One Day, Two Aquariums

Today, Megan and I took a train to Stralsund to visit two of the aquariums in the town. Our first stop was the Ozeaneum - a large aquarium in Northern Germany that portrays sea life of both the North and Baltic Seas. 

 There were so many awesome exhibits! I felt like a mermaid the entire day. Here is a little insight into what we encountered...

There were tons of invertebrates:

Seashells

Sea urchins, shells, and sea stars

Preserved Cephalopods

Echinoderms, some of my favorite invertebrates!

Colorful Crab

Purple Sea Anemones

As well as some really cool fish:

Didn't get the names of these guys, but at least they posed for me!

I spy with my little eye...a flounder!

School of fish

And even penguins!

A Humboldt Penguin

But of course, the marine mammals were my favorite...

Sperm Whale Skeleton

I even got to pretend to be a grey seal (my favorite seal) for a couple of seconds! 

I think this was supposed to be for kids...

A real, yet no longer living grey seal

One of the exhibits, called "Giants of the Deep" had a large room with life size models of a Blue, Humpback, Orca and Sperm whales hanging from the ceiling. On the floor, there were lounge chairs to lie on underneath the whales. There were lights that simulated the sun streaming through the surface of the ocean, and they played whale songs as you looked up at the most beautiful animals imaginable! Needless to say, this was my favorite part.

"Giants of the Deep" exhibit

Model of a Humpback Whale

After we saw everything at the Ozeaneum, we headed over to the Meeresmuseum. This aquarium, which also focused on fisheries, shipping, and ocean health, is located in a former monastery.

Outside of the Meeresmuseum

There was some pretty awesome ocean life here as well:

Spotted Ray

Sea Turtle

purple and pink fish

came out to say hello!

I had such a beautiful day learning about marine life. I just can't seem to get enough of it.

Love,

Vanessa

Work and Play

Sorry it has been a while since I have written, I have been busy working during the weekdays and exploring during the weekends!

 I realized I haven't gone into much detail about the research I have been helping out with, so I wanted to give you a little insight into what I have been up to while I am working:

I have recently started conducting the research myself with the oldest octopus named Tintoretto. We are testing symmetry detection in these very wise invertebrates by presenting two different stimuli, one symmetrical and the other not, and seeing which one the octopus decides to choose. They are rewarded with a small piece of a shrimp when they choose the symmetrical stimulus. She usually gets between 70% and 80% correct.

Tintoretto

Last week, Megan and I were working with Tintoretto when a newspaper journalist came to do a story on the research. Long story short, we ended up getting in the Rostock newspaper!

The text in the article roughly translates to this:

"Tintoretto, Tizian, and Giambellino aren't only names of Italian painters, but also the names of three Octopods at the Marine Science Center on the eastern pier. In behavioral experiments, the Octopods, among other things, respond to visual stimuli. The goal of the work is to close the gaps in the scientific area of sensory system biology. Under the supervision of Frederike Hanke, American exchange students Vanessa Delnavaz and Megan McElligot conduct experiments to investigate the performance and learning abilities of these animals."

Megan and me in the Newspaper!

With the seals, I have mostly been helping with two different experiments happening here at the lab. 

One of them involves testing wether or not harbor seals can detect breathing currents of flounders, one of their primary prey. There are 8 different nozzles on the bottom of one of the enclosures, with one turned on with a soft current comparable to the pressure of the breathing current of a flounder. The seals have been trained to swim around the enclosure so that they can detect which nozzle is turned on. 

The second experiment with the seals I have recently been working with is testing haptic matching. Henry, the seal that is doing this experiment, is masked and is allowed to touch a stimulus with his vibrissae. He is then provided two other stimuli, and must choose which one of these two match the first one he felt. Here is a video of the experiment.

Henry with the stimuli - plastic sea stars and fish. In this trial, the "correct" stimulus would be the fish (green)

During the summer months, the lab usually gets some visitors from the baltic sea that like to stay just outside of our enclosure, as they find it is a nice place to haul out and lie in the sun.

Gonzo is a grey seal that has returned to the outside of the lab enclosure for the 3rd summer in the row. He is quite funny looking for a seal, but I think he has some charm to him :)

Gonzo! (stole this pic from Megan!)

