What’s up Mozart?

Salzburg literally means “salt castle”  because of all of the salt mining activity around the city and its location on the banks of the Salzach River.  This quaint city was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996 on account of its rich mix of art and architecture in the historic center of the city.

 

As the birthplace of Mozart, it makes complete sense that Salzburg would be a musical city. However, I don’t think we anticipated that it was going to have its very own soundtrack!

Whenever we arrived in any city, we generally walked to the old town and began tours from there. Typically speaking, we would frequently walk by cafes, vendors opening up shop and people heading to work. Salzburg was a bit different because it added a significantly audible layer. We didn’t just see the city; we heard it too (no wonder the hills were alive).  Piano and string players could be heard everywhere.

We all enjoyed the tunes as we took advantage of our free time in the center before reconvening for our walking tour.  We thoroughly took it all in whilst simultaneously taking our wallets out. Salzburg had some fantastic shops and great deals!

Shortly thereafter, we reconvened to begin our walking tour. We passed Mozart,s house while a 5 piece band played several feet away.  As we crossed the street in the direction of a Von Trapp home from the Sound of Music, another band with a prominent accordion player were the center of focus.  It was only a matter of time before we took on some singing ourselves. It finally happened in the gardens of Schloss Leopoldskron.

Several students broke out in song and Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-laughed so loud. It was quite the moment (this pic below is photo evidence because it happened right after).

The gardens were adorned with roses, beautifully landscaping and jaw-dropping fountains. It no wonder the villa and its surrounding property were used in in the film.After a day filled with our favourite things, it was only fitting that we’d attend a Sounds Of Music dinner theatre in the evening.

Both the performances and the meals were equally wonderful at the Sounds Of Salzburg show.  Many of our students participated in the show by being pulled up to the stage and dancing with the performers. It was quite the spectacle.

Thank you for the times, Salzburg.

Time to bid adieu!

 

 

 

 

RGSS Eastern Europe Photo Contest

Photos were part of our daily activities.

Whether we were shooting with our phones, Polaroids or digital SLR cameras, the concept of capturing moments of in a single shot was heightened, given that our unique and ever-changing backdrops were so gorgeous.

We decided that it would be fun and interesting to have a photo contest in the middle of our trip. Students were asked to submit one photo, sans filter, while we were in Krakow.

Below are the gems that were submitted and the students that took the:

Ruby

 

Iman

Jessie

Delenia

Kelly

Kamilla

Anya – 3rd place

Kitty – 2nd Place

And our first place winner was…..

Drum-roll, please  🥁🥁🥁🥁…

A few more, pretty please 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁….

Congrats to Daniel 📷📷📷📷📷 for winning 1st Place! This was such a creative photo and we all felt that the context was an added bonus.

Here is the winning image and the write-up that went with it:

Daniel

In Polish society, everyday events have been inspired by folklore creatures such as dragons. The history of the region has received great impacts by dragons. To depict this trait, we wanted to incorporate such creatures unto our artistic photography.

Thank you to all the students who participated!

It’s Pretty in Prague…

Given that pictures truly do not do Prague justice, we were incredibly fortunate to get to know this alluring City of a Hundred Spires in person.

Of all the cities we visited, it is said that Prague is the most complex because of the way architectural style varies: it’s modern and old, romantic and extremely busy.  There is literally something there for everyone and precisely the reason it is so cosmopolitan and welcoming to foreigners.  From the moment we arrived we were taken aback by the pastel-coloured facades, the baroque architecture and all those domes and spires that cover Prague’s picturesque skyline. One of the most noticeable of all the buildings? The Prague Castle.

Seeing as it’s the largest castle complex in the entire world, we obviously had to take in its beauty from up close. Made-up of courtyards, gardens and towers, there is a lot that catches the eye.  Arrive on the hour like we did, and you can even add the changing of the guard to the list of things to marvel at.

 

We explored the basilica, the cathedral and spend a good 25 minutes trying to get the best selfies and group shots. I’d say we nailed it.

Although we could have spent an entire day on the castle grounds, we made our way to the Old Town with many stops on route…

Even though our tour started just after breakfast, there was always room for sampling local eats. As we cruised by a small local food market we had to give the sausage and trdelník a go. We didn’t eat them together, as that would be the equivalent of a hot dog and donut sandwich (could be a good combo actually). They did however, taste ridiculously delicious on their own.

Czech Sausages

Trdelnik

Prague is a difficult city to walk through, because everything you see makes you want to stop and explore further. It’s challenging enough on your own, now imagine that with 46 engaged individuals!  That’s what traveling is about though. Luckily for us, our guide was quite relaxed and welcomed our stops with grace and ease.

