On October 25, 2007 I visited the National History Museum in London. Upon arriving, I was astonished by the sheer size of the building and the amount of people waiting to go in. I also found the architecture and design to be very neat in that there were animals all over the building. It was also very spacious, and the exhibits were laid out well.
Thankfully I visited the dinosaur exhibit before the massive lines formed. I started by taking the bridge over the whole exhibit and got a full appreciation for the size of the animals. The skulls of the large dinosaurs were particularly fascinating in that they were over two meters long! Next I moved on to the T-Rex part of the exhibit. I found it interesting that paleontologists are still unsure if this dinosaur was a scavenger or carnivore. Although the replica was very fake and not frightening at all, it still served the purpose of showing the size of a T-Rex, and it was not even a full grown model. In addition, a T-Rex would have been able to swallow a human whole! Another impressive fact is the rate of growth for teenagers; in just one day they could put on many pounds of weight. Another interesting piece of the exhibit was the detailed display of defense mechanisms the dinosaurs had. For example, one dinosaur had horns all over his body to prevent being predation, and these horns were even on the eyelids! Other dinosaurs had heads that would inflate to warn others of nearby predators, and another species had large thumb claws that could be used to stab potential killers. Moreover, it was interesting to learn that these animals did not normally die of old age as it was usually fighting or disease which ended their lives. There were fossils of dinosaur feet which showed signs of arthritis, and it was almost odd to think they experienced similar problems we still have today. Finally, I gained a new respect for paleontologists because the exhibit explained the painstaking work they must go through in order to preserve these fossils. The carefulness in their work can allow people to piece together the past and make educated opinions about dinosaur’s evolution, lifestyle, and extinction.
After exploring the dinosaurs, I made my way to the marine invertebrate exhibit. At first I was surprised by how small the place was, but quickly I understood that much was contained within the room. The Mollusks, Cnideria, and sponges were very diverse and there were numerous here to observe. I found it funny that the prettiest, bright colored shelled had names which somehow incorporated royalty. On the other hand, there were also some creatures that were not so beautiful in my opinion such as the squid and worms.
Next I moved on to more complex organisms, the primates. Many parts of this exhibits explained the social hierarchy, and I found it interesting that some primates would help out another with their young if they needed a break. The children also stay with the mother for a longer period of time than most organisms. Furthermore, playing is an important part to their growth and teaches many lessons. On a more serious note, there was also an exhibit showing how humans have impacted primate populations. For instance, many species of Madagascan lemurs have gone extinct and others are endangered.
The places in evolution exhibit showed how humans have evolved from primates. There was evidence of intermediary species and the objects they used. The Australopithecus were the first group to use tools, and the Habilis used fire and had death ceremonies. These are all human like characteristics, and looking at morphological differences in the bones can allow one to create a phylogenetic tree. This provides a logical map of the relationship between organisms and how they evolved to form new ones.
Due to my interest in the sciences, I decided to end my visit by looking at the human biology section. It began by simply describing the different types of cells within the body and how they function. While I know much on the topic, there were still some things I learned such as red blood cells not needing a nucleus because they do not divide. I also found the section on hormones very interesting. There was a large bucket showing how much blood a body contains next to a spoonful of liquid which is the amount of hormones a body has. Furthermore, the exhibit allowed you to press different hormone buttons and see where they stem from within the body. Finally, there was also a large section on human reproduction which was completely fascinating. I have watched reproduction videos many times, but it still amazes me to see the different stages of development, particularly what is occurring at a cellular level.
Tuesday, 30 October 2007
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Fall Break
Traveling across Europe exposed me to a wide variety of culture, history, and scenery which proved to be not only a fun experience, but an educational one as well. Exploring new areas brought upon many difficulties due to the language barrier and different customs. From these challenging interactions, I was able to learn something new about the places I visited and myself as a person. It did not take long to figure out that your time spent traveling is completely what you want to make of it.
