Today is my last day in Warsaw and as I have free internet at the current hostel, might as well make the most of it. Two of my three days here have been rainy, which is unfortunate, because Warsaw in the rain...not really a sight to behold. I did manage to walk around a bit, find an English bookstore and pick up the thickest book I could find. I also found a movie theatre that plays Polish movies once a week with English subtitles. I saw We Are All Christs. It was very good-a very moving story about an alcoholic and the havoc it causes in his life.
Yesterday, however, it was sunny and gorgeous and I made my way around quite nicely.
First I visited the Warsaw Uprising Museum, which was pretty good--definitely worth a go and the 3zlotys I paid as a student to get in. Not sure exactly what the exchange is except that my hostel costs roughly 10 euros a night, so 30euros total, which was 120 zloty. I am so not a fan of currencies like this. 3-4 zloty for a coke, 5 for a bag of chips. I can't do that kind of math in my head, people! Anyway, the museum, as I said, was eye opening. I thought I knew about the Warsaw uprising, but I didn't. The only downside (and I'm going to sound like an ignorant American here) was the language barrier. They posted most of the stuff in English as well as Polish, but it was very badly translated and, as I mentioned, some stuff was only in Polish. I know, this is Poland, where they speak Polish. But, if they want tourism to increase, they need to work on this. Polish is not a mainstream language...I would like to learn it though.
Afterwards I went to Stare Miasto, the old town square, which is actually fairly new since the whole of Warsaw had to be rebuilt after WWII. It was beautiful. A bit more touristy then the rest of Warsaw which is very commercialized, but also full of folksy art shops and little squares with fountains, etc. I walked around for about an hour and then settled on a bench next to the Little Mermaid statue to take in the sights.
I started to get a bit of a sore throat/stuffy nose. Not unusual as I've been cohabitating with a bunch of sick people in each city...about one per room probably. I also went outside in the pouring rain here in Warsaw with wet hair...so, yeah. Needless to say, I rested last night and slept in a bit this morning. I awoke to rain, lots of rain. Used my bus pass that I'd purchased and went to the train station where I reserved my next two trains, as they are to Krakow and then to Prague (not the kind of train you just hop on once per hour). I did some window shopping in a giant mall and then went to see The Reader (or Lektor, in Polish) at the cinema down the street. It was in English with Polish subtitles. Great way to spend a rainy afternoon.
I have an early train tomorrow morning, so I'll probably head in early. Look forward to the next exciting installment--KRAKOW! Heads up--I have signed up for an Auschwitz/Birkenau tour and a Schindler's List tour. :)
Saturday 29 August 2009
Thursday 27 August 2009
Munchen
Well, I have just arrived in rainy Warsaw via the sleeper train from Berlin. I had spent the previous two nights in Munich before heading back to Berlin to catch the train to Warsaw.
Here's the update on Munich-- great city, though not as great as Berlin, in my humble opinion. I enjoyed an enlightening trip to Dachau concentration camp which was way more intense than Sachsunhausend (I still have no idea how to spell that). Besides my trip to Dachau, I meandered around Munich, watched the famous glockenspiel do its thing (for 10 minutes...as in it went off for 10 whole minutes) and spent a lot of time in this little park right off of Odeoplatz. This park was AMAZING. I didn't feel like I was in Germany at all, but rather some Jane Austen novel. I layed out on the grass, listened to local musicians play classical music and watched beaucoup of PDA (only because I couldn't avoid it. These Munich people, sheesh). Another magical experience in Germany, if I do say so myself.
I had two roommates from CA. I swear, I've met Aussies and people from CA only on this trip. It's ridiculous. They were very nice, although we didn't hang out a lot together outside of the room. It did make for some nice conversation, however.
So, as I said, I'm in Warsaw. I've seen pretty much the train station and a few streets. It's super rainy, although I think the rain has actually stopped and it's just dreary. I'm debating whether to venture out alone, find a tour, or just go back to bed! I did, you know, take an overnight train...i have an excuse to sleep, right??