Whether it was the small canal of Venice, the graffiti covered wall paying homage to John Lennon, or the Charles Bridge perched above the Vltava river, our senses were always at 100. Each of the students found something that resonated with them in this city.

 

 

 

 

Gin Dobry from Krakow

Another day, another country…

Poland is an incredible place; the people are very generous, welcoming and hilarious. To our surprise, Krakow was quite lush as well.  Flowers and an abundance of greenery surrounded our hotel. Honestly, it felt like we were in some part of British Columbia.

We checked out the city on foot.  One of our favourite and most impressive sites we encountered was Wawel Castle and cathedral.

Located in Krakow and built in the 13th century the Wawel Royal Castle was the center of Poland’s culture and politics until the 16th century. Today it’s one of Poland’s most renowned art museums.

As we explored this quaint, European city we also made the walk a culinary experience. We enjoyed the most delicious,  fragrant, and locally grown strawberries. I’m not trying to make you envious (well, maybe a little) but they were so sweet and they tasted like jam!

Among other typical Polish food that we nibbled on our walk were fresh bagels that we found on almost every corner. They were crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle and featured cameos from our friends the poppy-seeds!

Since all of that wasn’t enough, we decided to indulge in “lody” (Polish for “ice cream” as well). It’s unique in that it is soft-serve ice cream, but a bit harder (a huge win because they melt slowly).

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring in the the Old Town. Some of us hit the local market in the center of the square, that sells authentic Polish goods from all over the country and the rest of the group gallivanted from shops to restaurants and cafes.

It feels like we do a lot of eating on the trip because we meandered over to our dinner spot shortly there after.

Poland wouldn’t be Poland without pierogies, so we obviously had to enjoy some. We took it to the next level though by not only eating them, but by making them. Clearly we were both hungry AND kneady!

The Horseman of Krakow

The wonderful Anya Guinzbourg wrote this great short story in Krakow and we felt is was worth sharing. Thank you Anya! 🙂

The Horseman of Krakow by Anya Guinzbourg

Once upon a time, there was a man named Henry, and he lived in a Zara department store, which was a part of the famous Krakow marketplace. He spent his days roaming the empty aisles of the trendy department store, hoping that one day, he could afford a shirt. The shirt was a beautiful piece, made of the finest pure white silk, polished by the Polish themselves. The shirt was special, for it was covered in blue pigeons, and represented freedom and power. However, Henry was a poor man, as his family spent their inheritance and savings on alcohol.

One day, Henry was making his rounds through Zara, sniffing past the women’s section in search for loose change, all the while humming his favourite Jewish folk music. As he strutted past the baggy pants that were considered “cool”, an old man walked by him, and complimented him on his singing. He told Henry that his singing was so good, he could land a record deal with the most polished musicians in all of Poland, he only had to come with the old man.

The man was wearing a striped shirt, brown khakis and a beret, and he seemed like a man to be trusted. So, Henry decided to follow the man outside of the Zara department store, and onto the streets of Krakow. They walked and walked, and kept on walking until Henry’s legs finally gave out. As he fell to the ground, he felt something mushy cushion his fall. As he turned his head, he saw that he had in fact, tripped over a pile of horse fecal matter. At that moment, Henry knew his life had really hit its lowest point.

As he lifted his head to cry out to the heavens, he noticed a bright twinkle in the corner of his eye. He looked up, and saw a majestic stallion. It was brown with a pure white stripe, and a nose as black as night. It trotted towards Henry, and he held his breath, captivated by the beauty of the horse. As it got closer, he heard a voice in his head, a deep voice which sounded like it could be the horse’s. It told him that he had no chance in ever succeeding as an artist in Poland, that he would end up poor on the streets like his parents. But, if the man decided to trade his head, he would end up a god, and rule over all the lands, playing music for all and spreading love and equality.

Henry pondered long and hard on his decision, and he decided that he did not want to spend his life on the streets of Poland, no matter how many beautiful pigeons passed him by. As well, if he became a god, he could finally afford the beautiful shirt from Zara that was probably made in China anyways. He walked up to the horse, and it placed its hoof upon his head. Henry felt dizzy, as if his head was stuck in a tornado. After spinning around for a few seconds, Henry passed out.

When he came to, he saw that he was back in his pile of clothes which he used as a bed in the Zara department store. He tried to lift his head, but it was much heavier than he was used to. He stood up and walked to the nearest washroom to brush his teeth, but almost fainted again at the sight that was in front of him. Below his neck, everything was the same, however instead of seeing his regular face, he saw the head of the stallion that he met the day before. He was shocked, and he came to realize that the horse had tricked him. It had in fact cursed him to be stuck as half-human and half-horse for the rest of his life, with no way of reversing the curse.

