| GERMANY, FRANCE & SWITZERLAND CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE 2010 |
FIVE COMPLIMENTARY
CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
COVERING THE EUCOR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IN THREE ADJOINING COUNTRIES
RUNNING IN PARALLEL WITH THE CONFERENCE PROGRAM
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Our private motor coaches will depart in the morning from Freiburg and nearby Gottenheim and return back to the same two locations late in the afternoon. The motor coaches (each seating about 50 persons) will be equipped with air-conditioning and WC facilities.
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| A sculpture in the middle of the Christmas Fair in Freiburg. A merry-go-round spins in the background. (Photo: Pergi28) |
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The approximate duration of the motor-coaches from Freiburg to our planned destinations is as follows:
(a) Black Forest (1/2 hour);
(b) Alsace (1 hour);
(c) Strasbourg (1 hour);
(d) Basel (45 minutes); and
(e) Heidelberg (1 hour 45 minutes).
The motor-coaches will be available free of charge to those who register for the entire conference.
The magic of the season in this European region begins during the last week of November. Hence, the festive spirit is already in the air by the time the conference starts. Decorations abound and pedestrians may well bump into legendary characters such as Christkindel, Hans Trapp, and St Nicolas. Delicacies and mulled drinks provide great opportunities for conference delegates to share merriment, notes and research ideas. The history and traditions of academic research around this part of the world amply demonstrate that fun and research do mix. As one famous German physicist noted, the opposite of play is not work but depression; you can never solve a problem on the level on which it was created.
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THE DAY BEFORE THE CONFERENCE STARTS
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Europa-Park, Rust, Germany
November 27, 2010 (Saturday)
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Europa-Park is the most popular seasonal theme park in the world. The park is split into fifteen different areas, mostly named after European countries. It is run by the Mack family which has produced vehicles since 1780, circus wagons since 1880 and roller coasters since 1921. Europa-Park is also a major resort. Its largest hotel includes a re-creation of a Roman colosseum. Across the park, there are many shows performed on a daily basis, including an Ice Show, an Acrobatics Show in an Italian Theater and a fully re-created Globe Theater, based on that of William Shakespeare.
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| Santa Claus as personified by German cheerleaders. |
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Today is a special day since it marks the Park's first day of the Christmas season for 2010. Any delegates who arrive early for the conference may join IJAS as it organizes a group visit to the park to enjoy first-hand what many foreign students rate as one of the highest points of interest during their studies in Germany. With its many attractions, festive decorations and fascinating show-programs, and underlying European theme, the park offers a spectacular Welcome-to-Europe experience.
To access Europa-Park's website, click here.
Since this is a pre-conference event, it is not among the five complimentary programs. It is not covered by the registration fee. Each delegate pays on the spot for admittance to Europa-Park and transport to Rust (outside Freiburg). The estimated total cost is about 35 Euros. We will depart from Freiburg for this day event.
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Black Forest, Germany
November 28, 2010 (Sunday)
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If yesterday's could be labeled as the Welcome-to-Europe event, today's should be regarded as the quintessential Welcome-to-Germany event. The Black Forest (Schwarzwald in German) is the wooded mountain range that gives rise to so many German fables, crafts and culinary delights. Wood-carving is the traditional cottage industry here and carved ornaments are produced in substantial numbers as souvenirs for tourists. Cuckoo clocks are a popular example. Although they were not invented in the Black Forest, they have been made in the region since the early eighteenth century and much of their development occurred here.
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Black Forest ham originated from this region, and so did the Black Forest cake, a chocolate cake groaning with cream, sour cherries and fruit brandy. The Black Forest variety of flammkuchen (the traditional "thin pizza" of Germany) is layered with ham, cheese, and fresh cream instead of tomato sauce! Pfannkuchen, a crepe pastry is also common. No other place in the state beats the Black Forest for low-priced souvenirs.
This may be the least demanding day of the entire program, a time for delegates to get to know each other.
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Alsace, France
November 29, 2010 (Monday)
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| Welcome to Colmar. |
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The day starts with a walk around tiny Eguisheim before bus loads of tourists arrive and jam this Medieval city of narrow, concentric streets.
This is followed by Colmar, a historical town of art whose incredible architectural heritage provides the perfect backdrop for the festive celebrations. Colmar bids a warm welcome with its five Christmas markets set up around town. Various attractions help to make this season in Colmar truly unique for international visitors, including concerts, dramatized storytelling, Santa Claus' giant letter-box, and an illuminated ice skating rink in Place Rapp. In the midst of these attractions is the Unterlinden Museum, France's most visited museum outside Paris.
