If there is one thing I hate in this world, it is monotony. Committing to the same actions, day after day, literally kills me from the inside. That is why I always try to vary at least one particular aspect of my life, every day. Whether it be taking random walks, talking to random strangers, visiting random stores, or taking up different hobbies, I try my best to ensure that my life is not, simply, following a rut. Being accepted into this program, definitely, helped with my efforts, and today took it to another extreme. Spontaneously, we decided to take a random trip to Kromeriz. Trust me, it is not pronounced in the way that you are probably doing it now, so I will pronounce it correctly upon my return. However, for the moment, let me tell you what we did upon that particular terrain. Thankfully, the trip to get there required only one hour of travel time. Considering we just got back from a five hour trip to Terezin Saturday, and we have, at least, a three hour trip to Poland in a few days, it should be understandable that I am wanting to plant my feet in the ground somewhere. Anyway, upon our arrival, we were greeted by an imposing structure. It was the Archbishop's Summer House. I suppose even the Archbishops need a place to get away from it all, right? Actually, this house didn't just see fun and games between the clergymen and their peers (I realize that can sound a bit odd, bear with me); it saw many professional and official actions. We went through quite a few rooms, and I must admit, they began to look alike and blend together. So, given my poor memory, at the moment, I will do my best to recall all that I remember. Our first order of business was to put slippers over our shoes. It looked and felt ridiculous, but the floor was special, to some degree, and it had to remain unscathed. As I walked, I had to shuffle, or skate along the floor, lest my slippers slide off. I felt like my grandmother. One of the first rooms we entered was, completely, covered with heads. Bwahaha, yes, human heads mounted on pikes! Of course, I am kidding! Why would you think such a thing for an Archbishop's Summer House? Come on, get your heads out of the gutter. It was covered with wild game that had been hunted, plasters of course. Birds, Deer, and other animals were mounted on the wall, those black eyes staring, eternally, into the souls of the occupants of the room. Amongst the game, there were weapons, some dating back to as early as the 1500s. I believe the oldest weapon was a mace of some sort. We got out of there in a hurry because, honestly, it was a bit creepy. Seriously, dead animals with access to mass amounts of weapons. Revenge could not have been served hotter for these dead critters. As we proceeded through the building, room after room, one thing that continued to pop into my mind was that these people sure loved their chandeliers. They were adorned with crystals and jewels that extended their beauty. The craftsmen pulled no stops to make these as grand as possible. There was a small dining room, and then there was a large dining room, and the large dining room could seat up to 400 people, I believe. Also, in the large dining room, there are 22 chandeliers. I guess the Archbishops were afraid of the dark. Another interesting fact is that, supposedly, the movie, "Amadeus," was filmed on the castle grounds. I have never seen, nor heard, of that movie, but that was what was said. We continued to see more rooms, more that looked like the last. While they resembled each other, they all had different purposes, and they each captivated my attention. The furniture was exotic, the chandeliers were grand, and some of the pottery was of Chinese origin, and the oldest dates back to the 1500s as well. That was all there was for us to see at the castle, so we left and took a right to the tower. Yes, we were allowed to climb the tower. It was a workout of a lifetime. Up and up we went, and I was skipping steps most of the way. I underestimated how tall it was, and I learned a very painful lesson. My knee has been hurting lately, so it didn't help that my legs, both of them, suddenly turned to chocolate cake mix (no, I am not being racist). Finally, I got to the top, threw that wooden door open, and I stepped out onto the platform. Again, it was a sight that took my breath away. The cold chill in the air ripped through my body, but my eyes were never ripped away from the fields of flowers in the distance, the spires of the distant buildings, and the people walking about. It is always interesting to watch the people and think about their lives. Where are they going? Where did they come from? What is their story? I try to put myself in their position, as I have said before. That is why it is tough for me to be in the concentration camps, and when Auschwitz rolls around next Monday, that will be, particularly, challenging to cope with. Once I had regained my composure, I descended, and landed on the ground. We broke off to have some lunch, and after that tower excursion, I needed to fuel the tank. I ordered a cheap platter of spaghetti with cheese, and boy, was that good. Believe it or not, cheese makes everything a five-star dish. After lunch, we went to one of the gardens of the Archbishop's estate. One was closed to us, but the other was open and ready for us. As nature wrapped its arms around me, and as I ventured deeper and deeper into the hearth, I forgot the pollution that urbanization can leave in the brain. I forgot about streets, city lights, traffic, and people. All I saw was the grass reclaiming the land, the trees towering over their peers, and the rivers careening through the forest. Human influence was apparent by the bridges, but they complimented the land; they did not degrade it in any way. Further in, we came across a "zoo," more or less. It was one giant cage, filled with different animals. Goats, Yachts, Geese, chicken, Guinea Pigs, and other animals were present. But, what may have been the most fascinating was what hid on the other side of the shed that separated this pen from another. There were a few peacocks, one male and a few females. We happened to come across this scene at, precisely, the right moment. The male began to perform his mating dance, displaying his arsenal at full array. He increased his size by, at least, four times, but the females were just not interested. Sorry man, rejection isn't that tough of a pill to swallow. There were, also, baboons in some cages near the end of the path. I do not like monkeys in the least, so I took little pleasure in this part of the trip. However, many others thought otherwise as they frolicked around the cages, "oo"ing and "ah"ing. Our last stop of the day was at the wine cellar that ran under the castle. Of course, the ancient stereotype of drunk priests must come into the picture, but, nonetheless, it was still cool to see. Right away, from the door, the path ran downhill, and, running parallel to our descent, was a primitive conveyor belt. Once at the bottom, we saw a large number of vats that hold the wine. We were given a brief run-through of how the wine is made, and we were shown multiple rooms with stored wine and large vats. One room, alone, held 2,400 bottles of wine. After the tour, we were allowed to sample a few bottles of wine. We were given four tries, and I can't say I found one that I liked. I tried the first, third, and fourth. The first was so horrible that I skipped the second. The first three were white wines, and the fourth was a red whine, but it was sour. I am now certain that I will never find an alcoholic beverage that I can say I like. After the wine tasting, and after experiencing a dreadful aftertaste, we loaded the bus and continued on our way, back to Olomouc, just in time for an exam in one of our classes. Needless to say that today was pretty eventful, and I am now tired, both physically and mentally. Interesting to note, however, is that, back in Kremeriz, I found a book on a park bench. I was told that it was free, so I took it. It is in Czech, but I think it is an awesome item for memorabilia. So, I saw a cool castle, hiked a tower, walked through a forest, dove deep into the heart of a wine cellar, found a book, and had four different wines. Yes, I would say today was pretty eventful. Anyway, like I said before, we leave for Poland on Friday. We would leave Thursday, but Bank Holidays over here seem to be pretty important, and they have quite a few of them. It is a wonder anything gets done on time, honestly. So, I will be posting again soon, but until then, I need to catch some "z"'s. I thank you all, once again, for continuing to keep track of my whereabouts. Your devotion to my rambling nonsense is inspiring enough for me to continue rambling on about some nonsense. May the stars shine bright where you are, and "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"                                                                                 -Anthony-

Wine Cellar

View from the tower

River in the Garden

Peacock doing his thing

The large dining room in the Archbishop's Summer House. These are a few of the 24 Chandeliers

View from one of the windows of the castle.