Looking back on the entire trip, I am glad that Paris was the first stop on my holiday. It was a bit intimidating to be thrown into a different country with a foreign language, but the city was very accommodating to tourists as almost everyone spoke excellent English. The stereotype of rude Parisians did not hold true for me, and I had some of the greatest interactions of my trip with the locals. For instance, I had the most entertaining waiters while at dinner in the Bohemian neighborhood who would jokingly scold me for not speaking French and attempt to teach me some phrases. However, one difficult aspect of the trip was being faced with a subway system in a different language where not even the information desk can understand my thick American accent. I quickly learned that simply phrases like bonjour and merci can go far and make people willing to help you. Once I was able to maneuver about the city, I saw all the major attractions such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and crepe vendors! As a result of my great experience, Paris will definitely be a city I visit again and get to learn about more in depth.
One city which I will not visit again is Geneva, Switzerland. There is no denying its amazing beauty or history, but I was disappointed at how commercialized it has become. It felt exactly like a normal US city with flashy stores and was not very unique. However, there were some picturesque areas in the old city and interesting attractions such as the garden clock. The next place I visited was Interlaken, Switzerland which was completely different from Geneva. Not even the language, architecture, or landscape was similar, and it made me realize how European countries can be extremely diverse just like the United States. Interlaken was a small town situated in between the Swiss Alps and had magnificent views no matter where you looked. Not only were the mountains and rolling hills beautiful but the water was even a glorious color that I have never before seen. I felt so close to nature there and aspire to one day live in a place equally as enchanting.
As the trip progressed, I was able to once again see how places within one country can be vastly different. Milan and Venice had very little in common and made two contrasting impressions upon me. Milan was very urbanized and did not have Italian feel that I imagined it would. Moreover, my time spent there was frustrating because many churches and exhibits were closed on Mondays, the only day I happened to be there. It was aggravating to think that I went to Milan in order to see The Last Supper and was unable to do so. However, I learned to better plan my trips and go with the flow because I still had the whole city to explore. The trip did eventually get better as I traveled onward to Venice. It had the true Italian atmosphere for which I was longing, and I was taken back by the gorgeous canals and delicious food! Once again I was faced with navigation issues as the city has no major roads or canals besides the Grand Canal, and it could take hours to get from one place to the next, even with the best map in hand. This layout was extremely confusing, but it undoubtedly created a unique setting found nowhere else in the world. While there are some name brand stores, most are locally run and in this way, Venice can stay true to its past.
Another thriving city full of history is Vienna, Austria. I was least excited about visiting this city, but it surprisingly became one of my favorite stops throughout the journey. The exceptionally clean streets, efficient transportation system, and beautiful architecture were not what I had expected to come across. There were grand theaters, numerous museums, and exquisite traditional dishes. After being with a large group for many days, I took this opportunity to venture off on my own and use the German language that I spent so many years learning. I quickly found out that I sounded like a three year old as many people laughed at my attempts, but I was at least able to convey what I was thinking. While off by myself, I visited the Kunsthistorisches Museum and spent time looking through the Italian Renaissance gallery. Again I was disappointed that the Titan gallery was closed for an upcoming exhibition, but I was still able to enjoy the remarkable collection at this museum. Back at the hostel I also had a great time discussing common stereotypes of Americans with people from all across the world. It was interesting to find out that they thought of our sports, school system, and politics. One Australian could not grasp the concept of lacrosse, but luckily a Canadian helped explain because it is their national sport.
The final destination of my fall break was Prague, and it was most definitely a fantastic ending. At first I was a bit apprehensive because the outskirts were very run down and not aesthetically pleasing. It was a wake up call to the vastly different lifestyle of Eastern Europe, and even the inner city of Prague had this uniqueness that the other cities lacked. The city was shockingly beautiful, and there was so much history in such a small area. This made me think of how young the United States is compared to European nations, and I was eager to learn about everything from the Thirty Years War to communism. I was fortunate enough to get a private tour with just six students for a bargain price, and we were taken around the city for four exciting hours of information catered to our interests. Monuments such as the astronomical clock, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the fortification wall, and the Jewish Quarters each had unique stories and history behind them. For instance, there is a controversial statue on Charles Bridge of the crucifixion with a statement acknowledging Christ on top in Hebrew. This was paid for as punishment by a Jew who made a joke about the statue as he walked past it. Clearly this is disrespectful to the Jewish faith as they do not believe Christ is God, and the Jewish community of Prague has fought to have a tablet next to the statute explaining the historic context. In the future I would like to return and gain a greater appreciation for the culture instead of simply visiting the tourist attractions.
