Europe

Day 18 Berlin

Unknown User — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:49:57 GMT

January 22nd Today was the guided sightseeing tour of Berlin with the main stops being the Bradenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the Holocaust museum, and Checkpoint Charlie. The Bradenburg Gate was a triumphal gate that after war the German army would march under on their way from Bradenburg to Berlin. The Reichstag, along the same street as the gate, is comparable to the U.S. Capitol Building in D.C., the difference being the German one you could walk right up to and not be stopped. The next stop was the Holocaust Memorial and Museum. There were 2,711 concrete stelae that represented the victims of the Holocaust. This museum focused on each individual family and person murdered in the war. One room held the story of each victim as far as they know it would take over 6 years to hear/read them all. Our last stop was Checkpoint Charlie, the third gateway between East and West Berlin. The museum focused on the many ways that people tried to escape. The rest of the day was given to us for free time. Several people went to the zoo, many were seen walking around the Ka De We mall, and others were spotted dining at Peretti’s for dinner. Our trip is almost over, three days left, but Berlin left a huge impression on all of us. Good Night to All B.P. and K.T.

Day 17 WittenBurg, Berlin

Unknown User — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:37:06 GMT

January 21 The day began with our now ritualistic early rise to obtain good seats on the bus. It is interesting that a group of college students is willing to get up earlier than they have too, but then again, this isn’t really class. It has gotten so extreme that if you come just ten minutes early, you may be among the last to arrive, and at five minutes early, you may be the last. We left Leipzig and drove to WittenBurg, the site of many activities crucial to the start of the Reformation. In WittenBurg we took a tour of Martin Luther’s house. It was interesting to see the rooms where Martin Luther and his wife spent most of their time and to see where some of the first discussions about the reformation occurred. It was also exciting to see a replica of the original ninety-five theses. After the visit to Luther’s house, we walked to the Castle Church, and saw where Luther nailed the ninety-five theses. It was an awe inspiring experience to be at the exact spot where the reformation began. During our visit at the WittenBurg church we saw Luther’s grave, where Rev. Broekhuizen led us in the singing of Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” It was inspirational to sing this hymn in the very place where the lyrics were inspired. Following lunch in WittenBurg we drove to Berlin where we took a brief driving tour and stopped at the Berliner Dome. Some of us climbed to the top of the dome for a beautiful view of Berlin at night. There is so much history in this beautiful church built over a large crypt. Following this visit we drove to the hotel, where most of us relaxed for the night. TO, DV

Day 16 Dresden, Leipzig

Unknown User — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:25:14 GMT

January 20 This morning we attended church at St. Vitus Cathedral which was a traditional Catholic mass in Czech. Although we couldn’t understand the service and it was difficult to follow, it was still inspirational to see how other cultures collect into one place to worship the same God. After church, we drove to Dresden, Germany where we ate lunch and walked around for a while. Dresden was heavily bombed during WWII and is still in the process of reconstruction. It was interesting to see how much of an impact WWII still has on the people over here. It’s not really something that we as Americans think about very often, but for the people in Germany, it still plays a large part in their everyday lives. We then drove to Leipzig where we checked into our hotel and ate dinner. One unique thing about Leipzig was the dividing line of old and new buildings due to bombs from WWII. Upon arrival, we visited the train station which was rebuilt and plays a large role in the economy of this city.

Day 15 Prague (Praha)

Unknown User — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:51:51 GMT

January 19 We started out today with a familiarization tour of the city, including famous sites such as the Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral and the Royal Palace. Our guide was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable but slightly overwhelmed by the size of our group. The tour started at our hotel, which was located at the top of a very large hill, throughout the tour we slowly walked down this hill and ended up in the center of the city. After the tour we had the afternoon free to eat lunch and discover Prague for ourselves. We met that evening for dinner in a local Czech restaurant that served Czech food. During dinner we had live entertainment in the form of a talented accordion player, a violinist, and two Czech dancers. The entertainers were very interactive with the audience and even managed to get several students involved in the dancing. I think that everyone had a good time eating and laughing.

