And, I realise I am WAY behind on blogging as I have been to...6-7 cities since my last post. Ouch. However, we have definitely been light on the internet connections and this one is super expensive.
I will update everything when I am back in Oxford...in TWO days!! I am such a scholar...as I am oh so freaking excited to start classes!!
Write soon!xx
Friday 18 September 2009
Saturday 5 September 2009
Praha
So I spent 1.5 (somewhat glorious) days in Prague, Czech Republic and here is the update:
I say they were somewhat glorious because the first half of a day was horrendous. As I almost missed my train that morning, I definitely didn't have time to grab any food for the long train ride, but instead planned to sleep. Well, of course that didn't happen. No biggie, the thought of being in Prague was exciting enough to keep me going on the measly 3 hrs I was running on.
I had booked my hostel online, through the same company I've been using the entire trip. I got the email confirmation, only this one looked a little different. Oh well, I thought, and copied down the directions to the hostel. 'Leave the train station and walk straight to McDonalds.' Easy. Except, there was no Mcdonalds. None...nowhere. I walked up and down and all around the train station. I checked my directions...man, that really didn't sound like the name of the place I booked..but I had looked at so many, they were all a blur. I went back into the train station and asked at information. They looked at the hostel name without recognition and pointed me to the street they thought I needed. Said it was 800metres away and definitely walkable.
So I start walking and I get lost, of course...and then, after resting in the park scouring my book for any clues, I see it...a sign for a McDonalds. 300metres away! I'm saved!
No. 2.5 hours after I stepped off the train, I made it to the hostel. The hostel that had a different name, and a different address from what I had written and received via email. The hostel that I had thought I had picked. The hostel I was a mere 20 feet from 1.5hrs before I actually went inside. I was exhausted, I was starving, I was tired, I was whiny. Did I mention I did all this searching on foot? With my ginormous backpack and a small one too? Did I mention that in Krakow it was chilly and in Prague...it was HOT?
Needless to say I layed low that night. Bought food at the grocery store (my feet could not take any more walking) studied up on what to do the next day, and read.
The second day in Prague was great. Prague is beautiful and full of culture and history and I barely saw any of it. It will be the first place I go back to visit (well, Berlin might be first...). I took a FREE tour of the city for 3 hours, learning about the history, etc. Ate a delicious chicken caesar salad that cost me about 2.50euros, and maybe did a little shopping at H&M. I couldn't help myself...
I didn't have time to even go to Prague Castle. So seriously...I'm going back...soon. Please volunteer to accompany me!
I say they were somewhat glorious because the first half of a day was horrendous. As I almost missed my train that morning, I definitely didn't have time to grab any food for the long train ride, but instead planned to sleep. Well, of course that didn't happen. No biggie, the thought of being in Prague was exciting enough to keep me going on the measly 3 hrs I was running on.
I had booked my hostel online, through the same company I've been using the entire trip. I got the email confirmation, only this one looked a little different. Oh well, I thought, and copied down the directions to the hostel. 'Leave the train station and walk straight to McDonalds.' Easy. Except, there was no Mcdonalds. None...nowhere. I walked up and down and all around the train station. I checked my directions...man, that really didn't sound like the name of the place I booked..but I had looked at so many, they were all a blur. I went back into the train station and asked at information. They looked at the hostel name without recognition and pointed me to the street they thought I needed. Said it was 800metres away and definitely walkable.
So I start walking and I get lost, of course...and then, after resting in the park scouring my book for any clues, I see it...a sign for a McDonalds. 300metres away! I'm saved!
No. 2.5 hours after I stepped off the train, I made it to the hostel. The hostel that had a different name, and a different address from what I had written and received via email. The hostel that I had thought I had picked. The hostel I was a mere 20 feet from 1.5hrs before I actually went inside. I was exhausted, I was starving, I was tired, I was whiny. Did I mention I did all this searching on foot? With my ginormous backpack and a small one too? Did I mention that in Krakow it was chilly and in Prague...it was HOT?
Needless to say I layed low that night. Bought food at the grocery store (my feet could not take any more walking) studied up on what to do the next day, and read.
