Uppsala, Sweden
Today was a big day. I'm only going to post a few things because I have so many pictures from today. This blog is specifically about our morning adventures. I'll write more once we've concluded our evening with the students' association =)
Today's rotation experience starts late, so we decided to do a little sightseeing in the morning. We started off with a visit to the Uppsala University's main building. There were classes being held while we were there. There wasn't really much to see other than the general architecture and some statues of Roman gods.
Next, we went to the Carolina Rediviva which is the University Library. Within the library, there is a small museum which has a lot of neat historical books. I've included some of those that I found most interesting. 
Firstly, and perhaps most famously is the Codex argenteus or "Silver Book." This is a translation of the four gospels that is written in silver ink on purple pages. One hundred eighty-seven of the original 336 pages of the text can be found in the Uppsala University library. An additional page is located in Seyers, Germany.
The library also holds such treasures as an original Mozart score, the layout of Linnaeus's gardens as well as his manuscript on plant reproductive systems, and a copy of the first Bible in Swedish--the Gustav Vasa Bible.
We also visited the Trinity Church which is located near the Cathedral and the Gustavianum. It is very beautiful inside, as you can see from the photo to the left. It is built in the cross shape, similar to the Cathedral. There is a beautiful organ near the front.
Josh and I both agree that this next part has been our favorite part of the visit to Uppsala (at least sightseeing-wise).
After visiting the library, we stopped for a coffee in a local cafe near the main university building. Then we made our way to the Gustavianum Museum. This is definitely my favorite part of Uppsala thusfar! There is a small fee for entrance to the museum, but it is definitely worthwhile. There are artifacts from Egypt, Rome, and Greece on the first level--including jewelry, pottery, and mummies of both humans and animals. The second level holds historical information about the University of Uppsala, including information about Carl Linnaeus as well as Olof Rudbeck. Linnaeus was responsible for the plant nomenclature system as well as his interest in pharmacology and the origin of disease. Rudbeck is responsible for discovering the lymphatic system. The Gustavianum also holds the Augsburg Art Cabinet made of carved ebony. This is a very ornature structure filled with art objects from all over the world. Some drawers are clearly visible, but others are hidden. The cabinet is really beautiful, but sadly, photography is not allowed in the museum. However, you can view the art cabinet and its history online.
The third floor was definitely my favorite part of the museum. This level granted access to the Anatomical Theater. In this theater, dissections would take place. There is a table in the center where the person performing the dissection (at one time Olof Rudbeck) would stand. Onlookers watch from standing-room only levels built in a circle around the central table which are accessible via steep stairs. We were able to climb up and view the area just as people would have back during the dissections. Dissections were performed on executed prisoners and viewed by medical students and paying public.
This anatomical theater is one of the few in the world which is actually servied by natural light. A copper cupola allows light to enter, creating a really beautiful atmosphere, if dissections can be performed in a beautiful atmosphere...And...the fourth floor contained info on pre-historical Sweden.
That was all of our morning. Sorry no photos of lunch. We just ate leftovers. Hopefully, we'll have something worth photographing tonight at the mentor's pub!
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