Today I had the most incredible experience. As part of an exhibit that works to get foster children in South Carolina adopted, I got to take pictures of three amazing teens. It was both exciting and sad at the same time to know that these kids didn't have families to go home to. It seems like such a small thing, such a little amount of time to give that could potentially change these children's lives.
For more information, check out http://www.scheartgallery.org/
Friday, June 27, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
And the Tony goes to...
So New York City was amazing. Getting to see the obc cast of RENT was unbelievable! I am sad to hear that Cry Baby is closing because it was on my list to see next visit and I can't wait to see Passing Strange. We sat next to the stupidest people. One women was wearing an entire bottom of smell and their Broadway knowledge was minuscule to say the least.
The trip came about because Chelsey was turning 21 and for her birthday, she wanted to see the Tonys. The parents agreed and so she and I were off to the Big Apple for the first time on our own.
While we were in New York, we saw Sunday in the Park with George where we meet Danial Evans and Jenna Russell, both Tony nominated for their roles. Mary Poppins had mind boggling sets and the cast was great. Spring Awakening is my favorite musical. The story is unlike anything I have every seen on Broadway or anywhere for that matter. The cast was extraordinary and the show made you remember why I feel in love with musicals to begin with. Peter Gallagher and Morgan Freeman starred in The Country Girl, the first play I had ever seen in the city.
In our many trips to the city, we had always passed the Jekyll and Hyde Club, but didn't know what it was. Come to find out, it is this really cool restaurant with characters who wonder around, sing, act weird, etc. Of course we ate at our favorite, The Boathouse, but with sun set it was really hot.
The trip was one to remember and I can't wait to visit again soon.
The trip came about because Chelsey was turning 21 and for her birthday, she wanted to see the Tonys. The parents agreed and so she and I were off to the Big Apple for the first time on our own.
While we were in New York, we saw Sunday in the Park with George where we meet Danial Evans and Jenna Russell, both Tony nominated for their roles. Mary Poppins had mind boggling sets and the cast was great. Spring Awakening is my favorite musical. The story is unlike anything I have every seen on Broadway or anywhere for that matter. The cast was extraordinary and the show made you remember why I feel in love with musicals to begin with. Peter Gallagher and Morgan Freeman starred in The Country Girl, the first play I had ever seen in the city.
In our many trips to the city, we had always passed the Jekyll and Hyde Club, but didn't know what it was. Come to find out, it is this really cool restaurant with characters who wonder around, sing, act weird, etc. Of course we ate at our favorite, The Boathouse, but with sun set it was really hot.
The trip was one to remember and I can't wait to visit again soon.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Back to Reality
It is hard to get back into the swing of things when you come back from a trip, especially such a long trip. I had a wonderful time, but I sure do love home. After two long days of working on our project, it was time to present to our class and the Dean. Our project went really well and I am very relieved. Now it is back to the beach and internship at Brandon Advertising.
The 8 hour work days bring you back down to earth real quick. But, this Thursday it is off to New York and the Tony Awards!!! Not only is it amazing in and of itself to see the awards, but the obc (original Broadway cast) of "RENT" is performing with Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs and Anthony Rapp. The cast of "Young Frankenstein" is performing along with "The Littler Mermaid," "Cry Baby" and so much more. And to top it off, Whoopi Goldburg is hosting.
The 8 hour work days bring you back down to earth real quick. But, this Thursday it is off to New York and the Tony Awards!!! Not only is it amazing in and of itself to see the awards, but the obc (original Broadway cast) of "RENT" is performing with Idina Menzel, Taye Diggs and Anthony Rapp. The cast of "Young Frankenstein" is performing along with "The Littler Mermaid," "Cry Baby" and so much more. And to top it off, Whoopi Goldburg is hosting.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Berlin or Bust!
To my astonishment, we are settled in the actual city of Berlin. We arrived into the city pretty early this morning and made our way to the first hotel of the day. Upon arrival, we found out that the hotel was an hour outside of Berlin, not a great location for sightseeing. A little tired, we made our way back to the airport and were working on getting flights changed to go back to Munich earlier. A little over everything and really over the unhelpful people. I hope that when people come to the US, that we are more helpful and friendly than some of the people here, who by no means go beyond their job or out of their way to help. Now, some people are really nice, so I hate to stereotype, but it gets frustrating after a while.
Once we were checked into hotel number two that was actually in Berlin, close enough to walk to a remaining section of the Berlin Wall, we began exploring city a little. Tomorrow if the weather is good we plan on taking a bike tour of the city.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Follow the Crowd
The weather is beautiful and sunny, wonderful for exploring the Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral. The castle surrounded the cathedral and was like a small town in itself. The stained glass was so neat with all the light shinning through, giving the church a yellow glow. We found a small café for lunch and made a stop at our favorite chocolate shop before going on the bike tour. The “non-strenuous” tour took us through many parts of the city and over the river. Our guide re-vamped the tour to include a biergarten stop. Unlike Germany, the biergarten was uphill. I couldn’t ride up that steep, so I pushed my biked up the hill. Afterwards, we took a different path down, but that required going down flights of stairs to get down. I am now a pro at bike riding through cars, trains and up curbs! During the tour we saw lots of neat artwork, including a statue that was of two men peeing onto a waiting pool in the shape of the Czech Republic. If you so desire, you can text a message to 420 724370707 and the statue will pee whatever message you send to it.
