Vienna

Our one and a half day stint trip to Vienna was full of adventure, beauty and excitement. I have fallen in love with the city all over again. From its historic public buildings and monuments, to its shop lined streets and Grand Boulevard.
When we arrived, a SJSU student Dan Foley who is studying abroad in Germany came down to meet us and hang out with friends from home. He met up for us at dinner, which consisted of some traditional food of the area including a delicious soup with a crème base, pork, stuffing, and of course sauerkraut! Dinner was followed by a crème cheese dessert covered in custard served warm. The tavern was warm, but filled with laughter, and students deprived from sleep, as most had just arrived earlier that day from America.


After dinner, Michelle Hennessy, Kristyn Van Cleave, Brian Cummings and I headed out to explore the town, led by our trusty guide and my new friend Dan. We ended up in this cool place called the MQ or Museum Quarter. In a nutshell, the MW as its called is a large quad lined with museums. Inside the quad were 3 or 4 bars/restaurants and these large pink lounges and chairs and tables for seating. We arrived at the MQ around 10pm and there were probably close to 1300 people, between the ages of 18 and 35, all around the court. It was an amazing sight. We grabbed a beer and just sat around and enjoyed the evening. Around 11:45 we left the MQ and walked out to the rest of the city on the other side.


Beauty. Stunning silouettes against a dark sky. Grandeur. Historic presence and modern relevance. We continued our evening a little longer with a night tour of some of the historic buildings around the town center. It was a perfect evening. Finally we gave into our longings for sleep and headed back to the hostel.


Sunday came all too early. After breakfast, we grabbed our concert wear and headed down to St. Stephen's Cathedral. Stephansdom is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna. It is a Romanesque and Gothic building made primarily of sandstone, which is always undergoing a cleaning, due to atmospheric acid which turns the white sandstone black. We were able to participate in the service at Stephansdom, which was a unique experience. The mass was all in german, and few bits were in Latin. We used songs in both Latin and English (Regina Caeli, Rise Up My Love, Ubi Caritas & Joshua Fit the Battle), and then followed up the service with an informal concert for all who wanted to stay. We had a nice crowd stay to watch.


After changing back at the hostel Kristyn, Chris, Summer and Jordan explored the city some more. We saw so many amazing buildings. I love all the symbolism in the Architecture, and I can only imagine the day and age that accompanied their conception. What would it have been like to have been a person living when these buildings were functional public and private spaces. What would it have been like when the buildings lining the streets around the city center were still palaces and private residences filled with dukes, duchesses, princes and wealthy merchants? One can only imagine a time before their own…

Leaving England

Saturday June 5, 2010

Well, I successfully made the jump from England to Vienna. Arthur and May dropped me by the train station in Maidstone so I could catch the 9:55 train to London Victoria. May waited with me on the platform, it was a final ceremonial moment. As the train neared its approached, we walked further down the platform where it was less crowded. The train pulled up, we said our final good byes and I piled onto the train with luggage intow. I found a seat for myself and my luggage, and all the while May stood on the platform, waiting for my departure. As the conductor signaled for the train to pull away May waived, a final good bye, neither of us knowing when we'll see eachother again.

Now we will once again resort to the endless family letter writing at Christmas and holidays. But for me I will see these letters in a new light. I can visualize the post in town from where she sends the letters off at. I can visualise the sitting room where she answers the phone when we call from Grams. I can now visualize the town of Maidstone, as I saw it through her historic eyes, when she mentions the events of her life in her letters. Another chapter of my family history has come to life and been written to life in my eyes. What a lucky boy I am. May took the time to walk me through Maidstone, as it was when she grew up, as it was when my grandparents and father lived there, and as it is now and what it has become. She took the time to help me discover more about my family. We discovered more about eachother as we shared tea time, and garden chats, and trips on the local bus and train. I shared my passion for architecture and music with her, and she listened intently. She proudly introduced me to all of her friends as her relative from America.

She is an amazing lady who is the epitiomy of everything I want to be when I am 86; active, involved, and a spitfire. She has lived through a lot. Her brother was killed in the prime of his life, after surviving the events at Dunkirk during WWII, her fieance was killed in the war, but she found love in a husband, and step children who adore her, and now grand kids who adore her. She lives out her faith as she faithfully serves her church, St. Andrew's, and the community it reaches through bake sales, and coffee meetings, and flower committees. She serves her family as she tends the grave of her brother in the graveyard at St Margaurete. She has lived life, and is going to go on living it till the end.



I hugged her long and hard knowing I may never see her again, but she has taught me much and for that I am grateful. With so much love in her heart she welcomed me into her home, made me feel welcome, and made me family. What a lucky boy I am to be loved my family, even when I have only just met them.

