Back in October, we had a week long academic break. I decided to do some traveling in areas of Europe I had not seen before - and headed east. Getting to other places in Europe is easy from Lille - there are two major train stations, but no major airport. The nearest airports are Brussels (Brussels and Brussels Charleroi) and Paris. I opted to fly out from the Brussels airport. Getting from Lille to Brussels was an adventure! Rather than pay for a train (€25), I rode with a Blabla car driver. Blabla is an enterprise where individuals register online for a trip they plan on taking over a wider distance, and open their extra automobile seats for passengers. For a small fee, (I paid €7) you ride along to the destination. Our driver was French, the front seat passenger was Brazilian, and the other two passengers were from Paris and Lille. Between us we spoke French, English, Portuguese, and Spanish. And we used all four languages to talk for the 1 1/2 hour ride to Brussels! It was a challenge and fun to say the least. I arrived safely at the central train station (the agreed drop off for me and the two French gals), got to the airport, and flew to Germany. |
My first stop was in Berlin. What an incredible city! Another GSU student and I had a very congenial Airbnb host who grew up in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. I really enjoyed our conversations, and heard first hand what the transition years were like when East and West reunited. (Note: In Berlin, it's prohibited to rent a whole vacant apartment to temporary visitors... so you stay in someone's home with them when renting off Airbnb.) His apartment was in a suburb, but Berlin has fantastic (and I do mean fantastic) public transportation. However, you will need Euro coins or to buy a pass at one of the tourist information offices. The ticket machines for the buses, trams, and trains all take only cash or a special credit card designed just for the transport system. |
I could write forever about the beauty and complexity of Berlin, but I heartily recommend two things: 1) Take a bike tour of the city with Fat Tire Tours. For about €25, you get a guided tour in English based on the theme you signed up for. I did two bike tours - one of the Cold War history and the fall of the Berlin Wall, the other a general history of the city. Both tours were great, took about 4 hours, and had a stop for lunch. I learned 1000x more than I would have just walking the city on my own and saw all the major historical and political sights. 2) Tour the Reichstag (Bundestag building - where the Germany parliament meets). YOU HAVE TO BOOK THIS ONLINE IN ADVANCE. But if you do, you get an English-led 45-minute lecture that discusses German politics, history during Nazism, architecture of the incredible building, and cultural symbols. It was free and completely worth it. When the tour ends, you can go up into the Glass Dome above the building with views of the Berlin Skyline - incredible! If you look down through the glass, you see the Parliamentary chamber. As the architect Norman Foster designed, the German parliament in session looks up to the see the people walking in the dome. They are there to serve the people, and the people watch their government to keep them accountable.
My second city to visit was Krakow, which ended up surprising me a lot. The people were very friendly and most spoke English which was helpful to me as a tourist who doesn't speak Polish! With beautiful architecture, INCREDIBLY delicious and CHEAP food, and phenomenal history, I could have easily spent more than four days there. I managed to squeeze in an English-led walking tour of the city (free - tip the guide), tours of Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral (Pope John Paul II's cathedral and the resting place of Chopin), saw the National Gallery of 19th century art, and took a walking tour of the Jewish quarters. Prior to World War II, Krakow was home to the second largest population of Jewish residents, after the U.S.
For the last two days, I got outside the city and visited the Salt Mines of Wieliczka, and had a guided tour of Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II - Birkenau. The salt mines were inspiring with intricately carves salt sculptures. Auschwitz was inspiring because of the resilience and dignity of the prisoners, despite the persecution of Nazi abuse. Having an extended family member who had been interred at Auschwitz made it more personal in many ways. But no one could tour the facilities without being horrified at the depravity that humanity inflicted upon itself.
In a way I'm glad Auschwitz was the last thing I saw before leaving Poland. It was a poignant reminder for why I am an academic. Studying abroad is not just about the accumulation of knowledge just to possess it. Studying in another city, culture, and country is transformative in ways that are beyond predicting before you leave your home country and university. For me, what I experienced and learned in Berlin and Krakow has transformed me as a person, and I know that will impact my research and teaching.
(Note: The photos I've chosen to share here do not reflect the entirety of the graphic scenes of abuse and horrific persecution I witnessed on the tour. However, I felt posting such photos online would be disrespectful to the many thousands who lost their lives in the camps.)
(Note: The photos I've chosen to share here do not reflect the entirety of the graphic scenes of abuse and horrific persecution I witnessed on the tour. However, I felt posting such photos online would be disrespectful to the many thousands who lost their lives in the camps.)