Creepy room full of animal heads and weapons.

Terezin--the small fortress, named in the honor of Maria Theresa. It was a transit camp, not an extermination camp. While thousands died in this camp, over 150,000 were held at Terezin and/or shipped to other camps from this particular hot spot. I could continue to dazzle you with factual information, but where is the fun in that? Terezin is the name of both the camp and the city in which it lies. However, it is the camp that even puts it on the map. Without it, the city would soon dry up. It took us a little over four hours to reach the destination, but it was worth it in order to witness just one of the thousands of camps located throughout Europe. The bus parked in the lot, and it appeared like any other place. A gravel lot with shops and food stands lining the sides. However, cross the road, and you would enter into a whole other world. The cemetery was located to the right, down some stairs. All of the tomb stones were lined up, nice and straight. I bet it made mowing much easier that way. As I strolled along, I noticed that it wasn't, purely, a Jewish cemetery. For one, some of the names were, clearly, not Jewish, and second, there was a large cross overlooking the first half of the cemetery. The second half was presided over by a huge star of David. Of course, I had to look for my name, my first name, and I found it. In Czech, my name is not Anthony, but Antonin. I found a couple Antonins, and quite a few Frantiseks. The name means nothing to me, but it was just a name I kept seeing over and over again. As I continued examining the graves, all I could think of was "blood soaked soil." How many Jews and other condemned walked where I was walking? How many were killed where I stood? How many passed along the same path, knowing their life was about to come to an abrupt end? It was, almost, like the depressed nature of the area inhabited my body. I could feel the weight, the dread, the sadness, the hopelessness, the fear, and the hatred. At the same time, I noticed the greenery bordering the sidewalk. How could something so beautiful grow where such a terrible crime had been committed? Was it nature's way of trying to erase the past? Was it nature's way of compensating for the loss of the past? After the cemetery, we walked to the entrance of the camp. As I walked through the entrance, I envisioned multitudes of people doing the same. It was a long passage and, at the end, there was sign that read, "Arbeit Macht Frei," or Work means Freedom. There were three rooms in the building along this corridor. The first was for admissions. The prisoners would be assigned a number as their identity for the next few months or years. The second room was where many of the officers worked and hung out. The third room was where the prisoners were given their garbs, thin and flimsy as they were. After we were given the opportunity to scope the rooms, receiving a glimpse at what the Nazis had seen and where they worked, we passed under the sign and stepped into the meat of the camp. There was a large courtyard surrounded by buildings on every side. Block A was the sign that identified the first building, and there was also a building where the mail was received, sent, and distributed. Behind us was the office of the Commandant of the camp, called Hofverwaltung. At that point, my mind flashed back to the many episodes of "Hogan's Heroes" that I used to watch with my father. As I looked at that building, I thought of Commandant Klink and his monacle. I could just see an oaf like Sergent Schultz rounding the corner with his prisoners in tow. I had to remind myself that life in this camp was much, much worse than the camp of Stalag 13 for Hogan. We were shown a standard cell. There was one sink and one toilet in the room. It was not much bigger than the size of my kitchen back home, and the wall was lined with bunk beds. Basically, that small room had to accommodate 40 people, in the beginning, and, as the war progressed, it was made to accommodate 100 people in that small room. Outside of that room and to the right was a much small room. There was nothing in it--no bed, no sink, and no toilet. It was an isolation room, and there would have been a pale for a toilet. There was one window that would, usually, be closed, and there was a small hole in the wall for air and a bit of light. This room was used for the Jews, and there would be about 60 people crammed into such a space. Thankfully, we were taken away from there; I couldn't stand to be exposed to that any longer. Feeling the horrific, vulgar afflictions that haunted my body and soul was more than I could bear. However, my relief was short lived as we arrived at another set of cells. This time, these cells were used for interrogations and isolation. The cell was small, again, and could be made completely dark with the window shut and no hole in the wall. The point was to break the prisoners, driving them mad, so that information could be extracted more efficiently. It was a "prison within a prison." What made this complex so noteworthy was that, in cell #1, the infamous Gavrillo Princip was held for a few years. You may recall that Gavrillo Princip was the man who assassinated Franz Ferdinand and escalated the start of the first World War. I learned, earlier, that the assassination wasn't, technically, the trigger that started the war, but it was a contributing factor and a story for another time. Anyway, that room was the only one illuminated, and it was disappointing that that monster only lasted a few years. He deserved to be locked away for eternity for what he did. We left that building and walked through the courtyard to the next important building, the showers. This was where the delousing took place. Lice was a prominent problem in the camps, especially considering lice transmitted typhus as well. The Nazis were fearful because of this, so the prisoners were disinfected in this building. However, the clothing was only disinfected once every week, and later every two weeks. There were only 24 showers, and there could be up to 200 people in there at a time. Basically, one word can sum up this entire camp--overpopulation! We moved on to a propaganda room, the barber shop. This room was filled with sinks and mirrors along the walls. What was interesting about this room was that it was never used, or, if it was, it was used only once. The Nazis established this room in an attempt to make the Red Cross, who were conducting an assessment of the camp, believe that Terezin was a "country club" for the prisoners. They wanted the Red Cross to believe that this was the best camp around, and that is was a model. Unfortunately, the Red Cross bought the lie, and, as soon as they departed, the barber shop was closed. Other acts were taken to dupe the Red Cross, such as establish sports activities, create fake money for the prisoners to use, and allow them special privileges that they, ordinarily, couldn't access. We crossed a bridge that ran over the moat, and we were told a story. There was  a small opening, and, as it turned out, three prisoners made an escape at that exact spot. It was good timing, more than anything. It was a rainy day, and they scaled the wall, jumped through the opening, landed in the water, and they fled. Due to the rain, the dogs could not pick up a scent, and they got away and hid for the remainder of the war. Other escape attempts were not so lucky/successful. Back we went, back under the sign, and, once again, I was caught up in the feeling that I was walking in the exact same footsteps as thousands of others had done before my time. Was I living their legacy? Was I honoring them by remembering their struggles? I could only hope that their sacrifices were not in vain. As we went along a different path, we came across the building that contained 15 flats. These flats were occupied by the Nazi officers and their families. It made me sick to think that they were living a life of luxury when, a few yard away, an unfortunate soul was suffering/suffocating/dying. We were shown more standard and isolation cells, and that was the conclusion of our trip. We, then, proceeded to the cinema to watch a short film. Yes, that is right, there was a cinema and a casino for the officers of the camp. Sickening, I know. Anyway, the film was, actually, quite interesting. It showed footage of prisoners playing soccer, no doubt during the Red Cross inspection. It, also, gave statistics of the transport numbers, how many people were shipped and how many survived. The numbers were not encouraging. It was rather short, and, upon its conclusion, we left for another attraction site. Our next stop was the Ghetto museum, and it contained items from the Ghetto, such as knives, radios, prayer books, paintings, drawings, and written accounts. As with so many other places, there was room with names lining the walls. It was impressive and depressing at the same time. The drawings/paintings done by the people of the Ghetto/camp were breathtaking. They were not only good, but they were powerful in how they spoke without written words. The messages they conveyed and the sadness of the style were all too accurate. Arm bands were pretty popular as well, for the everyone in the Ghetto had to wear arm bands to identify who they were. Jews got their own, as did Gypsies, Soviet POWs, and others. Sheet music was on display as well, and it was encouraging to know that they hadn't given up hope. They clung on to their lives, and they didn't let the "bad guys" win. There was, even, an old radio receiver on display, and, again, I thought of "Hogan's Heroes" and how they had an underground system and their radio. From the Ghetto museum, we moved to a military museum, and, honestly, there wasn't much to it. Basically, the only noteworthy thing was the room that was made to look as it would have when the Jews were crammed in occupying it. Otherwise, there was just a bunch of rooms filled with more drawings, and music, etc. It was interesting, but after an entire day of seeing the same thing, one gets tired. As we returned to our bus, I asked our tour-guide what the inhabitants of Terezin did for a living. Obviously, there wasn't much in the line of business, and the camp was the only thing keeping the city alive. Most of them commute to Prague for work, and most of the inhabitants are of the older generation, making a home and settling. The younger people must have seen the writing on the wall and got out when they could. Honestly, I don't blame them. It took us another 4 hours to get back home, and I can't even express how exhausted I am. We spent more time on the road than we did exploring the camp. The camp was a good experience, but I believe Auschwitz will be even more stunning. As always, I captured some good pictures that I wish to share. I hope you will enjoy, and I apologize for the length of this post. It is just that a lot happened today, and I wanted to get it all down. Anyway, enjoy the rest of your day. "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"
                                                                                          -Anthony-

