I'm writing this from a pub in Brussels. I think an expected 3 hour train ride that turned into 7 hours in with a pint or two.
Amsterdam was absolutely amazing and nothing what I expected it to be. Everyone always plays up the red light district. Don't get me wrong... it was something to experience... but definitely not the heart of Amsterdam.
I arrived in the afternoon and visited the Van Gogh museum before the free hostel dinner. The museum was well worth the 15€ entrance fee. It housed many of his most famous works like Sunflowers and The Bedroom. However, my favorite part was the interaction you got with the art. I was able to see the layers of paint used and techniques for which Van Gogh is famous.
The next day I did a city tour and learned more about the city and its history. While Amsterdam and I have conflicting viewpoints on life and freedom, it was still very investing to explore and learn about.
If you do nothing else in the city, do these two things... Anne Frank house and Pepper Mangos Ice cream. The Frank house museum was one of the best ever. It keep you interested while appealing while keeping history alive. I have copies of her diary in my classroom so I made sure to grab extra copies of the informative and visual museum guide in English and Spanish for my students.
Lieden was a quaint town to visit while in the Netherlands. It really was a break from the city. I went to the oldest botanical gardens in the country. I also visited the beach where I was able to further my relaxation.
Now I'm in Brussels, trying to find my way to the hostel.
Until then,
Kristin
Monday, July 22, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Münster
It was nice to have a bit of a break from the craziness of Berlin.
Munster was a beautiful town with an old feel to it (I say feel because the buildings are mostly new but constructed in the old style). My first day there my dad and I were able to walk around the town center a little bit, and since he'd been there a few days he could show me a bit of the area.
We visited the town hall where the treaty was signed to bring peace to Westphilia after the Thirty Years War. It wasn't very exciting to see the room, but it was cool to be in a location where a major piece of the country's history took place.
The Picasso museum in the city is quaint but nice. I was actually more interested in the photography exhibit more than the Picasso pieces.
Peter and Angelika were great hosts and took me out to a beer garden for my last night in Germany. We also ended up finding a polo game to watch. Surprisingly, it was really entertaining to watch.
After meeting up with a friend I met in Nice for breakfast, I was of to Amsterdam.
Until then,
Kristin
Munster was a beautiful town with an old feel to it (I say feel because the buildings are mostly new but constructed in the old style). My first day there my dad and I were able to walk around the town center a little bit, and since he'd been there a few days he could show me a bit of the area.
We visited the town hall where the treaty was signed to bring peace to Westphilia after the Thirty Years War. It wasn't very exciting to see the room, but it was cool to be in a location where a major piece of the country's history took place.
The Picasso museum in the city is quaint but nice. I was actually more interested in the photography exhibit more than the Picasso pieces.
Peter and Angelika were great hosts and took me out to a beer garden for my last night in Germany. We also ended up finding a polo game to watch. Surprisingly, it was really entertaining to watch.
After meeting up with a friend I met in Nice for breakfast, I was of to Amsterdam.
Until then,
Kristin
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Berlin
I thought Munich was crazy... I was wrong. Berlin had proved to be the city that never sleeps (sorry New York).
My first evening in Berlin a high school acquaintance came in to spend the weekend in the city. We ended up just walking around town and venturing into some bars and clubs.
The next day I did the free walking tour around the city. Berlin has such a rich history, and most of it unfortunately isn't the best. Between WWII and the Cold War, the city is filed with monuments. We didn't get back to the hostel until nearly 6pm because of the tour and hanging out with a group afterwards. We ended the night with a pub crawl as a group and had amazing fun.
While the next day was rough, I was convinced not to sleep. We went to the top of the TV tower and for a beautiful view of the city. We also stumbled upon a famous little burger king and enjoyed the taste of home.
The Jewish Museum in Berlin might be the best museum I've ever been to in my life. It's interactive and keeps you interested as you journey through the course of history for Jews. From the crusades to the holocaust. From Jewish traditions to modernizations made by Jews. It's an interesting way to kill 4 hours.