Hebrews 12:1-3
¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The Pavillion @ Brighton, England

June 4, 2010: Trip to Brighton, England

WOW!!! Is just about all I can say, WOW!!! Today was amazing!! May, Arthur, Jean and I drove down to Brighton, so I could have a tour of the fantasy Regency pavillion of the Regent Prince and future King George IV of England. It was an experience I shall never forget. The Royal Pavilion at Brighton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brighton_Pavilion) is one of the few and best example and living sample of Regency architecture and interior design available! The Regency era is very sort in the history of architecture, lasting from about 1795 to 1837. It is squeezed in between the Georgian period and the Victorian period. The Regency period was in it prime between 1811 and 1820, when the Regent Prince was ruled inproxy when his father was deemed unfit to rule, through his rule as King. The rooms are all restored to their original glory, even thought they went through some pretty major devastating times. A HUGE amount of the furniture is original, which is rare when it comes to period homes because often when the house is sold or changes hands, the furniture moves with it. However, with the Royal Pavilion, we have many, if not all of the original sketches, drawings, layouts, and details from the kings architects and designers who assembled the Pavilion. Thus may of the carpets and wallpapers have been accuratly duplicated when the original had to be replaced due to fire or irreversible damage.

Canterbury Cathedral @ Canterbury, Kent

June 2, 2010: Canterbury Cathedral

Another amazing day in Kent! May and I took the southeastern express out to Canterbury today. The main goal was to see Canterbury Cathedral, one of the oldest and most famous cathedrals in all England. The Cathedral at Canterbury is the cathedral of the Archbishop of Caterbury, the leader of the Church of England, and it is very symbolic worldwide, representing the head of the Anglican Communion.

Looking up and down the Nave. Notice how the ribbing goes along the columns and into the ceiling.

The actual spot where Thomas Becket was Murdered

The most pivitol moment in the history of Canterbury Cathedral was the murder of Thomas Becket December 29, 1170, by the knights of King Henry II, all because of conflicts between the two. That will teach one to have a conflict with the king. Granted Becket was the second of four Archbishiops to be murdered at Canterbury Cathedral.

Romanesque rounded arches are found throughout, but someone re-carved as an example of the "new" way- the new English Gothic style.

The Cathedral is a mix of architectural forms and fixtures, but it predominantly English Gothic. The East end of the Cathedral is Norman and Ealry English, while the Nave is English Gothic. Following a fire in 1174, the choir was rebuilt in an example of early English Gothic, with high pointed arches, rib vaulting, and flying buttresses. And of course who could forget the great cloister!!

Canterbury is an amazing place, and filled with peoples from all over the world. There were two moments where I got goosebumps. Twice while I was walking around the Cathedral, on of the monks stepped up to the lectern, gave a blessing, and asked the people present to repeat the Lord's Prayer in what ever language they were comfortable with. Everything around me stopped, cameras stopped, the light in the shop went out, people stood where they were and began to recite-

Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on Earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive then that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.

For Thin is the kingdom,
And the power, and the glory
forever and ever.

Amen.

It felt incredible, it was truly an amazing moment that sent shivers up and down my spine. To think that on a given date, at any given moment, a truly random group of assembled peoples, could drop everything and together recite a prayer. And not just any prayer, but a prayer that Jesus himself used as an example of how to pray. After the monk finished leading the prayer, he encouraged everyone to continue to meditate or walk around as they were.

England

Well, I've made it! After a long but great flight with Virgin Atlantic, a ride on the tube from heathrow to Victoria station,and a train from Victoria to Maidstone-I've made it. The great garden district of England is beautiful. Green everywhere with remainder spring flowers and summer ones on the way. From cousin May's front room you can see other nearby villages in the hills, and part one of the few remaining orchards.She showed me round her garden and then we enjoyed a nice dinner of ham, brocolli, carrots, roast potatoes and gravy. For dessert we had a delicious apricot on sponge cake tart with ice cream...and of course all finished with a cup-o-tea.

We've just returned from a walk around the block and watched dusk settle. Had a call from gram earlier; it was strange to be on this side of the continental receiving line. Now everytime we call over I can visualize where the conversations take place.

Had an interesting realization earlier today. I told May to look out for the blond haired boy when her and arthur came to pick me up. Well as soon as I got on the VA flight...and the tube...and the train...I realized my uniquely colored light to dark blonde hair isn't so unique...at least not here. Lots of guys here have my coloring. I totally blend in.It was a interesting connection moment; where something that has always made me stand out at home, is just the norm here.

I am looking forward to my further adventures in maidstone this week.