Burgtheater and left overs from Krakow and Wine Country Niederoesterreich

Again too much time between "hey I'll take your picture" and the actual taking of the picture. The lady in the background is supposedly one of the famous actors of the developing german speaking stage. I had never heard of her.
This is the beautiful Burgtheater. We went on a tour of the magnificent building about four weeks ago. I was really impressed by the architecture. It was built on the famous Ringstrasse in Vienna in the then very popular style of Historicism where the contemporary artists and architects would take styles from the past and imitate them to make them their own. For this reason one can see Renaissance, Baroque and Romanesque all in one building. You can also see it in the mural on the ceiling of the building. Gustav Klimt his little brother and Frank Matsch all contributed to the beautiful paintings reflecting on greek and roman antiquity for symbols of creativity, art and wisdom. Which of course all come together in Theater.
This is in front of one of the oldest Synagogues in the previous Jewish Ghetto of Krakow. Again taking in some rays.
AHA! Gotta love it. I know this is the second one I've posted, but this time I'm in it. So great.
This is a picture from the Jewish restaurant in Krakow that I really liked. It's happy and I enjoy it.
Got tickets? ... ... Toooo the gun show! This is the front of Klosterneuberg. We're waiting for the peeps that went pee. And I'm catching a little sun getting ready for the AZ heat and sometime on lake powell.
This is the highly dysfunctional macalester group at the dinner table after a lovely meal. We're all fat and happy so there aren't too many problems!
This is Leopoldberg. Sorry about the face. She wouldn't take the picture for the longest time and I got bored. But you can see how beautiful the view of Vienna is. It gave me a new perspective.
So in no particular order at all. This was the end of a great Saturday. We spent time out at Leopoldberg (a mountain the overlooks the city of Vienna) and then to Klosterneuberg (again, but worth it) and then on to a restored castle. Which was despite being overly fake and exaggerated was extremely fun and interesting. The little kid in me came out especially when I saw all of the Knight armor and weapons and draw bridge and Romanesque architecture. I kept waiting for Heath Ledger to pop out (not funny and too soon I know RIP Heath Ledger) but what is funny is that they shot some of the movie "The Four Musketeers" at the Kreuzstein (the castel we visited). And then after all that, hit up the wine tasting and the amazing Austrian farmer feast!This is after a long winded talk in the wine cellar with our lovely wine brewer/grape farmer Josef. By long winded I mean: Every new story meant a new bottle of wine to taste. Please notice the difference between tasting and drinking. We were tasting wine in a very delicate and fine manner mind you. Anyhoo, this is one of my professors at the Austro American Institute. She is a riot and loves the Vino! Funny thing is that she totally contrasts with the other professor (the one right behind my head; sour and bitter looking.) I think this adequately explains the relationship between the Austrians and the Germans. haha. Gisela (German) is always complaining to Toni (Austrian) about how Vienna doesn't measure up, how it's loud and dirty. And all Toni does, bless her heart, is or really can do, is say Yeah ok ok Gisela and then have a glass of wine with us! It was kind of a bummer because Gisela actually cut us off in the Wine cellar because she was hungry doesn't drink and was bored of Josef's stories. And everyone else was having such a great time! Party Pooper!

Tuscany (Siena) and Venice

This is proof for the Arrington Family that I found a place to stay in Venice after they left for the States. It was a tiny tiny room but cheap and fairly clean.
This is where I sent a couple post cards.
So many tourists like my self in Venice. So many!
Here's the cruise ship I saw when I was arriving in Venice leaving for somewhere unknown. It's ginormous.
The gondola boats.
More gondola boats and the impressive St Mark's dominating the Background. It's supposedly a mix of Gothic traditions even a little bit of Islamic architectural style was thrown in as the church developed. This picture is from a boat taxi that runs through the main canal but serves as a tour boat as it runs from stop to stop.
Where the Gondola boats come for repairs; not as glamorous as the St Mark's picture above.
From the Rialto Bridge overlooking the main canal as the ridiculous traffic (though not so apparent here) ensues.
I got a huge kick out of the fact that these guys wanted these dirty rats with feathers on them. I was just waiting for the right moment for one of the pigeons to leave a mark.
The facade of St. Marks. Magnificent.
Today I'm on my own. Trying to see a little bit of the city by my self before I have to fly out the next day. I took this picture because they were playing a song that I had been humming as the Arrington's were packing up to leave at the hotel earlier that morning. Conner can swear by it.
Great picture eh!? The small canals on the every street; Venice at night, the lights on the bottom are the reflections of the lights a top. Conner Elyse Gwen and I got away from the parents and went into Venice after our day trip from Siena to Venice so that the Arrington's could fly out the next day. We found a nice little joint called la Propheta that served a good red beer great pasta carbonara and heavenly tiramisu.
Ginormous cruise ship as I'm enjoying my bus ride from Treviso airport to Venice.
I got really excited on the plain but could only take pictures about it. haha
Unbelievable that there's still snow on those bad boys.

I totally just spaced out taking pictures when I was with the Arrington's. First because I was so anxious and apprehensive about getting to where I needed to go (travel plans etc.) secondly because I was relieved to arrive to their Villa and ended up having a extraordinary time with them and lastly because Dave (Dad Arrington) took millions of Pictures of the Tuscany region specifically Siena that I hope to later snake from him.

