Celle, Villach, Tarvisio (Italy) for dinner, Venice for the day, Udine (Italy) for dinner, and Kranjaka Gora (Slovenia).
And then there was a college town at the base of the Alps called Innsbruck. Easter break had pretty much made the place a ghost town, creating a long pitiful Friday night experience. Corinna's friend Philip, who is also studying at Louvain-la-Neuve this semester, recommended we visit his college town. Beyond the gorgeous Alp landscape, Innsbruck has a "golden" roof that is really made of copper, dead clubs, and starving artists/ college students. Truly the best part of the experience was Philip's good friend meeting us in the train station with a sign that read, "The girls of Philip Winkler."
At this point in the journey, Corinna's friend, Tanya, joined the crew. She is currently opairing for a family outside of London. Quite the companion! There was nothing in Innsbruck.
April 19, 2009
Easter Blessings from Munich
A lovely two and a half days with the sun shining every day!
On Friday evening, Tanya, Corinna, and I devoured an authentic Bavarian meal of sausage, different types of meat, a special preparation of potatoes, lots of sauerkraut, and enough scrumptious calories for an entire week!!! The hostel was pretty nice, though the other visitors we met were quite peculiar. Saturday morning and early afternoon, we took a rather interesting, though boring, tour around Munich. It consisted of three hours worth of Hitler stories. We saw the truly disappointing Glockenspiel, the amazing Haufbrau drinking house, Hitler's pulpit, and the primary Munich attractions. The three of us girls most thoroughly enjoyed the warm, inviting and oh so sunny green parks. I think we probably spent just as much time in the parks as the city itself! That night I fell in love again with falafel sandwiches and a beer, one of the best European meals I have found yet.
Sunday, we got dressed and made our way to a German Easter church service. I had absolutely no clue the message or hymns, but it was nice to be in a church on the special day. Tanya and I hit up another park in the afternoon, while Corinna went to Germany's first concentration camp. Trained it to Salzburg Sunday evening.
On Friday evening, Tanya, Corinna, and I devoured an authentic Bavarian meal of sausage, different types of meat, a special preparation of potatoes, lots of sauerkraut, and enough scrumptious calories for an entire week!!! The hostel was pretty nice, though the other visitors we met were quite peculiar. Saturday morning and early afternoon, we took a rather interesting, though boring, tour around Munich. It consisted of three hours worth of Hitler stories. We saw the truly disappointing Glockenspiel, the amazing Haufbrau drinking house, Hitler's pulpit, and the primary Munich attractions. The three of us girls most thoroughly enjoyed the warm, inviting and oh so sunny green parks. I think we probably spent just as much time in the parks as the city itself! That night I fell in love again with falafel sandwiches and a beer, one of the best European meals I have found yet.
Sunday, we got dressed and made our way to a German Easter church service. I had absolutely no clue the message or hymns, but it was nice to be in a church on the special day. Tanya and I hit up another park in the afternoon, while Corinna went to Germany's first concentration camp. Trained it to Salzburg Sunday evening.
The Hills Are Alive with... Salzburg!
I had hardly a clue of Salzburg, but now I know it is all about Mozart's childhood, the Sound of Music and gnomes! There was an entire section of park full of cute little gnome statues and I loved it! I tried a Mozart Kugel, a candy with a dark chocolate shell, a layer of marzipan, and a pistachio-filled center. The candy was not absolutely spectacular or necessarily worth the calories, but pretty delicious nevertheless. I promised myself to have a splendid and glorious Magnolia tree in my yard one day, too. That is because of all those in Salzburg, with the magnificent smell and color.
There was really not much else in Salzburg beyond a slow, but steady pace of Mozart, Sound of Music postcards around every corner, and beautiful Magnolia trees. Disappointing, a little.
There was really not much else in Salzburg beyond a slow, but steady pace of Mozart, Sound of Music postcards around every corner, and beautiful Magnolia trees. Disappointing, a little.
