So of course I was completely confused and wrong about where the heck we were and what kind of place Linz is. In the sleep-deprived stupor of the first two days here, I honestly believed that we were staying the heart of Linz – and Linz was totally lame. BUT, it turns out that we’re in a suburb (thank God), and Linz does indeed have more than a BP and a gay bar.
Saturday we saw actual Linz via a bus tour, which took us up to the Postlingberg, a church high on a hill that overlooks all of Linz – very beautiful, post-card pictures galore. It was a bit chilly, and I thought that the one sweater I had brought with me might have to be worn every day and result in outrageous laundry expenses or a drought in friendships because of smelliness. However, our tour guide expressed deep disappointment in the weather, giving us hope that it wouldn’t always be so London-esque. We continued the tour on foot after descending the hill (we passed some sort of tower that warrants a later visit, as well as the botanical gardens). Major stop on the tour: basically, where the people of Linz kidnapped Mozart. The tour guide was so proud that when Mozart stopped in town once, the guy he stayed with had published in the paper that Mozart would be playing a new symphony in Linz – in four days. Instead of fleeing, he stayed and wrote the Linz Symphony in three days, and the show went on – thanks for toughing it out, Mozart.
That night the whole group went for a sponsored dinner of authentic Austrian fair, and while it was all very good, the most entertainment came from the crazy marathon runners at the bar, and arguing with each other about whether one mystery item in the family-style platter was dumplings or meat. Various suggestions (brains, testicles, etc) resulted in us choosing blissful ignorance and savoring the tasty bread-based dumplings. (I’m 90% sure it wasn’t meat…)
That night, downtown Linz got a big old helping of American revelry. Everyone had a blast dancing it out at club Walker, though the area we conquered maybe wasn’t so much meant to be a dance floor. Sunday was mostly reading day, and Laura and I went to see the Mariendom – an absolutely gigantic cathedral in town. Also, Dean Sobelson somehow made it on to one of the stained glass windows – and is in a coat and tie. Turns out that window is only a few years old, which explains why there were men dressed like Wyatt Earp around the saints and bishops – though how Dean Sobelson made it up there I guess I’ll never know.
Classes have so far been … hmmm …. dry. Very dry. But we start working on an actual arbitration role-play Thursday, so things should pick up. And - the weather has been much better this week - warmer, and sunny occationally. Tomorrow we take a day trip to Passau, Germany – but first, tonight we have a mandatory happy hour. Yeah. Linz is awesome.
Saturday we saw actual Linz via a bus tour, which took us up to the Postlingberg, a church high on a hill that overlooks all of Linz – very beautiful, post-card pictures galore. It was a bit chilly, and I thought that the one sweater I had brought with me might have to be worn every day and result in outrageous laundry expenses or a drought in friendships because of smelliness. However, our tour guide expressed deep disappointment in the weather, giving us hope that it wouldn’t always be so London-esque. We continued the tour on foot after descending the hill (we passed some sort of tower that warrants a later visit, as well as the botanical gardens). Major stop on the tour: basically, where the people of Linz kidnapped Mozart. The tour guide was so proud that when Mozart stopped in town once, the guy he stayed with had published in the paper that Mozart would be playing a new symphony in Linz – in four days. Instead of fleeing, he stayed and wrote the Linz Symphony in three days, and the show went on – thanks for toughing it out, Mozart.
That night the whole group went for a sponsored dinner of authentic Austrian fair, and while it was all very good, the most entertainment came from the crazy marathon runners at the bar, and arguing with each other about whether one mystery item in the family-style platter was dumplings or meat. Various suggestions (brains, testicles, etc) resulted in us choosing blissful ignorance and savoring the tasty bread-based dumplings. (I’m 90% sure it wasn’t meat…)
That night, downtown Linz got a big old helping of American revelry. Everyone had a blast dancing it out at club Walker, though the area we conquered maybe wasn’t so much meant to be a dance floor. Sunday was mostly reading day, and Laura and I went to see the Mariendom – an absolutely gigantic cathedral in town. Also, Dean Sobelson somehow made it on to one of the stained glass windows – and is in a coat and tie. Turns out that window is only a few years old, which explains why there were men dressed like Wyatt Earp around the saints and bishops – though how Dean Sobelson made it up there I guess I’ll never know.
Classes have so far been … hmmm …. dry. Very dry. But we start working on an actual arbitration role-play Thursday, so things should pick up. And - the weather has been much better this week - warmer, and sunny occationally. Tomorrow we take a day trip to Passau, Germany – but first, tonight we have a mandatory happy hour. Yeah. Linz is awesome.
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