So at least some of your take on a city must be based upon where you are staying in that city. For example, when we were staying in Prague, our experience must have been colored by the swanky hotel with access to the Executive Lounge and cheap booze. The hostel in Berlin was very cool and fun, thus my view of Berlin is skewed toward the fun and cool. Likewise, our place in Amsterdam must effect my view somewhat, as it truly is one of the dirtiest, most dimly lit places that I have stayed. It turns out the no smoking rule was not enforced, for either kind of smoke, and as the other guys didn't want the maid going through our room when we ere out, they didn't clean the bathroom. Since it wasn't ventilated, the room got a bit of a tinge of mildew before I took off to more southern (though oddly enough colder and snowier) climes.
Don't get me wrong, overall Amsterdam is an amazing city. All of the places I have been to here: the museums, the restaurants, the bars have all been nice, fun, and friendly, and I simply cannot express how many bikes there are around the city.
We have tried some Indonesian food, which is supposed to be amazing here, and I found it to be fine, although my travel companions were less than impressed. On a side note, I have become addicted to these croquette things they have here. Basically make a tater tot about 1" by 4" and then fill it with pot pie filling, and then buy it out of a wall full of coin slots and drop down doors with a dude behind the wall keeping the different things stocked. Seriously cool. My favorite was FEBO. And I personally recommend the veal, the veggie, the cheese, and the beef.
Now I have not done any laundry since Prague. So no laundry in Berlin or Amsterdam. Hopefully, my cousin will not mind the smell too much until I get caught up on the laundry.
He hasn't mentioned anything about my personal hygiene yet, though he did offer the use of the laundry machines. I think he was being nice, though he may have been giving some helpful advice.
Back to Amsterdam: Museums I have hit are the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Heineken experience (brewery and museum), the House of Bols (original exporters of Gin, and thanks for that by the way), and we tried to hit the Houseboat Museum, but it is closed until 30 January. I can't remember if I mentioned seeing the Chicago-style (sketch/improv) comedy show in Amsterdam at Boom Chicago, but it was really quite funny. And, as I had picked up a flier outside of the door, they gave us each 5 euros off admission (from 20) and a free drink. Not bad for picking up crap off the street.
The next day we did some boat touring of the canals, though the stop we were planning on getting off at was closed due to ice in the canals (which somehow didn't get mentioned until after we had bought the 18 euro day pass), so it was about a 10 minute walk from the City Hall. Unfortunately, the zoo cost about $25 to enter, so we decided to hit up the botanical gardens for the much nicer price of 7 euro. There was a palm tree house, a greenhouse with 3 different climates in it and a butterfly house. Add on a little all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, finding the Simpsons in English on Dutch TV and some free OJ and toast for breakfast, and my day is going pretty well so far. My thanks again to my cousin and his family to putting me up for the next two nights.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is really friendly, far warmer than Berlin, and very clean. Although this is the dirtiest hotel we have stayed at so far. Yesterday and today we have run around and found pretty fun things to see and eat and drink. Last night we found an incredibly friendly bartender at a bar that had a NBA game on, so we decided to stop in, and he ended up giving us maps and a bunch of advice on what to see and do in the city. Dinner last night of a lamb burger and fries for about 3 euros, and a decent amount of pretty goof Dutch beer from a few neighborhood bars about 1 km from our hotel.
Today we checked out the Heineken brewery and got tickets to a Chicago-style sketch comedy club in English f0r after dinner.
Oh yeah, and our hotel is above a Brazilian style steakhouse, with entry to the hotel through the edge fop the restaurant kitchen. hopefully we will wake up before 10:30am and get some free breakfast at the hotel tomorrow.
Today we checked out the Heineken brewery and got tickets to a Chicago-style sketch comedy club in English f0r after dinner.
Oh yeah, and our hotel is above a Brazilian style steakhouse, with entry to the hotel through the edge fop the restaurant kitchen. hopefully we will wake up before 10:30am and get some free breakfast at the hotel tomorrow.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Berlin
We got in last night on the train about 7:00pm and headed over to the hostel. We had a cabin all to ourselves on the train, so that was pretty good. After checking in we walked around to find a place to eat some dinner (I suppose I felt OK with paying for food after eating breakfast and appetizers for brunch and dinner for the last few days in the executive lounge of the Prague Marriott and thus paying nothing) at a place called Hot Dog and Hamburger, which was basically a kebab place with hot dogs and burgers.
