Sunday, February 15, 2009

left Germany, now in Prague.

Man, the last couple of weeks have gone by so fast, it is hard to believe we've been in Europe for just a little over a month already!


Amsterdam was absolutely perfect. I loved it. It was small enough to walk everywhere (some people would argue with that, but if you have legs and don't mind a half hr walk, there is no where you can't go). There bikes EVERYWHERE!! and very few cars besides taxis and police. Most everyone walking around is our age, and the city just has a very quaint vibe to it. The canals and apartments along the canals add an unremarkable beauty to Amsterdam. It was cold, but never too cold, and people were very nice. We felt safe and stayed at a great hostel (Orfeo), for a great price...oh and the red light district, not all its cracked up to be, more shocked by Burbon St. in New Orleans actually.

Germany: WHAT A PLACE!
we were able to travel virtually anywhere for free because our e-rail passes allowed us on all the subway systems, which saved us lots of money, time and energy!

Berlin - I know that Berlin has a massive dark and powerful history, but it wasn't until we really walked through it all and begin to learn about everything that we could truly appreciate this massive city. There is no where in the world we have been with which such a hard, and powerful past like Berlin. Buildings either hold battle wounds from WWII, smoke wounds from when the city used coal to heat, or massively beautiful statues, structures and architecture. We stayed in West Berlin first, which was nice, but boring, mainly because our hostel was DEAD, it was seriously very errie. However, it would be perfect for a family. It was called Stayforcheap Hostel, and it was in a building built in 1905. I felt like i was in Harry Potter and I was scared it was haunted at night. Once we moved to East Berlin, we stayed at The Generator, which is this massive hostel, crawling with young people, action and fun. It was great for us, we had key cards like a hotel. We had a very interesting roommate, and I only use interesting for making this post Politically correct and not because it is the right word, can't wait to tell you all about it when we get home. Overall, Berlin = Amazing...the history was truly beyond powerful. Go on the free tour if you go to Berlin, very great guide and gives you info you couldn't find or read unless you spent weeks doing research on everything, they sum the history up well in 3 and 1/2 hrs.

Munich: love love love it! Munich, unlike Berlin, was small enough (it's city central) for us to get around very easily. We took the same free tour in Munich, which was honestly, pretty bad. That could be due to the weather because it was snowing like a mad dog on our three hour tour and the guide was not excited at all. The history about Munich in some ways was very similar to Berlin. Before Hitler became big, he worked for the Bavarian Government, and it was very interesting to hear about Hitler before he started to take over. Did you know that in one of Hitler's attempts to take over with his ideas of Nazism, his bodyguard jumped in front of the Bovarian government shooting at him, to take something like 12 bullets. If he hadn't done that, Hitler would have been hit, killed, and dead before WWII and the Holoucaust ever happend. Crazy huh. We spent Valentine's Day here and had a lovely sushi fiest. I would have liked to stay in Germany longer, there are so many more places I would like to go, like THE ROMANTIC ROAD!! Baden Baden, etc. Hopefully we can come back before our trip is over and go to those places.

side note: people in germany like to drink, we saw/delt with multiple crazies due to too much liquor...and you'd think that at 8 am, they'd be passed out, but no...we were even harrassed on our train to Prague, twice. Needless to say, I am very glad we have each other.

Prague: just got here and haven't got to see the city yet. We decided last minute to go to Prague because it is so cheap, and everywhere else is quite pricey right now because of the Carnival Festival. We might end up staying here for a couple weeks, taking day trips and traveling through the Checz republic because it is so cheap for us. We were able to get our own private room for 16.00 us dollars a night (for each of us), which is amazing!

Hope all are well at home. We love you all and miss you lots. We are learning so much, not only about the history and culture of everywhere we go, but about Americans, non Americans, communicating with people who don't speak the same language, but also, we are learning a lot about each other, travelling isn't always fun and glamorous, but we are definately making it work and having so much fun along the way!!
We uploaded a ton more photos, and I am trying to go back and put captions on things for you guys, I put captions on all of Amsterdam's album, some Berlin, and Paris, hopefully, we can get them all up. NOW is a good time to email us, because we have free internet at the hostel we are staying at! LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Jas and Chris

4 comments:

  1. Hello, Jas and Chris! Wow what a great entry. I'm so impressed with the writing! So descriptive and engaging that I feel like I'm there. I'm glad Prague is affordable because I thought it would be more expensive! Hungary will have many buildings with bullet holes from the war too unless they've been torn down...so be sure to the email I sent about contacting Kinga. Thinks are good here...still a little cold and we will miss not going to Mexico. The photos are nice and the captions really help..so thanks for taking the time to do that. On the home front...Mikayla is pulling herself up and standing in the crib! I saw her today at Nagymama's house. I gave a speech as Susan B. Anthony Saturday.....your dad is getting a couple of crowns in his teeth and I ordered flowers from Myra for Nagymama and Nagypapa...they loved them. More later! Love, Mom Maria

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  2. Hi Chris and Jas,
    Belated Happy Valentine's Day to two lovebirds! I am glad you two have the chance to experience all this. History books pale in comparison to being there isn't it? I firmly believe travelling broadens one's horizon and I know you will look at people and things and America differently from now on.
    Valentine's day was ok. I planned down between 35 to 40 % because of 2 reasons..one it is on Saturday and beginning of a long weekend which allows people to dao other things, and secondly6 because of the economy. I think I was right on in my projections,though it would have been nice to be proven wrong. I am glad it is over now. Today I sang at church. After that Fred and Audrey made Steph and I breakfast. The cable in the garage door broke, so tomorrow I will have to look into it. This coming week we will be getting ready for the competition Interlake is hosting as our major fundraiser for the Drill Team. I really enjoyed reading about your account and pictures, so keep it up ok? Seems like you've been gone for a long time though it's only been little over a month! Take care of each other.Miss and love you both.Love, Mom Myra
    ps. Thanks for the Valentine's Day text Chris. I will give check to Maria on Tuesday.

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  3. Hi guys! Sounds like you're getting to experience a ton of cool stuff, i am pretty jealous. Okie just jumped onto the computer table and i gave him a kiss for you! Anyway, I'm gonna be extremely busy soon, with our drill competition on saturday that we're hosting. then after that it's districts the first weekend of march, then state at the end of march. Stay safe, don't talk to creeps and "carpe diem!"

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  4. Great pictures friends! I LOVE Prague. See if you can get a guide to show you around. It's history is still in the making and boy is it full of trauma, destruction and hope. Check out the Communism Museum too, and the changing of the guard at the caste, and.....! :) And of course, please enjoy the Pilsner :)
    XOXO from Cambodia

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