The second day in Prague was great. Prague is beautiful and full of culture and history and I barely saw any of it. It will be the first place I go back to visit (well, Berlin might be first...). I took a FREE tour of the city for 3 hours, learning about the history, etc. Ate a delicious chicken caesar salad that cost me about 2.50euros, and maybe did a little shopping at H&M. I couldn't help myself...
I didn't have time to even go to Prague Castle. So seriously...I'm going back...soon. Please volunteer to accompany me!
Thursday 3 September 2009
Cracovia
So, I really havent been slacking on my blogging duties, I swear! I had this very nice, very long blog typed up the other night and then the electric went out and it was lost. Oh well... Heres my take on the epicness that is Krakow, Poland.
My first day there I arrived early so I threw my stuff in the hostel luggage room and hit the streets. I happened upon some sort of street fair complete with stands, food and music and dancing. It was so much fun and a great time to take in the old city--when it was alive!
The next day I took a tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau...I really still cannot describe this experience. It was moving, shocking, awe-inspiring. Im glad that I went with a group because I was able to see the highlights as Birkenau is MASSIVE and Auschwitz has so many little places filled with memorabila, etc. Oh, and a bird pooped on me...that was gross. Of course, seeing as I was at Auschwitz, a little bird poop--not that big a problem.
Tuesday was September 1st, the 70th anniversary of Germany invading Poland. I took a Jewish Heritage tour which encompassed an 11 km walk across Krakow. I saw so much and unfortunately, I had forgotten to charge my camera so I did not get as many pictures as I would have liked to. Oh well. We saw a few places used to film Schindlers List --side note, I cannot figure out how to use either parenthesis or apostrophes, so please forgive--which was super exciting! We also saw the real Oskar Schindler s factory.
That night, although I was planning to go to bed early in preparation for my 653am train ride, I was coaxed into going out with a lovely girl from Berlin, who is currently living in Poland. We went to club Kitsch, which is supposedly famous...? We went with a couple others from the hostel and I had a blast! Rolled back into the hostel around 330am and due to this lovely German girl I managed to get up at 620 and make my train! She came over, woke me up and I freaked...THANK YOU!
All in all, I really enjoyed Krakow. It was more of the Poland I pictured in my head. Definitely less commercial than Warsaw and very beautiful. I definitely want to go back...and this sounds crazy, but I kind of want to go in January --I think it was Jan 27-- for the Auschwitz memorial stuff....but Poland in winter? We will see!
My first day there I arrived early so I threw my stuff in the hostel luggage room and hit the streets. I happened upon some sort of street fair complete with stands, food and music and dancing. It was so much fun and a great time to take in the old city--when it was alive!
The next day I took a tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau...I really still cannot describe this experience. It was moving, shocking, awe-inspiring. Im glad that I went with a group because I was able to see the highlights as Birkenau is MASSIVE and Auschwitz has so many little places filled with memorabila, etc. Oh, and a bird pooped on me...that was gross. Of course, seeing as I was at Auschwitz, a little bird poop--not that big a problem.
Tuesday was September 1st, the 70th anniversary of Germany invading Poland. I took a Jewish Heritage tour which encompassed an 11 km walk across Krakow. I saw so much and unfortunately, I had forgotten to charge my camera so I did not get as many pictures as I would have liked to. Oh well. We saw a few places used to film Schindlers List --side note, I cannot figure out how to use either parenthesis or apostrophes, so please forgive--which was super exciting! We also saw the real Oskar Schindler s factory.
That night, although I was planning to go to bed early in preparation for my 653am train ride, I was coaxed into going out with a lovely girl from Berlin, who is currently living in Poland. We went to club Kitsch, which is supposedly famous...? We went with a couple others from the hostel and I had a blast! Rolled back into the hostel around 330am and due to this lovely German girl I managed to get up at 620 and make my train! She came over, woke me up and I freaked...THANK YOU!
All in all, I really enjoyed Krakow. It was more of the Poland I pictured in my head. Definitely less commercial than Warsaw and very beautiful. I definitely want to go back...and this sounds crazy, but I kind of want to go in January --I think it was Jan 27-- for the Auschwitz memorial stuff....but Poland in winter? We will see!
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