LONDON!!!

I'm mostly settled in London now. I also have steady internet now for the next three months and will get some past posts done asap.

Trier

9-21-09

Today I did all the stuff that the rest of the group did while we were on the Mosel cruise. Saw the Porta Nigra (huge Roman city gate), an enormous Roman style church where apparently a tunic worn by Jesus is preserved. Then toured the ruins of a Roman Bathe. After visiting Constantine's Basilika and the gardens outside the attached palace, I ventured to the Roman amphitheatre where gladiator events were held. Did some sink laundry. Went to some live jazz and drink some local white wine to top off the evening.

9-20-09 Ben's Birthday!

Today I and several others from the group decided to forgo planned events, with the consent of our leader Mark Koepke, and went for a day cruise on the Mosel River. We saw beautiful landscapes with high ridges and steep hills cover in grape vines. Roughly four hours in we stopped and had lunch at the town of Bernkastle. Got some ice cream that looked like spaghetti. Then after the four hour boat ride back we met up with a bunch of the group and goty some cheap schnitzel at a pub.

Back to the HOMELAND!!!!

9-18-09

Left our tourguide Anja and the Chateau de Pourtales for Germany's oldest city, Trier. After dropping of our stuff at the youth hotel, walked through the old town square where a festival was going on for s sister city in Japan. Ate a kasewurst and had a Kraft Brau (the Bier of Trier). Then had an amazing meal at Walderdorffs. After dinner got a beer and enjoyed the festivities in the town square.

Farewell France!

9-17-09

It's our last day in France. We loaded the bus and went to the Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle in the thick fog. As we toured the castle the mist lifted revealing the surrounding mountains as it rolled over the landscape. Then we drove through Alsace wine country and several "Beauty-and-the-Beast-esk" towns. We stopped in the quaint town of Obernai and had a quiche lorraine. After that we went to Natzweiler Concentration Camp. Very heavy.

9-17-09

Diversity Day at the Chateau de Pourtales! We had two lectures today. One was an animated irish man and the other was a very nice french man. Then I went to the Museum of Modern Art with Mark, Meg and Jake. Saw a Picasso a lot of Dora and a neat exhibit about colors. Had a Doner Kabab and a gargantuan coke for diner. That night went to a karaoke bar that was very sketchy. It didn't have a door handle, just a buzzer, and they had expensive drinks and very few american songs.

9-16-09

Court of Human Rights today. Enjoyed a delightful lunch at Jimmy's Pub in the Strasbourg town center (grog, chicken/pesto/mozzerella crepe, thick coffee, and a sugar crepe). Took a guided tour of the Strasbourg Historical Museum. Got to try on several knight helmets. Back at the Chateau gate house restaurant ate Bibeleskase (AWESOME!!!) Finished out the day with some Family Guy.