Danksagung

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For Barbara, the day began with an errand to the store – it was open, as usual, and the trams were running on their normal schedule. For people in Vienna, there is nothing special about the fourth Thursday in November – and, though it was strange for us, they did “business as usual” on Thanksgiving Day.
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Things were different in the Schloss Neuwaldegg, where we made a major production. Several of our students had visiting family members, and we invited local missionaries as well. Our cooks got started several days early, and they prepared eight enormous turkeys – along with a host of other traditional dishes. There was plenty of food for everyone, and we will be having turkey sandwiches for the next few days.
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Rochester students prepare for the meal.

Before the meal, we gathered for a talent show, and there were several highlights for the Hueys. Annika proved to be a versatile actress: in one skit she was a security guard, and, in another performance, she played the role of a turkey! Allyson played four songs on the piano, and, as requested by her father, she ended with "All I Ask of You" (from Phantom of the Opera). He thought it was a special, unrepeatable moment.

Everything is secure with Annika on duty.

Allyson plays for the audience.

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We are not the only people in the Schloss this week – DOR Films is here as well, and they are making a movie (starring Bibiana Zeller and Joachim "Blacky" Fuchsberger) about elderly people who, despite their age, continue to seek the gusto from life. Bibi and and Blacky have been using two of the rooms in our hallway, and the whole thing has been mildly interesting. At the same time, however, the film crew has been pretty intrusive, and we barely managed to banish them from our Thanksgiving dinner space!
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Most of our students are preparing for a few more days of “free travel,” and then we will start the packing process. For the moment, however, we are thankful for this extraordinary semester. Rochester College is blessed to have this kind of program, and the Hueys are blessed to be a part of it. We have a lot of European memories and some very special friendships! We hope to be home for Thanksgiving 2009, but we will never forget our feast in the Schloss.
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Shreds Rides Again

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If you followed our blog last year, you might remember that we devoted an entry to Shreds, who, at an earlier stage of his life, was Caroline’s constant companion. He isn’t quite so ubiquitous these days, but he still likes to travel, and he dives into Caroline’s backpack whenever we plan to visit a photogenic location.
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Shreds has seen a lot – he began in 2006 in Rio de Janeiro, where he posed with the Christ Statue, and we have several pictures from London landmarks as well. His biggest highlight (we believe) came last year in Uganda, when he floated in the Nile and stood at the equator. Hence, it was only natural that he should join us in Europe this fall.
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He did not visit the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen (he claimed it wasn’t important), but he was absolutely thrilled by the Roman Colosseum and he was awed by St. Peter’s Basilica. He posed (repeatedly) with Michelangelo’s David, but photography was not permitted in the Accademia. He consented to a photo at the Neuschwanstein Castle, though he was furious about the scaffolding.

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He made quite a scene at the Brandenburg Gate, when he kept shouting, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” At the Eiffel Tower he was muttering something about “freedom fries” – but the picture went pretty smoothly. All in all, we are glad he made the trip with us.

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For her part, Annika has been carrying a tiny friend named Teddy. Like Shreds, Teddy has been to England and Uganda, and he is becoming a seasoned traveler. He has ridden in Annika’s backpack throughout this fall semester, and, as you can see, he has visited the Mona Lisa and the Notre Dame cathedral. It is difficult to know how Shreds feels about Teddy, but they are pretty civil with each other. The past three months have provided a significant bonding experience for them, and like the rest of us, they are better for having been here!

