Gunnar Larson Blog

Spring 2006 Semester in Europe student

Traveling Europe

4/25/2006 9:05:39 AM

As we crossed the border from Slovakia to Austria, all at once I had a sense of calm. It was not because I was moving on to another country, but something more trivial than that. It was because of the amazements of mechanical engineering, said my robot-building friend from MIT as I leaned over to tell her about how I felt. What made me feel like all was right in the world? Windmills.

But at the time when our coach crossed the border, I more thought them to be monolithic power generating marvels. The border into Austria was covered with hundreds of the goliath like creatures that seemingly turn methodically in unison. Almost like the waves rolling on the beach. 

I needed that feeling. Lately I feel like what a clumsy German Shepherd puppy must feel like when his owner throws a tennis ball for him to fetch in the house. Just as the puppy runs and scampers after the ball, he is quite satisfied that he is about to catch it. In the same instant, the ball hits something and is sent in the opposite direction. What did the ball hit? The sliding glass door. The puppy is left trying to skid to a stop, but just like the ball, the puppy runs right into the door. 

In two weeks I will be leaving for New York, but in the meantime, I have been traveling like the crazy fool that I am. We never stay in one country or city for more than two days. Berlin for two days, Prague for the same amount, then it is off to Vienna, but not before a quick stop in Bratislava.

The days pass by in a whirlwind, and when I lay my head down on the pillow at night, I often wonder where the time went. Much like that puppy I spoke of, I think New York is going  to be my sliding glass door. It will all of a sudden sneak up on me just when I was not expecting it. With that said, New York is also like the proverbial carrot at the end of the stick.

We have visited Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria while wandering about Europe on this tour. We will be going to France, the Netherlands, and Belgium in the coming days. 

There is too much to tell you about each single place. I could go on all day about the Berlin Wall, Prague's historic buildings, and how Buda and Pest came to be known as Budapest. What might interest you more are video reports. Log on to www.BlogAbroad.com. While in every country, I am doing a video report for BlogAbroad.com, where you will see the most exciting thing I find in every country.

The one thing that I have learned, that has struck me, as the most phenomenal is this: These places really do exist. And even more so, that there are people who have lives, families, and homes in these places. It is very easy to read about these places, and just have them be an idea in your mind. But seeing, experiencing the cultures, and meeting people, makes it more real. 

You will say to yourself, "Of course there are people in Bratislava, Slovakia," but to see that indeed there are people there, well it makes the mind strain for some reason. The world is big in some respects, but there is not a lot separating us. We really are in this together. Europe has recognized that fact and formed the European Union. I cannot help but wonder what the future will lead to. 

Well until then, I have countries I need to visit, more people I need to see,and experiences I need to experience.

Good day to you from Vienna.

The itinerary for this tour:

HUNGARY
Budapest

GERMANY
Berlin
Dresden
Dachau "concentration camp"

CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague

SLOVAKIA
Bratislava "the capital"

AUSTRIA
Vienna
Salzburg " the city where The Sound of Music was filmed"

LUXEMBOURG
Luxembourg " visit the European Center"

FRANCE
Strasbourg " visit the Council of Europe"
Paris " audio guided tour of the Louvre our of the palace of Versailles"

BELGIUM
Brussels
Leuven

THE NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam " visit the Van Gogh Museum"