Gavrillo Princip's cell

Works of art found in Ghetto museum

The Bunks found in a standard Cell. Forced to hold up to 60-100 people.

Courtyard.

Well, with Spring Break dissolving rapidly, it does feel good to settle back into "normalcy," or what meets the requisites for "normalcy." While it sucks that classes will resume within a matter of days, I am ready to sail ahead and get underway. While this trip has been largely impressive and a great learning experience, I do have to say that the thought of home, and its inhabitants, does appeal to me. Two words, "FREE REFILLS!" That will, pretty much, sum up my first day back in the states. Curse the European way, in that regard. How is anyone supposed to ration out their one, small drink throughout a meal? Anyway, I guess all that traveling over the past few days really sapped me reserves. Last night, I embodied the classical, elderly problem. I fell, and I didn't get back up. I, quite literally, feel asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. While laying in bed, prior to my attempt to sleep, I zonked out. I awoke with a start. My mind raced-what day was it? What time was it? How long had I been out? As it turned out, I had only slept for fifteen minutes, thankfully. I got the hint that it was time for bed, and I soon extinguished the light and hit the hay. I awoke today at ten, and yes, I had every reason to sleep in. The events of the morning were quite uneventful. I read, studied, wrote an essay, you know, the basics for a college student. For lunch, I treated myself to some tasty burgers. Let me just be clear, just because I am cooking here, do not expect me to be some expert, seasoned cook. (No pun intended) Mother, do not get any ideas, and pass that message along to dad while you are at it. During the afternoon, I took a walk about the town, visiting some local establishments. Book stores, clothing stores, electronic stores, all the necessities. I took the escalator a few times just for the hell of it. Hey, when you get bored and you need to kill time, you find crazy things to do. I am sure the locals are beginning to notice some strange boy walking about the town, going into various places, using escalators for ten minutes and then leaving, but hey, I will never see them again. Then, tonight, something unexpected happened. What started off (as I planned) as a routine night turned into quite a fun little adventure. The few of us that are back from Spring Break decided to grace a local restaurant with our presence. Named Caesars, a few of us had pizza, and a few had chicken. My pizza consisted of mozzarella, oregano, sausage, ham, and egg. It may sound good, but it really wasn't. I mean, it was ok, and it was a good choice for a first time, but I wouldn't do it again. We sat in Caesars talking about simple things, preferences, fond memories, old stories, etc. We moved from there to a gelato place, called Cafe Opera. One worker couldn't understand our English, but another spoke near flawless English. She may have, even, had a southern style of speaking, but I am unsure. I got a mix of strawberry, vanilla, wild berry, and yogurt flavors, and it was particularly appealing. Everyone got a blend of something different, and not one of them walked away unsatisfied. I have to say there is something with this gelato. It is appealing to everyone and not terribly expensive. Why can't America utilize this concept a bit more? Anyway, what I have to say I enjoyed most about the night was not the food, or the gelato, not even the cool breeze that ruffled through the buildings, but the company. I have found good people, kind people who listen. These people are fun, interesting, and relateable. I can only hope they had as good a time as I did, and I hope there will be many more to come. With the night's end comes satisfaction, and what a day it has been. Tomorrow is Easter, and it will be my first without my family. Wish me luck with that. I hope it will be a splendid Easter back in the states because, for the women here, it seems far from splendid. A brief lecture, the men fashion whips from sticks, and they "beat" the women on Easter Monday. It is not a harsh beating; it is more playful, but I still find is appalling at every turn. I support it in no sense, and I am thankful that it hasn't found traction back home. Thankfully, it seems to be just a Czech tradition. Anyway, I hope that you all enjoy yourselves during this holiday season. May God watch over and keep you. "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"
                                                                        -Anthony-

Well, after more than a week's absence, I have finally returned to my room in Olomouc. Let me just say that, despite the wonderful experiences I have had during my spring break, it is good to be back. The fear of getting lost and whatnot are no longer present. I can now just settle back into my routine. I do have a lot to do. Nearly everything in my fridge has gone bad, and my bread has turned to mold, so I have to run to the store soon to restock my supplies. I'll try and keep this post short for both our sakes. I took off from Zurich last night at 8:30. The bus was really cool. It had a TV screen built into the back of the seat in front of you. It wasn't the most roomy of buses, but it was still nice. I just watched movies the whole way. I tried to sleep, but I only slept for 20 minute intervals, at most. From the bus, I hopped onto a train this morning at 8, and I arrived back in Olomouc at about 10:30. While I am tired, I have to say that I am surprised that I am not ten times worse, considering I am running on fumes at this point. Well, nothing much to report on. The combination of fatigue with other pressing services requires me to keep this brief. I just wanted to touch base with all of you and let you know that I got "home" safely. Take care and safe travels to you, should you find yourself doing any traveling. "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"
                                                                            -Anthony-