By the end of my journey, I was without doubt ready to come back to a clean flat in London, but the experiences I had and the sites I saw were ones I will keep with me forever. It was a privilege to see so much of the world in so little time, and I now know where I would like to travel more extensively. I also acquired useful skills such as navigating a foreign city, working in a group for a lengthy amount of time, and being more open-minded to different ways of life. The experience made me truly appreciate that the American way of living is not the right or only way, and I can not wait to see more of the Europe in the years to come.
Looking back on the entire trip, I am glad that Paris was the first stop on my holiday. It was a bit intimidating to be thrown into a different country with a foreign language, but the city was very accommodating to tourists as almost everyone spoke excellent English. The stereotype of rude Parisians did not hold true for me, and I had some of the greatest interactions of my trip with the locals. For instance, I had the most entertaining waiters while at dinner in the Bohemian neighborhood who would jokingly scold me for not speaking French and attempt to teach me some phrases. However, one difficult aspect of the trip was being faced with a subway system in a different language where not even the information desk can understand my thick American accent. I quickly learned that simply phrases like bonjour and merci can go far and make people willing to help you. Once I was able to maneuver about the city, I saw all the major attractions such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and crepe vendors! As a result of my great experience, Paris will definitely be a city I visit again and get to learn about more in depth.
One city which I will not visit again is Geneva, Switzerland. There is no denying its amazing beauty or history, but I was disappointed at how commercialized it has become. It felt exactly like a normal US city with flashy stores and was not very unique. However, there were some picturesque areas in the old city and interesting attractions such as the garden clock. The next place I visited was Interlaken, Switzerland which was completely different from Geneva. Not even the language, architecture, or landscape was similar, and it made me realize how European countries can be extremely diverse just like the United States. Interlaken was a small town situated in between the Swiss Alps and had magnificent views no matter where you looked. Not only were the mountains and rolling hills beautiful but the water was even a glorious color that I have never before seen. I felt so close to nature there and aspire to one day live in a place equally as enchanting.
As the trip progressed, I was able to once again see how places within one country can be vastly different. Milan and Venice had very little in common and made two contrasting impressions upon me. Milan was very urbanized and did not have Italian feel that I imagined it would. Moreover, my time spent there was frustrating because many churches and exhibits were closed on Mondays, the only day I happened to be there. It was aggravating to think that I went to Milan in order to see The Last Supper and was unable to do so. However, I learned to better plan my trips and go with the flow because I still had the whole city to explore. The trip did eventually get better as I traveled onward to Venice. It had the true Italian atmosphere for which I was longing, and I was taken back by the gorgeous canals and delicious food! Once again I was faced with navigation issues as the city has no major roads or canals besides the Grand Canal, and it could take hours to get from one place to the next, even with the best map in hand. This layout was extremely confusing, but it undoubtedly created a unique setting found nowhere else in the world. While there are some name brand stores, most are locally run and in this way, Venice can stay true to its past.
Another thriving city full of history is Vienna, Austria. I was least excited about visiting this city, but it surprisingly became one of my favorite stops throughout the journey. The exceptionally clean streets, efficient transportation system, and beautiful architecture were not what I had expected to come across. There were grand theaters, numerous museums, and exquisite traditional dishes. After being with a large group for many days, I took this opportunity to venture off on my own and use the German language that I spent so many years learning. I quickly found out that I sounded like a three year old as many people laughed at my attempts, but I was at least able to convey what I was thinking. While off by myself, I visited the Kunsthistorisches Museum and spent time looking through the Italian Renaissance gallery. Again I was disappointed that the Titan gallery was closed for an upcoming exhibition, but I was still able to enjoy the remarkable collection at this museum. Back at the hostel I also had a great time discussing common stereotypes of Americans with people from all across the world. It was interesting to find out that they thought of our sports, school system, and politics. One Australian could not grasp the concept of lacrosse, but luckily a Canadian helped explain because it is their national sport.
