Europe Through Me

To me, the worst thing about the D-Day beaches is that not everyone had the opportunity to go. After going to the concentration camp at Dachau and seeing the awful things that occurred during the World War II, it was refreshing to see how the Americans were able to start the end of the German dominance. I learned so many things that I had no idea about, our tour guide, Raul, was an incredible guide. As I stood on the beach I tried to picture what it would have been like to be there on June 6^th 1944. I am the same age as many of the soldiers were then. It was overwhelming to think of myself stepping out onto the beach, stepping over the motionless bodies of my friends some of which I’ve known my whole life. Being in the American cemetery, I actually forgot I was in Europe. I felt right at home standing there under the American flag, praising God for those that gave their lives for other’s freedom. I was overwhelmed with the greatest American pride. 

Whelp. There she is. The famous Mona Lisa by the famous Leonardo De Vinci in the famous Louvre in one of the most famous places on earth, Paris. So my life is changed right? I suddenly gained insight into life’s greatest questions by finally seeing the Mona Lisa. All right, you caught me. Seeing the Mona Lisa was mellow-dramatic in the sense that it’s not the most beautiful, luxurious painting there is. De Vinci was an incredible artist but I do not think this was his best work, yet arguably the most well known. My thought process reminds me of the modernist thought we studied in Modern World Literature, specifically that of Marcel DeChamp.He was known for questioning great art. He made up his mind that he would do his own artwork and proclaim its greatness. I can’t help but agree with DeChamp. What makes the Mona Lisa so great and profound? Thousands of people from around the world come to see the Mona Lisa every day and feel accomplished that they have viewed such a work. I left the Mona Lisa feeling accomplished in the sense that I checked off another famous things off my list. I did not leave feeling as if I had just viewed the most amazing painting this side of heaven. 

The Arc De Triumph was the single most fun thing of my Paris experience. It was a break from the continuous and non-stop frantic to see all the most historical and life-changing monuments. Now, I understand the historical importance of the Arc du Triumph. Napoleon placed it there for him to walk through all (Feet) of him. How egotistical. We went up the Arc at night, and it was neat to visit the night scene of Paris. It was a fun, lighthearted adventure. We were able to get an outstanding view or Paris, including the glittering Eiffel Tower. Being able to stand in the center of Paris and look out over the city and see that all roads led to where I was standing, made me feel big. Maybe that’s what Napoleon was going for. I was just one of millions of people in Paris at that exact moment, but standing in the very center made me feel important. 

If I had to pick my favorite museum from Paris, the Pompidou might, or might not be it. I’m not really sure. It had so very cool and neat art pieces. These sorts of pieces weren’t there for any kind of thought provocation. There were some pieces that did make you think. Since its become a theme on this trip for me to think-these were my favorite pieces. There were other pieces that were just wrong. These pieces were very creepy and awkward. These pieces remind of the modernist thought of Marcel DeChamp (who did in fact have pieces in the Pompidou) because the artists who created them declare them as good art. If I was to be put into a category by my way of thinking, modernism would be it. I am one for questioning what is really good art and what makes it good. I found myself questioning numerous pieces in the Pompidou. I also began to appreciate the creepy, off the wall pieces because I could tell modernist artist created them. They defined what good art was and did something about it. 

I honestly don’t even feel worthy to write anything about this place. I have no idea what it was like for the people who died here. I purposefully said, “Died here” because they did not LIVE here. The life of the people at this camp was taken from them the moment they step through the front door. I can honestly say I have never experienced anything like this. Reading about and hearing about the Holocaust all my school career could not be more polar opposite to what it is like to actually visit one of the camps; the first camp that is. And visiting it? Nothing compared to what it was like to be forced there. The most horrible part of the camps for me was standing in the room disguised as showers, really used to gas the prisoners. The room was an empty white room that looked so innocent and pure. The prisoners looked forward to getting to the showers and as I tried to place myself in their shoes I could imagine the anticipation to get to this white room. I would be so excited, and joyful to finally get a shower! Such a trivial that today I take for granted. Imagine being ecstatic to get a shower and realize you were being murdered. How long did it take for them to realize what was happening? This was the last thing they ever knew. The most conniving, sickening trick. 