I must begin by apologizing for my unexplained absence yesterday in my writing. For the record, let me just be clear about one thing. I did blog yesterday. I wrote the entire thing, I posted my pictures, and then I pushed the "Publish" button. Then, technology bit me in the ass. There were a few drafts in the list, so I went to delete them, but somehow, I ended up deleting the post I had just made, so all that work went down the drain. I was furious and, in my exhausted, frustrated stupor, I refused to attempt it again that night. Instead, I will just merge yesterday's events with that of today. I woke up rather late, as it turned out. I must have been tired from the hiking in Aarau the day before. Anyway, I got up, and I went to the train station in an attempt to reach the water. I was told, previously, that I could reach the water via the train station. However, once I got there, I found no way to get to the water, so, instead, I scouted ahead to see where I need to report today to get on my bus. I found it easily enough, and since I had an afternoon to kill, I kept walking past the bus station to see what was beyond. Lo and behold, I found a park, on the other side of a river that cut along that street. The area was quite beautiful. Again, I was amazed at how a city as big as Zurich could find such a healthy balance between industry and nature, between rural and urban. I found a park bench to sit on and enjoy the view of the serene river that shifted before me. The area seemed to be pretty popular to the locals of all ages. The children were playing, the elderly were chatting, and the youngsters were, of course, making out publicly. Either that is just a European thing, or my hometown is just way too innocent, in a manner of speaking. After admiring the sights, I continued on up a path, and I found something quite amazing. It was a chess match in the works. But it was unlike anything I had ever seen.

I played the kid on the left, and I lost a close match. We parted ways as friends, but my mind still couldn't get over what I had just witnessed! I walked back to the station and hoped on the tram that would take me back. However, before I would go back to the room, I decided to stop off at another park area, one that was close to the University. Spring is really in full bloom here, and it really is spectacular to witness. Everything thing is vibrant and alive. The wind is never more than a slight breeze, the air is clean and crisp, and there is minimal pollution that I can detect. The trees compliment the sunlight that breaks through. The paths direct you deeper and deeper into is bosom of beauty. I found some slabs of rock that were jutting out of the hill, and I sat down, overlooking the river that ran through. Everywhere, there were people coming and going. There were quite a few college students sitting nearby, doing their reading/studying. I was among my fellow scholarly peers. I walked around for a bit, but there were only so many paths I could take. I wish I had a much more effective way of capturing the moments I find myself in these days because my simple camera doesn't do my surroundings any justice. What I am able to capture is a fragment of what can be seen with the naked eye. I went back to the room and prepared a meal. I have to say that throughout my entire stay in Switzerland, I have yet to eat out. Everything is so expensive here, and the supplies that I buy to make a meal back in the room is expensive enough. I can't even imagine how much it would cost to eat out, even with a small portion. I find it is better, cheaper, and, probably, healthier my way.
Today, I awoke, and, after attaining new directions, I went to find the water. I had to stop off and get on different trams a few times, but I did, finally, find it. It wasn't quite like I pictured, but it was still pretty cool. Basically, from where I got off, I followed the river. Clearly, this was where everyone hung out, either on their breaks, or just for fun. It was extremely crowded and popular. Of course, beggars and street performers were popular here as well. Ducks and Swans playfully swam along the shore, and a few even came onto the sidewalks to engage with the people. The children sure didn't mind. It was a bit of a walk, but I got to a point where it was clear I could go no further. I would have had to have walked through the entire city of Zurich to get to another picturesque spot. The river opened and expanded into a bigger lake. The sunlight glistened across the lapping waves. I found a spot to sit and admire the view. I was entranced by the water's ebb and flow, how it would consume the rocks and then leave them bare. I watched the barges and boats dance among the waves. But, what really captivated my attention more than anything were the mountains in the distance. These mountains were covered with snow. Unfortunately, there were extremely far away, so my camera didn't capture their true essence. Lesson learned, next time I go anywhere, I am bringing my good camera. I don't care the risks. I sat down there, pretty much all afternoon, watching events transpire. I watched the boats picking up and dropping off. I witnessed some couples on the grass, exchanging their life stories. I heard a Japanese group behind me on the benches. I saw some fellow tourists, and I deduced who there were by their confused expression in regards to the signs in German. One may think that enjoyment from anything can only come by actively doing something, but sometimes, enjoyment can come from doing nothing. Just sitting still and taking in everything. In effect, this act of "nothing" is actually "something." While others are off in Rome, Barcelona, Malta, etc, I am here, doing my thing, and enjoying myself to the fullest. It is just unfortunate that I have to leave today. My buss leaves at 8:30, so I have a bit of time left before I go. I will utilize this time to pack up and finish any other last minute tasks. I will try and blog upon my return, but I have no guarantees. Hell, I don't even know if this will make it up, either. So help me, if this post gets deleted as well, I will throw this computer at the wall. Be prepared. Anyway, that was it for the past two days. Understand that I gave you the shortened version due to my shortage of time. I hope that is OK, and pray that I arrive back home safely. I thank all of you for following my adventures, and I hope that many more will come. If you have any commentary, please feel free to express it. If you have any recommendations to my writing style, feel free to make them as well. As for now, I am off. Stay safe, my friends, and "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"
                                                                                        -Anthony-

