A weekend in Nürnberg

This blog should also be entitled "Hey, Remember that time I went to a metal concert?"

Yeah, that happened. 

Anyway, Johan and I went to Nürnberg this last weekend. We met up with Miriam (our Oktoberfest friend) and Juliane (a new friend for me!) Unfortunately since another friend was borrowing my camera at the time, I have to rely on photos from Johan and Google to tell my story.

Nürnberg, for those of you who don't know, was a very big stomping ground for the Nazi party. It was famous for its huge rallies for all occasions. In order to showcase the power and might of the Nazi party at these rallies in Nürnberg, Hitler arranged for some really impressive buildings to be built.

Kongresshall basically resembles the Coliseum. The building was never really finished due to the war, but remains the largest standing piece of Nazi architecture. Today this building houses a fantastic museum, which we obviously visited.

Next we visited the Zepplin Field. This field was built to resemble Greek architecture and was meant to inspire pseudo-religious feelings (the concept of an altar, etc) 

This picture shows the "Cathedral of Lights"

I stood upon this speaker's podium where Hitler is pictured. It's hard to explain the feelings one gets doing so. The field is just astoundingly huge, and despite it's dilapidated condition now from the American army and time, one can still imagine the show of power a rally held here might inspire. It' kind of sickening, actually.

I felt very ill for a long time that night as I walked about the grounds. What made it so odd was the sounds of a Fußball game in the stadium just off in the distance. One could close their eyes and picture the image above easily.

Here is what the Zepplin Field looks like today. Much of it is closed, due to it's deteriorating condition.

And leaving on a happier note, we also visited the famous Nürnberger Christkindlmarkt. This is the market that the Chicago Christkindlmarkt is based off of. Only way, way, way, way bigger. And so many more people. 

It was gorgeous, but I'll take Salzburg anyday.

Holy Almost Short and Sweet Blog, Batman! It's Christmas!

Well folks, it's that time of year in Salzburg. A cute lil tourist town like this has GOT to be decorated for Christmas. And let's face it, since Thanksgiving doesn't exist, people don't moan and groan about the decorations coming up so early. The Christkindlmarkt has been open since November 17th. Hope you Grinches don't get sick of it too soon!

(Side note: our study abroad program had a Turkey Day celebration dinner. I peeled, cut, and made mashed potatoes for 40 people. It was basically the only dish completely finished that people were literally scooping at the remains with their fingers. My Oma taught me well :)  ).

Christmas Decorations on my street! (apologies, haven't quite mastered night time settings yet)

Tonight I participated in the traditional Krampuslauf or Krampus Run. What is a Krampus you might say? This fella right down here:

Good lookin' eh?

Anyway, the Krampus is the helper of good Ol' Saint Nick. Only Saint Nick here doesn't mean Santa Claus. In fact, Santa Claus is the creation of Coca-Cola, so that doesn't really happen in good old Catholic Austria. Instead, Saint Nikolaus was a REAL LIFE bishop in Italy who did good work and especially loved children. On the eve of St. Nick's day (St. Nick's being the 6th of December), tradition would have it that St. Nick would come to your house with his golden book and read off all of the good and bad things the children had done. For being good, the child would receive a small gift. I'm not talking iPod Shuffle small, I'm talking a dried fig. Or some nuts. That kind of small. If they were bad, the Krampus would come and beat them or take them away in a basket. On the 24th of December, the Christkind (aka Baby Jesus, no Santa in sight) comes and brings a few gifts. The next day is CHURCH.

Basically, a traditional Krampus Lauf involves men dressing up as Krampuse and walking the streets with large bells attached to their backs. They then proceed to "whip and beat" mostly women and children and generally mess up their hair or try to scare them. Gotta see it at least once.

Tis the season for Vanillekipferl as well. It's a traditional Austro-Hungarian Christmas cookie. MUST STOP EATING THEM.

And to top off the Holiday Spirit, I leave you with a Christmas Cover that I put up on Youtube. Enjoy.

