Sunday Su and I drove with our art professor to Lüttich, a city in Belgium. We drove through 2 countries to get there. How crazy is that? One minute you're in Germany, the next the Netherlands and finally Belgium, all in an hour!! Not to mention 3 different languages. Su and I felt so out of place because we couldn't speak French, took us right out of our element.
We spent the evening looking through a church and the treasury and learning about relics and how they can be housed. We also talked about the history of the city and the bishop that lived there. (we also saw his relic)
Side Note:
Looking at all of the relics I became quite irrated. The church has so much wealth in gold, silver, jewels, you name it and they ask for money at every mass. There's staring children, countries in debt from helping one another, disease, everything and look at everything the church has lying around in the bellies of their cathedrals. Now I know that the church does charity work and helps others out but its their way of marketing, its not just a donation they do it at a price. If there was a way to set differences in beliefs aside and work with each other think of all the things we could accomplish! What's tricky is that most of this wealth is history and art. I'm not too kean on going and melting down some of these works of art but maybe sell a piece or two!! The price some of these things could be sold for would help feed an entire country, clothe it, or even be used for medical research!
Back to the day :)
Herr Bayern took us to a high point of Lüttich and showed us an overview of the city. It was very pretty at night with the river and city lights. Since it was late we headed to the hostel and called it a night. The next day we walked around Luttich, but mostly drove since it was FREEZING! We went to the main train station, that was a really interesting piece. It looked like the design of a metal muscle, kind've like a heart, (or at least thats how I saw it haha).
After touring Liege (French for Lüttich), we headed to the city of Maastricht in the Netherlands. I have to say that I really like the Netherlands. Amsterdam was really gorgeous and then to see another city so far away just as beautiful, with its unique buildings, clean streets and friendly people, was just amazing. I could see myself visiting quite often once I move to the Rheinland. :)
We checked out a few churches in the city and the town hall. This city was part of the same bishops ruling area and inside the town hall we saw the dress of a countess and her son.
My favorite part of this excursion wasn't directly in either city but rather along our way back home. Herr Bayern took us to an American cemetary dedicated to soldiers who lost their lives in WWII in the Netherlands and surrounding areas who were not to return home. It was unbelievable to stand in a foreign country and see something so moving. I actually had a feeling of home. I can't say that I'm related to or know anyone who died in the war but all I could think of was how thankful I was for the sacrifice that was made for the freedom of others. I thought of the letter to Mrs. Bixby and Saving Private Ryan. It's hard to explain that sense of pride and humbleness that coincide when thinking about the war the United States fought and what it means to be an American. I felt bad that for the most part of being in Europe I've felt almost embarassed to say I'm American based on what I've heard that most of Europe doesn't like the United States. I've kept it quiet but it's nothing to be embarassed about but to be proud of. Being an American doesn't make me everything I am, just like my Irish or Hungarian roots, or how old I am, its a part of me and theres something to show for it. I dunno I'm kind of rambling haha. Either way it was a great experience to go to such a place and I'm glad I was able to see it. Not to mention we were there around 5 pm and imagine this.. Middle of nowhere in a foreign country, snow falling and snow on the ground, no one really around and landscape to see for miles (or kilos :P ) and your looking out to hundreds (maybe thousands) of tombstones for soldiers who left their country to fight for the people back home but never made it back, or were never found and you hear 3 (?) what sound like gun shots towards the back of the cemetary... silence.. and the start of a trumpet begining to play taps..
It was so eery and bone chilling, I got goosebumps. I wish I could describe that feeling but I'm sure most Americans know what I'm talking about. :)
Overall it was a great experience. Now on to the second to last week of work!
Tschüß!!!
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