Hi all! So I was thinking today about how long it had been since we last blogged but when I logged in I was shocked to see that it hadn`t even been a week! So much has happened.
When we last updated, we were leaving Paris for Amsterdam...Amsterdam was a blast. We got there late in the evening, but a few girls in our hostel were going out to walk through the notorious red light district, so we decided to join them. It was a pretty weird experience, but it was fun to walk around Amsterdam that first night. Afterwards, we all went to one of Amsterdam`s many ´frites´ stands...they know how to do french fries there. The next day, we were all really excited to go to the Van Gogh museum, having seen some of his paintings in Paris. The museum was really close to our hostel, so we went right after breakfast. We loved the museum and spent a while in this gift shop afterwards (Megan and Gina bought Van Gogh lunchboxes, which actually came in handy for our picnics). After the museum, we took a tram to the center of the city because we had seen a brochure for a free walking tour. Despite the torrential downpour that was taking place during our 3-hour tour of the city, this was probably one of the best things we`ve done. Our tour guide was a college student from New York who was doing a study abroad program. She knew a ton of good stories and trivia about Amsterdam, so it really helped us see and understand the city. Just a few things we saw included the original Dutch East India Company (VOC), the smallest house in Amsterdam, execution square, and the `coffeeshop` featured in Ocean`s 12 (when George Clooney and Brad Pitt talk in code to that guy while Matt Damon tries to understand but ends up making an insulting comment). When the tour was over, we were exhausted and soaked, but definitely knew a lot more about Amsterdam. The next day, we went to the floating flower markets in the morning (LOTS of tulips) and walked around the Jewish district before catching our train to Berlin.
That was an experience. The was a broken-train-incident that resulted in a fun-filled day of waiting at train stations, taking extra buses, and great stuff like that. Anyway, we got to Berlin in the middle of the night a little travel-weary but excited for the next few days.
After having such a good tour in Amsterdam, we decided to do the same thing in Berlin. The company, New Europe, offers free tours in a bunch of cities so on our first day in Berlin we went to the Brandenburg Gates for another tour. We had another really good tour guide and were especially glad we took a tour because Berlin is really confusing but he showed us all of the good sites. Im out of internet time so I`ll stop here but just know that we had a great time in Berlin and Hamburg and are leaving for Copenhagen tomorrow! See you soon.
Emma
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
More Paris, and moving on!
So we're leaving Paris in a few hours, and we just wanted to update on everything we've done! Yesterday was another full day. While Emma was running Megan and I were woken up by pokes by the twin girls, who were eager to have breakfast with us. After cereal and a lot of piggy back rides, the three of us headed out to the Musee d'Orsay. There was a considerable line, but we got in after a while and spent about two hours looking around the incredible museum. I can't speak for everyone, but it was certainly my favorite of all the museums we've been to-- they have an incredible collection of Impressionist paintings, and it made us even more excited for the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam.
We were pretty exhausted after that, so we had a delicious lunch at a cafe and then walked down St Germain de Pres, stopping for some shopping and a bit of reading in the Luxembourg Gardens. Of course, we also stopped for a crepe each. We walked around the Latin Quarter as well, and then headed back to the apartment to eat dinner with the family. We had some more card playing extravagansas, and then I was enlisted to read the first Harry Potter to the twins, who were turning 10 the next day and thus were finally allowed to read the series. As you can probably assume, this was pretty much the best part of the trip for me-- I got through four chapters before their mom convinced them that they really had to go to sleep.
Oh! I forgot earlier that we spent about an hour in a French book store as well. I was sorely tempted by all the Harry Potter's in French, though the idea of carrying them around in my backpack persuaded me otherwise. French cookbooks were also very appealing, but somehow we all managed not to break the bank.
So then last night we were going to go out to Montmatre/Sacre Coeur, but we ended up being too exhausted so just walked down to look at the Eiffel Tower again and have a pre-bed crepe. Then this morning we celebrated the twins' birthday with a breakfast and lots of cards and chess games, and did some shopping around the apartment/Champs Elysees. And now we're off to Amsterdam! We'll update on that as soon as we can.