Day 14 Dachau, Nurnburg, Prague

Unknown User — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:37:59 GMT

January 18 Today we visited Dachau, the infamous World War II concentration camp. The camp was a horrific sight and really wasn’t a highlight compared to the fun places we have been. Nonetheless it was a very humbling experience and it helps us appreciate our freedoms we have in the United States. After we left Dachau it was on to Nurnberg for a quick lunch. The day was filled with much driving and travels. We arrived in Prague in the evening where we ate dinner at the hotel and then a quick look at the city light up at night.

Day 13 Munich, Erding

Unknown User — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:29:06 GMT

January 17

Under construction sorry for any inconvenience.

Day 12 Heidelberg, Erding

Unknown User — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:48:41 GMT

January 16 After a delicious breakfast at the hotel the group loaded the bus for a short trip to the university city of Heidelberg. We started out with a guided tour through the Heidelberg castle. Next we were taken on a short tour through the city by Professor Nielsen, which lead us through the Alt Stadt to the Heiliggeistkirche (Holy Ghost Church). We were then given a few hours for lunch and to explore the beautiful city of Heidelberg. Shortly after arriving at our hotel in Erding we were treated to dinner at the hotel. The rest of the night was left up to the students for free time and exploration of the city.

Day 11 Boppard, Rhine Cruise, Ingelheim, Hockenheim

Unknown User — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:41:40 GMT

January 15 The day started us out early to take us through the hilly country side and winding hills to Boppard, Germany. In Boppard we boarded a two storied steamer and departed up the Rhine River. Wandering up the river revealed large and small castled framed by ancient roman walls build into the hills dotted with vine yards. Afterwards it was lunch and boarding the bus again to head to the company Boehringer-Ingleheim. A problem with one of the transformers provided a surprise causing them to send their fire trucks as we pulled up but once inside everything went completely smoothly. A tour of the facilities, a presentation and a video were followed by sandwhiches, cake, desserts and beverages and one of our engineer students got to meet his boss for an internship this summer with Boehringer-Ingleheim. Once finished we boarded the bus once again for the last leg of the drive as we continued on to Hochenheim where we arrived at the Ramada Hotel. We had dinner as a group and what remained of the night was free.

Day 10 Reims, Luxembourg, Trier

Unknown User — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:29:08 GMT

January 14 After three nights in Paris, we left our last IBIS hotel and headed toward Germany. It was surprising to see so much green open fields after three busy days in a crowded citiy. After a quiet and sleep-filled bus ride, we arrived in Reims, champagne capital of the world. We stopped there to visit another large cathedral, this one being far less busy and full of tourists. This cathedral contained multiple stained glass windows, which gave it a very bright, colorful, and more open feel. Next, we took another sleep filled ride and a quick lunch before arriving in Luxembourg. There we visited the United States WWII cemetery. General Patton is buried there along with 5075 American soldiers. The cemetery was very well kept, and it was good to see that our soldiers were still being honored for their service, even in a country overseas. From here had another ride to the city of Trier, Germany. Trier is the oldest city in Germany, dating back to 16 BC. There are still ancient Roman ruins around the city, including the main wall and other structures. It is not everyday that you can look out from your hotel window and see an ancient Roman wall still standing across the street. Trier has many shops selling a large variety of items for a price that is very inviting when compared to shopping in Paris. After a delicious dinner in our beautiful hotel, we met and discussed the last week’s activities as a group and the corresponding significance they have in the big picture. We are supposed to leave here tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM, so we’ll see how that goes. Gute Nacht, Matt and Jamie

Day 09 Paris

Unknown User — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:20:55 GMT

This morning we attended High Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The service was in all in French and Latin but it was still a enriching experience. We particularly liked the organ music which reverberated throughout the Cathedral. After lunch, we toured the Louvre and were able to view art such as the Mona Lisa and the Code of Hammarabi. The museum was huge and overwhelming at times--impossible to view everything in one day. The rest the day was left to individual leisure and we could visit the Arc de Triomphe and the Latin District. It was a great ending to an exhausting but exciting weekend in Paris!

