A quick sidetrack for those of you, like me, who enjoy history and mythology.
One of the things I love about Europe is its focus on history and fine forms of culture that relate to that history. I've been to two major art/history museums in the last week, and in both of them I noticed something interesting about the art from about the 1600s and earlier: it seemed like 90% of those paintings or sculptures were representations, not of "Still Life" or some random "Red Circle of Significance" (sorry if those are your favourites), but rather of stories either from classical (Greek/Roman) mythology OR from the Bible.
Now, I am interested in the former as a side study, and interested in the latter as the cornerstone of my life, so perhaps that explains why the two subjects were still close to my thoughts yesterday when I came across this passage in my homework reading:
"The heart of Christianity is a myth which is also a fact. The old myth of the Dying God, without ceasing to be myth, comes down from the heaven of legend and imagination to the earth of history. It happens-- at a particular date, in a particular place, followed by definable historical consequences. We pass from a Balder or an Osiris, dying nobody knows when or where, to a historical Person crucified (it is all in order) under Pontius Pilate."
- C. S. Lewis (quoted in Nancy Pearcey, Total Truth).
If you're like me, you've read the old mythologies and sometimes wished, childlike, that those stories were true. I am so glad that the Greatest Story is true!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Something Different
I thought perhaps I could share with you one of my favourite paintings from the Alte Pinakothek (Old Art Museum) in Munich.
Peter Paul Rubens:
Rubens and Isabella Brant in the Honeysuckle Bower
In an age when most marriages were made for money and when many artists had several affairs, Rubens chose to paint this scene as a testimony of the true love between him and his wife, Isabella. There are several aspects of the painting that make his intent clear; perhaps the most obvious to a modern viewer is the way the two hands are gently grapsing each other. In fact, in the painting, Ruben's right hand is actually pointing to his wife's hand as it rests in his. Here is a man who is not afraid to proclaim his love for his wife!
Image taken from the Alte Pinakothek website, at http://www.pinakothek.de/alte-pinakothek/sammlung/rundgang/rundgang_raum_en.php?g=og&raum=VII.
Peter Paul Rubens:
Rubens and Isabella Brant in the Honeysuckle Bower
In an age when most marriages were made for money and when many artists had several affairs, Rubens chose to paint this scene as a testimony of the true love between him and his wife, Isabella. There are several aspects of the painting that make his intent clear; perhaps the most obvious to a modern viewer is the way the two hands are gently grapsing each other. In fact, in the painting, Ruben's right hand is actually pointing to his wife's hand as it rests in his. Here is a man who is not afraid to proclaim his love for his wife!
Image taken from the Alte Pinakothek website, at http://www.pinakothek.de/alte-pinakothek/sammlung/rundgang/rundgang_raum_en.php?g=og&raum=VII.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Scenes of Nürnberg
We took a day trip to Nürnberg (in English - Nuremberg) on Saturday (Jan. 26). Here are a few of the better photos. :)
Our group, minus Beth (Student Life Coord., taking the picture) and plus Dr. Cross (visiting professor from Corban College).
A cathedral and a lamppost. I like lampposts.
I like lampposts.
Three kings among those known as history's greatest. One of them is Charlemagne (sadly, I can't remember the others). The whole lineup of history's greatest kings (twelve or so, I think) are just one of the decorative aspects of the Beautiful Fountain in the main square in Nuremberg.
The blend of old and older.
One view of the castle in Nuremberg.
Another view within the castle complex.
I like lampposts.
Front view of the church on one end of the main square, with some of the open-market tents that fill the square during daylight hours.
Cathedral.
A United Nations monument to human rights. There are 30 pillars, one for each of the sections of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each pillar has one of the sections written on it in German, and then written in the language of a people who have had their human rights violated. At the far end is a tree representing all the unlisted languages/peoples.
The arch at the head of the monument.
A "map" of the city in the underground shopping area beneath the train station.
Friends / travel companions on the train ride home. There were almost no empty seats, so most of us either stood or sat in the between-cars section of the train. It's quite a bit more bouncy there, but it makes the journey all the more exciting. :)
Our group, minus Beth (Student Life Coord., taking the picture) and plus Dr. Cross (visiting professor from Corban College).
A cathedral and a lamppost. I like lampposts.
I like lampposts.
Three kings among those known as history's greatest. One of them is Charlemagne (sadly, I can't remember the others). The whole lineup of history's greatest kings (twelve or so, I think) are just one of the decorative aspects of the Beautiful Fountain in the main square in Nuremberg.
The blend of old and older.
One view of the castle in Nuremberg.
Another view within the castle complex.
I like lampposts.
Front view of the church on one end of the main square, with some of the open-market tents that fill the square during daylight hours.
Cathedral.
A United Nations monument to human rights. There are 30 pillars, one for each of the sections of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Each pillar has one of the sections written on it in German, and then written in the language of a people who have had their human rights violated. At the far end is a tree representing all the unlisted languages/peoples.
The arch at the head of the monument.
A "map" of the city in the underground shopping area beneath the train station.
Friends / travel companions on the train ride home. There were almost no empty seats, so most of us either stood or sat in the between-cars section of the train. It's quite a bit more bouncy there, but it makes the journey all the more exciting. :)
Scenes of München
Some pictures from our day-trip to Munich (München) on Friday, Jan. 25.
One of my dear travel companions and I, with our electric-green European Mountain Dew bottles.
One of our first views in Munich.
Our new friend in Munich. This was after one of our party climbed up for a "ride." It wasn't me.
Leaves.
