We're back from Europe! The trip was absolutely amazing. Europe was just beautiful and it was such a valuable learning experience to trace the steps of so many thatI have learned about over the past three years. I can't tell you everything and believe me you don't want to hear everything. So, I will write the best and funniest thing we experienced in each major stop.
Berlin: If you look at the picture of me peering through the Berlin wall then you might be able to imagine the experience of standing in such a place. I was standing on the eastern sector and peering through to the abundant western. In that moment I finally realized just what it meant for the wall to break down. The eatern side was dismal and brown and just through the hole you could see the abundant greenery and a beautiful stream. The breaking down of the wall was really so much life coming through to those people. Anywhere you stand in Berlin you get the impression that you are standing on the threshold of a new world as there is so much change in the air, but that spot really encapsulated it all. It was quite the experience!
The funniest thing to happen in Berlin was eight jet lagged american women dragging their bags onto a bus and then about a half mile down the street. It is a long story.
Wittenberg:
Martin Luther's town was more preserved than I could ever have imagined. I was suprised to learn that it was a town of 342 at the time he was there. If you go to Wittenberg and then the Vatican you will really get a sense of what God did, because Wittenberg was no match. It felt very sacred to be there. It was amazing the significance "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (Luther's most famous hymn) took on when you sing it in his church.
The funniest thing in this town was undoubtedly going to the wrong Wittenberg. Our bus driver thought we were going to Wittenberga and drove us two hours in the wrong direction. The professors leading were so wrapped up in there lecturing that they didn't notice until we were actually in the wrong one.
Switzerland:
The best and funniest thing are one: the wrong Wheiler! Yes, once again we went to the wrong city, but no one could be upset about this mishap as it took us on an adventure to the top of the Swiss Alps, which I can say without exaggeration was the most beautiful place I've ever seen.
Italy:
I loved both Pompeii and the Catacombs. Seeing Ancient Rome was so amazing for me in light of my three years studying Latin and many classes in Ancient Christian history. You could never believe how well preserved the entire city of Pompeii is unless you went there, but it was so cool. When you put that snapshot in the context of early christians in ancient Rome you are blown away at the strength of faith and humbled by the reality of the threat it posed the Roman Empire.
The funniest thing to happen in Italy was my encounter with an eccentric and dirty Italian man on the train. I leaned up against the wall of the train, not paying attention, when someone grabbed my arm and stroked it three times. I thought it was someone from our group, but was disturbed to turn around and find an eccentric Italian man with a handle bar mustache and a bottle in one hand singing some drunken song and smiling at me. I quickly moved away from him. I then saw the face of one of my professors who was looking at him and turned to see what the man was doing. He was singing, making a face, and twisting his mustache up. Ahhhh, good times on the Roman subway.
France:
I loved the Chartre Cathedral. It was a medieval Cathedral with the best preserved Medieval glass in existence. We were taught by a very well-learned man (who actually had been there the last forty years ever since he wrote his doctoral thesis there) how to read medieval glass.
The guide was also a hilarious Brittish man. This quote was the funniest thing in France:
"Oh look, another Japanese Tourist. There are so many. We ought to go take their island. They can't be both places at once."
Well if anyone is still reading, thanks for being the most devoted fan of this blog--maybe ever.