Day 08 Paris

Unknown User — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:51:49 GMT

January 12 Today we started out with a trip to the Eiffel Tower. It was a long and, to some, nerve-racking, ride up to the third platform of the tower. This gave us an amazing view of the city. With the sun shining, it was a perfect day for the trip. Next, we took a subway ride over to the Notre Dame Cathedral where we were able to walk through the church. This gave us a small taste of the church service that we will experience there tomorrow. From here we were given the rest of the afternoon to use as we please. At night we met together once again for a Seine River cruise. Although it was quite cold, the cruise gave us a beautiful view of the city at night. I think that everyone would agree that the best part of ride was seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle at the top of the hour. After the ride ended we had the rest of the night to ourselves.

Day 07 Versailles, Paris

Unknown User — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:37:50 GMT

January 11 Today we left the hotel in Brugge early and began our 4 hour journey towards Paris. Before exploring the city of Paris, we stopped by Versailles, home of the Versailles Palace built by King Louis the XIV and his 22,000 workers. The gardens and palace were beautiful to walk through despite the dismal weather. After our knowledgeable bus driver Joop, took us around the city for a tour, we checked into the hotel. An hour later we were back out in the city heading to our dinner destination. We all learned French drivers don't wait on pedestrians as many of us had close calls with cars and mopeds. We had a lovely dinner together that consisted of a salad with shrimp, duck, and apple pie for desert. We capped off the evening with a trip to the Sacre Coeur Cathedral which overlooks all of Paris. It was a great introduction to Paris as we will be spending 3 days and nights here. Bonjour

Day 06 Brugge

Unknown User — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:29:56 GMT

Thursday, January 10 Our first stop was to Burke Porter, a company that originated in Grand Rapids. They design automotive testing equipment used by major automotive companies for automatic alignment, ABS testing, and robotic tire assembly. We had a presentation to start the tour followed by a walk-through of their facilities. A final short presentation wrapped up our visit. Burke Porter's hospitality was amazing. We had free time once we returned to the hotel to find an independent lunch before a guided tour of the city, which was scheduled for 1:30. The guides were provided by the city and were very enthusiastic which made for a very interesting and informative tour. A few of the stops included: an old nunnery which is still being used and "Virgin and Child" - a well-known sculpture by Michangelo. Once the city tour was complete we again had free time for the remainder of the day. Some people decided to climb to the top of the bellfry at the market square which provided for a great view (as seen in the pictures), as well as a noisy but pleasant treat as the bells rang at the hour, just feet from the students stationed at the top.

Day 05 Goes, MiddleBurg, Veere, Oosterschelde, Brugge

Unknown User — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:18:00 GMT

January 9, 2007 Wednesday morning began with a visit to Vermeer manufacturing, a business located in Goes. We learned a lot about this business’s purpose and how it became successful by using particular business strategies. After the tour, we drove to Middelburg for lunch and shopping. Veere was our next but quick stop. As a group we walked the cobblestone streets and saw the canal and small, beautiful homes of the people who live and work there. After Veere, we stopped at Oosterschelde, a surge barrier that can close in less than an hour in case of a storm. The stop was quick and we began our drive to a new country, Belgium. The drive in to Belgium was pretty with a big canal, old gates of the city and the local people riding bicycles. The area Is very nice and you can easily tell that there is a lot of history behind this area because of the old building. After an abnormal check-in and another group dinner with lots of French fries, we had the night free for exploration and relaxation. We look forward to learning more about this interesting city over the next day. Allison Bosma and Sarah Plaisier