Eagle’s Nest: So how does it feel to be a top the very mountain that Adolf Hitler stood upon? How does it feel to stand there and look over the land as he did, the land that he coveted and would have done anything ruthless to obtain? It is a very conflicting feeling. Here I am standing upon a beautiful mountain and for as far I can see all I see is beauty. I can see the most amazing scenery and simply be in awe of what my God has created. As wonderful as that feeling was, that land to me felt tainted. It was hard to appreciate the magnificence when I knew that Hitler had desired Salzburg, for completely selfish reasons. I quickly came to the resolution that I could not let Hitler affect my experience here. I might never be here again, so why in the world would I let someone so lowly and undeserving of thought belittle my experience? So I put Hitler out of my mind and sat on the mountain for a while and admired the creation.

During our two freed days in Germany we made a day trip to Hallstatt, Austria. We weren’t sure what to expect, but when our train let us off in the middle of the forest, we knew we were in for a pretty interesting day. We followed a path to a lake, where we had to pay to get on a boat to be taken to the city. It would not actually consider it a city, but rather a village. It was a small village built on the side of a mountain, right on the lake. It was a beautiful day; the skies were clear. We were able to see everything from the top of the mountain. We took a cable car to the top, but decided to walk down. As we were walking down we came to a small gazebo, right off the path. We sat in the gazebo and found the signatures of people who came on this trip from 2009. We all wrote our own names, hopefully to be found by the people who come in 2011. Overall this day was just a relaxing get away from our seemingly non-stop city shuffle. A chance to stop and smell the roses! 

This beginning to our United Kingdom trip could not have been better! Oxford is one of those places I have grown up hearing about but never imagined myself being there. I was very ignorant regarding what Oxford University really was, but our tour guide quickly informed me. It is the home of over 30 colleges, attended by people from all over the world including President Bill Clinton and daughter, Chelsea Clinton. It was neat experience to be able to spend the night in one of the dorm rooms. It was like being on cloud nine, until I remembered I attend Freed-Hardeman University (which I would not change for the world). After our tour we ate dinner at the café recommended by our good friends, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. We got to explore the fair they were having that night in Oxford as well. As I’ve grown to appreciate history more of this trip, it was a rich opportunity to visit many of the colleges here and learn the significance of each one. I am thankful for the things I learned that I could add to my repertoire of knowledge. 

The C.S. Lewis house was a great learning experience. It was not what I expected it to be. I was surprised to find out that someone actually lived there, the Resident Warden. It was so fortunate to have our tour done by one of the past Resident Warden’s. He was very informed and was able to share his wealth of information. I love The Chronicles of Narnia, arguably C.S. Lewis’ most famous work. Finally visiting his house was a culmination of sorts for my love of his books. Being in his house just opened up another door of excitement to learn. I have a new curiosity to read more of his works, as well as the resident wardens book, Planet Narnia. I have this new spark to study more about C.S. Lewis and will always be able to recall this memory of being in his house. The rooms he lived in, ate in, wrote it, and died in. It was a great experience as well to see his grave marker, the cemetery he was buried and the church that he attended. 

If there was one thing that surprised me during our eleven days in the United Kingdom it would be the Globe Theater and the play, Merry Wives of Windsor. There were countless reasons I was not looking forward to it. First, it was something Shakespeare, and sadly I wasn’t a fan. Secondly, we were going to have to stand for three hours. Third, we were trying to get our plans together for that evening and I would have much rather doing that. I could not have been more wrong. I loved the play! It really brought the book to life. Stating the obvious, yes; but nonetheless, it was so much easier to enjoy the story as it was acted out by real actors in a live setting as opposed to reading it in a classroom. I expected the archaic language to be a barrier in following it, but again I was wrong. I was able to follow very clearly. Not only did I understand it, but also I was laughing the entire time. Who knew that Shakespeare had a sense of humor? I am thankful we watched this because it opened up my eyes to the world of Shakespeare. I have a new appreciation for his works, even though I have been studying him in school for years.