Ieper, Belgium

Ok, I fail at consistent blogging. Whatever, cause it means I'm living my life instead of constantly writing about it.

So, this past weekend I went to Ieper, Belgium. This is off the normal touristy trail and interesting to hear. Since I like history stuff, this was right up my alley. I knew it was going to be a downer, but hey, war memorials often are.

So we headed out at 7 am on Saturday on a bus. One of those nice ones....not school bus. So then as we all passed out back to sleep, the bus took us to Dover where we got on a ferry. Well, by got on a ferry, I mean we waited on the bus for an hour cause there's a strike going in France so it was all kinds of backed up. So we finally got on the ferry and set off for our journey across the channel.

The Channel

So we get into France and I'm quite excited cause I'm in continental Europe.  Then as I stare out the window, I realize I see this view driving around Indiana.  Countryside is countryside where ever you go.      Main difference was that the road signs were in French.

Cornfield in Belgium

So after a very quick drive, we were in Belgium and like another 15 minutes to Ieper.  It takes longer to get to Indy than to Ieper.  So we wander around until we get to the Flander's Field Museum.  Most gorgeous museum ever.

Very nicely done inside as well.  Interactive booths.  Nice mix of pictures and reading.  All different kinds of languages.  Movies.  Overall, I really enjoyed it.  It was very educational about the battles around Ieper.  A cool feature that is used in other museums is that you are assigned a name and as you go through the museum, you learn what happened to them.

I was Max Beckmann.  Who apparently is famous enough to have a wikipedia article. Anyway, I was kind of hoping to have a soldier, but it was still cool to have.

So then we checked in to our hostel.  This hostel was a lot different from the last one.  But we spent like 2 hours there besides sleeping so it wasn't a big deal to me.  We then got a meal at a Tea Room.  Woo meals that seem free but really aren't because you are paying for them with the trip expenses.

Then the trip took another serious turn at the Menin Gate.

It's a memorial for the 55,000 men who don't have a grave or disappeared in the battles around Ieper.  It's very similar to the Vietnam Wall for a comparison.  A local guide told us some interesting facts about the memorial which I could repeat, but for times sake, I won't.  If you are actually interested, check out my facebook album cause I added some there.  Or I could tell you in person.

Then we got our spots for the Last Post ceremony.  A couple of Bugler's from Ieper play and it's a very solemn ceremony.  It has happened every night since the memorial's unveiling in the 1920s.  That makes it one of the few daily ceremonies for WWI in the world.

Honestly, it got lost on me because we were in the crowd and I'm the kind of person who has to see what's going on, even if it is nothing.  It's a ceremony that you make of what you make of it.  The buglers play and then there's a couple minutes of silence.  Then it's over.  No applause.  Just...over.  But I enjoy the simplicity.  If you're in the area, check it out.  Just remember to be respectful.

So, after that we set off in search of what to do that evening in Ieper.  It was a fun evening trying out different beverages that Belgium is famous fun and just hanging out with people.  Then when we got back to the hostel, we discovered our room door was the LOUDEST door ever with its creaking.  So much for a sneaky entrance....

Sunday

We got up and went out in search for Belgium waffles.  We were soon to discover that this town doesn't get up until like 11 which did NOT work for us.  So we went and got a good deal on some chocolates.  You're welcome in advance to family members who get some cause I'm showing some restraint not eating them.  So after that healthy stop, we went to a bakery to get some real breakfast cause this hostel didn't have a kitchen.  So we headed back to pack up and eat our goodies.

Then we got back on our bus to tour around Ieper.  We saw so many cemeteries.  It really drove how that this was a lost generation.  So many young men/boys (as young as 14/15) gave their lives for that war.

We also visited a replica trench.  That was very interesting to see and go in.  Those men lived in those things for days on end.  Could NOT imagine that.  Especially since we went on a cold, but sunny day.  They had to stay in all kinds of weather and endure muddy trenches.  Knowing that one false move could mean a bullet in your skull.  Machine gun fire going at all hours.

We continued on to a German cemetery.  Germans have 4 cemeteries in Belgium.  British have over 100.  Germans got a mass burial.  British soldiers are buried in individual graves.  The German cemeteries are dark in color.  British cemeteries are light in color.  Seems unfair until you remember the Germans ruined the people of Belgium's lives.  Belgium was a neutral state and they used it to get to France. British were their saviors.

Mass grave.  Over 24,000 buried in it, 7,000 unknown.

Germans normally do not visit these mass graves.  It's very shame filled for them for what their ancestors did.  I looked at the registry and saw only 4 people from Germany listed.  Then about 50 British names.  What made me mad was the rude remarks some people wrote.  "Fuck you" is not something I would ever write in a registry.  Forgiveness should be given in my opinion.  Respect these soldiers.  Odds are, they were fighting against their will just like the British soldiers.  I mean, if they hadn't been, the Christmas Truce wouldn't have happened.  (Christmas Truce is when at various places along the front line, both sides called a cease fire for at least Christmas.  Some lasted up until New Years).