(click directly on video while playing to go straight to Youtube)

Non posso parlare italiano!

Yes, Yes, I know. The award for the world's worst blogger goes to me. This is what happens when you have too much fun and not enough internet access. Well worry not, I have a zillion more pictures to fill up your dull American lives. How about a bit of ITALY!

My roommate Anna, our friend Bri and I took an over night train to Milan. This is where our journey begins:

Our luxurious hotel erm train bed

Stepping off onto Italian soil

Inside the station at Milan

From our taxi, this is the Milan train station

When we arrived at our hostel, they spoke NO english, so we got creative and used Google Translate. Thank God for Google.

Enjoying our free cappuccinos and sweet roles in the hostel kitchen

View from our hostel

Look our room had a skeleton key!

Isn't this the cutest little room?

Then we hopped the metro to downtown Milan

Met up with our Italian "guides" (Brothers Armando and Luigi)

That's the Duomo

You can literally hold out your am to summon pigeons outside the Duomo Piazza

The Duomo was one of the prettiest cathedrals I have ever been in.

This man is beatified (aka on his way to sainthood). He died in 1893 but notice his body, skin etc is still intact. Amazing. They put a silver mask on him so the face isn't so gruesome. 

The church is super huge. I wish I had more pictures but we technically aren't supposed to take any. I'm just a bad egg is all.

One of the first inside malls from the late 1800s

Oops. Summoned a pigeon.

Even statues accidentally summon pigeons here.

Thank the Lord the pigeons take baths...

Trolleycar! Am I in San Francisco?

Purdy buildings

Those jars of Nutella in this cafe are bigger than that guy's head...

This is the castle of the famous patron of Leonard di Vinci (the Duke of Milan)

And outside the castle was a Celt fest?

Totally not an abnormal scene...

Wait...when did we go to Berlin? Nope, still in Milan.

Let's go see Sister Act! (you don't know how many times I tried to get a picture of this moving poster...)

The Duomo at night

A weird seance circle or something.

My first Italian food...IT WAS SO GOOD.

And the sugar packets had Winston Churchill?

And other various famous dead people.

When in Milan...go to an Irish pub?

At the Irish Pub

MUST TAKE A PICTURE OF EVERYTHING THAT SAYS BIANCHI

This is the Church where Leonardo di Vinci painted the Last Supper. Needless to say, tickets were sold out. Of course.

Cute lil witches in preparation for Halloween.

A wedding!

I wanted to steal this little girl so badly. She blew me a kiss and followed me around. AHHHH.

EVERYONE in Italy dresses up their dogs. Not necessary.

Gigi's twin haha

Leonardo di Vinci painted this ceiling. It's super intricate.

Want some ham?

I promise we're having a good time!

They made a leaf in my cappuccino!

Gone!

What exactly IS a crazy drink?

Goodbye to Milan and onto VENICE!

So on the way to Venice, I got separated from my travel buddies and may or may not have gotten off the train at the wrong stop. No big deal. We finally met up again in Venice after nightfall. Let me tell you, not knowing where you're going in Venice at night is not pleasant. It's very easy to get lost and when you're hungry and tired everything is scary. Let's start with daytime then, shall we?

This was our hostel in Venice.

The "street" our hostel was off of.

Gondolas!

Masks are a big thing.

This is my friend.

Boys playing soccer. How cute!

BIANCHI!

We had wine with our lunch. It was delicious.

This little girl is named Emma and she is 4. We met her and her family at lunch. They're from Austria so naturally I talked to her in German.

This is for my friend Jordan. She's getting married in April and her new name will be Albergo!

We took a gondola ride. So worth it.

I look dashing

That's my boat. I only buy the best.

Thanks Gondoleer man!

A line of Asians in gondolas!

Did I mention it's Halloween?

I want this in my house. All of it. Very classy.

Live band? ok.

Goodbye Venice. You're quite beautiful and I hope to come back to you and Milan someday!