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| Ribeauvillé and its "wandering minstrels". |
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Situated on the Route des Vins, between vineyards and mountains, Ribeauvillé is a charming town made famous by its ancient tradition of welcoming wandering minstrels provided they paid tax to the town's aristocratic lords. In the Middle Ages, the town was the seat of the Seigneurs de Ribeaupierre - the Lords of Ribeaupierre (whence the town's name of Ribeauvillé). The Ribeaupierres built three fortified castles, the ruins of which still majestically dominate the surrounding hills to this day. Ribeauvillé is in part surrounded by ancient walls. Its main street (Grand rue) runs through a picturesque neighborhood, edged with buildings (dating back to the 15th and 18th centuries) around squares adorned with Renaissance style fountains.
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| The enchanting town of Riquewihr. (Photo: P. Haumesser) |
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Situated between the peaks of the Vosges mountains and the Plain of Alsace, Riquewihr is a medieval town right in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards, listed among the "Most Beautiful Villages in France". For centuries this magnificent town has managed to combine the quality of its architecture with the quality of its world-famous wines, from where it gets its nickname "The Gem of the Alsace Vineyards". Riquewihr is an open-air museum of fifteenth century half-timbered houses preserved within the city walls, now besieged only by the vineyards. The town takes on special colors during the Advent period in a unique atmosphere that combines the magic of the season with the Alsatian traditions.
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Strasbourg, France
November 30, 2010. (Tuesday)
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| A patisserie in Strasbourg. (Photo: G. Dougados) |
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Strasbourg has been hosting its famous Kristkindlmarkt around its impressive and spired Gothic cathedral since the sixteenth century. Over the years, the city?s reputation has grown throughout Europe thanks to its dual emphasis on trade and tradition which have given it a distinctive history and identity. Its open-air markets offer visitors a touch of adventure and plenty of fine chocolates. The hundreds of talented craftsmen who sell their wares provide the shoppers with the opportunity to discover some enchanting festive products for their loved ones at home. Strasbourg is also known for its bredle, delicious little pastries prepared for the advent period. These will be available in various flavors at the Bredle Market. Also not to be missed is La Petite France, an enchanting, riverfront area of black-and-white timbered fairy-tale buildings, including a gingerbread bakery.
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Alsace, France
December 1, 2010. (Wednesday)
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Freiburg, Germany and Basel, Switzerland
December 2, 2010. (Thursday)
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| Heather enjoying a delicious bratwurst outside the Freiburg Cathedral. |
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Freiburg's Christmas market, on the Rathausplatz and in Franziskanerstrasse, is located in the very heart of Freiburg's beautiful historical quarter. In this "Tuscany" of Germany, visitors will see a wide range of traditional arts and crafts of Black Forest origin. They include straw shoes, colorful wooden toys and real beewax candles made to order. Our conference delegates will be served complimentary beef and pork sausages (the famous bratwurst) cooked on site, and downed with cold drinks. For those who prefer to shop in a department store, nothing beats the nearby Galeria Kaufhof brimming with high quality goods at reasonable prices.
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| Christmas confectionary in Basel |
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In the heart of Basel's Old Town with its glittering decorations, we will visit the attractive Christmas market with a special atmosphere of its own. At its 140 illuminated stands and wooden huts, traders and craftspeople from all over Switzerland offer their goods and give a demonstration of their skills which have been passed on to them by their forefathers. This is Switzerland at its best, distinctly unique even though a stone's throw away from adjacent Germany. Not to be missed is Basel's city hall decked in red (click here). For a photostream of Basel, click here.
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Heidelberg, Germany
December 3, 2010. (Friday)
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| The old castle overlooks Heidelberg. |
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Our visit to Heidelberg will start with a visit to its romantic castle towering above the city. The castle grounds include a fascinating apothecary museum, and the world's largest wooden wine barrel. In the shadows of the castle, Germany's first university sprawls around the prosperous Altstadt which attracts shoppers all year round. Heidelberg is a lively place to visit, even more so in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The city's seasonal markets are scattered along the famous one-mile long and narrow Hauptstrasse making it easy to drink Glühwein while leisurely relaxing around.
This will be the last day of the conference. You may bring your luggage with you on the motor-coach to Heidelberg and at the end of the day's program you will have the option to either return back to Freiburg and Gottenheim or be dropped off at Heidelberg's train station for your return back to the airport, any airport.
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The Rationale Behind the Tours
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To understand the rationale behind the academic and cultural tours in every IJAS conference, click here.
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| Bliss, the special care baby charity, provides vital support and care to premature and sick babies across the UK. Founded 30 years ago, Bliss offers guidance and information at a critical time in families' lives. |
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