[January 5] Århus, Denmark: Nytårkoncerter

I haven't gone into the city too much during this stay. I think I've seen most of the things I feel like seeing, so now I just kind of wander around and look in different shops. I bought a delicious hot dog from a stand, bought some candy, looked in bookstores, toy stores, clothing shops, jewelry shops, secondhand shops, etc. It's fun but I don't feel like buying anything as I have limited space in my suitcase, and I'm just not really in the consumer mood. The other day I sat inside a cafe inside a bookstore to write which was really nice, but coffee here is SO expensive. My small plain latte was almost $6. Well, I don't do that very often here... I think Scandinavia in general is really, really expensive. Normal groceries are really expensive, too. Gah. 

The Dom Kirke:

I went with my Aunt and Uncle to see a New Year concert the Århus Symfoniorkester was putting on. I'm really glad they thought of going! It made me miss my violin a bit. It was a really fun concert and the music was all really well-done... my favorite piece they played involved two old typewriters... :)

[December 27] Dortmund, Germany: Jazz Club, Turkish Bar, Etc.

I think this was definitely one of my favorite nights in Germany. It was nice to be out and about at night and to see some new places in Dortmund. We started out at a bar with a little area for music upstairs.

I've never had a really fancy drink like this before—it was really yummy. 

I really enjoyed the jazz music... it was a nice atmosphere.

Then C and I went to a Turkish Cafe... It was cool because 1. It was open late and 2. You could smoke inside. I'm not a regular smoker but I do really enjoy cigarillos from time to time. I found these really cute cigarillos in London!:

So many delicious things... Those little rolls are these little Turkish snacks... they're really oily with rice inside and some kind of wrapping like... seaweed or something? Well, they were tasty. :) And I got to try some beer brewed in Dortmund too. I liked it, but then honestly I have never tried a beer and not liked it.

It was a perfect evening in my opinion!

[December 9] London: History London Walk & New Pornographers Concert @ Shepherd's Bush O2

On one of the very last days of classes in London, I went on a little 'field trip' for my History of London World War One class. This class only had 3 students in it!

I don't know why, but due to my History of London and British Women's Social History classes, I have become really interested in WWI. I've never really learned about it much in school, and when I did, I wasn't especially interested and we didn't learn a lot. But now I know so much more about the British side than the American side—I need to fix that one of these days!

So: On a very, VERY cold morning, we started out our London walk by the National Portrait Gallery by a weird statue of Edith Cavell, the first woman nurse. Long story short, she was eventually put to death for helping soldiers she wasn't allowed to.

And here are the grateful pigeons, crapping on her head:

DO NOT let that blue sky fool you... I felt so frozen. This memorial is for WWI on Whitehall street and I'm pretty sure it's already been on my blog before:

We learned a lot about the various memorials and what they mean and the significance of this and that... you know, it's really great to have so many nice memorials commemorating people who should NOT be forgotten. BUT: Sometimes, it actually makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. Because I know that in staring at this memorial yes, I am 'remembering' their suffering and efforts, but it feels like they deserve SO MUCH MORE. I don't know what exactly, it just all seems insufficient compared to their extreme sacrifices.

Then... we walked towards Buckingham Palace. This scene (below) looks a bit out of place now that I think about it, because it looks like it should be in the countryside and not right in the middle of a city. But one of the best things about London I think are all of its parks! Look at that bird! Is it a pelican? I can't remember:

On the other side of these buildings is Whitehall:

Another memorial...

This particular day happened to be the day that some politicians would 'debate' over the increase in tuition for college students and they were very prepared for student protesters. I couldn't tell especially because I'm not used to what the atmosphere around Whitehall/Parliament Square/Buckingham Palace is usually like, but my History professor was really excited! "Ooooh this is history!" Ha, ha. He said that this semester is the most 'eventful' semester IES Abroad has had in London. IES was really good about sending out e-mail notices and warnings about potentially dangerous situation to stay away from, and they would also occasionally text everyone and you would have to text back your name, letting them know you were okay.

Anyway! This is kind of funny—they are police trailers for the horses! I've just never seen that before...

We happened to arrive at Buckingham Palace at the perfect time, as the marching band was marching right past!

The best view possible!

Most of these men are tall to start with, but with those huge hats on, they look even taller! Cool and kind of intimidating...

Buckingham Palace is actually not that pretty in my opinion. It just looks like a museum or some sort of government building in my opinion.

Vans full of swat teams:

More memorials I unfortunately forget the meaning of:

The Victory Arch:

Bird pooping on his head hehehehe:

David:

With a strategically placed leaf:

My professor said that David's buttocks became the "symbol of the gay movement" back in...?

Memorial for New Zealand:

Can you see the white crosses on the tops of each black pillar?

Poor Duke of Wellington got demoted from the top of the Victory Arch and now just stands on a measly tomb-looking thing...

That night, I went to the Shepherd's Bush O2 to see the New Pornographers! Neko Case, the lovely leading lady, is from Tacoma, in case you didn't know! I'm really glad I got to see them live.