-Gina
We were pretty exhausted after that, so we had a delicious lunch at a cafe and then walked down St Germain de Pres, stopping for some shopping and a bit of reading in the Luxembourg Gardens. Of course, we also stopped for a crepe each. We walked around the Latin Quarter as well, and then headed back to the apartment to eat dinner with the family. We had some more card playing extravagansas, and then I was enlisted to read the first Harry Potter to the twins, who were turning 10 the next day and thus were finally allowed to read the series. As you can probably assume, this was pretty much the best part of the trip for me-- I got through four chapters before their mom convinced them that they really had to go to sleep.
Oh! I forgot earlier that we spent about an hour in a French book store as well. I was sorely tempted by all the Harry Potter's in French, though the idea of carrying them around in my backpack persuaded me otherwise. French cookbooks were also very appealing, but somehow we all managed not to break the bank.
So then last night we were going to go out to Montmatre/Sacre Coeur, but we ended up being too exhausted so just walked down to look at the Eiffel Tower again and have a pre-bed crepe. Then this morning we celebrated the twins' birthday with a breakfast and lots of cards and chess games, and did some shopping around the apartment/Champs Elysees. And now we're off to Amsterdam! We'll update on that as soon as we can.
-Gina
Monday, July 7, 2008
Lots of Switzerland, and our first day in Paris
Hi all!! So, its been a little while since our last post because we've been doing a lot of moving around. The day after Gina last posted, we went back to Grindelwald and went on a hike that had been recommended to us. It was absolutely gorgeous and gave us a really good view of the Grindelwald valley. We were all very excited to see snow in July, and the cows everywhere were - like everything else - SO Swiss. At the top of the hike (Pfingstegg, I think it was called), there was a roller coaster contraption that was something like a luge. We all went on it - each person got an individual metal sled and you could control the speed as you looped around the mountain side...pretty cool. That afternoon, we went back to our swimming spot in Interlaken, only to discover that the water was much much colder than it had been a few days before. It was no good for swimming, but still a fun spot.
After canceling our trip to Nice, we ended up with one exra night before coming to Paris. This night was spent in Lausanne...maybe not the most thrilling part of our trip so far. We left Interlaken on Saturday morning and took a train to Bern and then to Lausanne. That afternoon Gina and I reluctantly accompanied Megan on a visit to Chateau Chillon on Lake Geneva. The chateau actually ended up being pretty cool....and Megan's castle-quota was finally filled.
The next morning we left Lausanne pretty early to get to Geneva. I'm sad to say Geneva was equally unexciting. We needed to go there to catch our train to Paris, but the train didn't leave until 7pm so we had a day to kill. We shelped for an hour through the pouring rain to visit the UN building but other than that, the day was spent in the train station staying dry. We played played cards on stairs inside until we were forced to move to a plastic bubble (bus stop-style) outside (where we remained for 3 hours). So...fun day.
BUT ANYWAY...that doesn't matter because we are having an AMAZING time in Paris. We're staying in an appartment near Trocodoro, which is right across from the Eiffel Tower. The family we are with have 5 really cute kids and a gorgeous appartment that definitely beats the hostels we've been staying it lately. Yesterday morning (after I went running in the park at the Eiffel Tower....not a bad way to start the day), we walked to the Pompidou, which is the largest collection of modern art in Europe. We had a really good time there and stayed until about 1:30. We found a creperie for lunch and then set off for Notre Dame. Later in the day, we walked on Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. We came back to the appartment for dinner and then, last night, we climbed up the stairs in the Eiffel Tower! The tower has blue lights and a ring of stars on it right now because France is the head of the EU this year.
I'm going to end my post here and Megan or Gina will fill you in on our 2nd day in Paris...I can't believe we leave for Amsterdam tomorrow!!!
-Emma
After canceling our trip to Nice, we ended up with one exra night before coming to Paris. This night was spent in Lausanne...maybe not the most thrilling part of our trip so far. We left Interlaken on Saturday morning and took a train to Bern and then to Lausanne. That afternoon Gina and I reluctantly accompanied Megan on a visit to Chateau Chillon on Lake Geneva. The chateau actually ended up being pretty cool....and Megan's castle-quota was finally filled.
