By: Emily Stratman 

We primarily relied on trains in the four cities we visited, using overground and underground railways in London, Paris, Krakow, and Berlin. Before this trip, my train travel experience was limited to navigating the Cleveland Amtrak system with my family. The European rail systems, however, were a completely new adventure. From the iconic London Underground to the sleek trains of Paris and the extensive networks in Berlin, each city’s rail system provided a unique insight into its culture and daily life.

A side view of the station

We stayed near the Hauptbahnhof Station in Berlin, one of the city’s main hubs. This station is anything but small. With five different levels for trains traveling throughout Berlin and Germany, it felt like a mall. Three levels were filled with clothing, souvenir stores, and places to grab a quick bite. Further toward the back of the station was an entire grocery store and a Rossmann, similar to a CVS or Walgreens. It felt like a one-stop shop for most travelers at the Hauptbahnhof Station.

The Hauptbahnhof station was a stark contrast to the limited offerings of the Cleveland Amtrak. While functional, the Cleveland Amtrak lacks the extensive amenities and modern infrastructure of European rail stations. It has basic facilities and provides essential services, but it doesn’t offer the same variety of shops, dining options, or convenience as stations like the Hauptbahnhof. This trip highlighted how different train travel can be in various parts of the world, with each system reflecting its city’s unique character and priorities.

The lower level of the station

By: Emily Stratman

My steps on the beach.

I write about my relation to the Normandy Landing beach codenamed Utah Beach.  Where I’m from, one can only dream of finding themselves standing on the location where their great grandfather fought in the largest amphibious invasion fleet in history. Luckily enough the weather was good the day I went and was able to get on the beach. Coming from a largely split Army-Navy family, you tend to learn about all who served over the years, adding that into factors of how and where I grew up, its easier to dream about seeing where they fought than making it a reality. One member of my family that I hear about every year is my great grandfather Herman Siegall who landed with the 4th Infantry Division also known as the Ivy Division. Being able to see the famed Utah Beach that my family would talk and teach me about growing up gave me a new since of relationship with those in my family that I never got to know but others like my father and uncles did.

I learned about my great grandfather primarily through my dad. Well, my dad explained what’s in the brown box that my great mother sent him years ago. Inside that box are a multitude of pictures and artifacts that would catch anyone’s attention. The items range from currency in circulation during the war, family Pictures, his time at boot camp, to an original copy of the 1941 platoon photo at Fort Benning, GA.

The 1941 Original Copy Platoon Photo

But besides these pieces of history, there is also the book on the war that he used to help him speak again after a heart attack and there is his flag that was given to my dad after great-grandpa Herman passed. Through these pictures and items, my sister and I learned about our family history and the connection to the largest amphibious invasion in history.

          These are some of the items inside the box mentioned.

The Carytid Statue

Many don’t know much about what I like; however, you all know I like WWII history. I don’t talk about the other eras and periods I want because we never get into them due to the class being World War II focused. On a free day in London, I found myself at the British Museum to look at the exhibits. While there, I spent the most time looking at the exhibits and artifacts from the ancient world. All sorts of artifacts from locations where the British once ruled or helped fight in battle. In one of the ancient Greek exhibits, we came across the final statue of the Caryatid sisters. For years, the Greek Government has been trying to get the state back from the British. The other Caryatid sisters are at the new Acropolis Museum in Athens. Back during the Napoleonic wars, the British were in Greece, and that is when it is believed they found and took the statue.

The Caryatid Statue

Not only was there the last Caryatid sister statue, but there were also many other neat artifacts, like a completed Nereid Monument and parts of the Parthenon from Athens. The artifacts in the museum here are either made into replicas and returned to their origin countries, brought over when the British were ruling the country, given as a gift, and placed at the museum for safekeeping. The Caryatid sister statute is and example of when a member of when the nation acquired the statue back in the 1800s. Most people would go shopping, drinking, exploring the monuments and famous places when they’re on vacation or it’s a study abroad free day. I however do not like going shopping or exploring the places I see on social media. I almost always have a plan when I go somewhere., its rare that I wouldn’t have a plan or multiple plans. I went to the British Museum because its highly probable that I won’t get to see it again.

The Nereid Monument