BudaPest, Budapest, oh Budapest.
Two cities, Buda and Pest, connected some time ago, some how, some way.
Though not yet a true tourist city, the locals were welcome to Tanya, Corinna, and I spending our euros and change. While in the city, we saw most of the major monuments, from concert halls to operas, Parliament to memorials. Our hostel was a bit obscure, but decent. For dinner the first evening, the three of us girls ventured out for the ultimate Hungarian dish, goulash. We unanimously decided it was more like stew and pretty unexciting. At the corner store near the hostel, we picked up some great Hungarian champagne and Pöttyös, both recommended by a local. Pottyos are four inch, thin, tubular chocolate candies, filled with a ricotta-like substance. Pretty good! Thursday we explored mostly Pest, through making sufficient time for Buda as well. Continuing on our trip's theme, we saw the Hungarian State Opera and Operett Houses, an Art Palace, market vendors and another Catholic basilica, St. Stephen's.
The best of Budapest was splurging to go see Beauty and the Beast, the musical. It was about 17 euro and I am very happy we went! The play was in Hungarian, but there were English subtitles at the top of the curtains and of course, the music score was the same. Growing up with the truly romantic story made all the difference, too! The experience was once in a lifetime. Hungary was not as impressive as I imagined, though i had hardly a clue about the city or country. Tanya left us girls early Friday morning for a flight to The Netherlands, Corinna and I mid-morning for Slovakia.
Though not yet a true tourist city, the locals were welcome to Tanya, Corinna, and I spending our euros and change. While in the city, we saw most of the major monuments, from concert halls to operas, Parliament to memorials. Our hostel was a bit obscure, but decent. For dinner the first evening, the three of us girls ventured out for the ultimate Hungarian dish, goulash. We unanimously decided it was more like stew and pretty unexciting. At the corner store near the hostel, we picked up some great Hungarian champagne and Pöttyös, both recommended by a local. Pottyos are four inch, thin, tubular chocolate candies, filled with a ricotta-like substance. Pretty good! Thursday we explored mostly Pest, through making sufficient time for Buda as well. Continuing on our trip's theme, we saw the Hungarian State Opera and Operett Houses, an Art Palace, market vendors and another Catholic basilica, St. Stephen's.
The best of Budapest was splurging to go see Beauty and the Beast, the musical. It was about 17 euro and I am very happy we went! The play was in Hungarian, but there were English subtitles at the top of the curtains and of course, the music score was the same. Growing up with the truly romantic story made all the difference, too! The experience was once in a lifetime. Hungary was not as impressive as I imagined, though i had hardly a clue about the city or country. Tanya left us girls early Friday morning for a flight to The Netherlands, Corinna and I mid-morning for Slovakia.
Vienna, Dedicated to Mrs. Nita Brumley, My Grandmother
Vienna was next on the itinerary for two and a half days, two nights. It was a city full of history, pretty buildings and magnificence we had never discovered before. Once again, the four of us girls, Sophie, Corinna, Tanya, and I were reunited.
We started our tour Monday morning at the State Opera House, meandering through Vienna's historic center first. We passed the famous Albertina Museum, there were churches, fountains, horses, intricate and elaborate architecture, caryatids, bells ringing, and eventually, my favorite, St. Peter's Church. At this magnificent location, we rested our minds, bodies and souls about an hour, thirty minutes of which was an incredible organ performance. I would not help by think of my grandmother and how much she would have loved Vienna, if only she were able to experience such a performance. It was by far my favorite experience of the entire city.
Around tea time, the four of us women musketeers took a glorious specialty, a Sacher torte, at the elegant five-star hotel in the Innenstadt of Vienna. Worth every penny of the five euro price, the chocolate decadence topped with an old-time wax stamp of chocolate, made for a delightful experience. A few hours later, we experienced the cool Botanical Gardens, including a bamboo forest and my new adopted Vienna ducks, Duchess and Duke. Wednesday, we saw the SiSi Museum and all of it's glory. I thoroughly enjoyed the gardens and likewise, would love to have such a summer escape palace! Another great falafel for lunch and we were on our way to Eastern Europe to Budapest, Hungary.
