Snow & Nuremburg

This past weekend it finally snowed here. The snow reminds me so much of being in Chicago, but it also just makes me really happy in general. It made for a really pretty (albeit cold) trip to Nuremburg, which I went on this weekend with the rest of my study abroad program.

Here's some pictures of the trip.

Our group of Americans standing in front of the "Hand crafts center" of Old Nuremberg--one of the ways in which the city has tried to reinvent itself as something more than just an important part of Nazi Germany.

Beautiful view overlooking the frosted medieval center of Nuremburg.

The Emperor's Castle of Nuremburg. Residence of the Holy Roman Emperor starting in the 11th century. Nuremburg's prominent imperial status in the older German Empires is what led to Hitler's use of the city as a major rallying point in his "Third Empire."

One of the buildings remaining from the Nazi Party Parade Grounds

And, me contemplating a quick dip in the river.

Tonight, I also ate Thanksgiving dinner with the rest of the Americans here, and we had a great time. Afterwards, I spent some time video chatting with my family back in California as they prepared for dinner. Meanwhile, I was packing, since I'm heading to London tomorrow for the weekend and for a second Thanksgiving feast with a recently graduated friend from Northwestern. I'm really excited, being that I've never been there before, and I hope to see as much as I can in the few short days that I will be there. Happy Thanksgiving!

-TG-

Castles & more

I thought I should at least offer a quick update. Neuschwanstein was pretty cool, although I think it looks better from the outside than inside. We also saw a few other famous churches and palaces as well. Here are some of them:

Neuschwanstein


The view from behind Neuschwanstein...including the freezing mountain lake in which we went swimming!

Wiesnkirche, a famous Baroque church--really unique and interesting

Myself, and the view of the Alpen foothills from Wiesnkirche

Another palace built by the same king as Neuschwanstein...and the only one that he finished

In other news, the weather has plummeted Chicago-style from around 25 C on average to around 12 C (or 77 F to 53 F). What happened to the nice range of temperature in between!? Anyway, I'm glad I managed to take advantage of the nice weather while it was around. It also rained for a number of days, but it seems to be drying up just in time for Oktoberfest!

Yes, the famed Oktoberfest is indeed coming up tomorrow, when the two weeks of festivities will begin. A group of the other American students and myself are all waking up early to find seats in the beer tents. Wish us luck, as we head out in Tracht.

-TG-