Do you remember, from your childhood, a place that your friends and family only spoke of in whispers? The only place where mythical creatures might be found? A place of such heavenly description that it seemed impossible to even exist? A place that one could only talk about, or think about, because you knew that you would never be able to go there? Well, for me, that place was Aarau, Switzerland. I remember my grandmother, during her life, relating stories to all of us about her home in Switzerland. I, even, recall one Thanksgiving, at my uncle's, where some ancient footage was found. We ran the film, and what appeared was like something out of heaven's gate. Mountains, covered with green, and houses erected right on the side of those mountains. A city on a mountain. Water fell from on high, and it splashed at the base with a glistening rainbow. I thought that if heaven looked like anything that could be found on Earth, that was it. Unfortunately, the footage didn't last long, as it was extremely old and sensitive, only so much could be shown. I thought, right then, that if I could ever get to that place, I would have come close to Heaven on Earth, if there was such a thing. As you all know, I am Zurich, Switzerland, and Aarau, I found out, is only a 27 minute train ride away. When I learned of the convenience, I knew I had to go. A "once in a lifetime" opportunity only comes around once in a lifetime, after all. This morning, I got to the station at about 9:30 a.m. and went to book my train. As luck would have it, the next train going to Aarau left at 9:38 a.m., so I ran like hell to catch that train. Throughout the ride, I continued to go over all I knew of Aarau--all the legends I had heard, all the memories and stories I had, etc. I desperately hoped that I wouldn't be disappointed with what I would find. After all, the film had been almost 100 years old, if not older. When I landed at the station, I stopped and took in all that was around me. It didn't smell of industry; it smelled of nature. When I left the station, I noticed the smell strengthened. Flowers, trees, honey, amber, grass--if that all could be compiled into one smell, that would have to be what I smelled in Aarau. I took a hard right, and I visited some local shops. I asked some of the locals if they knew my family. Yes, I used the correct names. They said they were unfamiliar with the names. I continued on, determined to find something. As it turned out, I did find something--a park. I entered the hive of trees and explosive natural beauty and wonder. It was so amazing that they had something like this right in the center of the city. It wasn't an ordinary park; there were huge trees, flowers, bushes, ponds, benches, huts, and paths. I even found a building called "The Albert Einstein House." I do not know if that was a place he stayed, or if that was just named so in honor of him. I will do some digging on that. Behind that building, I could see the mountains in the distance. I wanted to get a better look at them, but I wasn't prepared to trek through a city I didn't know. So, I turned around and headed the opposite way, a left turn from the station. I asked one of the locals where the river was located. After all, Aarau is named so due to the river that runs alongside of it. She pointed me in the right direction, but I never did find it. I am sure a turn was necessary somewhere, but, like I said before, I wasn't about to hike through a city I didn't know. I just continued on the path, and, lo and behold, I found a trail. For me, a good hike is always under the category, "fun." I began my hike, but, before long, I was hiking up a mountain! Ok, it may not have been a "mountain;" I don't know if it was high enough to be classified as one, but, if anything else, it was a giant hill. I hiked all the way to the top, from what I could see. It was quite an accomplishing feeling to do that. Along my hike, I came across a wildlife reserve, where I saw a bunch of animals with weird names. They looked familiar to elk, goats, rams, and such, but the names were foreign, so I don't know, really, what they were. As I hiked, I had to reflect that no city, that I have yet come across, could balance rural and urban as well as Aarau had. I mean, a few steps outside of the populated area of the city was a mountain/hill. Multiple parks are spread through the city, and a river runs along and inside of it. I also reflected upon the question, "Why would anyone leave this place?" After all of that, it was about that time to head back to grab the train that would return me to Zurich, but fate had one more surprise in waiting for me. I was retracing my steps back through the city, heading towards the station. I must say that the one fault of Aarau is its traffic. There are so many crosswalks and lights for a smaller town, such as it is. I was waiting at one of the crosswalks when a girl came up from behind me. She was texting, or doing something on her phone (go figure), so she didn't see what was coming. She must have thought that she had the clear-to-go and that traffic would stop. Traffic, obviously, missed that memo, because one car decided to lurch forward. As she kept walking, I began to panic. "What was she doing!?" I reached out for her purse strap that ran along her back, and I pulled her back onto the curb, just as the car sped away. Granted, I had, nearly, (probably) strangled her to death, but she was alive and well. The look on her face, clearly, stated that she was just as stunned as I was, and, more than likely, the driver as well. She looked at me, gave me a kiss, and then she walked away. I stood there for a minute longer, speechless. After a while, I gathered my wits, and I pressed on, loving Aarau more and more. Finally, I came to the station, boarded my train, and I returned to Zurich. I sit here now, and I can't believe that a few hours ago, I was in the city that I never thought I would see. I had just been in the city of whispers and secrets. I had just seen the splendor of the city of legend. I regret nothing, not even the ticket that was, actually, pretty expensive. It was all worth it. I captured 229 pictures of Aarau alone. That is the most, of any one place, I have ever taken on this trip. I will post a few, but I can't wait to show them when I get home. I know there are a few out there who need to see these just as much as I did. I was thinking about my grandmother the whole time I was in Aarau, and, with each step, I wondered if I was walking the same paths that my grandmother, or her family, had in the past. Was I, literally, walking in the footsteps of my ancestors? All in all, Aarau turned out to be a major success, the kiss not withstanding! I heard that there was a blood-moon last night, and I am super disappointed that I missed it. I hope someone got some good pictures. Hey, maybe, when I get back, we can swap photos huh? Anyway, have a good rest of your day. May your blades stay sharp and your shields strong and durable. "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"
                                                                                           -Anthony-

Well, Spring Break is, officially, underway. This morning, we all woke up, bright and early, to part ways and say farewell. I, however, got up at 4:50 this morning to catch my train. That was beyond dedication; that was like a soul-infused desire to accomplish this mission of mine. My first train departed from the station at 5:40, but I didn't land in Zurich until 3:30 this afternoon. So yea, I have been sitting in a freaking train all day, and I feel like crap. I have a splitting headache, and the room spins every time I stand up, but I have to say, it was all worth it. My first train landed in Milan Centrale at about 8:30. I didn't, exactly, know where Milano was, so I settled in a hot spot and did some digging. Milan is still in Italy, so I hadn't crossed a border. Also, apparently, Milan is known for its fashion and up-to-date trends, etc. However, from what I saw, I can honestly say I wasn't too impressed. It was no different than any other place, and the prices were crazy, as usual. The station, itself, was really cool, though. The gigantic size and ancient architecture not withstanding, the station, itself, was easy to navigate with some cool bars and cafes along the sides. I killed about 2.5 hours in that station (which was easy to do), and then I got on my next train for Zurich. That one left at 11:10, and the itinerary claimed it would arrive in Zurich at 2:50. However, we didn't arrive until about 3:15 because the train operator was a moron, in my opinion. Every stop took about 5 minutes longer than usual, I swear! I slept on and off most of the way, but I desperately tried to stay awake. Once we crossed the border, the scenery took a drastic turn. One could, instantly, tell the difference between Italy and Switzerland. All of a sudden, the cramped houses and people turned into rolling hills, ginormous mountains, and villages and cities nestled into those mountains. The flora was absolutely stunning. Even from the train, I could see the bees, the grasshoppers jumping here and there, the blooming rose bushes, etc. I tried to capture as many pictures as I could, but from a moving train, it can be quite difficult. All of a sudden, a huge tree or building stands in the way of your picture, and you just curse silently and look like a fool for taking a picture of a block of stone, or something like that. With the border crossing came the security. I think they were trying to be incognito, but when you sit across from me and stare at me the whole way, you sort of become obvious. He didn't ask to see my papers until the end of the trip (weird), but it's whatever. It was quite comical because I had my passport and ticket checked at least three times, and the others around me never had theirs checked. I must stand out as an outsider. Anyway, once I landed in the station, my host's father picked me up, and we proceeded to make our way back to the apartment. I learned that the currency in Switzerland is different from its surrounding neighbors. I was anticipating a country which operated with the Euro currency, but instead, they operate with the Swiss Frank. Once I acquired some of this cool-looking currency, we hopped on a tram, and we strayed from the city center to my new, temporary home. It really is a quaint, neat little place. I mean, I get my own room, but no furniture. Literally, the only thing I have is a bed and a sink. No desk, dresser, etc. However, from my window, I get a front-row view of the mountain/forest. I am wanting to utilize one of the days that I am here to tackle that mountain/forest. I also want to make my way to Aarau, but I don't know if that is in the cards for me or not. I just got back from the shops near the apartment. Everything in Switzerland is super expensive, so it was painful to buy what I did. However, a necessity is a necessity, and yes, caffeine is a necessity. I will try and post some pictures. I am at a new wifi spot, so, hopefully, it will work this time. Pray that I continue my stay in a safe and illuminated way. I pray for all of you back home, whom I hear have received some pretty nasty weather lately. I, on the other hand, would have enjoyed that weather. Go figure! Anyway, stay safe and have fun. "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"
                                                                            -Anthony-

