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My School Abroad: Institute of American Universities
The school in Aix is tiny and scattered among the winding streets. It is made up of four buildings—three of them in the old town and one outside of town. The one outside of town is the art school, so I never go there. I only have classes in 2 buildings: Manning Hall and CEF. Walking through the narrow streets, you’d never know the building was part of IAU unless you read the tiny name plate. In the basements of these two buildings, there are small student areas with a few books and tables. In Manning, there is a shelf with games and a foosball table tucked away in an…
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If Even Popes get Castles…Why Can’t I Have One?
Avignon and Pont du Gard. A day trip spanning Roman times to medieval history to modern day. La Palais des Papes In 1305 Pope Clement V moved the papacy from Rome to Avignon. He did this because he felt unsafe in Rome, and also because the muggy weather didn’t agree with him. The palace that exists today was constructed a few decades later under Benedict XII in 1334 and continued in 1342. The palace is the largest medieval Gothic palace in the world. In 1376, Pope Gregory XI moved papal power back to Rome, but when he died two years later a new pope was elected in Rome and an…
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Aix Marks the Spot: Exploring my Temporary Home
Aix en Provence is the city of a thousand fountains. Les Fontaines This is the Fontaine de la Rotonde at one end of the Cours Mirabeau, which is the Champs-Élysées of Aix. This is the Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins (Fountain of Four Dolphins). In many of the smaller fountains in Aix, the water is drinkable and my school recommends that we fill our water bottles there. This makes me feel very Roman. Le Marché The produce market is everyday (except Sunday), but the other three markets that all combine to make up the Grand Marché only occur on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The Central Square I eat breakfast and dinner…
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A Chateau and a Vineyard…I Must Be in France
IAU, as part of the Early Start Program, planned out a few French activities to introduce us to region of Provence. We began with a trip to petit village of Vauvenargues. Picasso bought a castle in this town at the base of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire in the 1950s. His family still owns the castle and he is buried on the grounds. On another day, we visited a local vineyard and winery, Château du Seuil. The speciality of the Provence region is rosé. The winery owners led us on a tour and gave us samples of their red, white, and rosé. All three wines were very fruity, which the owners explained…
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Day One: My Home Away from Home and a Hike with Aix’s Famous
My first full day in Aix-en-Provence, France. It was chilly today, a humid kind of chilly like January in Maryland. School activities and university orientation start tomorrow, so after wandering around Aix for an hour this morning, I returned to my host family’s house to unpack and get settled in my new room. When the first bit of homesickness (mostly uncertainty) began to nip at my heels, I went downstairs to go for another walk through town. But I ran into Fred putting on his shoes. He invited me to go hiking with him, his daughter, and her boyfriend. It was perfect as I had been wanting to get up…
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Ataturk in Ankara: Veneration of the Victors
As we wandered the Mausoleum and museum, it felt strangely Roman. Not in design, but in sentiment. In Ancient Rome, past Caesars were worshipped as gods. This enormous monument and the veneration in our guide's voice as he spoke of Ataturk held a similar resonance. It was a bit disturbing to view the abject worship of a man that I consider a dictator. But when you agree with the dictator, when you read and learn the history shaped by the dictator, of course you don't view the person as dictatorial--instead, you see a hero.
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Cappadocia: Land of Hidden Cities and Fairy Chimneys
The region of Cappadocia in central Turkey consists mainly of volcanic rock called tufa. The wind and weather shapes the rock into unusual formations. In Cappadocia, these formations are whimsically named "fairy chimneys." However, the most interesting forms made from tufa are man-made rather than weather-made. Think multi-level hidden underground cities and rock-cut churches with vibrant frescos.
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Between Konya and Cappadocia: Dervishes, Caravans, and Turkish Rugs
As we traversed Turkey, we followed narrow roadways over uneven landscape, tracing ancient trade routes and stumbling upon small towns nestled among the hills. We visited the monastery of Mevlana, a caravenserai, and experienced demonstrations of stunning Turkish artisanship.
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Pamukkale: Sunken Cities and White Travertines of Healing
Everyone loves a good spa. Especially one with magical healing properties. Pamukkale, in the coastal Aegean region of Turkey, is one such place. Well, the magic is hear-say, though I found it magical. With white stone, perfect turquoise water, and roman ruins beneath my kicking feet--it's about as magical as one can get.
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Kusadasi: Seaside Getaway with a Hidden Face
Kusadasi, on the Turkish coast, is a seaside town with beautiful views. Bargain beach hunters flock to Kusadasi in the summer months, but, it’s not just a beach town. Truly magnificent history lies only a few miles away… But first, some relaxation! And now, the sites! House of the Virgin Mary Mary is believed to have spent the last years of her life living on a mountain above the city of Ephesus. The foundation of her home is the base of the church that squats among the green trees today. The Basilica of Saint John St. John lived to nearly 100 years of age, and he is believed to have…