The next morning we left Lausanne pretty early to get to Geneva. I'm sad to say Geneva was equally unexciting. We needed to go there to catch our train to Paris, but the train didn't leave until 7pm so we had a day to kill. We shelped for an hour through the pouring rain to visit the UN building but other than that, the day was spent in the train station staying dry. We played played cards on stairs inside until we were forced to move to a plastic bubble (bus stop-style) outside (where we remained for 3 hours). So...fun day.
BUT ANYWAY...that doesn't matter because we are having an AMAZING time in Paris. We're staying in an appartment near Trocodoro, which is right across from the Eiffel Tower. The family we are with have 5 really cute kids and a gorgeous appartment that definitely beats the hostels we've been staying it lately. Yesterday morning (after I went running in the park at the Eiffel Tower....not a bad way to start the day), we walked to the Pompidou, which is the largest collection of modern art in Europe. We had a really good time there and stayed until about 1:30. We found a creperie for lunch and then set off for Notre Dame. Later in the day, we walked on Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. We came back to the appartment for dinner and then, last night, we climbed up the stairs in the Eiffel Tower! The tower has blue lights and a ring of stars on it right now because France is the head of the EU this year.
I'm going to end my post here and Megan or Gina will fill you in on our 2nd day in Paris...I can't believe we leave for Amsterdam tomorrow!!!
-Emma
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Day 10: Grindelwald!
So basically we love Switzerland. We went to Grindelwald today, knowing little about it except that it inspired J.K. Rowling to name a dark wizard after it which, frankly, was good enough for us.
Aaand it was pretty awesome. We were wandering around taking pictures and wondering what to do (after having taking shelter from the rain in the cutest cafe), when an American woman started chatting to us. She has been going to Grindelwald for forty years, and was on the way to a display of Landart from a recent competition that she said we had to see. So we ambled down the valley with her, and were rewarded by amazing artwork made entirely out of moss, sticks, bends in the river, etc. It was incredible. She also told us a lot about the mountains, taught us some German, and was generally very helpful. Basically she convinced us that leaving tomorrow would be crazy, so we came back to our hostel, booked another night, and are planning on taking a hike in Grindelwald tomorrow and then hopefully going to Lausanne for the night of the fifth, before Paris. Though expensive, Switzerland is definitely our favorite country we've been to so far-- everything's gorgeous, and we can frequently be heard to remark that something just looks 'so Swiss.' It's basically exactly what you imagine Switzerland to be, which is awesome.
So that's about it. We miss everyone!
-Gina
Aaand it was pretty awesome. We were wandering around taking pictures and wondering what to do (after having taking shelter from the rain in the cutest cafe), when an American woman started chatting to us. She has been going to Grindelwald for forty years, and was on the way to a display of Landart from a recent competition that she said we had to see. So we ambled down the valley with her, and were rewarded by amazing artwork made entirely out of moss, sticks, bends in the river, etc. It was incredible. She also told us a lot about the mountains, taught us some German, and was generally very helpful. Basically she convinced us that leaving tomorrow would be crazy, so we came back to our hostel, booked another night, and are planning on taking a hike in Grindelwald tomorrow and then hopefully going to Lausanne for the night of the fifth, before Paris. Though expensive, Switzerland is definitely our favorite country we've been to so far-- everything's gorgeous, and we can frequently be heard to remark that something just looks 'so Swiss.' It's basically exactly what you imagine Switzerland to be, which is awesome.
So that's about it. We miss everyone!
-Gina
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Days in Venice (6-7?): Just too hot
Sorry things are a bit skrewy tonight but internet is expensive that the stupid swiss keyboards have switched the Y and Z keys which makes this especially difficult. So Venice was in a world...HOT! It was exactly the way everyone said it would be - beautiful but overcrowded with tourists.