The Red Berlin tour focused on the city during the Cold War. A lot of what I learned about the stazi made me want to incorporate this period of history into my 1984 unit. There was 1 secret police member for nearly every 6 Germans. People were literally overnight sprayed from loved ones and friends.
I was really excited about the Third Reich tour in Berlin because I did the one in Munich. Munich is where it all started and of course Berlin became headquarters. The tour did focus on some of the role Berlin played in Nazi Germany, but it was more about the memorials and leadership of the party (which I had already learned in Munich). So, I was a little disappointed, but at least I was able to learn more about the monuments and see how Berlin has chosen to remember this part of their history.
Today I am of to Munster to hang out with my dad for a few days.
Until then,
Kristin
My first evening in Berlin a high school acquaintance came in to spend the weekend in the city. We ended up just walking around town and venturing into some bars and clubs.
The next day I did the free walking tour around the city. Berlin has such a rich history, and most of it unfortunately isn't the best. Between WWII and the Cold War, the city is filed with monuments. We didn't get back to the hostel until nearly 6pm because of the tour and hanging out with a group afterwards. We ended the night with a pub crawl as a group and had amazing fun.
While the next day was rough, I was convinced not to sleep. We went to the top of the TV tower and for a beautiful view of the city. We also stumbled upon a famous little burger king and enjoyed the taste of home.
The Jewish Museum in Berlin might be the best museum I've ever been to in my life. It's interactive and keeps you interested as you journey through the course of history for Jews. From the crusades to the holocaust. From Jewish traditions to modernizations made by Jews. It's an interesting way to kill 4 hours.
The Red Berlin tour focused on the city during the Cold War. A lot of what I learned about the stazi made me want to incorporate this period of history into my 1984 unit. There was 1 secret police member for nearly every 6 Germans. People were literally overnight sprayed from loved ones and friends.
I was really excited about the Third Reich tour in Berlin because I did the one in Munich. Munich is where it all started and of course Berlin became headquarters. The tour did focus on some of the role Berlin played in Nazi Germany, but it was more about the memorials and leadership of the party (which I had already learned in Munich). So, I was a little disappointed, but at least I was able to learn more about the monuments and see how Berlin has chosen to remember this part of their history.
Today I am of to Munster to hang out with my dad for a few days.
Until then,
Kristin
Prague
Wow... I haven't been in Prague in almost a week. That just shows you how busy and fun Prague and Berlin are.
My first full day in the Czech Republic I did a free walking tour and met the people I worked hang out with four the rest of my time there (and some in other cities as well). After we walked around the city, which was beautiful, we went to lunch and the castle. I thought the astronomical clock was underwhelming, but that's only because I hadn't been to the castle yet. The view if the city was beautiful, so I guess that makes up for it. That night we did a pub crawl and found the smallest smokiest bars.
The next day I slept in and spent my afternoon in the Jewish quarters. That night we went to an absinthe bar and tried the varieties that are only allowed in a few countries. It was a great way to spend my last night.
Turns out some of the friends I made and I had the same reason to Berlin, and were even staying in the same hostel. So we joined together for the journey.
I've been in Berlin for a few days now. I'll post about those later tonight, but now first things first... breakfast!
Until then,
Kristin
My first full day in the Czech Republic I did a free walking tour and met the people I worked hang out with four the rest of my time there (and some in other cities as well). After we walked around the city, which was beautiful, we went to lunch and the castle. I thought the astronomical clock was underwhelming, but that's only because I hadn't been to the castle yet. The view if the city was beautiful, so I guess that makes up for it. That night we did a pub crawl and found the smallest smokiest bars.
The next day I slept in and spent my afternoon in the Jewish quarters. That night we went to an absinthe bar and tried the varieties that are only allowed in a few countries. It was a great way to spend my last night.
Turns out some of the friends I made and I had the same reason to Berlin, and were even staying in the same hostel. So we joined together for the journey.
I've been in Berlin for a few days now. I'll post about those later tonight, but now first things first... breakfast!
Until then,
Kristin
Monday, July 8, 2013
Last day in Munich and Vienna
I had no set time for a reason to Vienna because of my rail pass so I decided to do a Third Reich tour around Munich. It was interesting to see the beginnings and locations of events leading up to the creation of the Nazi party. I'm really excited to do the same tour in Berlin and see examples and locations of Nazi Germany after 1933-ish.