Day 04 The Hague, Delft, Hoek of Holland, RotterDam, Goes

Unknown User — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:10:13 GMT

Tuesday, January 8, 2008 Our first stop today was a quick one at the Peace Palace in The Hague. After a short bus ride, we arrived at the Knights Hall and the Dutch House of Representatives for a guided tour. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences between the Dutch government and ours. Then we left The Hague and drove on to the town of Delft for lunch and some shopping. After lunch, we drove on to the Nieuwe Waterweg, where we saw the large storm surge barrier that is used to protect the Netherlands from flooding during a storm. On our way to the city of Goes where we spent the night, we drove through the large city of Rotterdam. This city was interesting because the architecture was much more modern than the other cities in the Netherlands because the city was destroyed during World War II. It was a busy day and dinner at the hotel was delicious. After dinner, we were invited to a local church with connections to Calvin for a short service and dessert. Being very old, the church’s architecture was neat and we were able to climb up the bell tower for a good view of the town.

Day 03 Aalsmer, Haarzuilens, Weesp, The Hague

Unknown User — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:02:47 GMT

We began our day at the Aalsmeer flower auction, the largest one in the world. Thousands of different kinds of flowers of many shapes, colors, and sizes filled the gigantic warehouse. It was bustling with activity in both the warehouse and the auction rooms, where people were buying flowers left and right. After the Flower auction we made our way to the Kasteel de Haar. The castle grounds there looked very beautiful even in the middle of winter. We took a guided tour and learned about the history of the Netherlands in the 13th and 14th centuries. We were able to go into several rooms, each filled with the original furniture-the kitchen even had a complete set of copper utensils and cookware. Our last stop was to Solvay Pharmaceuticals, where we were split up into 3 groups and given different tours of parts of the plant. Their main concern right now is the influenza, and bird flu vaccines. Each group got to see different parts of each process in producing the vaccine. Most of the groups had to wear protective suits, boots and hats to get into the facilities. Overall it was a great experience and a splendid day.

Day 02 Amsterdam

Unknown User — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:55:23 GMT

Sunday, January 6, 2008 Today we woke up bright and early to enjoy a great Dutch breakfast in Amsterdam. We then walked down the road to the English Reformed Church. Inside the church we able to admire a building built over 400 years ago. The service took roughly two hours, but it was refreshing to see a different, relaxed, yet traditional service. During the service the church welcomed a new deacon and participated in communion. Following the service we had free time for two hours to explore the city and eat lunch. We later met for a Canal Cruise through the city. It was a great opportunity to capture pictures of the canals, bridges, houseboats, old harbor, and architecture of the city. The tour ended at the Anne Frank House where we took a self guided tour. Seeing the actual house really made her story come alive. We were even able to walk past the famous bookshelf which was used to hide her family. Some people even took the opportunity to send a “leaf” and a video message to friends and family members via email. The rest of the evening was free time. People were able to shop, walk the city, eat dinner, and embrace the Dutch culture of Amsterdam.

Day 01 Amsterdam

Unknown User — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:04:00 GMT

We exited the airport and boarded our tour bus. We took a nice scenic drive through Amsterdam on our way to St. Bravo church. The church was beautiful with its high ceilings and amazing organ. The organ was said to have been played by both Handel and Mozart. We were then given some free time to roam the markets of the town. Then we traveled to our hotel which was located centrally downtown Amsterdam. After we had settled in the hotel we had a group dinner at a nice restaurant across the street from our hotel. We had the rest of the night free to walk throughout the downtown area and to see what it had to offer. There was plenty of shopping available, some great architecture, and even some ollebollen to enjoy.

Trip to Amsterdam

Unknown User — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:30:40 GMT

The trip started (for some) as a puddle jump flight over Lake Michigan to the O'Hare airport. This flight was short and, thankfully, uneventful although the landing was quite rough and provided a rude awakening to those that fell asleep on that flight. The flight to Amsterdam was long, dull, and a good time to catch up on some needed sleep. The in flight movies included Ratatouille and Rush Hour 3. When we finally exited the airport to reach fresh air we were greeted by the pleasant scent of a very Dutch treat: ollebollen. This pretty much sums up the trip to the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.