But first our train ride which Emma never got to fill you in on before because our time ran out and Germany lost (sad, sorry Angus). We were housed in a tiny train car from Vienna to Venice for 12 hours (although it normally only takes seven) with three other people, two Norwegians - who were eeerily stereotypical 6 ft 15 and sandy blond hair- and a mute Korean guy who went to bed on the top bunk when we boarded the train and slept till we got off at 9:30 the next morning (it ended up takiong even more than 12 hours because the train stopped for some unknown reason in Salzburg and we had to switch engines - which was actually nice because it gave us time to explore the train station where Mozart grew up and learn that in the next town over was the father who inpregnmazted his daughter 7 times and kept her locked in the station (the Norwegians had taken the train out to look at the house earlier that day). But, on the whole the train ride was a lot of fun and we taught the Norwegians to play Hearts (Lawrence style, thanks Mom). We had a lot of fun and woke up the next morning tired, but eager to explore Venice.
Little did we know, however, that Venice is hot! We spent the first hour or so after settling into our hostel (which was located in Guidecca, on the Grand Canal directly across from St. Marks Square. The square was beautiful but overcrowded and reminesent of Disney World in the Summer according to all of our guidebooks. Buit we had fun looking around and visiting thousands of different churches. We also went to the Accedemia Museum which was amazing and housed Venetian art chologolically and allowed us to see its progression - they used a lot of gold leaf we noticed, any ideas where they got it all because it covers the entire city? We also went Muranno to see the glass blowing, but we went on a Sunday so no one was working. We did get to look at all the glass ware though and enjoy their airconditiong. Sadly, the heat soon wore us out and we were forced to retreat to our hostel each afternoon for a siesta. But our favourite part of the trip was the evening, when it was cool enough to venture outside, and many of the tourists had gone. There were orchestras in St Marks square and the light was beautiful over the water and we enjoyed riding along the grand canal and then trying to make our way back through the Our Consclusion - Venice should be located at a latitude where there is limited sunlight, like the North Pole.
Our third day in Venice we woke up early to catch the train to Milan - the first train of 4 on our way to Interlaken - but it was raining - like torential downpour - so the ferry was crowded and we were in the back and couldnt get off so we were stuck for another few hours in a corner of the train station with similarly standed backpackers. So for an hour or so the floor of the trainstation was taken over by different card games played in a least 4 different languages. It was quite posssibly the best part of the trip so far.
- Megan
But first our train ride which Emma never got to fill you in on before because our time ran out and Germany lost (sad, sorry Angus). We were housed in a tiny train car from Vienna to Venice for 12 hours (although it normally only takes seven) with three other people, two Norwegians - who were eeerily stereotypical 6 ft 15 and sandy blond hair- and a mute Korean guy who went to bed on the top bunk when we boarded the train and slept till we got off at 9:30 the next morning (it ended up takiong even more than 12 hours because the train stopped for some unknown reason in Salzburg and we had to switch engines - which was actually nice because it gave us time to explore the train station where Mozart grew up and learn that in the next town over was the father who inpregnmazted his daughter 7 times and kept her locked in the station (the Norwegians had taken the train out to look at the house earlier that day). But, on the whole the train ride was a lot of fun and we taught the Norwegians to play Hearts (Lawrence style, thanks Mom). We had a lot of fun and woke up the next morning tired, but eager to explore Venice.
Little did we know, however, that Venice is hot! We spent the first hour or so after settling into our hostel (which was located in Guidecca, on the Grand Canal directly across from St. Marks Square. The square was beautiful but overcrowded and reminesent of Disney World in the Summer according to all of our guidebooks. Buit we had fun looking around and visiting thousands of different churches. We also went to the Accedemia Museum which was amazing and housed Venetian art chologolically and allowed us to see its progression - they used a lot of gold leaf we noticed, any ideas where they got it all because it covers the entire city? We also went Muranno to see the glass blowing, but we went on a Sunday so no one was working. We did get to look at all the glass ware though and enjoy their airconditiong. Sadly, the heat soon wore us out and we were forced to retreat to our hostel each afternoon for a siesta. But our favourite part of the trip was the evening, when it was cool enough to venture outside, and many of the tourists had gone. There were orchestras in St Marks square and the light was beautiful over the water and we enjoyed riding along the grand canal and then trying to make our way back through the Our Consclusion - Venice should be located at a latitude where there is limited sunlight, like the North Pole.