Well, the second and final day of touring Venice has come to a close, for me. Tomorrow, I set out for my Spring Break plans. Meaning, I set out for Zurich Switzerland in the morning. It sucks that my train leaves at 5:40 in the morning, but as long as I get there, I am OK with whatever. Sorry with my post from yesterday; my internet connection, at my hostel, is a little goofy, so sometimes it sends things, and sometimes it fails to do anything. It is quite frustrating on my end, so don't worry, you are not the only ones frustrated. I will try to post some pictures on this post, but don't hold your breath on that. For anyone wanting a scenic, new experience for a vacation, I highly recommend Venice, but for those, like me, who have little to no sense of direction, it is a nightmare. Venice is nothing but a tourist trap riddled with twists and turns meant to boggle the mind and confuse the soul. Hell, even our tour-guide got lost yesterday a few times, but, thankfully, we managed to find our way. Despite all of that, the city, itself, is very beautiful. Water flows through the city, the gondolas riding the crescent waves. Our paths each day seem to all be different from the last, yet each street highly resembles each other in terms of physical appearance. Every street is densely populated with hundreds of shops lining the sides. If you do decide to travel to Venice, I sure hope you do not have a phobia of birds. Goodness, the birds here are frightening. First, and foremost, there are hundreds, if not thousands flying above and around your head. Pigeons and Seagulls are the most popular, and they are even more popular with the people. They will walk on the streets, as if they thought they were human. If you make a move for them, they just run a bit faster; they do not fly away. They show no fear, and that is what frightens me. It is like that Hitchcock movie with the killer birds. I tell you, it is only a matter of time. They, already, swoop for your head. Everyone thinks I am crazy for ducking, but it will be funny when they lose an eye, and I am safe, sprawled on the ground. I guess I shouldn't wish that fate upon anyone, but I am trying to warn you now. Today, we toured the Duke of Venice's palace and the dungeon that is connected to it. In most of the places we saw, cameras were prohibited, but, you know me, I snuck a few in, all sneaky-like. We saw the great halls, more frescoes/paintings, and the armory. I tell you, the people, back then, sure knew how to make some ginormous swords. Suddenly, those video games with the two-handed swords actually make sense. It isn't fantasy; it is fact. The dungeon was the coolest, as I imagined the cells filled with people as I strolled through the grounds. I was deep underground, surrounded by solid granite and stone. I, even, found myself putting my hands in front of me, as if I were held in chains. I imagined the feeling of being led down those stairs to that hell, knowing that you might never breath free air again. I looked in each cell, and I could almost feel the resentment, the remorse, the guilt, and the depression, still emanating from those rooms, hundreds of years later. It was quite the trip maneuvering around the corners to finally reach freedom. After what I conceived, in my head, I needed my own fresh air. Once we cleared the dungeon, we split off to eat. I finally tried some legitimate Italian pasta. The place was called Alfredos. I imagined that Italy would just have this outstanding pasta that put America's version to shame. However, I found that it wasn't much better than what I can find in America, or what I can make on my own. It was OK, but it was nothing like I imagined it would be. I ordered the Pesto; it consisted of spiral noodles, basil, pinuts (don't ask me what these are), garlic, cheese, and white sauce. It was average, but it was too strong for my taste. After dinner, we went back to the cathedral in St. Marc's square, and we toured that for five minutes. It was all we could do because anything else would have been extra. I did make a donation for a psalm branch, so I guess I got something out of it. Plus, I finally donated to a church, so dad can finally get off my back about that. I am, now, back in my room updating my blog and doing some studying. I do want to go back out for some pizza. I had my pasta, now I need legitimate, Italian pizza. I think there is a place nearby our hotel, but I don't know for sure. So, anyway, tomorrow, I will write/type from Switzerland, so pray for my safe travels. Happy April weather! "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"
                                                                            -Anthony-

"In a thundering herd, we feel a lot like cattle." I believe Yao said it best in the Disney classic, Mulan. Today could be summarized with one word--transportation. We were, either, being shipped by bus, or we were walking all over Venice, Italy. We started this morning very early, at about 7 a.m. We were told, in advance, that the trip to Venice might take five hours, or it might take eight hours. It all depended upon the weather, traffic, etc. in the mountains. If you are knowledgeable in your geography at all, then you know that the Alps stand between Vienna, Austria and Venice, Italy. Well, long story short, the bus ride took the full eight hours, give or take with occasional stops and breaks. A bus ride may sound like a dull way to spend the day, but what I saw on that one bus ride may have to have been some of the most amazing things I have seen yet on this trip. It started out like any other ride. Trees, lush grass, bushes, shrubbery, etc. However, what started out as a simple, scenic tour turned into an eloquent, vast expanse of touristy pleasure. Pretty soon, we were up in the mountains, with layer after layer of mountains overlapping each other in the background. Suddenly, Bob Ross's vision was no longer just a vision. It had become a reality, and I was staring it in the face. Off in the distance, one could see the clouds rolling up, over, and around the mountains. Occasionally, it looked like the clouds were smoke emerging from the top of a mountain. More than once, I had to do a double take and examine it. "Was that a volcano?" Of course not, but the sight was quite convincing. Going through tunnel after tunnel was fun too as reality came crashing down upon me. I was in the center of a mountain. Naturally, I would start to wonder what would happen if it caved in and such, but by the time I could conceive a viable outcome, we had emerged and proceeded on our way. Of course, there was snow at the top of the mountains, and, on one, I even saw some people skying. Anyway, after eight hours on the road, we arrived in the mainland of Venice, Italy. From there, we had to hop on a train and ride for five minutes over the water to get to Venice. Venice is connected to the mainland by one street and a railway. We were unable to get there by bus. O, that reminds me. Our fist experience in the mainland wasn't a pleasant one. Our bus pulled over where, he thought, we could park. However, a security guard came over and gave us a piece of his mind. Most of us, unable to understand him, just laughed. But, from those who could understand, I could see the annoyance and frustration. Clearly, we were in the wrong place, but he didn't have to be such an ass about it. So, with that being our first experience, we weren't, yet, too impressed. However, when we crossed the water and arrived in Venice, that perspective changed. Granted, Venice is nothing like Hollywood and the media would have us believe. The sun wasn't out, so perhaps the water does sparkle, but it didn't today. But, there are a ton of bridges running over rivers, as if they were streets. Gondola rides must be a high priority around here, but I heard that it costs 80 Euros per hour, so that is like 95 U.S. dollars per hour, give or take. That is crazy! We walked through the old Jewish ghetto, and we even saw some Jews with the cap and everything. The ghetto area is less populated and less crowed than the rest of the city. The city, itself, holds close to two million people, or so I have heard. No matter where you go, you are always having to weave in and out of traffic. Another thing is that Venice is well known for its pickpockets. Apparently, they make the one's in Prague look like amateurs. Naturally, I had my hand close to my pocket all day, and I was always twisting and turning, making it difficult to get a fix on me in brief passing. I am only here one more day, so I shouldn't have too much to worry about. Our walk, today, consisted of touring the streets, observing the shops and the like. We saw a royal palace, the old prison, a church, and government buildings. What was funny about today was that our guide, Yan, tricked us. Instead of taking us the short, direct way, he took us the long way around. We were all pretty tired and hungry by the time we got to our place of destination. So, he gave us the shortcut back, but we were all pretty exhausted. I am going to have to think of a way to get back at him, but I am sure everyone is contemplating their counterattack. Anyway, today is over for me, but we awake bright and early tomorrow for more fun. I have a few pictures, but I was unable to take as many as I wanted. My battery died, and I am running out of spares. Yes, I still run on double-A batteries. Anyway, enjoy and enjoy the rest of your day. "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"

