Home again

Back on Badger Ave!

Got home from Florida last night and enjoyed the first night in my own house since May.  Woke up pretty early- still jet lagged-and did the things you do like go through the mail, laundry, etc.  Nancy with the help of my house sitters put in two small raised garden beds and I went out to look at them- I have rabbit problems!  But it is making great use of the part of my backyard that was too sandy to even grow grass.  I washed every single thing in my suitcase that I could, and watched Wimbledon.  Love tennis, and got to see some good playing today.  Took a long nap.  Am now feeling a bit human.

Florida was fine- Jacksonville (actually Atlantic Beach) is right on the ocean, so there were some stolen moments outside, and I enjoyed two hours on the beach the morning I left.  The NATS board meeting was fine, and I found some people I really enjoy working with that have agreed to be serve on the education commission I am heading.

While in FL, lots of the faculty were very interested in the CETS trip and how we put it together.  They were very cognizant that it is a rare university that will support a program like this- 3 faculty are dedicated to the project at one time. That is pretty remarkable.

I listed some of the highlights of the trip below- some other memorable things that happened:

I got bit by a small crab while walking on the beach in FL.  He did not want to let go of my foot!
My suitcase was too heavy.  Gotta remember to pack even lighter next year (no ipad either).
Thank heavens for the Samsonite spinner suitcase.
Thank you to Derek and Tyler who carried mom's suitcase up 1000 steps in train stations.
I love Kartoffel. (potatoes)
The food overall was really enjoyable- I can pass on the "Swedish breakfasts" of meat, cheese, and bread, but the other meals were yummy. They know how to cook in central Europe!  And I can tell where our midwest cooking traditions come from!
Krakow is beautitful.  The city center is amazing.  We had more of a language barrier there, but it didn't matter.
The way classical music is interwoven in the history and culture of Central Europe is amazing.
State supported arts organizations.  Go Europe!
Traveling with your mom definitely has its advantages.
I missed my computer, but as I picked it up today I was REALLY glad I wasn't carrying it.
Being able to text while in Europe really made everything easier.  I could be in touch with home and with the other group leader.
I thought Wien would be my favorite city, but it wasn't.  Not sure if that had something to do with the hideous weather, but there was a certain artificiality that kept you a little bit at arms' length.
Movies on airplanes!  Fun!
Almost every flight I had (Eau Claire-Chicago-Washington DC-Berlin, Krakow-Munich-Washington DC-Jacksonville-Chicago-Eau Claire) was late.  Travel is such a hassle now.  But my suitcase was never lost, and I made every flight.  So I'm not complaining.  Much.

There is so much more, but my suitcase is looking at me and asking to be unpacked and put away.

Upcoming: a trip to Lake Okoboji for the 4th, some weddings, I have a recital on July 21, etc.  August will be exciting but I'll tell you about it later.

Ciao-

CETS SENSATIONAL SIGHTINGS!!!

CETS=central European travel seminar


Leipzig. Period.
Bach's church and the Bach museum
Robert and Clara Schumann's first apartment together
Jewelry shopping in Krakow
Potatoes at the Brno Kartoffelhaus
Beethoven Haus
Learning "Das Veilchen" was composed on my birthday
Dessert in Prague on my birthday
Tour of Vienna Staatsoper
"Die Walkure" at the Staatsoper
Traveling with Mom
Holocaust monument in Budapest
View from Fisherman's Bastion in Buda
Zwinger museum in Dresden
Learning to navigate the Berlin Ubahn
Sunset on Charles Bridge in Prague
Fanta!!!!
Visiting the square in Berlin where the national socialist students burned books they believed didn't
Fit the Nazi ideology
Dinner on Cabbage Square in Brno with Mom
Krakow, overall.

Krakow to the US

This morning we are traveling back to the US- the last four days in Krakow have been my favorite of the trip. The weather has been wonderful and cool, the people are friendly, the food good, the music (folk, jazz, and klezmer) awesome, the history engrossing, and the city beautiful.  It was a perfect way to finish.

Some Krakow highlights:
Visiting Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau
Real kielbasa
Folk music in the square
Jazz underground at Harris Piano Jazz Bar
Franz Liszt's grave in Wawel cathedral
Live klezmer at Klezmer Hois
Shopping with Mom
Blue ceiling of St. Mary's cathedral
Trumpeter of Krakow
Bach in St. Barbara's
Big pretzels
Finding the remaining part of the ghetto wall
Sauerkraut!
Quiet hostel
Cool weather (in the 50s)

Looking forward to returning next year!