Our third day in Venice we woke up early to catch the train to Milan - the first train of 4 on our way to Interlaken - but it was raining - like torential downpour - so the ferry was crowded and we were in the back and couldnt get off so we were stuck for another few hours in a corner of the train station with similarly standed backpackers. So for an hour or so the floor of the trainstation was taken over by different card games played in a least 4 different languages. It was quite posssibly the best part of the trip so far.
- Megan
Days 8-9 Travel Day\Interlaken
Hi! This is going to be a little out of order because Megan is doing dazs 7-8 but she started after me...so read hers first!
So, anyway...I^m writing to you from our Hostel in Interlaken, Switzerland! We got here last night after a long day on the train from Venice. Yesterday morning, we took the vaporetto from our Hostel on the island Giudecca (just across the Grand Canal from St. Marks Square) to the train station. For the first time on our trip, it was pouring rain. This, combined with the fact that the vaporetto was so packed that we missed our stop, made the morning a little bit stressful. We missed the first train to Milan (one of the many stops on our way here)but it all worked out eventually. We took trains from Venice to Milan, Milan to Brig, and finally Brig to Bern. Even though our final destination was Interlaken, we decided to get off the train in Bern and explore a little bit...definitely a good idea (thanks Megan). Bern is the capital of Switzerland (you probably know that, I did not) and is a gorgeous city. Google-image it or something because it is seriously amazing. We rented bikes next the train station and rode them around for about an hour...Bern is on a river, so we went over a bridge a couple of times. We were all amazed by the color of the water...its not normal river-color, but more like the water in the Caribbean. We ate dinner in Bern too, before taking our last train to Interlaken.
Today was probably one of my favorite days of the trip so far (which is why I was assigned to writing about today...Megan and Gina might give you a different description of the hike we went on). So, we had breakfast in our hostel this morning (muesli and a banana and unlimited ovaltine...pretty good as far as hostel breakfasts go) before setting off for a REALLY cool hike. We climbed up Harder Kulm, which is a smaller hike from Interlaken up to a restaurant. The hike (and the restaurant, where we stopped for ice cream) gave us incredible views of Interlaken and the surrounding mountains. It took us a while, though, and we didn¨'t get back down until about 3 this afternoon. We grabbed lunch and ate it in town before going back to the hostel for a little bit. We spend the evening swimming at one of the lakes (Interlaken is between 2 lakes...I^m not sure what this one was called, but it was near the Interlaken Ost train station if someone cares). Afterwards, we relaxed for a while by the lake. We were amazed by how quintessentially Swiss everything was, between the cows and the mountains and the millions of Swiss flags everwhere.
Tomorrow, we¨re headed to Grindelwald to see more of the Alps, though I don't think the 5 hour hike I suggested will actuallz happen.
Miss you°
xo EMma
So, anyway...I^m writing to you from our Hostel in Interlaken, Switzerland! We got here last night after a long day on the train from Venice. Yesterday morning, we took the vaporetto from our Hostel on the island Giudecca (just across the Grand Canal from St. Marks Square) to the train station. For the first time on our trip, it was pouring rain. This, combined with the fact that the vaporetto was so packed that we missed our stop, made the morning a little bit stressful. We missed the first train to Milan (one of the many stops on our way here)but it all worked out eventually. We took trains from Venice to Milan, Milan to Brig, and finally Brig to Bern. Even though our final destination was Interlaken, we decided to get off the train in Bern and explore a little bit...definitely a good idea (thanks Megan). Bern is the capital of Switzerland (you probably know that, I did not) and is a gorgeous city. Google-image it or something because it is seriously amazing. We rented bikes next the train station and rode them around for about an hour...Bern is on a river, so we went over a bridge a couple of times. We were all amazed by the color of the water...its not normal river-color, but more like the water in the Caribbean. We ate dinner in Bern too, before taking our last train to Interlaken.
