June 25, 2008
So to those of you who bet in the 0-5 range of how many posts we would actually make on our trip- Kudos to you, you may collect your reward by contacting annedenney86@gmail.com
It seems this good intentioned idea of blogging didn’t pan out quite as planned. So as blogs go perhaps this one wasn’t the best at keeping you updated on our adventures, but pictures are posted now so at least you can check those out…???
May 22, 2008
Fortunately for us we made it out of Brussels the day before the train strike started so we were not stranded in that cold drizzly city. Instead we happily headed off to the land of clogs, flowers, beer, and temptations of the night. Amsterdam surprised us by its beauty. From the canals that lace throughout the city to the splendor of the old buildings bridges. We found our rather shaddy hostel and then headed out to explore the city. We spent most of the afternoon wandering around the many beautiful streets and along canals and enjoying some long awaited sunshine. We wandered ourselves right into the heart of the redlight district and were shocked by some of the sights we took in there. Seems to be a bit of a paradox in this city to find quaint little old women riding their bikes with flowers in their baskets right alongside this section of town. We really enjoyed the city and taking in some of the Netherlands.
Next we were off to Cologne to stay with family friends of Annies. It was so wonderful to have someone to stay with who could show us around the city and tell us about all the history and local life. Frank and his wife Silvia were incredible hosts and we had such a wonderful stay. We both could not stop exclaiming how much we simply loved Germany, from its quaint houses to gorgeous Cathedrals, to the peaceful afternoon by the Rhein River, to nights spent enjoying the local beer and meeting the local people, we had a truly wonderful time and vow to come back again soon.
Prague- How wrong it seems to cram three cities into one meager post- but here we are.
We have heard since being abroad that Prague is one of the most fantastic cities in Europe, now we see why it has received that reputation. I think for us it was simply how much it shattered our expectations of what we would find in the Czech Republic. The massive city is filled with old architecture and the spires of hundreds of Churches and synagogues. We walked around the grounds of Prague Castle which were incredibly beautiful and from the top of the hill on which it sits got a beautiful view of the city over the river. Apparently the local beer in Prague is Budweiser… seems a bit strange but we will take it. We rambled around the city and took in a ton of sights- leaving us exhausted and ready for a nap.
We will try and post pictures soon, apparently internet speed is not quite the best here in the Czech Republic.
May 17, 2008
Well the incredible journey has begun and we are sprinting to stay on board– sometimes quite literally (and with our packs on). Given the short amount of time in London, we were actually able to take in many of the sites. We spent the first day checking out Green Park which conveniently lead us straight to Buckingham Palace. We finished off day one with a glass of wine and a nice meal at a crowded pub. It’s funny to realize how difficult it can be to understand another person even when they are speaking the same language– I think the locals could tell we were ‘just visiting’. We think it was the flip-flops we were wearing that tipped them off…but then again London is home to Sherlock Holmes.
Day two brought much adventure which included but was not limited to: blowing up a hairdryer and enraging a suite-mate, a stroll through Hyde Park (all of it), a photo shoot at London Bridge, discovery of Little Venice and of course misplacing an entire wallet with all the personal effects that could be sandwiched in there. Yes it was certainly a day to remember. Thankfully upon waking the next day a sweet angel named Rosa had contacted Annie’s Mom, who then contacted her– and we were saved. Let us say for the record we are uncertain of how helpful the US Embassy would have been, and had it not been for this woman’s kindness we might still be in London now.
Which brings us to day three three and four where we discovered just how comfortable a ten hour bus ride across the Channel could be. In efforts to be frugal we decided to take an overnight bus which provided transport to the motherland and a place to sleep for the night. We got to experience millions of middle schoolers on a school trip while we stretched our legs on the showboat ferry. We met a sweet young chap from Canada who kept us in conversation on the long journey. We arrived in Brussels this morning at 6:30 and had no money nor any way to get to our hotel. We waited several long hours on the hope of the Western Union opening so we could convert the cash we had to euros. We were preparing to make an incredible hike across the city center when those beautiful neon lights flicked on. We bought a ticket from a boisterous frenchman (only to find out that the transit system does not really require a ticket because they don’t have a system to check them).
Our hotel has been heavenly and we have taken the cold, rainy day to recover some lost sleep and then enjoy a double croque-monsieur ( because that is all the food they had) at a pub with a pint of MAE. Tomorrow brings the adventure of Amsterdam. We look forward to sharing more soon.
May 13, 2008
Today is the start of the incredible journey and we are both trying to frantically pack the things we might need. I am only making it through this part because of the knowledge that we will NOT be in the middle of the jungle, but quite near civilization with plenty of amenities. Our flight leaves late tonight and hopefully we will be able to find some rest on the plane and arrive in London ready to conquer the continent. This is very exciting, however the reality that tomorrow we will be thousands of miles away from Georgia has not hit yet. I don’t think it will until we are out on the street trying to figure out the tube system in London, but that is something to look forward to.
We hope that this forum will provide a way for all of you to keep up with our activities and to know that things are going well. Thanks for being interested in our lives and we are looking forward to seeing what the next five weeks will bring. Bon Voyage!