Budapest

Today was our third day in Budapest.  I really like the city, but it has been around 100 degrees the whole time we've been here and we've just had it.  Tomorrow we check out, but don't leave until 8 pm on a night train. We'll put our suitcases in lockers at the train station and then we have two activities and then a free afternoon.

While in Budapest, we've gone to the baths twice, saw the opera house, went to a folk music and dancing concert tonight, went up to Buda castle, saw the Franz Liszt academy, visited a synagogue and the holocaust memorial, visited teh House of Terror, and did a lot of walking and looking at archeticture.  I realize that I am fortunate to be here, but the heat has just been unbearable since the hostel isn't air conditioned and doesn't even have fans.

On to Krakow where the weather is to be more reasonable.  We are all remembering the days it was cold and rainy in Berlin...

I have learned a lot and have a lot of ideas for next year. Like bring a small portable fan. And a sharpie. And pick the seating for all the events myself.  Buffet breakfasts, air conditioning. More short sleeve shirts, and shorts. No long sleeve dress and try all shoes before bringing. Smaller suitcase, bring a tote bag.

Wilting in Wien

Fourth day in Vienna.  Such a beautiful city, so much music and culture.  So hot, no air conditioning, and no ice cubes!!!!  Arg!!!!

First day in Vienna we took the students to "Barber of Seville" at the Statsoper.  Good experience, good singing, beautiful opera house, but limited view seats which was depressing.  The students did their final project in May on the Staatsoper so it was cool for them to see things first hand.  On Saturday we walked to many of the sights in the city center, and went to the Kunsthistorisches Museum- an art museum that features the art collection of the hapsburgs.  Yesterday the students went on a bike ride of th wachau valley and mom and I didn't go along.  We went to schonbrunn palace, st. Stephens cathedral, johann Strauss house museum, and I went to "Die Walkure" at the Staatsoper.  It was a wonderful 5 hour performance, and I'm considering traveling to Seattle to see their Ring in August.

Met a new friend, Margaret, who is 75 and traveling the world who lives in Seattle and loves Wagner. The idea for the trip came from her.

Today we looked at some Jugendstil architecture, ate at the Naschmarkt (pasta and Fanta for me, schnitzel for mom!), visited teh Brahms memorial in Karlsplatz, and ten had a wonderful tour of the Staatsoper with a great guide, Carmen.  The students had good questions and will add their new primary sources and photos to their spring semester research.

Came home and crashed and am trying not to melt.  No circulation in the room and so much noise you can't sleep if the window is open. Oy. Doing laundry in their one machine, and I got bit by a horse fly!!!  Travel- the divine and the benign and the insane!!!

Off to fold laundry and try to find a breeze!

Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Prague, Brno

A little behind on blogging. But we are having a good time and no students have gotten lost or broken their legs.  We have had one stolen passport, one stolen purse, and one hospital stay but as of today everyone is intact.

Brno is the Capitol of Moravia- who knew? Today we went to a Roma Museum, and then I went to the Janecek museum.  Heard folk music in Freedom Square and then just finished a meal at Hotel Pegas. I had a delicious chicken dish and Fanta, Mom had goulash! Yum!!!

Tomorrow we leave for Vienna- Vienna State Opera tomorrow night!!!!!! Can't wait!!!!

Ich bin in Berlin!

From the lobby of Amstel House Hostel in Berlin!!!!

Long day yesterday and I'm going on more than 48 hours of no sleep. Other than some catnaps....

Arrived in Berlin after uneventful travel around 8 am.  Took the bus to the hostel with Gene leading the way, and then after checking into the tiny, tiny rooms we got out w Ezra and Gene to walk around the city and start to get acquainted with the subway system.  The weather is in the 50s here and overcast but as Cam says much better light for taking pictures.  Tried out a local food market, where Mom and I tried spinach strudel (NOM NOM NOM!) and I filched potatoes off of Gene and Ezra's plates. We walked down to the western shopping mall area to pick up our Berlin welcome passes for travel on public transportation.  Some interesting large modern art sculptures around, and a church which survived WWII and now is completely hidden from view by restoration walls.  Ezra left to pick up two of our students at the airport, and Mom and I went with Gene back to the hostel where we are still trying to stay awake.

Can't believe it but we're hungry. Will wait til the UWEC team is downstairs so we can go explore the street food. Currywurst anyone????

Am about to fall off my perch.  Tchuss!!!


BTW- Currywurst is delicious!  It is a wurst with lots of curry powder dumped on top. Fries with mayo and ketchup on the side!\.

Take Two!

I'm back!!!!!

It's been a year.  And now it's summer again, and again I travel to find myself.  I've had a great time to New Orleans already, and in about 20 minutes I take off for Berlin!

19 hours of travel later, I will arrive at Tegel Airport.  See you then!

Mitra