Day 42: "Berlin! Berlin! Wir fahren nach Berlin!"

 I woke up at 8am, got ready and had breakfast. I had the same as the two days before but drank water instead of milk. I took an apple (I had given Joe my other one yesterday) and a clementine. Then I checked out and went to the train station with Caleb. We found our train pretty easily, though we're a tad bit confused at first trying to find the platform number. We got on the train and headed to Berlin at 11am.

On the train I listened to music and read "Anna Karenina." The second book on my spring break trip, I really enjoyed it.

Once in Berlin we took the local train to our hostel. Our hostel is pretty cool and is located near the train system that pretty much gets you anywhere in the city.








We looked up a place for dinner, but were unable to find it so instead we decided just to pick a random place. We went to a Turkish resturant. Caleb ordered a number 4, and I ordered a 1, which was some kind of veggie sandwich. The man shook his head and told me I was having a 4, so I went with it. He asked me what toppings (sauce and veggies) I wanted and I just said everything. He was so surprised. The sandwich was huge and I have no idea what half of it was. There was some sort of meat that had been skewered and grilled. Then spicy white sauce, spicy red sauce and spicy.. spice. Then there was lettuce, onions, tomatoes, cucumber and possibly mint.







We got back to the hostel and attempted to find the pool, just so we could see. We failed at this task. So instead we went back up to our room. Caleb turned on the TV while I mapped out places to go the next days. We switched between channels which included some news in English, and Spongebob, Burn Notice, and some weird talking brick thing in German. I had the remote at one point and turned on the news. They were reporting on violence on Sudan. I changed the channel to Spongebob before falling asleep. I woke again around 2 am. I had my map and other things all over my bed, so had been sleeping in a corner near my pillow with my legs hanging off. How I didn't fall off I don't know. It was maybe 2 am and I got up, put away my things and showered.

Berlin Hostel

PLUS Hostel
Caleb and me
three single beds and a bathroom
located near the East Side Gallery

Day 41: iAMsterdam

 

 



Cella, Amanda and Caleb got up early and went to the Anne Frank house. I slept until 9 and got ready. As I finished up, Corinne got up so I waited for her and woke the rest for breakfast. All but Joe went down for food. I had granola with strawberry yogurt, coffee, milk, a slice of bread with strawberry jam, and a roll with cheese that I toasted. I took an apple and clementine for later.


We grabbed two couches with a coffee table to eat at. The one couch fit 2 and the other 3, so I sat on the ground, which I didn't mind at all. Midway through an older gentlemen came up carrying a chair and told me to sit in it, saying sitting on the floor was bad for me. It was actually really sweet!

I believe I can flyyyy

We all went to the I AMsterdam sign. (I titled this blog entry before knowing this was the day we would be visiting it.. nifty!) Some biked, but Amanda, Lexi, Mandy and I walked. We took pictures and then most of the group left. Amanda and I continued taking pictures then went to a jungle gym an skatepark near by. We also went into this park and fooled around, jumping and stuff, for a while. We walked towards the hostel. We got a tad bit lost and decided to follow this group of cute guys. Somehow we actually managed to return to familiar territory. We had another Belgian waffle at the same place. This time we split one with ice cream. It was wonderful!

 

For dinner Corinne, Caleb, Lexi and I went to a felafel place. None of them had it before (Lexi had once), but try all loved it. It was cool to introduce something new to people and have then actually like it.

Day 40: "Amsterdam phone will ya?"

Amanda and I got up at 9am and got ready. We went downstairs for breakfast. I had yogurt with granola, a toasted roll with cheese, bread with cherry jam, milk, and coffee. I also got a tangerine or clementine for later in the day.

The Anne Frank Statue

Then we went to a gift shop. I got a postcard and Amanda got a keychain. We hung out in the bar for a while before people starting waking up. They headed to lunch so we continued to hang in the bar. I drew a lot, which I haven't done in a long time since coming here.

Amanda and I split some fries and then went with some of our friends. Our plans changed several times but eventually we just all split off and did or own thing. Amanda and I walked around and stopped in two cool shops. They sold kitschy stuff and I really liked it. I didn't buy anything but I really enjoyed seeing all the cool stuff.