                                                                                              -Anthony-

"In a thundering herd, we feel a lot like cattle." I believe Yao said it best in the Disney classic, Mulan. Today could be summarized with one word--transportation. We were, either, being shipped by bus, or we were walking all over Venice, Italy. We started this morning very early, at about 7 a.m. We were told, in advance, that the trip to Venice might take five hours, or it might take eight hours. It all depended upon the weather, traffic, etc. in the mountains. If you are knowledgeable in your geography at all, then you know that the Alps stand between Vienna, Austria and Venice, Italy. Well, long story short, the bus ride took the full eight hours, give or take with occasional stops and breaks. A bus ride may sound like a dull way to spend the day, but what I saw on that one bus ride may have to have been some of the most amazing things I have seen yet on this trip. It started out like any other ride. Trees, lush grass, bushes, shrubbery, etc. However, what started out as a simple, scenic tour turned into an eloquent, vast expanse of touristy pleasure. Pretty soon, we were up in the mountains, with layer after layer of mountains overlapping each other in the background. Suddenly, Bob Ross's vision was no longer just a vision. It had become a reality, and I was staring it in the face. Off in the distance, one could see the clouds rolling up, over, and around the mountains. Occasionally, it looked like the clouds were smoke emerging from the top of a mountain. More than once, I had to do a double take and examine it. "Was that a volcano?" Of course not, but the sight was quite convincing. Going through tunnel after tunnel was fun too as reality came crashing down upon me. I was in the center of a mountain. Naturally, I would start to wonder what would happen if it caved in and such, but by the time I could conceive a viable outcome, we had emerged and proceeded on our way. Of course, there was snow at the top of the mountains, and, on one, I even saw some people skying. Anyway, after eight hours on the road, we arrived in the mainland of Venice, Italy. From there, we had to hop on a train and ride for five minutes over the water to get to Venice. Venice is connected to the mainland by one street and a railway. We were unable to get there by bus. O, that reminds me. Our fist experience in the mainland wasn't a pleasant one. Our bus pulled over where, he thought, we could park. However, a security guard came over and gave us a piece of his mind. Most of us, unable to understand him, just laughed. But, from those who could understand, I could see the annoyance and frustration. Clearly, we were in the wrong place, but he didn't have to be such an ass about it. So, with that being our first experience, we weren't, yet, too impressed. However, when we crossed the water and arrived in Venice, that perspective changed. Granted, Venice is nothing like Hollywood and the media would have us believe. The sun wasn't out, so perhaps the water does sparkle, but it didn't today. But, there are a ton of bridges running over rivers, as if they were streets. Gondola rides must be a high priority around here, but I heard that it costs 80 Euros per hour, so that is like 95 U.S. dollars per hour, give or take. That is crazy! We walked through the old Jewish ghetto, and we even saw some Jews with the cap and everything. The ghetto area is less populated and less crowed than the rest of the city. The city, itself, holds close to two million people, or so I have heard. No matter where you go, you are always having to weave in and out of traffic. Another thing is that Venice is well known for its pickpockets. Apparently, they make the one's in Prague look like amateurs. Naturally, I had my hand close to my pocket all day, and I was always twisting and turning, making it difficult to get a fix on me in brief passing. I am only here one more day, so I shouldn't have too much to worry about. Our walk, today, consisted of touring the streets, observing the shops and the like. We saw a royal palace, the old prison, a church, and government buildings. What was funny about today was that our guide, Yan, tricked us. Instead of taking us the short, direct way, he took us the long way around. We were all pretty tired and hungry by the time we got to our place of destination. So, he gave us the shortcut back, but we were all pretty exhausted. I am going to have to think of a way to get back at him, but I am sure everyone is contemplating their counterattack. Anyway, today is over for me, but we awake bright and early tomorrow for more fun. I have a few pictures, but I was unable to take as many as I wanted. My battery died, and I am running out of spares. Yes, I still run on double-A batteries. Anyway, enjoy and enjoy the rest of your day. "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"
                                                                                              -Anthony-

Well, as promised, here I am again. standing before you in the virtual sense, prepared to relate to you my epiphantic adventures. If I were asked to sum up most of my time in Europe, I would, honestly, have to say it has been a lot of walking. Seriously, I have been in Europe for a month now, and I can't believe how fast the time has gone. Before you know it, I will be standing in front of you in the physical sense, prepared to tell all about my adventures. Anyway, let us get straight to the point of this post. Today, we woke up and had a pretty late start. We began our day at 10 a.m., and we walked back to the town square in the center of Vienna. Once we arrived, we were given an option. There was a museum of modern art, a museum of natural history, a museum of older art, and a museum featuring an Egyptian exhibit. Of course, most of us chose the Egyptian exhibit. Those who went to the art museums declared that they enjoyed that as well, but I do believe they missed out on a really cool experience. My sister and I, and perhaps my mother (not for sure), are fans of the Mummy movies with Brendan Frasier. Naturally, I had to see the underlying concepts to the movies. We saw a bunch of sarcophagi, a ton of sculptures depicting anything from pharaohs to animals to floating heads. Yep, that is correct, I said floating heads.