Our last cemetery stop was at the one of largest British cemetery in the area.  Again, it drove home how that was the Lost generation.  Every one of these graves had a family back home.  They never got to see them again.

Thankfully, that was the last of the cemeteries for the trip.  I couldn't really handle hearing more depressing facts for the time being.  So we got back on the bus and headed into a nearby town.  We got to visit the Talbott House.

Others didn't like this part, but I really enjoyed it!  The Talbott house was a place for the men to relax on their days off.  They would spend like 2 weeks at the front lines, 2 weeks doing other things, and then maybe a couple days in town.  So, they went to either the whorehouses, bars or the Talbott house.

As the sign states, it's an every man's house.  So didn't matter whether you were the Prince of England or a private in the army, you were all equals.  You all waited in queue together.  It was nice to see this side of that time.  It was a real character of a house so check out my facebook album (the 2nd Ieper one) for the pictures.

Then, I went on search for some hot chocolate.  The pictures are deceiving.  Sure, it was bright and sunny, but it was FREEZING!  So, I wanted some Belgium hot chocolate.  If you get the chance to have some, DO IT.  Delicious!! So chocolatey and perfect.  Overpriced as hell, but I didn't care cause it was so good.

Then the professor/guide had one more depressing stop for us.  We went to the prison cells for deserters of the British army.  The British executed at least 5 men during WWI.  Those are the only confirmed cases, but there are believed to be more.  These poor men had shell shock so bad that they just couldn't take it any more.  So they either plotted to run away or did run away, but got caught.  They had a trial that was would have been VERY hard for them to win.

So, they were executed by firing squad at sunrise.  Disgusting if you ask me.  One case found was that a man had to be part of a  firing squad against his brother.  And if the firing squad disobeyed, they were punished.  One of the hidden uglies of WWI.

On to happier times, we headed back to the French port to sail back to Dover and drive back to London. Overall, I enjoyed the trip.  It's not something a lot of Americans do so I'm glad I went.  But yes, it was utterly depressing at times and I was glad Belgium had plentiful chocolate.

Perhaps, I can take you through a typical week here for next time.  Remember, I'm quite connected so you can facebook chat, email, skype, etc with me.  Dorms just added wifi so I'm not stuck in my room.  Cheers!

Ireland

Life has picked up TREMENDOUSLY here.  Internship is from 9:45 until 6:30 on Monday and Tuesdays so by the time I get back to the dorm, it's around 7:30 and I just want to eat and sleep.  Wednesday are about as bad with a full day of classes and then Thursday, I just want to sleep.  But, never fear, after loads of badgering and sleep, I am here to blog about my adventure to Ireland.

Friday:

Alec and I left at 5:20 am to catch the tube to Heathrow.  Yeah...not a fun ride.  It was dark and boring.  Then we got the airport...where it was still dark and boring.  I was ready to just sleep like Steve did.

Awww.  Anyway, after a short flight over to Dublin, we were there!  The plane landed and we literally walked off onto the runway.  Oh cheap flights.  Getting through customs and stuff was a breeze...I literally handed him my passport and he stamped it with no questions.  Again, harder to get into Canada. 

So we made our way to our hostel by bus.  While on the bus, Alec and I convinced Becky that peacocks roam wild in Dublin.  How this worked, I do not know, but it's now a random joke that we all have.  Also, to get to Dublin from the airport, the road took us through a tunnel.  There was no reason for this tunnel and it bugged me.

Anyway, we went to check into the hostel and couldn't so we all went to find food cause we were starving.  So, we went to the pub next door that enjoyed butter.  By enjoy butter, I mean, it put butter on everything we ordered.  I had a club sandwich with butter.  It was oddly still good.

So, then we went on a walking tour of Dublin which I was really excited for.  Get to know the city, learn some facts, what's not to like?  Well the Wee Little Irish man leading the tour would talk to for minutes upon end about this rebellion and that rebellion.  I can now sum up Ireland's history really quick:  They had a revolution, and everybody died.  They had a rebellion, and everybody died.  They had a potato famine, and everybody died.  The end.  Seriously, worst tour ever.  But I got some really nice pictures so that's a plus side.  And we had fun coming up with ways to keep ourselves awake (I almost fell asleep standing up listening to this guy. That bad.).