I need to learn Polish. Now.
Here's the update on Munich-- great city, though not as great as Berlin, in my humble opinion. I enjoyed an enlightening trip to Dachau concentration camp which was way more intense than Sachsunhausend (I still have no idea how to spell that). Besides my trip to Dachau, I meandered around Munich, watched the famous glockenspiel do its thing (for 10 minutes...as in it went off for 10 whole minutes) and spent a lot of time in this little park right off of Odeoplatz. This park was AMAZING. I didn't feel like I was in Germany at all, but rather some Jane Austen novel. I layed out on the grass, listened to local musicians play classical music and watched beaucoup of PDA (only because I couldn't avoid it. These Munich people, sheesh). Another magical experience in Germany, if I do say so myself.
I had two roommates from CA. I swear, I've met Aussies and people from CA only on this trip. It's ridiculous. They were very nice, although we didn't hang out a lot together outside of the room. It did make for some nice conversation, however.
So, as I said, I'm in Warsaw. I've seen pretty much the train station and a few streets. It's super rainy, although I think the rain has actually stopped and it's just dreary. I'm debating whether to venture out alone, find a tour, or just go back to bed! I did, you know, take an overnight train...i have an excuse to sleep, right??
I need to learn Polish. Now.
Monday 24 August 2009
Germany...Where everybody (can pronounce) my name
What can I say? Is this really my life? This time last year, even this time 3 months ago I was slaving away in 'pharmaceutical organisation' thinking the time to break out would never come. Here it is, and I am absolutely, positively, without a doubt in LOVE with Germany. It is magic.
Berlin, Berlin, Berlin. If I could manage to actually learn German someday, I might forgo my dream of England and move there. The culture and history is vast and fantastic; they've done a surprisingly great job of commemorating their past (good and bad) and intrigrating technology and current events into the city. I actually stayed in East Berlin, and this probably sounds naive, but I really didn't want to. I wasn't aware of how Berlin would actually be 20 years after reunification and the thought of getting 'stuck' on the east did occur to me more than once. Turns out, East Berlin is the Berlin to be in. I was a few minutes walk from all the sites and hardly even ventured into the west despite living there for 4 days. The wall, of course, was heartbreaking and kind of magical all at once. The stories of desperation that you hear about people crossing the wall; the stealth and precision of the German/Soviet population in creating the wall...it's all awe-inspiring, for different reasons.
Friday, I made my way to Sachenshausend (which I cannot pronounce or spell) concentration camp. I decided to go with a tour group in case the sights were too much for me. Those of you who know me well, know my obsession with the Holocaust and also my utter inability to make it through the DC museum intact. I did it though! This camp was a work camp, which in no way undermines the shear amount of death and destruction that occured, but it does make for an easier transition into the dark sights. Most of the camp was destroyed post liberation by Soviet troops who then used the camp for their own prison in a very ironic sort of way. Some structures are still intact, and the museum people have done a great job restoring other parts and memorializing the camp and its inhabitants. I placed a stone on a barrack memorial (for me and for you, Lizzle).
I met a couple of people at my second hostel in Berlin and was actually able to go out Friday night. Irish pub for a few strongbows and Karaoke. I love German karaoke. The thick German accent is adorable coming from a bunch of drunks!
I am now in Cologne Germany for about another hour. I came to Cologne as an easy stop over on the train and to see the sights--- Chocolate Museum. Hershey Park still wins in my opinion. Next I'm off to Munich.
Last night, however, I ventured out on my own around 9 30 and ended up in front of the massive Dom Cathedral sitting on the steps and listening to two guys play guitar and sing Oasis tunes. Definitely magical. I then noticed a bookstore still open on a Sunday night at 10, so I headed over. I bought the cutest little journal, very small--passport size--with parchment-like paper. I wasn't going to keep a journal because I was doing the blog and I didn't want to carry it around, but alas, it was cute and cheap and I gave in.