I arrived in Vienna around 7 pm and headed to the hostel. The desk man told me about the film festival going on so I decided to go there to grab dinner. I ended up sharing a table with a group of people from Jordan but who were living in Austria. They gave me some inside scoop on the city. What to try and where to get it.
The next day I walked around the city (okay... I mostly took the metro) and expired all the tourist attractions. I spent about 3 or 4 hours at the museum quarters, the area where they keep all the museums. I also visited the castle. Because it was Sunday late afternoon I want able to go inside but I did enjoy walking around the gardens for a while.
My last morning I went to Hausswadter Haus. It was really cool to have such an artist building just outside of city center.
I got to Prague last night and ended up walking around the pedestrian streets. I had dinner from a street vendor. It wasn't my favorite, but I managed. It was potato dumplings with with pork and sauerkraut. The flavor was there, but the texture wasn't.
Today I start my exploration of the city.
Until then,
Kristin
Friday, July 5, 2013
Munich > college
Want a good time and relive your college days? Munich is your city.
On my first full day in Munich I did a free tour of the city, which was at great way to learn a little and get my bearings. The tour started at the new town hall with the famous playing of the bells. The square was packed with people watching little figures move on the clock tower during the bells. We walked to the Michael Jackson memorial which had recently been expanded to also include a shrine for his monkey. We were able to see the area where Hitler famously gave speeches as well.
That night myself and people from my hostel all hung out at the bar in the hostel basement. We played card games and learned games from everyone's countries. At midnight, you could hear all the Americans cheers to Independence Day.
The next day I went to the Deutsches Museum in the morning. There was so much to see it was ridiculous. I could have spent all day there (or maybe even multiple days) but after only a few hours my head hurt so much from learning and seeing so many things I had to leave.
After lunch I walked around the city and ran into one of the people I was with the previous night. We decided to hop on the S-bahn and spend the afternoon at Olympic park. It was so peaceful to be away from the city.
That night we walked to the grounds where Oktoberfest is held each year. On the way back back I spotted a line of taxis and knew there had to be something big going on. We snuck in. It was a party for some event. There were DJs and dancing so we stayed for a bit before heading home just before the sun.
Needless to say, today I slept in. I spent my afternoon at Dachau. It took about 4 hours to see the entire memorial, and only about a quarter of the camp is open to the public. Being alone, it was a very sobering experience.
I spent my last evening at the English Gardens. Again, it was very relaxing and nice to get our of the city for a little bit. I wish I would have had more time there before dark, but I figure it'll give me a reason to come back.
I'm off to Vienna tomorrow.
Until then,
Kristin
On my first full day in Munich I did a free tour of the city, which was at great way to learn a little and get my bearings. The tour started at the new town hall with the famous playing of the bells. The square was packed with people watching little figures move on the clock tower during the bells. We walked to the Michael Jackson memorial which had recently been expanded to also include a shrine for his monkey. We were able to see the area where Hitler famously gave speeches as well.
That night myself and people from my hostel all hung out at the bar in the hostel basement. We played card games and learned games from everyone's countries. At midnight, you could hear all the Americans cheers to Independence Day.
The next day I went to the Deutsches Museum in the morning. There was so much to see it was ridiculous. I could have spent all day there (or maybe even multiple days) but after only a few hours my head hurt so much from learning and seeing so many things I had to leave.
After lunch I walked around the city and ran into one of the people I was with the previous night. We decided to hop on the S-bahn and spend the afternoon at Olympic park. It was so peaceful to be away from the city.
That night we walked to the grounds where Oktoberfest is held each year. On the way back back I spotted a line of taxis and knew there had to be something big going on. We snuck in. It was a party for some event. There were DJs and dancing so we stayed for a bit before heading home just before the sun.
Needless to say, today I slept in. I spent my afternoon at Dachau. It took about 4 hours to see the entire memorial, and only about a quarter of the camp is open to the public. Being alone, it was a very sobering experience.
