Patty's Day Pollacks and Pierogis

Welcome back everyone I am alive and well. St. Patty's Day was a whirlwind of fun and excitement, not including the lame parade. Our entire group made a marathon of the day that mostly tourists celebrate. After a wild and crazy night I awoke the next morning to pack for a 4 day expedition into Poland. During the 3 hour flight there our group encountered a freak of nature. Namely a 3-4 year old girl who was able to cry without stop for 3 hours. After that we arrived in beautiful Krakow. We spent a good half hour trying to find our hidden hole in the wall hostel. Once there however we realized why it was awarded Hostel of the Year 2007.

Next morning we spent touring Krakow in the fairly chilly weather. We saw Wawel Castle and Cathedral where the Polish Kings were crowned and the Krakow bishops served, one of the bishops of note the late Pope John Paul II. Next we walked around the old Jewish district where there are several renovated Synagogues. After all that walking we were famished and decided to have a delicious 3 course meal of all Polish foods. I especially enjoyed the Pierogis and Hunters Stew. After a brief repose at our hostel we went out to a chill Jazz club where we saw a very fun and lively band named Energy Drink that used a really cool light show in tandem with their fun and upbeat music.

The next day was spent at Auschwitz and Bierkenau. It was a truly haunting experience to see the absolute depravity and destruction that was wreaked in just 5 years. According to our guide the Auschwitz camp was a renovated military base that was mainly used for keeping Polish rebels and Russian POWs. It was only in 1942 when Bierkenau was created that the Nazis began executing their "Final Solution to the Jewish Question." Over 4,400 people could be killed at one time in Bierkenau and those who weren't killed by gas chambers either died of starvation, the cold, or were forced to work in labor camps. All in all horrifying. The only moment of solace was when we saw a group of students from Israel enter the camp with Israeli flags held high.

The next day we spent in a small mountain town call Zakopane. It was a truly beautiful town in the valley of the Tarta Mt. Range. After exploring the town we took a lift up to one of the tallest peaks. After breaching the cloud cover our group stood with mouths agape at the beauty all around us. Words cannot describe so I will end it there.

When we got back to our hostel we met some fun and exciting people from Pittsburgh who were traveling with their french friend Pierre. (Funny story about Pierre that I can tell you but in a more private) We went out on the town with them and they bought us all drinks.

The next morning we visited JP II's old bishops house and then caught a bus to Katowice airport to fly back. We sadly arrived late, stupid Ryan Air, and missed the last bus to Cork and were relegated to sleeping in the airport that night. All in all it wasn't that bad.

So now down to homework before the Marathon Adventure of Spring Break.

Staying Strong

Mmmmm two days straight and hoping to continue. Today started out in a daze (5 hours of sleep is hard when one has 5 classes). It only improved from there. After my Evolution class with Prof. Tom Kelly, a Wilfed Brimely look-alike, I phased through the rest of the day. I have officially finished one of my classes so there is a weight of my shoulders.

I just bought my Eurail pass today so my European whilwind adventure is now official. Within 27 days I will enjoy some of the glories from France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Rep, and Germany (maybe Sweden if there is time and money). So I guess the countdown begins, a few projects to finish and some more planning to do and all will be right with the world according to me. I also bought tickets to Poland today so my days are becoming much more consumed therefore fun.

Peace in the Middle East,

Harren

Robert the Bruce the true hero of Scotland

Hello faithful and by now slightly disappointed readers. I guess I have not been as faithful to this blog as I wish I had been but that is about to change... I hope. Mostly because I received a facebook message from Andrew Stevens to continue writing and when you are lucky enough to have Andrew Stevens talk to you then you better listen. Much love dear Dodds.

So anyway I just got back from Scotland and it was incredible. I spent most of my time in Edinburgh (pronounced Edinborough) and what a city it is. The architecture and history are radiating everywhere in the Old Town part of the city. Edinburgh Castle is an awesome site, resting upon a giant extinct basalt volcano formation. Chris and I climbed part of it's northern wall to try and get closer and it was a challenge. Also I bought a Kilt and I now feel complete.

I went on a day bus tour around Scotland that took me into the Highlands which is probably the most breathtaking and daunting looking terrain I have ever seen. Anyone who could survive generations in that landscape is ballsy. Our tour guide was a sweet guy named Chris Gibbon of the clan Buchanan (Greater hence the Honor!) who is a world traveling mountain climber. I was amazed at all the information he knew, most of which he said was passed down from his father and grandfather and so on. One of the most interesting things I did learn was that the movie Braveheart is a sham. William Wallace it turns out was pretty smart but he wasted it away on being a layabout drunk womanizer who was turned over by his own people because he was not really that valuable. Instead it was Robert the Bruce who was the real hero. To quote the great man, "It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom -- for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself."Anyway I made it to Loch Ness to challenge Nessy but sadly she shied away.

I am now on my second round of major homework this semester. Once it is done I will be set until finals in May. Before finals I will be heading to mainland Europe for a whirlwind adventure with little sleep.

Hope that gives my readers a little taste.

Matt Harren