Familiar faces...

Week eleven: 06/05/2013 - 12/05/2013
Cultural Development

"A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow" (William Shakespeare)

This week was certainly a memorable one for me. On Thursday morning I welcomed three good friends from Northern Ireland. Ross, Robert and Michael have been my friends for many years and had always promised to visit if I ever did the Erasmus Program. We really did have a fantastic few days and the boys didn't take long to adapt to the unique culture that we have here.

The stunning view at Postlingberg...

My friends are all fairly well travelled and are quite appreciative and interested when it comes to culture. Therefore, it was my aim to show them some of the cultural delights that Linz has to offer. Our first stop was the impressive Postlingberg Chapel. Since the mid-18th Century the community of Pöstlingberg was a destination for pilgrims. A chapel was built there around 1720, and a church opened in 1748. This really is one the best views I have ever witnessed. A nice cup of coffee and apple strudel also went down a treat in the Chapel cafe.


The rest of our day was spent in and around the city centre and despite my friends bringing the rain over with them, there was still plenty for us to do. The cozy cafes and trendy bars compliment the contemporary culture and modernist feel of the area. Coming from Northern Ireland, my friends can appreciate a good pint of beer but the beers offered in Linz really are special and reasonably priced! After we had tasted the fine cuisines and relaxed in a few more bars we took a stroll down Domgasse and marvelled at the Alter Dom, a 17th century churn with a fantastic marble altar and rich architectural designs. Our busy day was nicely rounded off with a quick visit to the famous Arkade mall, home to many speciality shops and fashionable boutiques. I believe there will be some happy mothers and girlfriends when the boys return home!!

Michael, Ross and Robert sampling the Austrian beer!

Taking in the sights along the River Danube...

Michael, who currently lives in London is an graduate of fine art and currently works in the industry. Therefore I thought it was essential to give him and the lads an insight into the amazing art institutions that Linz has to offer. A few of the most notable modern arts venues to explore are the Ars Electronica Center and the Lentos Art Museum and our Friday afternoon was spent doing exactly this. The Lentos Art Museum presents exhibits of contemporary art from the 20th century, and it is a fantastic way to experience the youthful, modern influence of the city. The Ars Electronica Center is a multi-faceted museum housing some of the most advanced technology based pieces of art in existence. The exhibitions here were truly amazing and some even mind-boggling. To be honest, doing these activities even provided me with a new perspective on Linz. This city really does have so much culture and history to delve into and I would strongly recommend this to anyone!

Christoph and Robert!

So, as our time together was drawing to an end, it was time for the main event; Linz Rugby Club versus  Ljubljana Rugby Club of Slovenia in a crunch-game in the Austrian Cup. As rugby has become a big part of my culture and weekly routine I wanted to bring the boys (fellow rugby enthusiasts) along and show them just how much passion and heart these men play with. Thankfully we won our game and put in a fantastic performance which made the post-game beers taste even sweeter!


Guten Abend,

James



References:

• Sarker, S., K (2006) Shakespeare's Sonnets, Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, New Delhi