I spent my last evening at the English Gardens. Again, it was very relaxing and nice to get our of the city for a little bit. I wish I would have had more time there before dark, but I figure it'll give me a reason to come back.
I'm off to Vienna tomorrow.
Until then,
Kristin
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Venice and my first night in Munich
Venice might be the most confusing city in the world. I'll start with my crazy adventure of finding my hostel. As everyone knows, Venice is a small island. Well, the tourist office also knows this, and refuses to acknowledge that anything might possibly exist on the mainland.
I show the address to the info desk at the train station, and they tell me to go to the bus station, and they tell me to go to a different info desk just for the mainland, and they tell me to take the bus to Marghera and to ask the driver what stop to take for my street, and the driver tells me he doesn't know that street. So now I'm on a bus with mostly locals going to a town I've never been to go to go a street that a bus driver has never heard of. Great.
I decide to exit the bus at a stop that at least 5 people get off at and with a cafe near the corner so I can ask someone who works there. Turns out I got off at exactly the right stop and my hostel was a short 5 minute walk away. Seriously too good to be true.
We follow the signs around and visit San Marco and walk around the canal. We ended up going to a local festival at St. Peter's Basilica. There was live music, good, and wine. We played a festival game where you pull screws out of wood and if there is a black bottom you win a plant. We didn't win, but they did give candy for trying.
As we were sitting on a pier listening to music, some locals came to join us. We tagged along with them in their boat to a bar not far away and hung out for the evening. They even paid for us to take the water taxi home at the end of the night.
The next day we visited the Jewish ghetto. The square was full of history and the bakeries in the area were cheap and delicious.
We also visited Peggy Guggenheim's home and her personal collection of art. She was truly a leader for art and especially for artists starting out. Her belief was to support artists who are alive and not those who's art has already been seen. My favorite pieces were Pollack's.
I show the address to the info desk at the train station, and they tell me to go to the bus station, and they tell me to go to a different info desk just for the mainland, and they tell me to take the bus to Marghera and to ask the driver what stop to take for my street, and the driver tells me he doesn't know that street. So now I'm on a bus with mostly locals going to a town I've never been to go to go a street that a bus driver has never heard of. Great.
I decide to exit the bus at a stop that at least 5 people get off at and with a cafe near the corner so I can ask someone who works there. Turns out I got off at exactly the right stop and my hostel was a short 5 minute walk away. Seriously too good to be true.
At my hostel there was another American girl and we decided to tour Venice together, in hopes of not getting lost. Maps are totally worthless there. Seriously, if you go, don't buy one. No, they're not free.
We follow the signs around and visit San Marco and walk around the canal. We ended up going to a local festival at St. Peter's Basilica. There was live music, good, and wine. We played a festival game where you pull screws out of wood and if there is a black bottom you win a plant. We didn't win, but they did give candy for trying.
As we were sitting on a pier listening to music, some locals came to join us. We tagged along with them in their boat to a bar not far away and hung out for the evening. They even paid for us to take the water taxi home at the end of the night.
The next day we visited the Jewish ghetto. The square was full of history and the bakeries in the area were cheap and delicious.
We also visited Peggy Guggenheim's home and her personal collection of art. She was truly a leader for art and especially for artists starting out. Her belief was to support artists who are alive and not those who's art has already been seen. My favorite pieces were Pollack's.
Garden at Guggenheim:
My last meal in Venice was while I was waiting for my train. I walked just outside of the tourist area and found a little bakery where I got a pizza bread, and I also went to the market and got a cup of fresh fruit. I had lunch with a view (and for under 3€)
The train ride to Munich took 7 hours. While this took all day, the views of the alps were so beautiful that it was with it. I sat next to a woman who was born in Germany and moved to the Canada when she was young so she gave me a lot of advice about the country and what to do and see.
I wasn't in Munich for even an hour before I ventured to a beer garden with someone from my hostel. We spilt some sausage and kraut and had a few liters of beer.
The food already half gone:
We hung out with the people at our table and ended up being the last ones to leave. They already locked the gate so we had to crawl under it to get out.
Empty garden:
I'm excited to see what else Munich has to offer.
Until then,
Kristin
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