Ok, so they aren't floating. Sorry to burst your bubble. After all, Europe is known for that! (No, it is not,  don't believe that). But, as you can see, standing in a room full of those, it gets sort of creepy. No one could stay in there for too long. Anyway, we saw mummified crocodiles, baboons, and snakes. We saw the ancient tools they would use for fishing, baking bread, hunting, etc. We saw some preserved clothing, such as the robes, sandals, and armbands. Jewelry and precious stones were, of course, another big section, in itself. The leader of our group was with me and one other, so we got the rundown of a lot of Egyptian history and the like. It was quite sad that, by the end, it was just our leader, one other, and myself. The rest had all fled by that moment. I understand that, for some, it can get pretty monotonous and boring, but one just has to turn their head to see something new. There was always a surprise hiding around the corner, something new and unexpected, as I experienced with the floating heads. The sarcophagi were pretty remarkable as well. Although, they were extremely narrow and short. I was told that, if a person was too tall, they were forced to fit by having their feet cut off. The feet would, then, be laid on top of the body. What a deal, huh? The Egyptian symbols and runes were just like in The Mummy movies, so that wasn't a big surprise, but it is still cool to see all of that.  We left the Egyptian exhibit, and we proceeded to the upper floors where we were able to see paintings by various artists. Honestly, the only name that comes to mind, as of now, is Rembrandt. There were many, many others, but none that I either remember or recognize. So, we left the museum and decided to break for lunch. It was around 2 p.m. by that point, and most of us were famished. There is a street, quite some distance away, where the entire street is covered with restaurants, pubs, and cafes. The group I was with decided to go to a small outdoor restaurant. I only got a platter of fries, but, at that point, that was the most delicious thing I had ever had. You may be like, "Really? Fries? In Europe?" Well, let me tell you, these European countries with the Euro system are really freakin expensive! I mean, my fries and a drink was 8 Euros, so close to 10 U.S. dollars! Ridiculous! After our refueling session, we went to the Imperial apartment complex. In other words, we went to the decked out (one step short of) castle that the Habsburgs lived in. We witnessed what they used for silverware, plates, and the like. They even had a napkin that was folded in a special way. The secret to doing so has been passed down to the keepers today, and there are only two who know the secret. All of that fuss over a napkin. Unbelievable. The apartment, itself, was mind blowing. There was an antechamber, a waiting room, a dining room, a room for the emperor and the empress, a room where meetings were held, and a room for social gatherings. There were more, but that is what comes to mind. Queen Elisabeth was emphasized the most, as most claim that she was the last Habsburg, but that is still debatable. She was, supposedly, the most beautiful woman of that time. However, she couldn't handle life in the court, and she became depressed and anti-social. I understood quite well. Unfortunately, she was assassinated by an Italian named Luigi. That made me laugh. Mario had been taking so much credit that, in order to get attention, his cousin Luigi had to go kill an empress. Haha. After the apartment tour, I returned to the hostel to begin studying/writing this. Tomorrow, we get up early for Venice, Italy, so I will have more tomorrow from a different place. I am pretty stoked to see that. Anyway, until then, I will have to call it a night. I can hear the dream fairies calling my name. "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"
                                                                                               -Anthony-

The pearly white light glistens through the transparent medium. They symmetrical shape reinforces the beauty of the object. The decorated designs of flowers and other miscellaneous flora dance influence the illumination upon the room. What could I possibly be talking about? I am talking about a chandelier. That's right, I am gazing upon the beauty that is a chandelier in my hostel room. Ironically enough, the name of the hostel is The Happy Hostel. But, I guess they may be more common/in style here in VIENNA, AUSTRIA. No, my cap button did not get stuck. I just like saying (or typing) it. It is unbelievable that I am actually in Vienna. We arrived in the city today at about 1, and I have already seen and done so much. We, first, tried to establish our living quarters in the hostel, but the rooms were not yet ready, so we packed all of our stuff into one room, and we hit the town. It is a bit of a walk down the main street, but the walk is far from boring. Shops populate the streets. Anything and everything one could possibly imagine could, more than likely, be found on that street, alone. In any event, today was subject to a change in the original plans. Initially, we were going to just stroll the town square, seeing the various attractions and shops, etc. However, when we hit the square (about the center of Vienna) it began to rain. For those of you who know me, I had found my cup of tea. (Well, I found the water, but not the tea) But, of course, not everyone on this trip shares my affinity for the rain. Umbrellas sprang into action, legs were put to use, and everyone began a mass movement to the nearest shelter. To prevent being left behind, I had to run with them, but I would have preferred to have just walked and enjoyed the feeling of the rain running along my face. I desperately desired that feeling of God refreshing the Earth. Sometimes, I need it just as much as the Earth does. Anyway, we all ran underneath a bridge, and the plans were amended. Instead of the stroll, we decided to see the Habsburg's treasury. This was, originally, the plan for tomorrow morning, but we are flexible that way. Anyway, I saw some pretty amazing things. I saw crowns decorated with jewels, scepters of the kings, the various robes they wore, crucifixes, gems, and jewelry of all kinds.

 However, what, probably, intrigued me the most were the objects linked to Jesus Christ. For example, on display, there was the spear head that was said to have pierced the Son of God's side. Next to it, there was a piece of wood supposedly taken from the cross that Jesus Christ, himself, had hung from. However, I believe I heard, later, that they proved that wasn't the case in regards to the wood. I still found that quite fascinating. I also found a tooth from John the Baptist, as well as bones from various saints.

After we left the treasury, we returned outdoors to find that it had ceased raining. By the way, upon entering the treasury, we had to remove our jackets and leave them in a storage room. After all 24 of us having run in the rain, all of our jackets were soaked through. When we returned to fetch them, the storage room was as humid as a sauna. It was quite breathtaking, literally. When we returned back outside, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed that it had stopped raining. I like the rain, ok? That does not make me weird. Also, what is it with us and running? First, we run for at train, and now we are running in the rain. Whatever, I think it is fun to do because the locals all look at us like we are high on something. I just enjoy staring at them as I run by. You have to get inside their heads every now and then. Anyway, after the treasury, we split up to eat a late dinner. I had a scrambled egg, ham, and cheese platter. It sounded good, it even looked good, but it didn't taste as good as any of that. It was almost watery, as if it had sat in a pot of water, and then the pot had been dumped on a plate, and then it had been given to me. The problem with restaurants in Europe is that the beverages, if it isn't alcohol, are really expensive, and you don't get free refills. Pacing myself with that has never been my strong suite. We left the cafe, and we went to visit St. Stevens Cathedral. I have always liked old buildings and churches, so when you put the two together, I am floating on a cloud. It was quite different from the Cathedral in Prague. It wasn't as tall, but it was more "sacred." That is the best way I can describe it. It felt older, almost stronger. Whether it actually was older or stronger than the one in Prague, I do not know, but that is just what I experienced.

After the Cathedral, we began our long trek back to our hostel. Our happy hostel. Just from memory, we passed a shoe store, 3 grocery stores, a KFC, a bank, a strip joint ( I think, I wouldn't know), a McDonalds, and some other places with crazy names that I couldn't tell you what they were. O, a Foot Locker, but that was across the street. We are only here for another day, and on Saturday, we travel to Venice, Italy. Tomorrow, I think we are seeing some museums in the morning and something else in the evening, I can't be for certain. I'll have way more to post tomorrow as well, so hold onto your seats, if you are close to falling off by now. I tend to have that effect, after all. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my thrilling adventure, and I will continue on tomorrow. Maybe we will do some running again, who knows? I sure as hell don't know what to expect anymore, that is for sure! Well, have a fantastic day and night, and "May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor!"
                                                                                             -Anthony-