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The Huey Awards

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Having completed our final 10-day traveling experience, we are ready, now, to distribute the prestigious Huey Awards. To be eligible for a Huey, your city must be one of the places that we have visited since November 14, as shown on the map below. Here we go . . .
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Least Child-Friendly:
We are reluctanct to give this award to the people of Amsterdam, because we know how desperately they want it. Their Huey was guaranteed, however, when one of our children (who did not recognize the cannabis symbol) asked why she couldn't have "one of those lollipops." Fortunately, our experience in that city was redeemed by the Anne Frank house -- what an incredible place for a family with daughters!
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Most Charming:
Also a candidate for "Best Food," the city of Brugge outpolls all the others. We spent a full day walking the canals, visiting the shops, and snapping pictures of windmills. If it hadn't been raining, we would have been completely overwhelmed with warm fuzzies.
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The Huey family stands on the line of the Berlin Wall.
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Most Lutheran:
After a great deal of thought, we give this Huey to Wittenberg, the city of Martin Luther. We saw Castle Church, where the 95 Theses were posted in 1517, and we discovered that Martin is peacefully resting beneath the floor of the sanctuary. We also visited City Church, where he actually preached, and we declined several opportunities to purchase Luther Beer.
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The girls pause on a bridge outside our Brugge hotel.
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Most Likely to Seem Boring for Children Aged 11-16:
It was fascinating to see Berlin -- we stopped at Checkpoint Charlie and we followed the erstwhile path of the Berlin Wall. It was fascinating, at least, for those of us who lived through the Cold War! Our children were mostly unimpressed -- Allyson believes that Berlin should get a Huey for the "Most Gray" location, because it kept raining . . .
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Most Daunting Three-Day Itinerary:
What can we say about Paris? nWe saw the Eiffel Tower (twice), Versailles, the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre, and Notre Dame -- with a side trip to Normandy. We had to leave, however, without seeing the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Élysées, the Roland Garros stadium, EuroDisney, and lots of other noteworthy sites. What an amazing city!
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Viewing the Eiffel Tower, from the Trocadéro.
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Most Cheated by a Brief Visit:
We went to Bayeaux .in Normandy, and we enjoyed the famous Tapestry there. We regret, however, that we had but 45 minutes to give for the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. It was a remarkable visit and we are glad we made the effort -- but the time was much too short!
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Most Likely to be Nice if You Can Actually See It:
This Huey goes to Lausanne, Switzerland, where we arrived at 8:00 in the evening and left at 9:00 the following morning. Based on the rest of Switzerland (which was truly breathtaking), we suspect that the city deserved a few days more. Annika believes that Lausanne deserves the distinction of "Most Expensive Ham," but that judgment is based on one store only.
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Most Welcome Sight:
This, of course, would be Vienna, but it will soon be supplanted by Pontiac! We are basically done, now, with our European wanderings, and we are ready for a jolly Thanksgiving and a frantic week of packing.
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More posts on the way . . .
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Churches in Europe

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Europe is a land of beautiful cathedrals and basilicas. Vienna itself has its share, with the Augustinerkirche, the Votivekirche, the Stephensdom, and quite a few others. Many of these buildings have been around for centuries -- some have traditions that are more than a thousand years old, though the existing structures are usually more recent.
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A look from inside the dome at Karlskirche.m
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For Protestants from the United States, these sites can be difficult to assess. Our students are frequently dismayed by the ritualism and the extravagance that they find, and they often conclude that these buildings are nothing but gaudy monuments to a long-extinguished spirituality. Keith still remembers an old story about an American preacher who (reportedly) humiliated a cathedral docent by sarcastically asking, "when is the last time anybody got saved in this place?"
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These insinuations, however, are horribly unfair. It is true that these cathedrals were sometimes built at the expense of the poor . . . and it is true that the European churches are no longer characterized by vibrant spirituality. It is also true that these churches have dark histories of military complicity and administrative corruption. Some of them even have gift shops, with money-changers . . . WWJD?
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The Kölner Dom, from the middle upwards.m
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And yet . . . it would be good to spend some time with the people who work behind the altars. They are deeply committed to their work, they are spiritually disciplined, and they are exceptionally well-versed in Scripture and theology. There is nothing particularly cold, lifeless, or ritualistic about their devotion!
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Moreover, we need to remember that these buildings were never constructed with evangelistic intent. On the contrary, they were built for communities that considered themselves to be Christian already, and they were designed to call attention to the majesty of God. The architects wanted people to experience God's presence, and they accordingly covered the walls with biblical illustrations and with the faces of beloved spiritual role models. Protestants miss the point completely, when they speak of these "idolatrous images."
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A look downward into St. Peter's, from the dome.m
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We should also pay attention to an important historical reality: very few American church buildings are more than 100 years old, and they are rarely well-preserved. By contrast, despite the struggles of reecent generations, European cathedrals have always been cultural focal-points, and they have been maintained with a great deal of care. If they are magnets for tourists, that is scarcely a mark against them!