The Alte Pinakothek, the "old art" museum in Munich (as opposed to the "new art" museum and the "modern art" museum). This was an amazing place-- a fantastic collection of some wonderful artists' works, including two rooms of Rubens (many of us loved those best).
One of the best things in large European cities: the street musicians!! This was just one of three sets we saw.
One corner of the building that houses the famous Glockenspiel (clock), in the main "Marienplatz" square.
Another part of the same building.
And the same again. Wunderbar.
One of my dear travel companions and I, with our electric-green European Mountain Dew bottles.
One of our first views in Munich.
Our new friend in Munich. This was after one of our party climbed up for a "ride." It wasn't me.
Leaves.
The Alte Pinakothek, the "old art" museum in Munich (as opposed to the "new art" museum and the "modern art" museum). This was an amazing place-- a fantastic collection of some wonderful artists' works, including two rooms of Rubens (many of us loved those best).
Perhaps you can see, at the bottom, the hundreds of bicycles parked here. Bicycles are a major source of transportation in Germany.
One of the best things in large European cities: the street musicians!! This was just one of three sets we saw.
One corner of the building that houses the famous Glockenspiel (clock), in the main "Marienplatz" square.
Another part of the same building.
And the same again. Wunderbar.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Scenes of Amberg
These are some pics of both the city of Amberg, where we live, and the various places /people of Ambex, the program we're attending.
The first set of arrivals (Friday, Jan. 18)-- sitting in front of the large church building that holds classrooms and girls' dorm (sounds strange, I know, but for this first semester of existence as a program, this place has the right amount of space for our needs and wants).
The Vils River, as it runs under the wall of Altestadt (old town) Amberg.
More of the river. It is muddy right now because of all the rains of January and December.
One of the main gates along the wall. Although the city has, of course, grown over recent centuries, the wall completely encircles the "original" city, making for a photogenic break between old and new.
In the old town.
Our complete group, on a chilly tour of the city. Too bad this came out fuzzy.
Bowling at the Vilseck American military post-- "Little America."
Waiting (in a side room) for the evening service to start at High Point Baptist Church.
Chit-chatting in the girls' dorm.
Our main classroom (during a study time, not during a class, hence the messiness).
Classmate Bonnie! 
The house where our Student Life Coord., Beth, has an apartment.
Back in old-town Amberg.
The first set of arrivals (Friday, Jan. 18)-- sitting in front of the large church building that holds classrooms and girls' dorm (sounds strange, I know, but for this first semester of existence as a program, this place has the right amount of space for our needs and wants).
The Vils River, as it runs under the wall of Altestadt (old town) Amberg.
More of the river. It is muddy right now because of all the rains of January and December.
One of the main gates along the wall. Although the city has, of course, grown over recent centuries, the wall completely encircles the "original" city, making for a photogenic break between old and new.
In the old town.
Our complete group, on a chilly tour of the city. Too bad this came out fuzzy.
Bowling at the Vilseck American military post-- "Little America."
Waiting (in a side room) for the evening service to start at High Point Baptist Church.
Chit-chatting in the girls' dorm.
Our main classroom (during a study time, not during a class, hence the messiness).
Classmate Bonnie!
The house where our Student Life Coord., Beth, has an apartment.
Back in old-town Amberg.
Food, Part 2
Just some of the many delicious and/or intriguing foods I've seen or sampled thus far in Germany. I've given the German names (where I can remember them), since that seems the only proper thing to do... but I've no doubt that some of them are misspelled. Sorry about that.
Heiss milch-schokolade (hot chocolate). Four of us had a "girls' time" and got hot chocolates and crepes our first day here.
Sauerbraten (beef, a dumpling variation, and the most wonderful sauce). On our first Sunday here we were taken to a country inn famous for its traditional foods... this is one of them.
Baked camembert cheese with toast, pear, and preiselbeere (mini cranberry). Back to the same little coffee shop / pub / restaurant where we got the hot chocolates.
A cheese vendor in the Nuremburg market. I didn't buy any, but it sure looked wonderful...
Goulash of Nuremburger wursts (sausages) and spatzel (hand-rolled noodles). I know it looks like cooked slugs... but it's not. This was at a restaurant in Nuremburg, which is (like other German cities) famous for its particular variation on wursts. 
The applesauce that went with Kaiserschmarrn (basically bread pudding, usually served with apple or preiselbeere). The same meal, in Nuremburg.
A small serving of the Kaiserschmarrn.
Mustard. It reminded me more of Winnie-the-Pooh, actually.
Heiss milch-schokolade (hot chocolate). Four of us had a "girls' time" and got hot chocolates and crepes our first day here.
Sauerbraten (beef, a dumpling variation, and the most wonderful sauce). On our first Sunday here we were taken to a country inn famous for its traditional foods... this is one of them.
Baked camembert cheese with toast, pear, and preiselbeere (mini cranberry). Back to the same little coffee shop / pub / restaurant where we got the hot chocolates.
A cheese vendor in the Nuremburg market. I didn't buy any, but it sure looked wonderful...
Goulash of Nuremburger wursts (sausages) and spatzel (hand-rolled noodles). I know it looks like cooked slugs... but it's not. This was at a restaurant in Nuremburg, which is (like other German cities) famous for its particular variation on wursts.
The applesauce that went with Kaiserschmarrn (basically bread pudding, usually served with apple or preiselbeere). The same meal, in Nuremburg.
A small serving of the Kaiserschmarrn.
Mustard. It reminded me more of Winnie-the-Pooh, actually.
Tiramisu. I had this (with the help of six of my fellow students) in the massive restaurant / food court of a movie theater right before we left Nuremburg.
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