoon.
7-
Use the bathroom every time there is no
charge and no line… That becomes a little sight of heaven.
8-
Germany water is basically the same
price as their beer; its ridicules. Don’t ever order water at a German restaurant!
Bring your own.
9-
Make friends on the trip so you can
sleep on their shoulder on the plane ride home.
10-
Venice in Italian is Venezia and not Vicenza.
Possibly look at a map before you get on a bus.
Things
I wish I did different:
I
would remind myself that I am in Europe, and it took a lot of money to get
here. So spending 5 Euros to get into a super cool cathedral/museum shouldn’t
ever be a “oooh… But that’s a lot of money…” concern. Just do it, I could get
that money again later, but I may never get that chance later. Although that
seems obvious now, in the moment it doesn’t always seem that way.
I also wish I had
gotten a map beforehand of all the places, some of the girls always had a map
to pull out and that was really helpful, instead of always trying to search for
one in the hostel or trying to find a tourist information spot.
I
noticed I would take a picture of something I liked, ether a painting,
sculpture, building…etc. Yet for the first half of the trip I forgot to write
down, or take another picture of the sign of what it was and its basic
information. I have some really cool pictures of these things but I can’t
remember what they are called to go back and look it up. I wish I remembered to
take pictures or notes of those things as well.
Things I wish the
course did different:
Florence
seemed like to drag on forever. I think it was because the things to see were
able to get done in about a day and the then other 2 1/2 days the biggest thing
to do was shop. I wished I could have traded one Florence day for one more day
in Paris. Where Florence was very lax, Paris felt completely rushed and I
wished I had one more day there to see a few more things that I ether had to
rush through or skip.
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