We started our tour Monday morning at the State Opera House, meandering through Vienna's historic center first. We passed the famous Albertina Museum, there were churches, fountains, horses, intricate and elaborate architecture, caryatids, bells ringing, and eventually, my favorite, St. Peter's Church. At this magnificent location, we rested our minds, bodies and souls about an hour, thirty minutes of which was an incredible organ performance. I would not help by think of my grandmother and how much she would have loved Vienna, if only she were able to experience such a performance. It was by far my favorite experience of the entire city.
Around tea time, the four of us women musketeers took a glorious specialty, a Sacher torte, at the elegant five-star hotel in the Innenstadt of Vienna. Worth every penny of the five euro price, the chocolate decadence topped with an old-time wax stamp of chocolate, made for a delightful experience. A few hours later, we experienced the cool Botanical Gardens, including a bamboo forest and my new adopted Vienna ducks, Duchess and Duke. Wednesday, we saw the SiSi Museum and all of it's glory. I thoroughly enjoyed the gardens and likewise, would love to have such a summer escape palace! Another great falafel for lunch and we were on our way to Eastern Europe to Budapest, Hungary.
Bratislava Lover
No worries, that is just a name of a song Corinna and Sophie kept singing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVHEB_MowoI
Bratislava was entirely explored in about two hours, all in all. Corinna and I saw the Bratislava Castle, the Slovakian Presidential Palace, an unprecedented number of precariously posed statues and really, a typical eastern European city. To our surprise, most of the vendors and our hostel took euros. It made things much easier not to have to convert money. There was a pleasant World War II memorial at the top of a hill we visited, with a spectacular view of the city of Bratislava. The city itself was very clean without trash or any homeless. Corinna and I were both very tired of traveling at the point of our arrival so we took it easy Friday night and Saturday morning. My first and last "inexpensive" RyanAir flight was fine, though I never ever plan to fly with the company again. The experience really was just not my style or preference. Best wishes to those that do though!
So 12 cities: Celle, Villach, Tarvisio, Venice, Udine, Kranjaka Gora, Innsbruck, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava.
In 7 countries: Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Slovakia.
Two weeks.
Pure exhaustion and so much money spent, but my Europe traveling while studying abroad is complete! (Minus my day trip next weekend to Lisse, Holland for the tulips.) The super exciting part of that statement is that it is because I will be coming home to the United States soon!!! The countdown has begun and it is such a relief. My two weeks backpacking through Central and Eastern Europe has given me a taste for a lifetime. Yet still an experience I will never forget.
My favorites of the trip:
Best meal: A true homemade German dinner at Corinna's Aunt and Uncle's home, made with love
Best cultural experience: The cappuchino on St. Mark's Square
Best sight: Listening to the organ at St. Peter's Church for my grandmother
Best souvenir: The postcards from every city
Best overall: Venice, by far. I had always wanted to visit and it was simply incredible.
Postcards will go out on Monday, there is so much more one should share about such traveling! I promise, ask me all the questions in an email or write them down! The next time we are together, I will tell you everything you wish that I remember. The only condition I take is that you have be specific in the questions. Will help me remember and share the traveling love properly. And just for the record, I cannot wear soft contacts. They just do not work for me! Oh, and the count stayed at five lost/forgotten/left. Pretty good I would say!
Ahoy mate, I survived!
With ♥,
Chole
Bratislava was entirely explored in about two hours, all in all. Corinna and I saw the Bratislava Castle, the Slovakian Presidential Palace, an unprecedented number of precariously posed statues and really, a typical eastern European city. To our surprise, most of the vendors and our hostel took euros. It made things much easier not to have to convert money. There was a pleasant World War II memorial at the top of a hill we visited, with a spectacular view of the city of Bratislava. The city itself was very clean without trash or any homeless. Corinna and I were both very tired of traveling at the point of our arrival so we took it easy Friday night and Saturday morning. My first and last "inexpensive" RyanAir flight was fine, though I never ever plan to fly with the company again. The experience really was just not my style or preference. Best wishes to those that do though!