The final destination of my fall break was Prague, and it was most definitely a fantastic ending. At first I was a bit apprehensive because the outskirts were very run down and not aesthetically pleasing. It was a wake up call to the vastly different lifestyle of Eastern Europe, and even the inner city of Prague had this uniqueness that the other cities lacked. The city was shockingly beautiful, and there was so much history in such a small area. This made me think of how young the United States is compared to European nations, and I was eager to learn about everything from the Thirty Years War to communism. I was fortunate enough to get a private tour with just six students for a bargain price, and we were taken around the city for four exciting hours of information catered to our interests. Monuments such as the astronomical clock, Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the fortification wall, and the Jewish Quarters each had unique stories and history behind them. For instance, there is a controversial statue on Charles Bridge of the crucifixion with a statement acknowledging Christ on top in Hebrew. This was paid for as punishment by a Jew who made a joke about the statue as he walked past it. Clearly this is disrespectful to the Jewish faith as they do not believe Christ is God, and the Jewish community of Prague has fought to have a tablet next to the statute explaining the historic context. In the future I would like to return and gain a greater appreciation for the culture instead of simply visiting the tourist attractions.
By the end of my journey, I was without doubt ready to come back to a clean flat in London, but the experiences I had and the sites I saw were ones I will keep with me forever. It was a privilege to see so much of the world in so little time, and I now know where I would like to travel more extensively. I also acquired useful skills such as navigating a foreign city, working in a group for a lengthy amount of time, and being more open-minded to different ways of life. The experience made me truly appreciate that the American way of living is not the right or only way, and I can not wait to see more of the Europe in the years to come.
Versailles
Upon arriving at Versailles, I was amazed at the sheer size of the palace and could not imagine why anyone would ever need such an elaborate residence. I was also astonished to learn that only ¼ of the palace is open to the public because the government does not have enough money to restore and operate the rest of the building. Even more mind blowing was that three thousand people lived here at one point in time. All of this combined with the endless amounts of history made Versailles the most extravagant and beautiful palace that I have ever seen. The French kings certainly knew how to display their wealth, and they made palaces such as Hampton Court seem like small shacks.
The interior of the palace proved to be no less beautiful than the exterior. There were endless amounts of marble, gold, and luxurious fabrics. I was particularly taken back by the Hall of Mirrors, and it may have been one of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen. The chandeliers, mirrors, and frescos all combined to create a one of a kind atmosphere. I was also impressed by Marie Antoinette’s bedroom. The patterns of the walls, bedding, and furniture all matched to create quite an impressive room. It was very exciting to see the door through which she fled, and I could only imagine the fear she must have had. The Kings apartments were also very grand, but they did not seem very comfortable. I could not imagine living in those quarters or in the entire palace for that matter. While it was very beautiful, it did not exude a ‘homey’ feeling where I would want to spend my days.
One aspect of the palace that I did love and would like to incorporate into my own home one day was the artwork. There were endless frescos, painting, and sculptures with incredible detail, and I could have spent the entire day just seeing these. However, I was taken back by the arrogance of the French royalty. It was almost sad to see how arrogant they were, and I could not understand how someone would commission such paintings of themselves. For example, Marie Antoinette’s elaborate dresses were like none I have ever seen before, and I was disgusted at the stark display of wealth. However, the royals did use their money to commission other great works throughout the palace. I particularly liked the chapel with gold trimmings and inspiring artwork.
With my prior knowledge of Versailles, I was convinced that the interior would be my favorite part of the tour, but I was surprised that I was most captivated by the beautiful gardens. They seemed to go on forever, and I felt as if I were put into my own tranquil world when walking through them. The long flowing pools, ornate fountains, and meticulous landscaping covered so much area, and it is nice to know that the public could now enjoy them and not simply the royalty. As if having one palace were not enough, Marie Antoinette’s own palace was situated within these lovely grounds. It was made out of some of the rarest pink marble in the world, and its smaller size makes it more of a livable environment. Here I was again disgusted by the vanity of Marie Antoinette when I saw her initials plastered all over the house. Her arrogance did not end here as she even created an entire village in which she could have a pretend life. While this village was adorable and beautiful in many ways, it was unnecessary and insulting to build while her people were starving all over France. Although the arrogance is hard to overlook, the beauty of the palace, village, and gardens can not be ignored, and it is wonderful that it is kept in such great condition for the public.