So after Sat Sun Mon and Tues in Poland I spent the rest of Tues night making sure I was set to fly out for Italy the next morning. It was tough getting to the airport because I had never been before so I made sure to leave extra early, I started on wednesday at about 7 30 am even though my flight wasn't until 11 40. But it worked perfectly! haha I got into Venice around 1 and headed directly to the public transport to be taken from the airport to venice so that I could catch a train to siena. From 2 30 to 6 was Venice through Bologna through Naples to Florence. Here I changed trains and headed toward Siena where Elyse and her sister Gwen greeted me at about 7 30 ish. It was an exciting day but the I got a lot of help even though it was mostly explained in Italian! The villa was great even though Elyse made me sleep on the couch after she had volunteered to. Siena was beautiful and offered lots of gelato to help me sleep at night. Great time! Sorry I don't have any pictures!

Italy was amazing. Another country another attitude! It was so great asking for directions getting lost (which half the pictures are of = me getting lost in Venice) worrying about trains staying in a Villa eating pasta and tiramisu walking the streets of another Medieval city seeing the remains of the Patron Saint of Europe (Catherine of Siena) walking through the attempt and failure at the largest basilica ever and etc. I had an amazing time and learned a ton not only about history and culture and whatever more. But I learned that it sucks to travel without good friends and family there by your side to get lost with, to admire buildings with, to see where Richard Wagner died with, climb crowded decaying spiral staircases with, eat great food and drink great ... drinks with! All of this is for nothing if you don't have anyone to share it with. I realized this most intensively my last lonely night in Venice after I had spent hours and hours roaming the streets. But I had had glimpses on earlier trips in Prague Budapest and then more so in Poland with Joe Erin and Carlye. It's just silly I guess: I want to get away I want to experience things I want to have things for my self in my life but it's a difficult process of discovery when my family is such a crucial whole not part of my life.

But there's just about one more month here and I think I'll enjoy it despite finals and papers and so on. Though I don't know how I'm going to get over all this stinking rain. haha

Krakow

I'm continually getting lost so I take pictures of signposts so that if I forget where I was heading or needed to go I can just look at my camera; it's simply good proof of where you've been!
That's just hilarious!
Actually to the right you can see where we ate dinner the next night: Ariel an authentic Jewish restaurant in the heart of the previous Jewish ghetto.
Joe and Carlye again. They're a happy pair.
Remnants of an older Jewish Theology school that survived WWII. People think it's unbelievable how much of the Jewish ghetto remains in tact but the truth is that the Nazis didn't want anything to do with the Polish Jews and proof of this is how quickly they were moved out of their homes into Auschwitz . They just left the ghetto how it was, they weren't concerned with the buildings.
This is the Saint Stanislaus procession. He is the patron saint of Poland and it was his feast day when we just happened to be touring around the down. There are so many catholics in Krakow! It was unbelievable- I've never seen so many nuns priests and brothers in my life. It was simply amazing.
Twoooooooooo forty two forty two forty two forty..........
She's not keen to physical contact as I am to personal space.
The crew, tired already of the walking tour of Krakow and Rebecca not smiling.
Another castle-y hill top, this time in Poland.
Jesuit Church said to be so full every Sunday that the Apostles aren't allowed space inside the Building (= the statues surrounding the church).
I kept a knocking but they would not let me in. At the University of Krakow.
Entrance to the University of Krakow, where I became extremely excited and geeked out cause I found out that this is where Copernicus had studied early in his academic career. You'll see evidence of this later both me geeking out and where Copernicus studied Law and theology before moving on to Italy to blow the World's mind!
Just a really old building. Because Krakow was founded in the Early Middle Ages there were a lot of these around. And little kids too, because of the whole catholic thing...
Michaelangelo's David's head on it's side = some contemporary art in the middle of the town square of Krakow.
The remnants of the Town Hall. The rest of the building was moved away cause it was old corroding and crappy. Just translating what the tour guide told us.
This is where the Art students paint (practically meaning no artsy fartsy stuff) to earn money.
Art students trying again to earn that Dollar Bill by selling their work on the remnants of the old city wall of Krakow.
Your typical Krakowian street with the Mary Chapel in the Background.
Entrance to the Town center.
Our compact tour guide. She was pleasant and articulate informative too! I actually took this picture because Jean Paul II studied in the building behind her and gave mass at the same chruch (not the all red brick weaponry directly behind her but the one with white windows)
Trying to sleep and Erin.... not sure what. This is on the six hour train ride to Krakow from Vienna.
Carlye and Joe. Carlye is on the trip and Joe's her boyfriend. We met up in Prague (he studies in Budapest) and we get along. It's nice to have another guy on the trip = someone who talks about down to earth things. He saved the Krakow trip and the Prague trip too. Cheers for new friends.
Arguing about soccer hooligans that like to bring out thousands of riot police and break glass bottles in the town square because Krakow won an eventful Soccer game. I highly doubt the eventfulness of the soccer game but the riot police did not.
This is at Ariel after a long hard day at Aufschwitz. (I didn't take any pictures at the KZ because I just didn't feel like it was appropriate. I wanted to treat Aufschwitz like a sacred place). Nevertheless the food was good and was accompanied not only by good peeps but also with a Klezmer band! (Traditional Jewish Music!) I had the Goose liver and Pierogis! Seriously!
Trying to get out of the picture.
Here's me geeking out at the University of Krakow on our first day (walking tour through Krakow).
I know I know. I look like a hippy and I look skinny. I'm working on both as we speak.

Krakow was amazing! I have been recommending the place to everyone I see and talking about it non-stop which I guess runs hand in hand with recommending it to everyone I see. It was not only gorgeous and green (because the city decided to turn the moats surrounding the town center into 'green' parks way before the term greening came about) but the people were extremely inclusive and nice. It was a different feel from Germany Austria and the other cities that I have visited. It was a great experience so go to Poland!