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Here are a few of our favorite cathedrals and basilicas, after 10 weeks in Europe:

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The Kölner Dom (in Cologne, Germany): This one was totally unexpected, and unbelievably huge! Unfortunately, we did not get to spend much time inside, because they were trying to have a service (imagine that).

Karlskirche (in Vienna): Aside from the fact that we had to buy tickets for this one (and aside from the surly ticket lady), this was worth the visit. The interior is gorgeous, and we were able to take an elevator to the top of the painted dome, where we could see it up close.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (in Florence): This cathedral, also called the Duomo, is particularly striking from the outside. The dome is its most famous characteristic, however, and was the architectual masterpiece of Filippo Brunelleschi.

St. Peter's Basilica (Rome): We're all sorry about John Tetzel's indulgence-selling fundraiser, but it did not finance a significant percentage of this incredible building. There is no way to briefly describe the size and the beauty of the place.

Cathedral de Notre Dame (Paris): We haven't been here, yet, but we plan to visit next week. Let's just add it to the list right now!

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Our Favorite Things About Italy

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Yesterday morning we returned from a 10-day excursion through several Italian cities. We have fresh memories, now, of Rome, Florence, and Venice, and we also visited the tiny republic of San Marino. Keith and Allyson made a quick trip to Pisa, but there isn't much to see, there, except for the leaning tower. Here are a few of our favorite memories . . .
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The girls pose outside the Passo delle Streghe, in San Marino.m

Allyson says that she was particularly fond of the Roman Colosseum and the Forum. We had a beautiful day there, and we were amazed by the vast collection of spectacular ruins. She was also enamored with the trees, and desperately wanted to take one home with her! Aside from the Forum, she really enjoyed the castles of San Marino -- they sit on high, jagged cliffs, and they are surrounded with an exceptional maze of trails and carved stairways. They also have a wide selection of deadly weapons in the gift shops . . .
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Bring on the lions: the Huey sisters prepare to visit the Colosseum.m
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Caroline isn't sure about her absolute favorite thing. Among the cities, however, she is certain that she had the most fun in Venice. As she explains: Venice was best because we didn't visit any boring museums. We went to see a glass-blowing demonstration, we walked through the streets, we rode boats, we shopped, and . . . there were lots of opportunities to take pictures! The city is an engineering wonder, and is amazingly photogenic.
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Annika says that she liked Michelangelo's statue of David (in Florence), but she doesn't know how to explain her impressions. Like Caroline, she also speaks highly of Venice -- in fact, she was very excited about going there, even before we left Michigan. She wanted, above all else, to take a gondola ride through the canals, and her wish was fulfilled -- meanwhile, her affection for the city was scarcely dampened by the fact that she was able to share it with Jacque Ray, her new friend (and the Cutbirths' granddaughter).
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The ceiling above our seats, in St. Peter's.m
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Barbara hates to choose one single "favorite," but she doesn't hesitate to say that she was most impressed with the statue of David. She had already been anxious to see it, because she has been reading The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo. But -- when she entered the room, she was amazed to see how massive it (the statue) actually is: it stands 17 feet tall and it sits on a platform, towering over the crowd! She spent a lot of time in that room, and would gladly go back today, if she could.
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Happy to be in Venice: Keith and Barbara pause on one of the bridges.

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Keith loved Venice, but if he is forced to identify a favorite moment, he would have to choose the Sunday mass at St. Peter's Basilica. It was lengthy, to be sure, but they had an amazing choir and they even had a scripture reading in English, from Romans chapter 8. Aside from everything else, they have Michelangelo's Pieta in the back corner (next to the tract rack), and they have steps (545 of them) that take you to the top of the dome! It is an overwhelming place to be, especially for a church historian.

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This blog doesn't really do justice to the things that we saw, but it will hopefully give you a taste. We found Italy to be a beautiful and inspiring place -- one of the highlights in our semester so far!

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