So 12 cities: Celle, Villach, Tarvisio, Venice, Udine, Kranjaka Gora, Innsbruck, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava.
In 7 countries: Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Slovakia.
Two weeks.
Pure exhaustion and so much money spent, but my Europe traveling while studying abroad is complete! (Minus my day trip next weekend to Lisse, Holland for the tulips.) The super exciting part of that statement is that it is because I will be coming home to the United States soon!!! The countdown has begun and it is such a relief. My two weeks backpacking through Central and Eastern Europe has given me a taste for a lifetime. Yet still an experience I will never forget.
My favorites of the trip:
Best meal: A true homemade German dinner at Corinna's Aunt and Uncle's home, made with love
Best cultural experience: The cappuchino on St. Mark's Square
Best sight: Listening to the organ at St. Peter's Church for my grandmother
Best souvenir: The postcards from every city
Best overall: Venice, by far. I had always wanted to visit and it was simply incredible.
Postcards will go out on Monday, there is so much more one should share about such traveling! I promise, ask me all the questions in an email or write them down! The next time we are together, I will tell you everything you wish that I remember. The only condition I take is that you have be specific in the questions. Will help me remember and share the traveling love properly. And just for the record, I cannot wear soft contacts. They just do not work for me! Oh, and the count stayed at five lost/forgotten/left. Pretty good I would say!
Ahoy mate, I survived!
With ♥,
Chole
April 2, 2009
Easter Break
Hello folks,
I am preparing to depart on my two week, eight city, four country adventure throughout Central and Eastern Europe! I will be gone Saturday, April 4th, until Saturday, April 18th. Click here for a map of my travels!
I am most excited about Innsbruck because it just looks so gorgeous! Vienna is also at the top of the list, especially because my grandmother told me it was the one city she was never able to visit in her own travels and always wanted to see. So I will be sure to take lots of pictures for her, as well as for you, to see the world through my camera. We are flying back from Bratislava on RyanAir, which definitely should be an experience in of itself. Once I return, I am met with two hellish weeks of school work and presentations, but alas, my return will mark the one month to go glorious day! My flatmates still do not talk to me and I hardly do anything in the kitchen besides cook.
I will not have access to a computer for my two weeks traveling, please do not be alarmed that I am not in touch. I promise, once I get back, I will post my good health and make a few calls! I wish you and yours a blessed Easter Sunday. I will be attending church in Munich, for which, I am thankful.
Thank you to all those encourage and praying for me back home, I truly appreciate your support. I cannot wait to come back to all the love!!!
With ♥,
Chole
I am preparing to depart on my two week, eight city, four country adventure throughout Central and Eastern Europe! I will be gone Saturday, April 4th, until Saturday, April 18th. Click here for a map of my travels!
I am most excited about Innsbruck because it just looks so gorgeous! Vienna is also at the top of the list, especially because my grandmother told me it was the one city she was never able to visit in her own travels and always wanted to see. So I will be sure to take lots of pictures for her, as well as for you, to see the world through my camera. We are flying back from Bratislava on RyanAir, which definitely should be an experience in of itself. Once I return, I am met with two hellish weeks of school work and presentations, but alas, my return will mark the one month to go glorious day! My flatmates still do not talk to me and I hardly do anything in the kitchen besides cook.
I will not have access to a computer for my two weeks traveling, please do not be alarmed that I am not in touch. I promise, once I get back, I will post my good health and make a few calls! I wish you and yours a blessed Easter Sunday. I will be attending church in Munich, for which, I am thankful.
Thank you to all those encourage and praying for me back home, I truly appreciate your support. I cannot wait to come back to all the love!!!
With ♥,
Chole
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