On a very lame and dorky note- In Copenhagen I picked up Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban from the book pile. I finished it last night and was in a panic as to what I would read next (especially since I really just wanted to read HP forever). Then, to my great amazement, Goblet of Fire was awaiting me in the Cologne hostel book pile. I told you Germany was magical.
Berlin, Berlin, Berlin. If I could manage to actually learn German someday, I might forgo my dream of England and move there. The culture and history is vast and fantastic; they've done a surprisingly great job of commemorating their past (good and bad) and intrigrating technology and current events into the city. I actually stayed in East Berlin, and this probably sounds naive, but I really didn't want to. I wasn't aware of how Berlin would actually be 20 years after reunification and the thought of getting 'stuck' on the east did occur to me more than once. Turns out, East Berlin is the Berlin to be in. I was a few minutes walk from all the sites and hardly even ventured into the west despite living there for 4 days. The wall, of course, was heartbreaking and kind of magical all at once. The stories of desperation that you hear about people crossing the wall; the stealth and precision of the German/Soviet population in creating the wall...it's all awe-inspiring, for different reasons.
Friday, I made my way to Sachenshausend (which I cannot pronounce or spell) concentration camp. I decided to go with a tour group in case the sights were too much for me. Those of you who know me well, know my obsession with the Holocaust and also my utter inability to make it through the DC museum intact. I did it though! This camp was a work camp, which in no way undermines the shear amount of death and destruction that occured, but it does make for an easier transition into the dark sights. Most of the camp was destroyed post liberation by Soviet troops who then used the camp for their own prison in a very ironic sort of way. Some structures are still intact, and the museum people have done a great job restoring other parts and memorializing the camp and its inhabitants. I placed a stone on a barrack memorial (for me and for you, Lizzle).
I met a couple of people at my second hostel in Berlin and was actually able to go out Friday night. Irish pub for a few strongbows and Karaoke. I love German karaoke. The thick German accent is adorable coming from a bunch of drunks!
I am now in Cologne Germany for about another hour. I came to Cologne as an easy stop over on the train and to see the sights--- Chocolate Museum. Hershey Park still wins in my opinion. Next I'm off to Munich.
Last night, however, I ventured out on my own around 9 30 and ended up in front of the massive Dom Cathedral sitting on the steps and listening to two guys play guitar and sing Oasis tunes. Definitely magical. I then noticed a bookstore still open on a Sunday night at 10, so I headed over. I bought the cutest little journal, very small--passport size--with parchment-like paper. I wasn't going to keep a journal because I was doing the blog and I didn't want to carry it around, but alas, it was cute and cheap and I gave in.
On a very lame and dorky note- In Copenhagen I picked up Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban from the book pile. I finished it last night and was in a panic as to what I would read next (especially since I really just wanted to read HP forever). Then, to my great amazement, Goblet of Fire was awaiting me in the Cologne hostel book pile. I told you Germany was magical.
Thursday 20 August 2009
Berlin is love
This will be short and quick as i have 7mins of internet time left.
I am loving Berlin and feeling so much better about this trip then I was in Copenhagen. Berlin is just amazing... the history, the architecture, the people. So amazing in fact that ive booked two more nights here before probably taking the train to Cologne where there is...get this, a Chocolate museum.
When i arrived in Berlin i did a makeshift walking tour to bebelplatz to see the place where they burned all those books. Very moving monument. Ive taken tons of pictures (MARIA), but i probably wont post them until im back in Oxford.
Ill write more at another time, but i just wanted to add this little tidbit. The best part about Copenhagen was leaving...because on the train from there to Berlin you have to take a ferry at one point. So the train actually drives onto the ferry, you get off for 40 mins then get back on the train and youre in germany. AMAZING! I thought.
Tchuss!
I am loving Berlin and feeling so much better about this trip then I was in Copenhagen. Berlin is just amazing... the history, the architecture, the people. So amazing in fact that ive booked two more nights here before probably taking the train to Cologne where there is...get this, a Chocolate museum.
