It is because it is a train hub - it is between Augsburg, Munich, Stuttgart and Nuremberg.
Now you know.
Friday 22 March 2013
DID YOU KNOW
... that Donauworth is the smallest city with an ICE train station?
It is because it is a train hub - it is between Augsburg, Munich, Stuttgart and Nuremberg.
It is because it is a train hub - it is between Augsburg, Munich, Stuttgart and Nuremberg.
Sunday 3 March 2013
A Weekend in Stuttgart
Hello there!
It has been quite some time since I have written anything on here, but I want to try to catch you up on last weekend.
So my two other compadres - Jae and Peter - had planned a skiing adventure to go to a small mountain in the south of Germany. Having already been skiing once with my German twin Tobi, I thought I might sit this one out and try to save some money for some of the other exciting adventures we have planned.
So I voted to head to Stuttgart for the day. I had not been to Stuttgart other than initially when flying over from London, but the only thing Peter and I were able to see what the train station and underground. First impressions of a foreign country where nothing is in English were not so great, but I thought I would give it another go.
I loved Stuttgart. What a city. This is a city that has been brought up on the back of the automotive industry, has continually strived to be a renown European hotspot for travellers and locals alike, and promises much more than simply a historic car museum or two - although they are very nice.
I wanted to see as much of Stuttgart as I could in one day - particularly the things that I know Peter and Jae would not be quite as keen on seeing. Things like the Mercedes museum and the football stadium I decided to pass on, because I know Peter and Jae would want to see those things too, so I ended up wandering mostly through churches and into art galleries.
Stuttgart has an incredible art gallery. Some of the artwork in there is world class to say the least. Picassos, Andy Warhols, even a few modern exhibitions. On Saturdays the main gallery is free, but I was really interested in seeing the Modern Art gallery they had recently put in called Fluxus. It takes a group of artists in the 1960s who are convinced that creating the opposite of what is conventionally considered "art" and producing anti-art pieces is the future of the profession. Although their message paved the road for modernism, post-modernism and many other spectacular artists, including my personal favourite - street art - I found the exhibition rather dull and overdone. If given the opportunity to see it, probably pass on that one, unless you are a real art history buff and like that kind of thing.
Next I visited the Opera House which I was lucky enough to get a good look inside while no one was there to stop me. I really wanted to get tickets to that evening's performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Stuttgart Ballet School, but I was too late to make it to the box office, which closed at 2pm on Saturdays. Apparently, it is possible to get student rush tickets for 8 Euros, and considering Stuttgart has a world-class ballet school, that sounded pretty good to me. I am not a huge fan of ballet, but considering there is very little dialogue, I feel it is one of the few things I can watch and understand, as the German barrier is still alive and well.
I ventured through the old town and saw some very elaborate churches. I wandered down the shopping district, and though some of the stores looked very nice, I think I may have to come back when I have a REAL job, and maybe some money in the bank.
I did manage to go to the Porsche Museum, which was really inspirational and made me fall in love with Mechanical Engineering again. I think I may have been born one generation too late, because a lot of the designs are things that I think I could make, if given the opportunity. The passion and degree of quality that goes into a Porsche is above and beyond what I expected. There is more than just an expectation of greatness when you say you are buying or designing a Porsche - there is a passion to be better than everything else. Where there is passion and hard work, there will inevitably be success, and seeing how well Porsche does, they are a testament to a generation-old tradition of being excellent in everything they do. Some cars are inevitably nicer than others, but I love that Porsche has never really made a "bad" car. They are consistently excellent, and I love that. I think maybe for my next co-op I would like to work for Porsche. One can dream, right?
I still have not seen a football match in Germany, but we hope to change that next weekend. I will update you then.
Thanks for reading!
- Brendan
PS: Sorry there are no pictures - my camera wasn't working. I think I have it fixed now, so I will take some more the next time I go!
It has been quite some time since I have written anything on here, but I want to try to catch you up on last weekend.
So my two other compadres - Jae and Peter - had planned a skiing adventure to go to a small mountain in the south of Germany. Having already been skiing once with my German twin Tobi, I thought I might sit this one out and try to save some money for some of the other exciting adventures we have planned.
So I voted to head to Stuttgart for the day. I had not been to Stuttgart other than initially when flying over from London, but the only thing Peter and I were able to see what the train station and underground. First impressions of a foreign country where nothing is in English were not so great, but I thought I would give it another go.
I loved Stuttgart. What a city. This is a city that has been brought up on the back of the automotive industry, has continually strived to be a renown European hotspot for travellers and locals alike, and promises much more than simply a historic car museum or two - although they are very nice.
I wanted to see as much of Stuttgart as I could in one day - particularly the things that I know Peter and Jae would not be quite as keen on seeing. Things like the Mercedes museum and the football stadium I decided to pass on, because I know Peter and Jae would want to see those things too, so I ended up wandering mostly through churches and into art galleries.
Stuttgart has an incredible art gallery. Some of the artwork in there is world class to say the least. Picassos, Andy Warhols, even a few modern exhibitions. On Saturdays the main gallery is free, but I was really interested in seeing the Modern Art gallery they had recently put in called Fluxus. It takes a group of artists in the 1960s who are convinced that creating the opposite of what is conventionally considered "art" and producing anti-art pieces is the future of the profession. Although their message paved the road for modernism, post-modernism and many other spectacular artists, including my personal favourite - street art - I found the exhibition rather dull and overdone. If given the opportunity to see it, probably pass on that one, unless you are a real art history buff and like that kind of thing.
Next I visited the Opera House which I was lucky enough to get a good look inside while no one was there to stop me. I really wanted to get tickets to that evening's performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Stuttgart Ballet School, but I was too late to make it to the box office, which closed at 2pm on Saturdays. Apparently, it is possible to get student rush tickets for 8 Euros, and considering Stuttgart has a world-class ballet school, that sounded pretty good to me. I am not a huge fan of ballet, but considering there is very little dialogue, I feel it is one of the few things I can watch and understand, as the German barrier is still alive and well.
I ventured through the old town and saw some very elaborate churches. I wandered down the shopping district, and though some of the stores looked very nice, I think I may have to come back when I have a REAL job, and maybe some money in the bank.
I did manage to go to the Porsche Museum, which was really inspirational and made me fall in love with Mechanical Engineering again. I think I may have been born one generation too late, because a lot of the designs are things that I think I could make, if given the opportunity. The passion and degree of quality that goes into a Porsche is above and beyond what I expected. There is more than just an expectation of greatness when you say you are buying or designing a Porsche - there is a passion to be better than everything else. Where there is passion and hard work, there will inevitably be success, and seeing how well Porsche does, they are a testament to a generation-old tradition of being excellent in everything they do. Some cars are inevitably nicer than others, but I love that Porsche has never really made a "bad" car. They are consistently excellent, and I love that. I think maybe for my next co-op I would like to work for Porsche. One can dream, right?
I still have not seen a football match in Germany, but we hope to change that next weekend. I will update you then.
Thanks for reading!
- Brendan
PS: Sorry there are no pictures - my camera wasn't working. I think I have it fixed now, so I will take some more the next time I go!
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