May 16: Last day as a group – I really am going to miss Elisabeth, Niko, Claire, and Professor Feick. I’ve formed some strong connections with these people over the past two weeks. It is a decent bus ride to Regensburg followed by a trip to Walhalla. I have never heard of either of these places but they are so old and significant to Bavaria. The architecture in Regensburg is special since it was missed by the bombs in WWII. So many of the original buildings and churches still stand today. Near the town center, a replica statue of Don John de Austria is seen and represents his military leadership at the Battle of Lepanto. This victory protected Europe from invasion and his leadership is celebrated in history and literature. There is also a beautiful mural of David and Goliath that has been redone over the years. It is so interesting to see art all over this city.
I also learned on this walking tour that the taller the tower, the richer the owner, and on many of them each window is different. Amidst these landmarks, there are many shops, cafes, and restaurants. I was glad we had a couple of hours to relax and explore – I even got an authentic apple strudel after lunch!
Surprisingly, I have never heard of Walhalla even though I love art history. It is a monument created by King Ludwig I (Ludwig II aka Swan King’s grandfather) as a hall of fame for German politicians, scientists, and artists. The outside is a model of the Parthenon in Athens – supposedly lots of German kings and politicians modelled their buildings after Greeks and Romans to represent power. The statues inside are beautiful and you can tell which ones are old vs new based on their brightness. Today, many more statues have been added including woman and non-Germans such as Maria Theresa and Catherine II of Russia. I was surprised to see Immanuel Kant looked the way he did, I really thought he’d have hair and a beard but I guess all that thought makes your hair fall out.
Tomorrow is our free day and we have plans to go to Salzburg. Navigating trains in Europe is so easy and I love how accessible it is to travel to neighboring countries. This second week has flown by even quicker than the first – part of me wishes this was a semester abroad! Spending evenings in Augsburg increases my confidence of living abroad after graduation. Although this has been such an enjoyable experience, I do want to see my family and dogs as soon as possible.