We then headed down to the hostel bar to get to know some of the folks there and get started on the night. Hostel folk are pretty cool, pretty relaxed, and very talkative and friendly. We got some tips on which clubs would be best to go to, and so we headed upstairs to change and then dance until dawn.
However, after being denied entry to 2 different clubs within walking distance of each other, we headed back to the hostel for drinking and singing and darts at the weekly Karaoke night at the bar. It was quite a good time, and I was the first to call it a night at about 3:45am (the bar is open til dawn).
This morning we grabbed a spinach croissant from a bakery and headed out to do our own sightseeing around Berlin. We checked out the Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to European Jews, and Checkpoint Charlie (the primary crossing point form East Berlin into the US-controlled zone of West Berlin) and the remains of the Berlin Wall. We grabbed some Chinese food at a restaurant that was much better than the Chinese we got the first night in Prague and headed back to the hostel. People are doing laundry and taking naps, so I figured I´d head out to catch up on email and blogging.
Tomorrow afternoon, it´s off to Amsterdam.
We then headed down to the hostel bar to get to know some of the folks there and get started on the night. Hostel folk are pretty cool, pretty relaxed, and very talkative and friendly. We got some tips on which clubs would be best to go to, and so we headed upstairs to change and then dance until dawn.
However, after being denied entry to 2 different clubs within walking distance of each other, we headed back to the hostel for drinking and singing and darts at the weekly Karaoke night at the bar. It was quite a good time, and I was the first to call it a night at about 3:45am (the bar is open til dawn).
This morning we grabbed a spinach croissant from a bakery and headed out to do our own sightseeing around Berlin. We checked out the Brandenburg Gate, the Memorial to European Jews, and Checkpoint Charlie (the primary crossing point form East Berlin into the US-controlled zone of West Berlin) and the remains of the Berlin Wall. We grabbed some Chinese food at a restaurant that was much better than the Chinese we got the first night in Prague and headed back to the hostel. People are doing laundry and taking naps, so I figured I´d head out to catch up on email and blogging.
Tomorrow afternoon, it´s off to Amsterdam.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Prague (part 2)
We spent the morning yesterday basically playing in the pool. We have a pool, jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna, and we have decided to take full advantage of this, especially yesterday, until we bothered the Czech ladies who were there for some R and R, and we interrupted this by playing Marco polo.
Ran around to check out all the shopping that Prague has to offer as museums and marionette theater (puppets) were closed for January 6 (which is the Epiphany I think). We found an English-language bookstore and I decided to try to get through all 1100 pages of Cryptonomicon, again, but this time I have hours of train riding to do it in.
Prague also seems to have a pretty serious Jazz scene, so we went out to the "best Jazz club within walking distance," and as we are within walking distance of Old Town, we figured it would be pretty good, and it was.
The club was in an old converted basement-looking thing that reminded me of a much smaller version of the kellers we went into to drink in Munich. The beer was good and pretty cheap, as has become the norm for Prague.
Berlin here we come.
Ran around to check out all the shopping that Prague has to offer as museums and marionette theater (puppets) were closed for January 6 (which is the Epiphany I think). We found an English-language bookstore and I decided to try to get through all 1100 pages of Cryptonomicon, again, but this time I have hours of train riding to do it in.
Prague also seems to have a pretty serious Jazz scene, so we went out to the "best Jazz club within walking distance," and as we are within walking distance of Old Town, we figured it would be pretty good, and it was.
The club was in an old converted basement-looking thing that reminded me of a much smaller version of the kellers we went into to drink in Munich. The beer was good and pretty cheap, as has become the norm for Prague.
Berlin here we come.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Prague
Prague in daylight is really quite a beautiful city, and it is relatively cheap, though not as cheap as it apparently once was. Our first day in Prague, we checked out the Old Town Square with its 2 cathedrals and town hall, which has an astrometric clock from the 1400s, which still appears to be accurate. From there we walked over to the Charles Bridge and wandered around there before heading over to the Old Jewish Quarter. In one of the 3 synagogues is the location of the Golem of Prague of legend, and according to the guide books the quarter, complete with its wall to keep everyone in, was preserved on order of Hitler to keep "a museum of an extinct race." We walk back to once end of the Charles bridge to grab some food and Czech beer before returning to the hotel to warm up in the steam room. We then head back out to see a classical music concert at the Municipal Hall (though we are in a side room and not the main hall), then grab a few beers (for about a dollar each) at a local pub and head back at midnight when the bar closes.
