I'll be spending somewhere around six months in Europe beginning in January, less the possible three weeks of coming home to trade out the tired old clothes for fresh pieces, unless of course I backpack the area...and oh that's a whole new mess of planning.
In the meantime, I have to figure out weekends. I believe that we are given three-day weekends to allow us adventurous students the chance to figure out what this whole "Europe"thing. So far I have a few ideas:
1. The salt mines of Austria-I have heard rumors that they allow you to take a cart through the mines. It's like an icy, creepy roller coaster of mining. Far more fun than the Spring Break I spent in West Virginia going through coal mines. Not that I have much against coal mines, other than they produce an incredibly polluting energy source, and I'd really rather employ alternative energies. And coal mines are very dangerous, and it's all very complicated but regardless. Salt Mines! in Austria! Perhaps I would get a souvenir salt lick to add to my collection of none. Really, it'll be a shot glass.
2. The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of "Hamlet" starring David Tennant and Patrick Stewart. My kidneys will be available on E-bay to help pay for this little extravagance. You can have my pancreas for front row seats. I'll give you my entire cardio-vascular system for a tour and meet-and-greet. My nervous system for dinner afterwards with the star(s). I'm keeping the muscles, skeleton, and skin. And still not going to med school.
3. Traveling King Tutankhamen show opens in London November 15 2007, and closes August 30 2008. The latent Egyptologist in me wants to brush up my Rosetta Stone and Howard Carter, bring my canopic jars and get right back into the history nerd from whence I came. Seriously, this is gonna rock.
4. Poland. I spend enough time faking this heritage (which is apparently declining every time I turn around) that I should probably stop by for some real pirogies. Ireland is on this list too, but I somehow figure I'll get there at some point. A bit presumptuous, yes. But then again, I like being that girl, so we're gonna go with it.
5. I kind of want to climb St. Paul's again. The last time I got to the top and there was lightning from the coming storm. One of the exhilarating moments I should have enjoyed more at the time, and can only hope to mimic with greater awareness of what is going on.
I'm open to suggestions from the multitudes. I have some required touring to do, but just enough free time to fulfill some goals. I don't know that I'll ever have the chance to take a year exploring, but I want to get the most out of this trip.