When i arrived in Berlin i did a makeshift walking tour to bebelplatz to see the place where they burned all those books. Very moving monument. Ive taken tons of pictures (MARIA), but i probably wont post them until im back in Oxford.
Ill write more at another time, but i just wanted to add this little tidbit. The best part about Copenhagen was leaving...because on the train from there to Berlin you have to take a ferry at one point. So the train actually drives onto the ferry, you get off for 40 mins then get back on the train and youre in germany. AMAZING! I thought.
Tchuss!
Tuesday 18 August 2009
Kobenhavn...ehh.
Today I arrived in Copenhagen, Denmark the first stop on my whirlwind tour around Europe. I have to say that i'm slightly disappointed. The hostel seems nice; however it doesn't seem to be in a great location--as in I'm glad that I have to get up so early tomorrow to catch my train so i'll be in early tonight.
From the moment I got off the plane things didn't go quite right, which isn't a problem but the people aren't very friendly either. Maybe I am a bit spoiled in America...? But the last few days in England have been very welcoming. My plane was late due to an electrical problem. We sat at the gate for a while..not sure how long because i had already turned my phone off and for once i was out on a plane. I slept the entire way here. The staff on the plane were very nice however, they gave us a free drink for making us sit in the hot plane for so long and they were just pleasant. seats were great too. If you're ever flying around these parts I highly recommend Scandanavian air.
Anyway, the lateness put me in chaos for finding a bus/train/metro anything to get to the hostel by 2 30 and the people working both the information booth and the ticket booth were just rude. I understand i don't speak your language-even though they spoke english and advertised it-- and i'm taking up a lot of your time because i'm completely lost, but sheesh.
That aside, my summary of copenhagen is this: Some parts look like Amsterdam (good thing) but the whole thing feels like Brussels (bad thing). Alas, my time here is up. Tomorrow I'll be in `Berlin which is supposed to be fantastic. We'll see!
From the moment I got off the plane things didn't go quite right, which isn't a problem but the people aren't very friendly either. Maybe I am a bit spoiled in America...? But the last few days in England have been very welcoming. My plane was late due to an electrical problem. We sat at the gate for a while..not sure how long because i had already turned my phone off and for once i was out on a plane. I slept the entire way here. The staff on the plane were very nice however, they gave us a free drink for making us sit in the hot plane for so long and they were just pleasant. seats were great too. If you're ever flying around these parts I highly recommend Scandanavian air.
Anyway, the lateness put me in chaos for finding a bus/train/metro anything to get to the hostel by 2 30 and the people working both the information booth and the ticket booth were just rude. I understand i don't speak your language-even though they spoke english and advertised it-- and i'm taking up a lot of your time because i'm completely lost, but sheesh.
That aside, my summary of copenhagen is this: Some parts look like Amsterdam (good thing) but the whole thing feels like Brussels (bad thing). Alas, my time here is up. Tomorrow I'll be in `Berlin which is supposed to be fantastic. We'll see!
Saturday 15 August 2009
In Oxfordshire
Arrived in Oxford today.
Love my flat. Love my flatmates. Cannot wait to be done traveling and move in for real!
Love my flat. Love my flatmates. Cannot wait to be done traveling and move in for real!
Sitting on a bus and on top of the world
Hi ya.
I've arrived in London (yesterday around noon local time) and made it safely to my friend Gretchen's flat in east London. Currently, I'm on my way to Oxford via the Oxford tube (a bus) and enjoying the free, albeit shaky wi-fi. After my arrival at Heathrow yesterday I rode the London tube all the way to north/east London and missed all the sites. It's nice to be sitting on a bus and looking out on my London. The London I remember. I got very sentimental around the Gloucester Road tube stop that's for sure.