Trinity College

Dublin Castle.  Quite umimpressive after seeing Windsor

Christ Church Cathedral

Performance Artist who paced back and forth

So, we were FINALLY excused from that dreadful tour and headed back to our hostel to move into our rooms.  It was pretty much a slumber party cause most of the girls in the room all hung out together.  Good times. Then we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner.  Again, not what I wanted.  If I'm in Ireland, I want some Irish food.  Not some really spicy pasta.  Yeah....regretful choice but we all shared and had a grand old time despite the food.  Then we went out to enjoy the Irish night life in the Temple Bar area.

Saturday

The morning came way too quick cause we were all exhausted.  But, we got up for the breakfast that the hostel serves.  Then, sorely disappointed with toast, cereal, juice and coffee.  Seriously, my toast was toast on one side and bread on the other.  Awkward.

Then we set off for the Writer's Museum because a lot of well know writers are Irish.  Plus, this trip was suggested for the Irish Literature class.  Anyway, I went because it's paid for and could be cool.  And it was to an extent, but I quickly realized that I didn't know any Irish authors.  Oops.

So Steve, Izzy, Drew, Josh and I left that kind of quickly and wandered to go find St. Patrick's Cathedral.   On the way we found this beautiful memorial to one of the numerous rebellions.  

So then we continued on to St. Pattys.  I really enjoy walking around since it was laughter and just talking the entire way.  Plus, Drew and Steve go to IU so we can talk about that some.  (Sidenote so I can remember this quote: "SHE'S FROM MONTICELLO" - Yelled by Steve).  Anyway, we finally go to it and it was beautiful.  Not only was the Cathedral itself beautiful, but it had a park right next door that had the greenest grass EVER!  Everything is so green in Ireland and lovely.

St. Pattys

The park we sat in

Drew looking like a giant.

"I want to have sex with this grass"

So we left there to get some quick lunch at Abra Kababra.  Real name.  Can't make that up.  We then realized we had 5 minutes to do a 10-15 minute walk.  So while power walking, I sent a quick text to Alec to make everybody wait so we could go to Joyce's Tower with them.  Best text I've ever sent because Sandy Cove was my FAVORITE part of the trip.

Sandy Cove is a 20-30 minute train ride from Dublin and totally worth it.  We got into this cute little town and headed towards Joyce's Tower. 

  

Sandy Cove

Jumping picture

We had a blast acting like little kids on these rocks.  I had my boots on so I got to climb out to the very edge.  I could have spent an hour out there by myself or just chatting with others.  So peaceful and just a great sight to see.  So, if you get a chance to go to Ireland, go to the coast.

Joyce's Tower

So then we went to Joyce's Tower and heard the history of it.  James Joyce sounds like a typical Irish guy from what I've heard.  I plan on reading Ulysses at some point in my life cause it starts out in the tower I actually got to tour.  We climbed to the top on these tiny staircases built for size 4 feet...seriously awkward.  Anyway, we all survived and got rewarded with a beautiful view of Sandy Cove.  So amazing to see.  I'd live in a tiny one room tower for that kind of view.  Plus, the rent back in the day was 8 pounds a month...score.

After the tower tour, we headed to explore a little more.  Saw the cutest old guy just sitting and watching the waves.  Awesome life sir.  

We wandered and got a drink that we all decided we had to have while in Ireland.  Then we got back on the train and headed into Dublin.  We all collapsed onto our beds and had girl talk for like an hour.  Love it.  I never really hung out with those girls before hand so it was nice to get to know others on the program.  We had dinner and then headed back out to enjoy the nightlife that Dublin has to offer.

Sunday:

We again got up after seemingly too little sleep and enjoyed another breakfast of toast and juice.  Yum yum.  Then a group of us set off to go tour the Guinness Storehouse.  It was really cool to see everything.  Like, how beer is made and then the advertisements through the years.  What made the trip a success was the Sky Lounge at the top.  Basically the tallest building in Dublin and you can see ALL of the city and the mountains beyond.  It was a sunny day so it was just perfect to sit up there and discuss how awesome our lives currently are.

Then the woeful trip back to the airport.  I sat next to Steve on the plane and we had some nice discussions.  Jacque colored with our chaperone type figures for the trip.  She made me a pretty fairy picture.  We were all ready to be back in London, but there was a Tube Strike looming ahead of us.  Luckily, we made it back in time to take the Tube back and not worry about paying for a taxi or other options.  Alec, Becky and I had fun during the trip on the tube.

Overall, I'm glad I went on the trip with IES.  It was already all planned out and a nice way to get me use to traveling in Europe.  There are WAY more pictures up on facebook.  I have pictures of Guinness if interested, but those are not going online.  Ieper, Belgium is in 2 weeks, Scotland at the end of the month.  Others will be planned for November and December is Amsterdam!

I need to blog about my internship and other things, but I am tired and need to shower.  I hope you enjoyed this.  I'm sorry for the wait, but again, life is hectic.  I hope everybody is having a good time in America cause I'm loving life here!  Cheers!