This year, the lab got a new visitor - a teeny tiny grey seal pup that has been given the name Mini. She is SO adorable! 

Mini on the other side of the fence.

 Outside of our work at the lab, Megan and I had quite a lovely weekend. We went into town to see the town's yearly festival. There were an abundance of street vendors, people, and pretty boats.

Harbor inlet in Warnemunde

The weather was so beautiful on Saturday so we decided to end our day at the beach!

Dipping my feet in the Baltic Sea!

On Sunday, Megan and I went on our first dive trip in the Baltic Sea! There is not that much to see, but we went to an airplane wreck and saw tons of moon jellies, a halibut, and a rather large cod. Even if there is not much down there, I love feeling like a mermaid for a little while :)

After the dive!

Once a month during the summer, when three cruise ships leave from the harbor on the same night, the town has what is called a "port party." There are lots of stands that sell beer and bratwurst, and everybody comes to watch the ships and a fireworks show. Megan and I got beer, bratwurst and ice cream (what could be better?!). We decided that the best place to watch the fireworks would be right from our very home - the research boat! We went back to the boat, bundled up, and went up to the sundeck and watched the fireworks as the ship drove off into the dark horizon. 

Cruise ship and fireworks

I love how much the people here find anything to celebrate, such as a cruise ship leaving a harbor - something that happens everyday, all day, all over the world. It is such a wonderful way to live :)

Love, Vanessa

Berlin

This past weekend Megan and I traveled to Berlin! Three days of pure amazingness. We arrived late Thursday night, so I will start my story on Friday morning...

Friday, June 28th

We started our Journey by figuring out how to take the trains, subways and busses around the city. The public transportation in Berlin is wonderful! It is so easy to get around to wherever you want to go.

The Train Station

Our first stop was the East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall. It was so amazing to see after learning so much about it in school. I loved all the different paintings and artwork we saw as we walked along.

Loved this part of the Wall

Polaroids from the Berlin Wall

  After spending quite some time at the East Side Gallery, we headed over to the Berlin TV Tower. We took the elevator up to 207 meters where we could see Berlin at a 360 degree view; it was absolutely beautiful!

Berlin TV Tower

Berlin from 207 meters!

At this point, we were starving so we decided to get some authentic German food. We went to a traditional restaurant where I got Schnitzel and a classic Berliner Weisse, which is a sour wheat beer flavored with raspberry syrup. As disgusting as it sounds, it pretty much just tastes like soda and it was delicious!

My first time trying Schnitzel with mushroom sauce and fries!

My raspberry Berliner Weisse. The green one in the back is Megan's green apple Berliner Weisse.

Saturday, June 29th 

We started our day at a very cute cafe with the most amazing drinks and pastries. I got cashew caramel hot chocolate, which I think I can safely say is the best hot chocolate I have ever had. Along with my delicious drink, I got an apricot scone with clotted cream and marmalade. I could not have asked for a better breakfast!

Scone and cashew caramel hot chocolate

We then visited the beautiful Kaiser-Wilhelm Church that was made out of beautifully stained glass.

Inside the Kaiser-Wilhelm Church

Our next stop was the Victory Column, which commemorates the Prussian victory in the Danish Prussian War in 1873. It was such a great feeling being inside such a historically significant monument!

The Victory Column

The statue at the top.

Megan and I at the top of the Column, 66 meters high!

Continuing on with our very historical tour, we stopped at the Brandenburg Gate. It was truly glorious to see in person.

We then walked through the Memorial to the Murdered Jew of Europe. It was an extremely beautiful memorial that perfectly portrayed the feeling of loss of so many people.

After a few more sightseeing stops, we went back to our flat to change and went out to the bars. We ended up at a few different places that were all very different, but a lot of fun. We ended the night with delicious Turkish food at 3AM, which is known and classic "drunk food" in Berlin.

Sunday, June 30th

On Sunday we had an early lunch at a Bakery that had a variety of German-style sandwiches. I got a sandwich on raisin-walnut bread with brie cheese and lingonberry jam. So tasty!