Things seem to be going well so far. I booked myself an overnight flight to get here and of course did not sleep a wink. Went to bed around 9:30 last night and was up again by midnight until 2 am surfing the net and running all these scenarios around in my head. My mind is currently incapable of relaxing and going with the flow and...SLEEPING at the moment. I did manage to get some sleep between 2 and 8:30. So I feel great. As I walked up to Gretchen's road yesterday she greeted me with open arms and a "welcome home." That felt great!
In oxford I will be meeting my flatmates and seeing the flat for the first time. I also hope to get a few things done in town, but seeing as will be Saturday afternoon by the time I arrive, I'm not sure what will be open. I can always do the bank on Monday in London...right?
I am, of course, worrying about money. So far I haven't spent much, 20quid on my tube pass a few pounds at the market and now my bus trip which is 13pounds roundtrip on a student discount :) I'm mostly worried about the upcoming travel and how expensive it will be and I'm not sure when exactly I get the money from my loan...I think it may be enrollment week or the week before... Oh well. It's something to keep in mind but I can't let it ruin my day/week/month!
I love London!!!
I've arrived in London (yesterday around noon local time) and made it safely to my friend Gretchen's flat in east London. Currently, I'm on my way to Oxford via the Oxford tube (a bus) and enjoying the free, albeit shaky wi-fi. After my arrival at Heathrow yesterday I rode the London tube all the way to north/east London and missed all the sites. It's nice to be sitting on a bus and looking out on my London. The London I remember. I got very sentimental around the Gloucester Road tube stop that's for sure.
Things seem to be going well so far. I booked myself an overnight flight to get here and of course did not sleep a wink. Went to bed around 9:30 last night and was up again by midnight until 2 am surfing the net and running all these scenarios around in my head. My mind is currently incapable of relaxing and going with the flow and...SLEEPING at the moment. I did manage to get some sleep between 2 and 8:30. So I feel great. As I walked up to Gretchen's road yesterday she greeted me with open arms and a "welcome home." That felt great!
In oxford I will be meeting my flatmates and seeing the flat for the first time. I also hope to get a few things done in town, but seeing as will be Saturday afternoon by the time I arrive, I'm not sure what will be open. I can always do the bank on Monday in London...right?
I am, of course, worrying about money. So far I haven't spent much, 20quid on my tube pass a few pounds at the market and now my bus trip which is 13pounds roundtrip on a student discount :) I'm mostly worried about the upcoming travel and how expensive it will be and I'm not sure when exactly I get the money from my loan...I think it may be enrollment week or the week before... Oh well. It's something to keep in mind but I can't let it ruin my day/week/month!
I love London!!!
Thursday 13 August 2009
Sitting in Beans in the Belfry in Brunswick, Maryland which is apparently the closest place to Lovettsville, VA to get some high class (read: high speed/free) internet. Lovettsville is the home of my dearest Maria...the town of love. :)
Flight leaves in t minus 5 1/2 hours. Freaking out on the inside a bit although I keep getting told that I seem calm. Perhaps acting really was my calling...? I think not.
Look forward to some *exciting* posts regarding the world travels. Hopefully. Interested in the itinerary? Me too.
Copenhagen-->Berlin-->Warsaw-->Krakow/Auschwitz-->
Germany(somewhere)-->Prague-->Venice-->Verona-->Florence
-->Rome-->Pisa-->Alps-->Monaco-->Bern-->Nantes-->Orleans
-->Lille-->London-->Bath-->OXFORD (aka home).
Flight leaves in t minus 5 1/2 hours. Freaking out on the inside a bit although I keep getting told that I seem calm. Perhaps acting really was my calling...? I think not.
Look forward to some *exciting* posts regarding the world travels. Hopefully. Interested in the itinerary? Me too.
Copenhagen-->Berlin-->Warsaw-->Krakow/Auschwitz-->
Germany(somewhere)-->Prague-->Venice-->Verona-->Florence
-->Rome-->Pisa-->Alps-->Monaco-->Bern-->Nantes-->Orleans
-->Lille-->London-->Bath-->OXFORD (aka home).
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