We run into a few gypsies on the way back to our hotel, and in the commotion of them bumping into us while proposing some non-PG activities, I am relieved of the money in my pocket (though it is only about $50), and I only notice this as we are walking away. So I am now more alert for this type of shenanigans and glad it was only 50 bucks.
The next day we head out to the Prague Castle complex, the seat of Czech Government for pretty much as long as there has been a Prague and country around it, since about 800 or so according to the museum. There is a cathedral, castle, basilica, a few museums and an armory display, all of which were pretty good.
We walk back to the hotel area after spending the better part of a day up there, grab some pizza from a Czech Italian restaurant and then check out the night life before heading back for the night at a rather late hour. One last full day in Prague before we head back West into Berlin tomorrow.
We run into a few gypsies on the way back to our hotel, and in the commotion of them bumping into us while proposing some non-PG activities, I am relieved of the money in my pocket (though it is only about $50), and I only notice this as we are walking away. So I am now more alert for this type of shenanigans and glad it was only 50 bucks.
The next day we head out to the Prague Castle complex, the seat of Czech Government for pretty much as long as there has been a Prague and country around it, since about 800 or so according to the museum. There is a cathedral, castle, basilica, a few museums and an armory display, all of which were pretty good.
We walk back to the hotel area after spending the better part of a day up there, grab some pizza from a Czech Italian restaurant and then check out the night life before heading back for the night at a rather late hour. One last full day in Prague before we head back West into Berlin tomorrow.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Vienna and to Prague
So our train from Munich to Vienna was pretty nice. We had a whole first class cabin all to ourselves. We got into Vienna and walked over to one of the two Wombat (company name) Hostels and hoped that the one we had picked was the correct one. Luckily for us, it was.
We checked in and went up to our room and found a French Canadian asleep in one of the four beds. He woke up, welcomed us to Vienna, then went back to sleep.
So we unpacked quickly and went out in search of Viennese food.
We found a "late night cafe" (read 'diner') recommended by the woman behind the desk and headed over there for some Steigl beer and wienerschnitzel the size of your head.
It was quite good.
We passed out and booked our trip to Prague before dropping our bags off at a second station, the one from which we would leave for Prague. From there we headed to the palace grounds for a viewing of the Botanical gardens and the palaces and artwork which they contained. We spend a good part of the afternoon walking around the palace grounds, grabbing some Middle eastern food and a few beers before it was time for our trip to Prague.
Upon arriving, we checked into our hotel, after deftly avoiding at least 2 cabbies hellbent on getting us to take their cabs the 4 blocks from the train station to the hotel, and we walked out on the town to find a place to get some food from with a block or two of our hotel.
We find a place that served Chinese and had a pretty filling dinner with drinks for about $30.
We pass out and get ready for the next day in Prague, this time with daylight.
We checked in and went up to our room and found a French Canadian asleep in one of the four beds. He woke up, welcomed us to Vienna, then went back to sleep.
So we unpacked quickly and went out in search of Viennese food.
We found a "late night cafe" (read 'diner') recommended by the woman behind the desk and headed over there for some Steigl beer and wienerschnitzel the size of your head.
It was quite good.
We passed out and booked our trip to Prague before dropping our bags off at a second station, the one from which we would leave for Prague. From there we headed to the palace grounds for a viewing of the Botanical gardens and the palaces and artwork which they contained. We spend a good part of the afternoon walking around the palace grounds, grabbing some Middle eastern food and a few beers before it was time for our trip to Prague.
Upon arriving, we checked into our hotel, after deftly avoiding at least 2 cabbies hellbent on getting us to take their cabs the 4 blocks from the train station to the hotel, and we walked out on the town to find a place to get some food from with a block or two of our hotel.
We find a place that served Chinese and had a pretty filling dinner with drinks for about $30.
