Grüß Graz

Today I didn't have school because it is the Austrian national holiday of Fronleichnam. Although I had been dreading it, I finally sat down and finalized by itinerary.

I ended up switching a couple things around more or less for logical reasons. For example, I decided to go to Berchtesgaden after Venice since I would be going past Berchtesgaden to get to my friends home in Southern Germany.

Also, I added another day to my Berlin visit so that I can see more of the city.

Saturday, June 23: Graz to Venice
Sunday, June 24: Sightseeing in Venice
Monday, June 25: Venice to Berchtesgaden
Tuesday, June 26: Sightseeing in Berchtesgaden
Wednesday, June 27: Berchtesgaden to Kaufbeuren
Thursday, June 28: Visit with friend in Kaufbeuren
Friday, June 29: Kaufbeuren to Leipzig
Saturday, June 30: Sightseeing in Leipzig / Leipzig to Berlin
Sunday, July 1: Sightseeing in Berlin
Monday, July 2: Sightseeing in Berlin
Tuesday, July 3: Fly home from Berlin

Labels: Berchtesgaden, Berlin, Kaufbeuren, Leipzig, Travel, Venice

Here are three different types of Gösser Bier. On the left is a light beer with a lemon flavor, in the middle is just plain light beer, and on the right is dark beer.

Today I went with the group to Leoben. Leoben is a small city that lies about an hour train ride north of Graz. The city is a perfect example of a "typical" small Austrian city.

For history buffs, the city is perhaps most famous for the Treaty of Leoben signed by Napoleon Bonaparte in the city on July 1797.

All that said, there was not much to do in Leoben.

After a quick walk through the Kunsthaus (Art Museum), our teachers cut us free to walk around the city for a few hours. Really we did not need that much time since there was not much to do in the city. It was raining off and on in the morning so I ended up taking cover in a Pizzeria just off the Hauptplatz (city square) with a few people from the group.

I was very disappointed that the weather was so crappy because it would have been nice to be able to set outside on the Hauptplatz and eat. Despite the size of the city, it has a huge Hauptplatz that has a great view of a mountain in the distance.

Our final stop in Leoben was the Gösser brewery. Sadly, it was the most interesting thing that we saw all day. Before we took our tour, our tour guide let us try some Gösser beer with fresh pretzels. It was amazing. This was the first time that I had ever tried Gösser, and it is now my favorite beer.

Up to that point my favorite had been Puntigamer, but Gösser definitely blows it away.

Labels: IU Graz Program, Leoben

It sure seems to be the summer of construction in Europe.

No matter where I go here I am greeted by construction. In Budapest everything was under construction.

Salzburg, Austria was no different although the construction was easier to look at.

The Salzburg Cathedral was, like everything else, under construction. Crews were working on the front facade during my visit there last week. And like most of the construction I had seen up to that point, the construction scafling was covered with an advertisement.

But this scafling was different; it was covered by a swimsuit advertisement.

Yes, a swimsuit advertisement on a cathedral.

In Budapest I had seen an advertisement for Spiderman 3 on the side of an old apartment building, but I did not see any advertisements on churches under construction there.

But why a swimsuit advertisement? I mean come on. Of all things to advertise on the side of a cathedral why a swimsuit? Wouldn't an advertisement for a charity be a better fit if you had to put one there? Even a T-Mobile advertisement wouldn't be as bad.

The best part by far, though, was that the swimsuit model was Kylie Minogue. So not only do you have a half-naked girl on the side of a cathedral, but also a half-naked pop artist.

I do not consider myself to be a very religious person, but I though that this was very hilarious and sad at the same time. How hard up for money does the Church have to be to put H&M advertisements on the side of an ancient cathedral?

While we were in Salzburg, we did not know the name of the church so it automatically got nicknamed "Saint Kylie's Church."

I've heard that the pope wears prada, but I did not know that he shops at H&M.

I just wonder how many guys went to confessional, came out of the church, looked at Kylie and went back to confessional again.

Labels: IU Graz Program, Salzburg