i suppose i will start with Berlin
Thursday morning I had a Czech test (it didn't go so well, I don't think. The teacher included information on it that she specifically said wouldnt be on there!). After the test I was really aching to get out of town, so I called Chad and said, "let's go." We went to the train station and got tickets for Berlin, woo hoo!! Mikey got a ticket as well, but he had to go to his afternoon class so we made plans to meet him at the train station. The train ride to Berlin was mostly uneventful, except for the hot wine (now I'm really looking forward to the hot wine stands that will pop up on street corners soon), an hour delay and a nice czech guy. We got to Berlin and it was cold and rainy, boo! We started walking around and exploring the city. Three hours later we were still walking and had still had no luck finding a hostel. At that time, we went to meet up with Mikey- he made it! I was the only one with a cell phone so we were a little nervous that Mikey would either miss the train or that something else would go wrong and we would have no way of knowing, but everything worked out just fine. After we got back to the center of town, we decided to walk around and find a bar. This was important because we knew at that point that we didn't have a place to sleep that night. After wandering around for a bit, a man pointed us in the direction of a Russian bar called CCCP.
It was really cool and really expensive. We hung out there for a while (got some REAL gin and tonics for once) and then, around 3, decided to head out in search of something new.
We went to another bar (something about Hamburgers? I don't quite remember) where we stayed until 5:30am. At that point, we decided to head back to the train station and look for a place to sleep. The public transportation had just started and so we bought full day passes and hopped on. The train station was not warm. The train station was not comfortable. We stayed there for an hour or two before we were freezing and miserable. Chad had the brilliant idea to sleep on the metro! The metro trains were warm. They were also comfortable. woo hoo!! We rode the train around for a few hours - switching trains every once in a while. When we came to enough to start adventuring, we went to get coffee (at Starbucks, and I also used their bathrooms to brush my teeth, wash my face, put on makeup and fix my hair) and then to check out Checkpoint Charlie and some other interesting sites in Berlin.
For lunch AND dinner we had 2 euro kebab sandwiches. In retrospect, I wish I had photo-documented this. But I didn't, so you'll have to use your imagination. The first one we scarfed down so fast that none of us had taken more than a sip out of our beers by the time we were done. We were hungry, I guess.
Luckily, the night before we had been able to get reservations at a hostel for Friday night. We checked in around 1 and immediately took a nap. That night we went out in search of a wine bar that we found in Chad's Lonely Planet. It was SO COOL.
It was like a big house party - Claire would have LOVED it. I almost want to start my own version so she can come, imagine that! Anyways, when you get in the door, you rent a wine glass for one euro. After that, there is a big counter filled with all sorts of wines. You can just go up and help yourself whenever you want! At the end of the evening, you pay what you think is fair for the amount of wine that you drank. Brilliant! I was really into the idea, not as much as Mikey, though (haha).
I almost forgot! on the way there we saw a hedgehog hogging some hedge. too cool!
I didn't take that picture, its from http://worcestershire.whub.org.uk, but thats what the little dude looked like.
After the wine bar, we decided to head to another bar called Astro Bar which was supposed to be decorated the way people in the 60s thought things would be like in "the future." It ended up being far away and not worth the venture, but the gin & tonics there were delicious and not so overpriced.
After that, we headed back to the hostel. what a mess! Mikey was wasted, we were all tired, it was freezing and we couldnt find the hostel. I got a bit cranky... to say the least. We finally made it back and curled up under warm sheets, mmmm. On Saturday we went on a walking tour of Berlin, it was very cool. We saw the Berlin Wall and a bunch of monuments and such.
On saturday afternoon, Mikey and I left Chad and caught the 4 30 train back to Prague. We got back and I went right to bed.
On Sunday morning, I woke up very early and headed out to the airport to pick up MOM!!!! She got in around 6 30 in the morning so when I picked her up we went to breakfast. Afterwards,I got to play tour guide and show her around the major sites in Prague. For dinner, we went to the Hanging Cup and had traditional Czech meals. Then we went out for FaBuLoUs Mojitos! They are crazy about mojitos over here, and now I know why!
Monday morning we continued our exploration of Prague by checking out the Prague Castle. Afterwards we wandered around and saw the Old Jewish Cemetery. We got the ingredients to make our own mojitos which we attempted before we headed to the Globe.
Tuesday morning led us to Vienna!!! Austria is beautiful. It is also cold and rainy, haha! The first night we laid low and went to a cafe where we sat, talked, munched on appetizers and played checkers (i won).
We went shopping (woo hoo) and stopped in for a successful-shopping drink at a cool local bar. Next, we went to the Albertina and say Monets, Manets, Picassos, Degas, Munchs and a whole host of other incredible pieces. After wards, we got tickets for the ballet the next night.
On Thursday we checked out Cafe Delgas, the catacombs which I cannot remember the name of off the top of my head, and the Upper and Lower Belvederes. On the way we came across Karlskirtche Church, which was amazing.
The Belvederes had another incredible collection of masterpieces, including all of the artists featured at Albertina as well as van Gogh, Mucha, and more. How inspiring!!
We went back to the hotel, cleaned up, and headed to the Staatsoper (State Opera House) to see Coppelia. How cool!! I love ballet. we drank champagne and i ate caviar. it was very first class. Afterwards we went to an amazing dinner at a microbrewery/restaurant across the street. it was delicious!
Friday morning we trained our way back to Prague. Having seen most of the major sites, we checked out some restaurants. I certainly ate well this week!!
This morning Mom had to go home :(
I had a ton ton ton of fun with her though, woo hoo!!
love you all!
-virginia
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