We pass out and get ready for the next day in Prague, this time with daylight.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Munich
The train ride up to Munich was long but pretty cool.
My sleeping compartment for about 11 hours of the trip was split with an Italian family and an Italian girl who spoke very little English. Though the family after dinner wouldn´t take no for an answer when offering me some homemade biscotti.
The trip from northern Italy up to Munich was quieter for most of the trip, though a bunch of Italian snowboarders were picked up on the edge of the Italian Alps and traveled up to Innsbruck on the train. At which point 2 Americans from Oklahoma sat across from me. It was fun to speak English with someone who was not Miriam for the first time in about 2 weeks (not that there is anything wrong with talking to my little sister, but it was fun to talk to others).
The train stopped in Munich and I walked to 2 blocks to the hotel and met up with my travelling companions for the next 19 days, Dar and Beanz. We called and met up with a friend of my former roommate Cindy, named Michel, who showed us through the main City center of Munich, and gave us a quick tour of some of the outlying bars, restaurants and shops.
Dinner at Augistiner brewery of 1 liter beers and a roasted 1/2 of a pig´s leg and potato dumplings for me, and it was time to pass out.
For New Year´s Eve we went down to the city center and wandered around some shops, bought a 2€ hat at H&M and then headed back to the hotel bar to start off the festivities. We took what appeared to be a short walk on the map that took about 40 minutes or so over to the strip where the best fireworks apparently took place, and we bar hopped a bit before sitting down in an Indian restaurant at about 11:45pm.
For New Year´s in Munich, there are fireworks all over the city, and Leopoldstraße certainly appeared to be the epicenter. I have never seen anything like it in the states, with fireworks going off all over the place, from the sidewalks, streets and rooftops.
Some New Year shots from the owner of the restaurant and some good Indian food, and we headed back to a hostel bar about 1 block from our hotel to finish out eh night a little after 3.
New Year´s Day most of the places were closed, so we had our free hotel breakfast and headed out to the English Gardens, which is sort of like the Central Park of Munich. We hit a college bar for a sandwich on the way back to the hotel before taking a break before heading out to see what is open tonight.
Happy New Year to everyone. Hope yours was as fun as mine.
Tomorrow, it is off to Vienna.
My sleeping compartment for about 11 hours of the trip was split with an Italian family and an Italian girl who spoke very little English. Though the family after dinner wouldn´t take no for an answer when offering me some homemade biscotti.
The trip from northern Italy up to Munich was quieter for most of the trip, though a bunch of Italian snowboarders were picked up on the edge of the Italian Alps and traveled up to Innsbruck on the train. At which point 2 Americans from Oklahoma sat across from me. It was fun to speak English with someone who was not Miriam for the first time in about 2 weeks (not that there is anything wrong with talking to my little sister, but it was fun to talk to others).
The train stopped in Munich and I walked to 2 blocks to the hotel and met up with my travelling companions for the next 19 days, Dar and Beanz. We called and met up with a friend of my former roommate Cindy, named Michel, who showed us through the main City center of Munich, and gave us a quick tour of some of the outlying bars, restaurants and shops.
Dinner at Augistiner brewery of 1 liter beers and a roasted 1/2 of a pig´s leg and potato dumplings for me, and it was time to pass out.
For New Year´s Eve we went down to the city center and wandered around some shops, bought a 2€ hat at H&M and then headed back to the hotel bar to start off the festivities. We took what appeared to be a short walk on the map that took about 40 minutes or so over to the strip where the best fireworks apparently took place, and we bar hopped a bit before sitting down in an Indian restaurant at about 11:45pm.
For New Year´s in Munich, there are fireworks all over the city, and Leopoldstraße certainly appeared to be the epicenter. I have never seen anything like it in the states, with fireworks going off all over the place, from the sidewalks, streets and rooftops.
Some New Year shots from the owner of the restaurant and some good Indian food, and we headed back to a hostel bar about 1 block from our hotel to finish out eh night a little after 3.
New Year´s Day most of the places were closed, so we had our free hotel breakfast and headed out to the English Gardens, which is sort of like the Central Park of Munich. We hit a college bar for a sandwich on the way back to the hotel before taking a break before heading out to see what is open tonight.
Happy New Year to everyone. Hope yours was as fun as mine.
Tomorrow, it is off to Vienna.
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