The interior of the palace proved to be no less beautiful than the exterior. There were endless amounts of marble, gold, and luxurious fabrics. I was particularly taken back by the Hall of Mirrors, and it may have been one of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen. The chandeliers, mirrors, and frescos all combined to create a one of a kind atmosphere. I was also impressed by Marie Antoinette’s bedroom. The patterns of the walls, bedding, and furniture all matched to create quite an impressive room. It was very exciting to see the door through which she fled, and I could only imagine the fear she must have had. The Kings apartments were also very grand, but they did not seem very comfortable. I could not imagine living in those quarters or in the entire palace for that matter. While it was very beautiful, it did not exude a ‘homey’ feeling where I would want to spend my days.
One aspect of the palace that I did love and would like to incorporate into my own home one day was the artwork. There were endless frescos, painting, and sculptures with incredible detail, and I could have spent the entire day just seeing these. However, I was taken back by the arrogance of the French royalty. It was almost sad to see how arrogant they were, and I could not understand how someone would commission such paintings of themselves. For example, Marie Antoinette’s elaborate dresses were like none I have ever seen before, and I was disgusted at the stark display of wealth. However, the royals did use their money to commission other great works throughout the palace. I particularly liked the chapel with gold trimmings and inspiring artwork.
With my prior knowledge of Versailles, I was convinced that the interior would be my favorite part of the tour, but I was surprised that I was most captivated by the beautiful gardens. They seemed to go on forever, and I felt as if I were put into my own tranquil world when walking through them. The long flowing pools, ornate fountains, and meticulous landscaping covered so much area, and it is nice to know that the public could now enjoy them and not simply the royalty. As if having one palace were not enough, Marie Antoinette’s own palace was situated within these lovely grounds. It was made out of some of the rarest pink marble in the world, and its smaller size makes it more of a livable environment. Here I was again disgusted by the vanity of Marie Antoinette when I saw her initials plastered all over the house. Her arrogance did not end here as she even created an entire village in which she could have a pretend life. While this village was adorable and beautiful in many ways, it was unnecessary and insulting to build while her people were starving all over France. Although the arrogance is hard to overlook, the beauty of the palace, village, and gardens can not be ignored, and it is wonderful that it is kept in such great condition for the public.
Canal Walk
There are numerous canals and locks in London which were once used for commercial purposes but now are primarily for leisurely use. These canals must extend from high to low elevation; therefore, locks are used to hold water back or allow water through in order to raise or lower the water level. A lock consists of a chamber with two sets of gates at opposite ends of the canal and an underwater valve which can be altered to let water in or out. For example, if a boat is traveling upstream it would enter the lock through one set of gates, be enclosed inside the lock, and a valve on the opposite set of gates would open. This would allow water to rush into the canal and raise the water level until it was the same as upstream. The exit gates could then open due to the equalized pressure, and the boat would sail through. If a boat was traveling downstream, the gates would open, the boat would sail in, and the valve on the opposite set of gates would open allowing water to rush out of the canal and ultimately lower the water level. Once the lock water is level with lower section of the canal, the exit gates would be pushed open and the boat could sail through. Without this process, boats would not be able to navigate in canals that travel through varied elevation. Locks prevent the canal water from rushing downstream into the river which would render the whole system useless.
Canals were used to transport goods from the rivers into London during the eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Therefore, they became extremely important to the London economy and all around Britain because they were necessary in trade and transportation. The canals were the best option because roads of the time period were too rough, rocky, and unreliable to transport fragile goods. It was also much more costly to transport goods on roads because horses could pull larger amounts on water. Furthermore, London’s population was quickly growing and the large masses demanded more and more goods. Canals proved to be the fastest way to meet this demand. Horses were first used to drag the boats along the canal, but as technology improved, engines were widely used to move up and downstream. The economy’s dependence on canals lessened as railways began to grow; however, the canal system was heavily relied upon during World War Two due to the fear of a railway attack.
Canals were used to transport goods from the rivers into London during the eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Therefore, they became extremely important to the London economy and all around Britain because they were necessary in trade and transportation. The canals were the best option because roads of the time period were too rough, rocky, and unreliable to transport fragile goods. It was also much more costly to transport goods on roads because horses could pull larger amounts on water. Furthermore, London’s population was quickly growing and the large masses demanded more and more goods. Canals proved to be the fastest way to meet this demand. Horses were first used to drag the boats along the canal, but as technology improved, engines were widely used to move up and downstream. The economy’s dependence on canals lessened as railways began to grow; however, the canal system was heavily relied upon during World War Two due to the fear of a railway attack.
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