Straßburg

This just in:

There was reportedly a Euro Bum sighting two weeks ago on Collegiumgasse in Tuebingen. Emily Stillman, a study abroad student, was walking to the Chocolate Market, when she witnessed the Euro Bum standing on the side of the street. The Euro Bum was reported to have been playing a recorder like instrument. After a few seconds of play, though, he stopped and must have decided that his back itched, because it is said that he then used the recorder as a back scratcher.

This has been the latest update on the Euro Bum.

Yesterday was our trip to Straßburg (Strasbourg), which a town located in Eastern France, but has German roots. If you were planning on seeing the new Sherlock Holmes movie, the opening scene is said to be shot at a church in Strasbourg.

So I woke up really early in order to meet the group (StudIT) that was organizing the trip at the bus station. I met up with everyone at 7:30 at the station, but we didn't leave until at least 8. It was a beautiful rainy day, but I was mostly prepared with lots of layers, an umbrella, and gloves... even though my shoes had holes in them and my socks started off that day pretty wet, I would say that it wasn't too bad.

The bus ride lasted about three hours. I spent these three hours trying to ignore the loud Russian group of students in front and next to us, listening to music, sleeping on and off, and watching Rachel nod off so violently that I thought her neck might snap at some point. When we finally got there we were given a tour in our bus by a little old lady who spoke French and German. She gave the tour in German. I have to admit that the tour was pretty boring, but I listened regardless. She talked mostly about the styles of buildings and such, which was not that interesting. But we did get to see a lot.

Some of the sights from the bus!

Lots of architecture.

One of the churches under construction.

At this point in the day, about 12pm, I was very irritated, because of the group of three Italian guys behind us who were talking throughout the entire tour. They were being so disrespectful! They kept on yelling, laughing at the tour guide, mocking the tour guide, and even booing the tour guide. It took every ounce of my patience not to scream and run to the front of the bus! I was so irritated and horrified by their behavior that I really wanted to smack them all. I could understand if they were quietly making remarks or nodding off because of the fact that the tour was a little boring, but to yell and interrupt throughout the entire hour long tour. I was disgusted. I could not wait to get off that bus.

When the tour was finally over, we followed the tour guide into the city and she showed us some places where we might be able to eat. Now, I really wanted to walk around and see the sights and the Christmas markets, but it seems like any time we go anywhere we end up sitting at a cafe or restaurant for the majority of the time. We walked and looked at some places where we might eat, and eventually settled on a little sandwich shop. We sat for a long time, especially long because Rachel and Jake could not figure out the bathrooms. There was apparently one bathroom, but they did not figure this out until Jake walked in on some guy in the bathroom, and when the guy came out he talked to them for a while. I guess the guy was making some inappropriate comments and jokes.. because the embarrassment of walking in on someone in the bathroom isn't embarrassing and awkward enough.

After eating, we walked around and it was decided that we would see some of the sights and buildings before the sun went down. 

The start of the Christmas market.

I took this picture at the beginning of the day, and I have one from the end. There was a Charlie Chaplin impersonator right underneath it. Why is it always Charlie Chaplin?

We walked down this super narrow street and I felt so cramped. The buildings were decorated for the market. Some of them were really cool, others a little gaudy.

This one was nice.

This was another okay one.

Run run run as fast as you can.

Back there to the left is the ice skating rink.

The market right outside the church.

It was very festive, and I didn't even get to walk through this market =[ .

We walked for a bit, but I would say that we really did not see a lot. After a while we ended up back at this big Christmas tree, and finally we went to go walk some Christmas markets. 

This tree was massive and it was decorated with wooden ornaments and lights. How would you like to string the lights on this tree?

One of the pretty sights we found.

It was quite the picturesque spot.

We ended up walking through another market, but only briefly.

Down more narrow streets. They were all decorated and very festive.

I was taking a picture of the giant snowflake, when this guy decided to pop in. He looks pretty happy that it's nearly Christmas.

Children's village sign, hey look I think I may have remembered some French from 7th grade. I was able to order some food in French, go me! I seemed to have retained something beyond that French people love Nutella from my 7th grade French class, as that is all we did once a week: eat Nutella and bread.

Back at the tree.

Hey Matt, I know where your Hogwarts letter is.

Dear Mr. Stillman, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. Now if only your owl would leave France and deliver your letter.

We turned a corner and found this street, where it looks like Christmas threw up all over the place.

It was a little much...

to say the least...

Seriously.?

Ah, Zach enjoying his Gluhwein, this time as a woman advertising a store.

Do you know the Muffin Man?

 Enjoy, and improve your German!

Although we really only walked through the markets, not really seeing much of anything, and not getting the chance to stop anywhere. We ended up at this market by the church.

The church! It was quite impressive.

The front door was very intricately designed.

 Because nothing says God like an animal eating a man's face.

We went inside, because what's a trip with the Tuebinger Fuenf without going inside a church for at least thirty minutes.. sorry guys, I love you but the church visits are a little much for me. When we got inside, though, we saw that there was a children's program explaining the First Christmas. I'm pretty sure those kids were lip-syncing, but the costumes and the dance moves were pretty jazzed up.

The inside of the church.

The children's performance.

Look at the little French Mary and Joseph.

This angel was golden, because she just had to one up all the other angels.

Inside the church was a astronomical clock.

When we left the church we went to the little market near the ice skating rink and stood around for a while before heading back to the bus station. On the way back we stopped at a few places to take pictures, but again did not get to see much else. 

I found this mischievous little Santa outside the market by the ice skating rink.

Me and Hannah.

The church at night with the market all lit up.

We walked back down that narrow street. Now remember how I said that some of the houses were a little gaudy? My point exactly.

Back to where the Chaplin impersonator was.

Thought this was really cute and that my Mommy would appreciate the snowmen. They have kitchen utensils as arms!

The main archway for the Christmas market was lit up once it was dark enough.

Look at that American with those holy gym shoes!

After taking some pictures by the big sign we walked back to the station. The whole day, we were surrounded by people, which may be in part why I was so crabby all day (that and the obnoxious people on the bus, and the fact that I felt I could have seen and done more in the day). It was so busy, that I felt like I was just being herded throughout the city. Definitely not a fun experience in terms of the crowds.

PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!  AHHHHH!

In case you were wondering, Vancouver is 11000 km in that direction. And P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney is 14000 km in the other direction.

When we got back to the station we stopped to go to the bathroom. I walked into the bathroom stall, which was itty-bitty! I was so cramped in there that when I bent over I hit my head on the door knob hard. I felt a little disoriented, and it gave me quite the headache for the rest of the night.

We stood around at the bus station for a long time, waiting for our buses and the people that had brought us here. It was super busy at the station, just like everywhere else, and we had to move quite a bit to avoid being hit by buses. When our bus finally came, we quickly boarded, and were soon on our way back to Tuebingen. Overall, I found the experience to be not that enjoyable. I'm glad I went, but I think that in the future, I'm going to skip the StudIT trips, even if they are cheaper. It was a lot of waiting around for the buses and a lot of frustration during the trip that I could have easily done without. When we got back to Tuebingen, my right knee was killing me for some reason (and it still hurts today). I have no idea what I did to it.

But when we got back, I ran to the store to pick up some food for today and then headed home to sleep off my headache!