Koblenz. The whole point of going here was to hear how sound waves act in different spaces. We got to tour an opera house and see all the different aspects of the theater (it was SO COOL). In the opera house, we were supposed to be able to stand on the stage and make weird noises and hear the sound waves for our neurophysiology class. Well, they were building a set so we didn’t get to do that. We also went to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress because there is a room that has perfect sound.. but they were setting up for a party so we didn’t get to go in there either.. all in all it was a rough day for neurophys. BUT we did have time to just take in the view from the top of the fortress and it was absolutely breathtaking. And then our professor told us we had 10 minutes left and it turned into a 10 minute photo challenge with me and one other girl all around the fortress (pics to come, obviously). And then we rode the fun trolly back down to the “mainland” and went back to Bonn!
Cologne went much better. Don’t get me wrong, I had a GREAT time in Koblenz but everything seemed to go wrong. In Cologne we went on a guided tour with an AMAZING tour guide. She was SO FUNNY. But I learned so much about the city and I definitely want to go back. We got to see the largest cathedral in Europe and smell the first cologne ever invented (I found out it’s called cologne because it was made in Cologne!). We saw some really funny parts of the town that will, again, be in the pictures below. The rest of the week we had lecture on campus and I went shopping at a few of the stores nearby. I’m finding my way around Bonn just fine now, if anyone was worried about that!
Also, after we got back from Cologne there was an AIB (the “company” we are here through) picnic so that was fun! It was technically called a barbecue but... I feel wrong calling it that compared to Texas bbqs.
That weekend I stayed in Bonn and did a hike to Drachenfels Castle with the AIB staff. It. Was. Awesome. I’m building a castle now. It’s going to have a circle staircase to the 5th floor and everything. The stain glass windows were each individual pieces of art, and the gothic wooden kitchen was HAND CARVED. I was just amazed at the artistry and history behind each room. This was a voluntary while for anyone in the AIB programs so I got to meet some really nice people from the cultural Emerson program. They made me realize that I am horrible at speaking German. Apparently, I sound very Texan.. what can I say? But we hiked to the top of the mountain (past the castle) and ate lunch at a very neat restaurant overlooking Bonn. It was a pretty clear sky so we could even see Cologne with the telescope thingy. Past the restaurant and up FARTHER, we saw some ruins that were the inspiration behind The Hobbit, and there was a young child pretending to be a mountain goat on these ruins.. and he sounded terrifyingly similar to a mountain goat. The wind then starting to blow us away so we promptly went back down the mountain through some different trails that lead to beautiful vineyards and a tower that was abandoned and looked like one Repunzle would live in. At the bottom, AIB bought us frozen yogurt and it was very appreciated! I got a scoop of mango and a scoop of strawberry and it was delicious. But, when I asked for mango they didn’t understand me. I had the make the a sound tall (like in Spanish) before they knew what I was talking about. Then, the cultural emersion group laughed at me again (all in good fun)..
Sunday was laundry day and my room literally looked like a department store after a flash sale. It’s clean now (don’t worry mom). It was also a BEAUTIFUL day so I went to the park with a friend and walked some laps. After we got tired, we found this CUTE little restaurant that had a special on margaritas that night, so naturally we got some. It was so good, I slept like a baby that night. Next week is Norderney, and IM SO EXCITED.
This is the inside of the opera house. Stunning.
One of the 10 min photo challenge pics
And another one :)
The cologne store IN Cologne
The Magnificent Cologne Cathedral
Our amazing tour guide between two donated statues
The cookout for AIB
Food from the cookout! Yummmmm (oh yeah, and beer. I’m in Germany after all)
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