Today was probably one of my favorite days of the trip so far (which is why I was assigned to writing about today...Megan and Gina might give you a different description of the hike we went on). So, we had breakfast in our hostel this morning (muesli and a banana and unlimited ovaltine...pretty good as far as hostel breakfasts go) before setting off for a REALLY cool hike. We climbed up Harder Kulm, which is a smaller hike from Interlaken up to a restaurant. The hike (and the restaurant, where we stopped for ice cream) gave us incredible views of Interlaken and the surrounding mountains. It took us a while, though, and we didn¨'t get back down until about 3 this afternoon. We grabbed lunch and ate it in town before going back to the hostel for a little bit. We spend the evening swimming at one of the lakes (Interlaken is between 2 lakes...I^m not sure what this one was called, but it was near the Interlaken Ost train station if someone cares). Afterwards, we relaxed for a while by the lake. We were amazed by how quintessentially Swiss everything was, between the cows and the mountains and the millions of Swiss flags everwhere.
Tomorrow, we¨re headed to Grindelwald to see more of the Alps, though I don't think the 5 hour hike I suggested will actuallz happen.
Miss you°
xo EMma
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Day 5- Vienna Part II
Sorry this will be quick but the Euro Cup is on behind me and I bought Angus a German souvenir when we were in Vienna - so now I really need Germany to win!
Anyways, Vienna is incredible (best city we have seen so far). We started off our second day at a HI Hostel (thanks for the tip Lucy, you were right the strawberry yogurt makes it all worthwhile) which was in Huttledorf on the outskirts of the city but it was clean and safe and our roommates were very nice (everyone has been wondering about the hostel situation so I thought I would take a second to fill you in). Our first stop was the Belvedere Palace which was amazing! The gardens were incredible and completely surpassed all of my Palace fantasies. When they finally dragged me away, we went to see the Catacombs under Stephansdom where we had the worlds best tour guide who repeated everything in three languages and had no idea what he was saying when reciting the English version. But we saw Bishops innards and bones from the black plague so it was definitely a success. Next we tried some of Viennas famous Sachertorte (as per Mitchels recommendation) which also exceeded expectations. Our favourite part of Vienna though was Am Hof square which houses the Church of 9 Angels where Mozart held his first performance. The whole square was surrounded by adorable old building and used to be a jousting square - giving it a rather exciting history. It also had these tiny little fire engines that are housed in a old stable (or something) and we had a lot of fun watching them come and go. Finally, we went to a castle, only to find that it had been invaded by the EuroCup (and the worlds largest shoebox which is simply too cool to describe here). So we spent a good half hour listening to Austrians cover American songs that they did not know the lyrics to.
Spain just scored so I have to go pay attention now but I will get Gina to desribe our epic night train ride.
Megan
Anyways, Vienna is incredible (best city we have seen so far). We started off our second day at a HI Hostel (thanks for the tip Lucy, you were right the strawberry yogurt makes it all worthwhile) which was in Huttledorf on the outskirts of the city but it was clean and safe and our roommates were very nice (everyone has been wondering about the hostel situation so I thought I would take a second to fill you in). Our first stop was the Belvedere Palace which was amazing! The gardens were incredible and completely surpassed all of my Palace fantasies. When they finally dragged me away, we went to see the Catacombs under Stephansdom where we had the worlds best tour guide who repeated everything in three languages and had no idea what he was saying when reciting the English version. But we saw Bishops innards and bones from the black plague so it was definitely a success. Next we tried some of Viennas famous Sachertorte (as per Mitchels recommendation) which also exceeded expectations. Our favourite part of Vienna though was Am Hof square which houses the Church of 9 Angels where Mozart held his first performance. The whole square was surrounded by adorable old building and used to be a jousting square - giving it a rather exciting history. It also had these tiny little fire engines that are housed in a old stable (or something) and we had a lot of fun watching them come and go. Finally, we went to a castle, only to find that it had been invaded by the EuroCup (and the worlds largest shoebox which is simply too cool to describe here). So we spent a good half hour listening to Austrians cover American songs that they did not know the lyrics to.
Spain just scored so I have to go pay attention now but I will get Gina to desribe our epic night train ride.
Megan
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