We then went and got a Belgian waffle. It was amazing!! After eating we went back to the bar and played pool. I was horrible and these guys were hardcore judging us. It was a little awkward since I was wearing leggings and had to bend over to shoot right in front of them.

I had a late dinner (~10pm) of a hotdog with mustard. Totally not something I would normally eat but when in Amsterdam do as the Amsterdammers (?) do, I guess. It actually wasn't too horrible, in fact I liked it.


We went for a walk. I was following the others and apparently they wanted to walk through the red light district. safe to say I was a little disturbed. Amanda and I ended up back at the hostel bar while the rest went to a famous coffee shop. I got a beer and no sooner had I finished it everyone got back. Some people went back out, but most of us went to bed. I tested my luck with the shower (which is seriously the entire bathroom) and then went to bed myself.

Amsterdam Hostel

The Bulldog Hotel
10 person room with bunk beds, plus two single beds
Amanda, Caleb,  Cella, Corinne, Ciara, Joe, Mandy, Katie, Lexi and me
Bar on first floor, which was cool to hang out in

Day 39: Amsterdam Take 2

breakfast at the Pisa airport: a cream filled croissant

I took a bus from Florence to the Pisa Airport. I had a croissant filled with cream and then boarded the plane to Eindhoven. It was about a 2 hour flight. When we landed there was snow on the ground. Then I took a bus to Amsterdam.
I have now been to three cities in Holland: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and Hoak van Holland.

We arrived at our hostel around 10:30am and then hung out in the bar. I ate a sandwich I had made to finish off my loaf of bread before leaving for break when we first got to the hostel, then around noon I went out and got a blueberry muffin from a shop a few doors down. It was absolutely wonderful!

I then went for a walk with Amanda, Corinne, Lexi, Jen and Caleb. We walked around and reached a big square which I had been in on my last visit. Then I directed us to a road full of shops. Corinne, Jen and Lexi went to a store an the rest of us kept walking. We went on a long trek around the city. We got back to the hostel just before we could check in at 3pm.

We moved into our room. The room was divided in two sections each with five beds (two bunks and one single) and a bathroom. The guys grabbed the singles and the girls chose the bunks. I had a top bunk on the side with Corinne below me, Amanda and Lexi on the other bunk and Caleb on the single.



Exhausted, everyone took naps. I stayed up and finished reading my book I started on the Barcelona trip. Amanda, Lexi and I then went on a walk. Lexi bailed out and then Amanda and I got dinner.. well French fries. Mine had mayonaise on top and were absolutely coated in it. I ended up with mayo drenched hands (moisturizer?). The fries were delicious, I just wish they had gone a little lighter on the condiments.

M&Ms crispy: the BEST candy ever! (they used to sell in the states and I found them in Amsterdam!!)

Most of the people went to a rave, but Corinne, Cella, Amanda and I just clicked at the hostel. There is a bar just for the hostel downstairs so we just stayed down there. Corinne and Cella went to bed, and Amanda and I played scrabble on my phone.

Spring Break 2013

I am excited to announce it is officially Spring Break! I will be visiting three cities over 10 days. Due to my travel, I will be unable to update my blog until I get back.
The first city I am visiting is Amsterdam. I have been before, but am really looking foward to seeing the city again! It was one of my favorite places on my last visit to Europe, so I'm sure I will fall in love with it again. I do not have definite plans yet, but going to the Heineken brewery is at the top of my list. There will be 10 of us there, so it is sure to be a great time!
Then I will be heading to Berlin with one other student. I am looking forward to seeing the Berlin wall. I have seen a section in D.C. but I think seeing it in the original city will be way cooler. It will be my first time in Germany, so I will definitely trying some food and beer.
My last stop is Prague. The city is rated as being one of the places you have to go in Europe. It is supposed to be beautiful! I will be renting an apartment with four other students and we will definitely have a great time as we wrap up our break.
Until I return to Florence, baci!

Links to all the posts:
Amsterdam 1
Amsterdam 2
Amsterdam 3

Berlin 1
Berlin 2
Berlin 3

Prague 1
Prague 2
Prague 3

Milan/ Return