Q: Tell us why you chose the Mostly Music program.

Anna Sims: As a musician, this program was ideal for me because I was able to see a lot of Europe in a short amount of time, and both the classes and the itinerary are focused on my interests: music specifically and the humanities in general. Half of our class time was spent visiting museums and historic sites and going to concerts, which hardly felt like class because most of the places were ones I wanted to visit anyway. It was also a huge blessing to travel with a smaller group made up of music faculty, whom I know quite well, and music students, many of whom I already knew.

Q: What were the main stops on the itinerary?

Anna: We visited six countries in five weeks, which sounds a bit rushed but actually felt like an ideal length of time without ever being too bored or too hurried in any one place. We spent the first two weeks in Italy, starting out in Rome before moving on to Florence and Venice. From there we went to Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague, followed by two smaller German towns, Leipzig and Eisenach. Finally, we finished up our trip with a few days in Paris and London.

Q: What were your favorite places and why?

Anna: I really enjoyed visiting the smaller towns like Salzburg and Eisenach. We were able to see more natural beauty and experience more of what life in Europe is like without the hustle and bustle of tourism that comes with big cities; however, I also loved my time in cities like Paris, London, and Prague. It was fascinating to see how every city had a different feel to it even though there were many similarities, and also to experience for myself cities that I’ve read and heard so much about. 

Q: What were some of your favorite museums?

Anna: The composer houses were especially fun for me, as they offered a glimpse into the lives of the people who composed some of my favorite music. I also really enjoyed the instrument museums, especially the Museo del Violino in Cremona, where some of the best violins ever made are on display.

Q: What types of transportation did you take?

Anna: We probably used every form of transportation there is, just short of an ox cart. From planes to overnight trains to subways and trams, and even a waterbus, we became fairly adept at navigating even Europe’s largest cities!

Q: Who would benefit most from this program? What advice would you give them?

Anna: While it is especially beneficial for music majors, anyone who is interested in music and the arts would enjoy this trip. It covers Western culture, art, and church history going back centuries and is a great way to experience Europe for the first time (or even the second or third time!).

Some advice I would give to anyone taking this trip (or any trip to Europe) is to soak up all the knowledge and experiences you can, and to always be open to trying new things. At the same time, remember to take care of yourself and take a moment to rest when you need to so you will have the endurance to make it through the trip without feeling too exhausted, homesick, or impatient with your fellow travelers! Don’t feel bad if you can’t do everything, but do as much as you can and focus on learning as much as you can while enjoying this great opportunity!

HUG

Harding University in Greece

The HUG group traveled to Turkey during the first part of the month where they visited the Seven Churches of Asia, ancient Troy, Pamukkale, Istanbul and more. Shortly after that, the group took a two-day trip to Crete, the largest Greek island. The summer HUG semester is almost over, but not before one last big adventure: the Paris Olympics. The group departed Greece for Paris on Sunday morning where they will spend a few days in "The City of Light," seeing the sites and attending at least one Olympic game before heading home or backpacking around Europe.