Again by a recommendation we dined at the Café Slavia for traditional Czech food. A great meal for our last night here. Tomorrow is another early morning to get to Berlin.
We have learned from our wondering that following the crowd usually puts you in the right place. If you go and stop seeing people, then you went the wrong way. So far it hasn't lead us astray!
Prague
With an early flight out of Munich, it was off to Prague. By noonish we had dropped off our luggage and were ready to see the sights. A short ride on the subway and we were near Old Town Square. What a view from the Town Hall tower and the clock even has a sort of “show” on the hour. Unimaginable, it was worse than the Glockenspiel! Really not worth a trip to the square on its own. While we were in the square, the 10th Cultural Festival was taking place and we got to see some children doing local dances. The afternoon was just spent wondering the streets. The city is a great place just to wonder and explore. We ran across a bike tour that we decided to do on Sunday and this amazing Belgium chocolate shop, the Gold Pralines.
By recommendation, we headed to the U Prince hotel’s rooftop bar to view the evening sunset before going downstairs for dinner. Number 74 on the menu was chicken! This might not seem like a great feat, but chicken isn’t a big item over here to my dismay.
People here aren’t as friendly as Germany. The guy at the information desk at the subway doesn’t sell tickets, doesn’t give change and doesn’t help you figure out the ticket you need. Not sure what they are paying him for.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Prost!
In Germany when you make a toast you don’t say cheers, but rather prost! This is done by toasting glasses logo to logo, eye to eye. Tonight at the Chinesischer Turm Biergarten, we toasted one last time during our final group dinner of the trip. It doesn’t seem real that two weeks here has past. The time has flown by. After many, many rainy days, today’s weather was amazing with beautiful sun shine. We finished up some lose ends of our project and then went shopping for the last minute souvenirs.
For lunch, it was good ‘ole American food at Hard Rock Café. You may laugh, but sometimes you just want some food you are accustomed to and at Hard Rock there are free refills. I never realized how great that was until I started paying 3 euro for a coke, no refills. Dad even found some splenda, something that is really hard to come by here. I wanted to climb the roof of one of the Olympic park buildings and rushed to get out there only to find out that they weren’t offering it today because of a concert tomorrow night. This really ticked me off because I have e-mailed multiple times and even tried to buy a ticket Wednesday and the women said it would be no problem to get my ticket today for the tour!!!
Before we met at the biergarten, dad and I climbed 94 steps to an elevator that took us up in a church tower with some great views of the city. Next it was gelato before getting on the subway to meet the group. It is hard to explain the enormousness of a beirgarten. The one we ate at tonight is the second largest in the world and it is 3 times the size of Central Park. Sort of in the center is the food house and beer and around it are huge grassy areas where people lay out and have picnics. One of the rivers also runs throughout the park. Clothes are optional in some parts and there is always tons of people biking, running and just hanging around.
Everyone is now packing and trying to figure out how they are going to get the beer steins home in one piece. It is sad to leave everyone and especially all the friends we have made at the hotel. It is an earlier morning tomorrow as we depart for Prague, so it’s off to bed.
For lunch, it was good ‘ole American food at Hard Rock Café. You may laugh, but sometimes you just want some food you are accustomed to and at Hard Rock there are free refills. I never realized how great that was until I started paying 3 euro for a coke, no refills. Dad even found some splenda, something that is really hard to come by here. I wanted to climb the roof of one of the Olympic park buildings and rushed to get out there only to find out that they weren’t offering it today because of a concert tomorrow night. This really ticked me off because I have e-mailed multiple times and even tried to buy a ticket Wednesday and the women said it would be no problem to get my ticket today for the tour!!!
Before we met at the biergarten, dad and I climbed 94 steps to an elevator that took us up in a church tower with some great views of the city. Next it was gelato before getting on the subway to meet the group. It is hard to explain the enormousness of a beirgarten. The one we ate at tonight is the second largest in the world and it is 3 times the size of Central Park. Sort of in the center is the food house and beer and around it are huge grassy areas where people lay out and have picnics. One of the rivers also runs throughout the park. Clothes are optional in some parts and there is always tons of people biking, running and just hanging around.
Everyone is now packing and trying to figure out how they are going to get the beer steins home in one piece. It is sad to leave everyone and especially all the friends we have made at the hotel. It is an earlier morning tomorrow as we depart for Prague, so it’s off to bed.
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