As people began to enter Zara, they were horrified by the sight that beheld them, and Henry was forced to leave his home in the department store. He sold the rest of his savings and bought an electric piano, and found an empty spot by an alcohol shop in an alleyway in Krakow. Everyday, he played his favourite Jewish folk songs on the electric piano, hoping that one day he’d have enough cash to buy a house, and maybe even the wonderful silky shirt from Zara. But he knew one thing, and it was to never trust a horse that could talk.

The End

A Closer Look at Berlin…

Our second day in Berlin began with a lecture at Checkpoint Charlie its museum. During the Cold War was the most well-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin.

Our lecturer and guide, Jacobi, painted a detailed picture of what the situation was like for those crossing at the junction in the Friedrichstadt neighborhood. It was the designated crossing point for foreigners and members of the Allied forces.

The museum featured many interesting items including escape apparatus like hot-air balloons and even getaway cars.

Next on our itinerary was Gendarmenmarkt; an idyllic backdrop for architecture enthusiasts. It is a famous square in Berlin, lined with the Konzerthaus, and two picturesque churches; one French and one German.

After marveling at these beautiful buildings and taking advantage of several photo opps, we made our way to the book burning memorial at Bebelplatz.This memorial was conceptualized by Micha Ullman, an Israeli artist, to remind us of the tragic book burning bonfire held by the Nazis in that exact location on May 10, 1933. Some of the works burnt at the site including those written my Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, Rosa Luxembourg and many others. This  event led to Jewish segregation and expulsion from academic circles and even the German society.

Upon perusing through the vibrant city for several hours, we certainly worked-up our appetites and stopped for lunch along the river at Hackescher Markt. What was on the menu for lunch? Many of us enjoyed currywurst, pretzels and if we’re honest, pizza and shawarmas too. 😁

Happy and full, we cruised towards the famous East Side Gallery, which consists of a series of murals painted on the remnants of the Berlin Wall. Most of the works on the wall are quite political in nature and make for great discussions and learning.

Over 1 km later, we found ourselves in the neighbourhood of Kreuzberg,  known for vintage shops, cafes and restaurants.

On that note, we headed to dinner. It was delish!

Danke schön, Germany! Next stop…POLAND!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Willkommen in Berlin

It’s hard to believe that after so many months of anticipation, our trip was finally here.

There was a lot of excitement in the air ✈️ at Pearson (pun fully intended). The students were excited, packed and ready to take-off.   We had a smooth check-in and unlike most airport security lines, ours was pretty short so our transfer process was quite smooth and enjoyable (insert high-five here👋🏾) .

After nibbling on array of treats and purchasing some snacks for the flight, we were more than ready to get to Germany.

Two smooth plane rides and many movies later, we finally arrived in Berlin.We were greeted at the airport by Olaf, our experienced and friendly guide who will be with our group for the duration of the program.

He is a gem. His knowledge and easygoing personality make him an absolute pleasure  to be around. He picked us up with a bus and took us to Hotel Tiergarten to drop off our belongings, freshen up and then begin exploring.

Our first day of exploring the German capital gave us a glance of this political city and cultural hub.  Berlin serves up a unique mix of both new and classical architecture, dynamic entertainment and a plethora of history. The city has been through its ups and downs but it has certainly been rebuilt in a manner that simultaneously
acknowledges its successes and dark past.

We perused through train stations, gardens and Pariser Platz, absorbing all the things our new German environment had to offer.

One of the most recognized and historical landmarks on our walking tour was the Brandeburg Gate.

A highlight of our tour was seeing the Reichstag, home of the German parliament that boasts an incredible dome made of glass.

Located where the Berlin wall once stood, the Holocaust Memorial was one of the places that impacted most of the group. We all stopped, reflected and took a moment to recognize its significance.

After a day full of walking and sightseeing (and some jet-lag), we headed back to our hotel to check-in to our rooms,  take a stroll around Tiergarten park and head to dinner right by the hotel.

Dinner was fantastic (#understatement). The meal featured a tasty and hearty
Berliner potato soup, followed by some homemade spaetzle with pork and mushrooms.
The grand finale to our day? Raspberry cheesecake.

More to come tomorrow!

The countdown is on!

Guten tag! Thanks for joining me! My name is Christina and I am super excited to be participating in this program with you. I will be posting many photos and trip highlights here. Feel free to share the blog with your friends and family.

Next stop, Berlin!

Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport. — Unknown