In Winter 2023/2024, I traveled to Germany & Austria for another Business & Culture Study Abroad, accompanied by 23 business students.
Berlin
Starting off in Berlin, we toured historical sites and studied the contrast that still exists in the city today between East and West in architecture and culture. We were able to visit Axel Springer and hear from one of the editors. We also met Marion Horn, editor-in-chief of Bild, the largest news brand in Germany.
Rooftop view of the new Axel Springer building.
The group during New Year's Eve.
Checkpoint Charlie. The two soldier portraits on either side of the checkpoint were of the last American and Soviet border guards on duty when the Berlin Wall fell.
Wall in Berlin that wasn't repaired after WWII.
View of West Berlin from the rooftop of a newspaper company.
In a cramped overnight train car from Berlin to Vienna through the Czech Republic.
Sachsenhausen
Outside Berlin, we visited a concentration camp used the Germany, and later the Soviet Union. This camp was not an extermination camp, however many died in the terrible conditions they were forced to live in.
Memorial in the center of the camp.
One of the last standing barracks in Sachsenhausen, where the prisoners would sleep.
Potsdam
Got to tour the city of Potsdam, including the house and the exact rooms where the big three agreed on the structure of post-war Europe.
Our recreation of "The Big Three" portrait on a bench outside the building. The actual three chairs are in a restricted part of the museum.
The courtyard of the Cecilienhof Palace, the star is filled with red flowers which bloom in spring.
The conference table where the agreement between "The Big 3" was made.
The Neues Palais ("New Palace") of Potsdam.
Truman's private office and desk he used during the Potsdam Conference.
Vienna
In Vienna, we toured some of the coolest architecture on the trip, including the Belvedere, which was my favorite.
Ceiling of the Belvedere.
The rooftop of St. Stephen's Cathedral.
Went to a museum and found an artist from Virginia, Adam Pendleton.
Made a fake album cover here too.
Inside of the Vienna Opera House.
In the streets of Vienna.
Salzburg
The birthplace of Mozart and the city in The Sound of Music.
View of the Fortress Hohensalzburg from the city.
The Makartsteg Bridge, also known as the Love Lock Bridge.
Intersection outside our hotel on a snowy night.
Unsuccessful skiing trip we tried to take the alps, however the resort was closed...
After accidentally crossing the border into Germany while walking, we found a nice café in a small town and warmed up there.
Waiting for the bus back to Salzburg.
Munich
Wrapping up our trip in the heart of the German economy: Bavaria. There, we toured castles as well as BMW.
View from the Neuschwanstein castle.
Marienplatz in Munich.
BMW Headquarters in Munich.
The Isetta, the first car made by BMW after reconstruction. It was worked on with a Italian company that previously made fridges.
For the last night in Germany, we went to an FC Bayern Munich Game against Hoffenheim (Jan 12), where Bayern won 3-0.