Then, we headed on over to Checkpoint Charlie, a crossing point between West and East Berlin during the cold war. 

Checkpoint Charlie

Our last stop in Berlin was the Jewish Museum. It was painfully heart-wrenching to see so much about their history in such a beautiful museum.

The Garden of Exile at the Jewish Museum. It is a garden with 49 tilted columns on a slanting plot of ground that parallels the feeling of disorientation of moving to a foreign country.

The Memory Void. A beautiful piece by Israeli artist Menashe Kadishman of 10,000 faces dedicated to all of the innocent victims of war and violence.

My weekend in Berlin was so life changing in ways that I never even knew were possible. I have learned so much about history and saw a beautiful culture and city right before my eyes. Berlin will definitely be a place I would love to visit again in my life. I already miss it very much!

Love,

Vanessa

The First Weekend

Hello Everyone!

On Saturday, Megan and I took the ferry across to Warnemunde where we walked the streets and soaked up the beauty of everything around us.

View of Warnemunde with the harbor and buildings

Our first stop was at a boat on the inlet of the harbor that sold fried fish sandwiches - a speciality on the Northern Coast of Germany. We weren't quite sure what we were ordering since the lady working on the boat did not speak English, but thankfully there was a man nearby who helped us order in German. We soon realized that we will need to brush up on our Deutsch rather quickly. Nevertheless, the sandwich tasted amazing!

Fried Fish Sandwich with Garlic Sauce

We then climbed to the top of an old lighthouse that overlooked the entire city. The view was beautiful, but the height was a bit terrifying!

The Outside of the Lighthouse...

Inside the Lighthouse!

View of Warnemude and Rostock from the top!

After Conquering our fear of heights, we decided to reward ourselves with some soft serve ice cream from one of the many vendors in town. It seems to be quite popular here!

German Softserve

Saturday night, we went to a BBQ in a garden in Rostock. Here in Germany, many people buy plots of land on which they can garden. I absolutely love the concept!

Polaroid picture of one of the gardens with lupines

That night, we sat around a fire pit, ate sausages, drank A LOT of beer, and listened to songs a few of the people we work with were playing on the guitar. We were there until about 3:30 in the morning, about the time it started to get light out!

Polaroid picture of Megan and I at the BBQ

I may have had a bit too much beer...

Waiting for the taxi after the BBQ...pretending to sleep

On Sunday, I slept in until the early afternoon and watched netflix on the boat all day. In the evening, I went out and watched the seals as they dozed off to sleep. 

It was a lazy sunday for everyone!

On Thursday, Megan and I will be traveling to Berlin! We cannot wait for this adventure so expect a lot of stories and pictures to accompany them when we return!

Love,

Vanessa

I made it!

Two airplanes, a bus, two trains and a ferry later and I made it!

Germany is so much more beautiful than I ever dreamed. After getting off the plane, we had to take a train from the main station in Hamburg to Rostock.

Train Station in Hamburg

Once in Rostock, we had to take a second train to the small beach town of Warnemunde where the boat is stationed. The streets are covered in cobblestone and the houses and shops are ADORABLE. The second night there, I went into town with a few of the PhD students. We bought dinner and beer and went and sat on the beach to eat and drink. Drinking on the beach, in fact, drinking in public anywhere is completely legal here!

As for the internship, it is absolutely amazing so far. Today I started to train the seals in German, which was really hard but really fun all at the same time.  I also got to see the octopods run their experiments which was fascinating. Here is a link to some of the work they are currently doing with them.

Tonight Megan and I went on a walk just outside the boat to the lighthouse. The view was breathtaking.

This weekend we will be going to the farmers market and exploring the town a bit more, so I will put up more pictures by Sunday evening along with an account of our adventures!

Love,

Vanessa

Auf Wiedersehen!

I am currently at the airport waiting to board my flight to my layover in London and soon enough will be in Germany!

I am so incredibly nervous yet extremely excited for this wonderful adventure. Packing was crazy and I still feel like I brought too much and not enough all at the same time!

 I can't wait to be immersed in amazing culture and research for 3 months.

See you soon, Rostock!

Love,

Vanessa