<p>I'm going up to Duke this weekend, but I have a feeling I'll be a bit lost. I've never been within 400 miles of the place. Is there anywhere I have to see or go? Guide me, please!!!!</p>
<p>Make sure you check out the gardens--not sure what shape they are in this time of year but you can use your imagination. Also, go inside the chapel --beautiful. I was at Duke for a reunion a couple of years ago and took an architectural tour--they talked about things I hadn't noticed or known about when I was there as a student, and after that I have a much greater appreciation for the details of the buildings. If you are into that sort of thing, you might check to see if any sort of tour is available. Also, they just opened a new library wing that is supposed to be impressive. Enjoy Duke--you will hopefully come away loving it!</p>
<p>Oh--I forgot to mention the Duke Forest. There are jogging paths that start near the stadium and/or Washington Duke Inn--I can't recall exactly. If you want a jog or a stroll, check that out as well.</p>
<p>I know this is kind of obvious, but visit east campus. The tour doesnt take you there and I never even visited. Too bad you aren't here today! It's amazing out! Everyone's outside!!</p>
<p>Yes definatly go in the chapel. I was there in feb last year and it was cold and rained all weekend, but the campus still looked beautiful. I was also lucky enough to get into the Duke-Wake game last year (the one at home that duke won, really good game) and that was so much fun. K-ville was just being taken down but i still got a pretty good look at all the Crazies. But anyways, the chapel is absolutely amazing. oh my god it is beautiful. I think it sealed the deal for me. On our tour of west campus the guide was explaining how once a year students will camp out in front of the chapel to get inside to book wedding dates. I thought it was really weird, but then i went inside and my jaw literally dropped. like literally. and then i didn't think it was so weird.</p>
<p>so, i'm at Duke right now, and it is BEAUTIFUL. The archtiecture is amazing. Apparantly, there's a game tonight ;) Duke vs. Miami, so I got to see all of the tents which was cool. I have a few questions still. </p>
<p>1) East campus seems really far away from West Campus. Don't the freshmen live at East Campus? How do they get to all of their classes? Are there busses? How does the far away thing work out?</p>
<p>2) It seems like there isn't anyone around... I was walking around, and I hardly saw any people. I guess they were all at the game. huh. I guess that really wasn't a question.</p>
<p>3) I've heard that relations with Durham aren't so good. Why so?</p>
<p>4) Are there good places to eat around here? We had Arby's earlier, and I found a hair in my salad. eck. </p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>Hi Pongo:
I think you probably answered your own question about where everyone was--at the game.
I don't know that relations with Durham are a problem, but I was there years ago and things could have changed. Durham isn't the most exciting city, but I think there are a lot more things to do and places to eat than when I was a student at Duke years ago. (Ask current students about the restaurants.) A lot of your activities will be on campus anyway , so who needs the city much? And of course a lot of students routinely go to Chapel Hill, home of UNC, which is much more like a college town. Friendly rivalry doesn't keep Duke students from socializing and eating there.</p>
<p>Architecture--look at the stone carvings on the main campus buildings--they all tell a story and indicate what type of building they were originally used for. For example, at the entrance of the old student union are a pair of clasped hands--cool--test tubes on the old chem building, and acorns/ animals (if I am remembering correctly) on the old biology building. Look at the gargoyles, and the fact that the towers on the main quad all are similar but different. Sure wish I knew all this when I was a student.</p>
<p>East campus is only a short bus ride away. There are classes on both east and west campus and the buses run regularly between. There are always plenty of buses available when classes break out and you catch a ride to the other campus for the next one. Not a problem, and there are at least 20 minutes between classes if it is like it was in my days.</p>
<p>Enjoy your visit.</p>
<p>The busses get annoying sometimes...but you learn how to avoid the hectic times. There are also C-3's that run to science drive...if you're a science student. Busses run from east-west (through central later at night) until 2am on weekdays, 4am on weekends...so if you're like me and love sitting in Bostock til 1:30 you're good:)</p>
<p>Durham isn't exactly a college town at all. It just has a reputation for not being the safest town, so we stick to our own. This isn't to say Duke isn't safe...I always feel totally comforatable on campus. There are, however, a bunch of places to eat off campus. Shortly off east is Ninth Street, home of the infamous Cosmic Cantina, as well as a few more fantastic restaurants/clubs. There's also a plaza with a Whole Foods and MADDHATTERS (which I am obsessed with). Brightleaf Square is also within walking distance, if you like walking...lol. A few cute places to eat there as well. Plus Chapel Hill has Qdoba, Starbucks...basically everything a college kid could want. Oh, and if you have a car...never fear...there is a Cookout. On top of places you can actually go, there are TONS of places called "Merchants on Points." Check out <a href="http://www.dining.duke.edu%5B/url%5D">www.dining.duke.edu</a>. There's seriously everything...food here is not a problem!</p>
<p>Ok-</p>
<p>East-West. Not so bad. East Campus houses freshmen, but also the Philosophy, Literature, Art History, Women's Studies, and History departments. This means that if you are taking classes in any of these disciplines (and many foreign language classes or education classes I believe) you will have to go to East even if you're not a freshman. Therefore-- on weekdays there is a Bus that takes the shortest route between East and West. It's always running-- you never have to wait more than a few minutes to catch one. Sometimes, after a class block ends, it takes longer to get on a bus because a lot of people are trying to, but it's never a problem really because if you lump your classes together, you'll still have at least 20 minutes to get to each one. (And-- if you still feel like you'll be running two minutes late, let your prof know when the semester starts. They're very accomodating if they know you have transportation issues). There are also other buses to get to other parts of campus, but they're basically irrelevant unless you need to ride one.</p>
<p>On basketball game nights-- the campus is not busy. Everyone is either in Cameron watching a game, in their rooms/common rooms, or at a bar if you're of age. </p>
<p>Food around Duke is surprisingly delicious. I'm from NYC and am used to great smaller restuarants and really was surprised with what Durham had to offer. If you were at Arby's you were probably on this road with every single fast food chain ever. But there's all sorts of independent restaurants, a lot of ethnic food, a lot of Zagat ranked restaurants, and, a little further from campus but still like 5 minutes by car from West-- chain restaurants like Chili's, Applebees, Macaroni Grill, etc.</p>