Prague: 15th - 19th

The scenic train trip from Berlin was a good indication of the beautiful city we were about to enter into. Dividing the city in half is a river which makes Prague all the more picturesque. We found the hostel ‘Prague’s Heaven’ with ease and it really was a great place to stay. The tiny place with only five rooms and a living area was more like an apartment. We were greeted by a cute little old lady who was constantly offering us tea and coffee whilst surprising us with free breakfast treats on a couple of the mornings. Upon arrival she went through the map of the city showing us the best sights/attractions and the easiest way to get there. We were blessed with our own room with a private bathroom (with a huge bath!) which made a nice change, blessed indeed. That evening we went for a walk and discovered a beautiful park with a walking trail that overlooked the city, along the path were historic buildings and walls that enclosed the area. Upon recommendation we found a local pub that served check cuisine at very cheap prices, Sarah literally got three meals on one plate and Joel’s and mine were not far behind; doggy bag please!

The following day we decided to do ‘The Ultimate Walking Tour’ which was a 6hr expedition. We met our guide at the famous St. Wenceslas Horse statue in New Town and spent the next few hours walking around exploring Prague and all its hidden treasures. The lady showing us around was hilarious with a very black sense of humor; she had lived in Prague her whole life and knew the city inside out. Some of her stories were a little farfetched, but that was part of the fun!

(We came across an amusing statue of the upside down horse)

(The building of the Check Crown)

(Old Town)

(Famous Astronomical Clock in Old Town)

After seeing the main attractions on the right side of the river we went on an hour boat cruise in which we enjoyed some complementary Mulled Wine, it was nice to get a different view of the city and the boat had heaters so we could warm our frozen toes, we were excited. After the little trip down the river we got off and went to a restaurant to enjoy our three course meal that was part of the deal, yummy.

After our lazy lunch we crossed the Charles Bridge to catch a tram to Prague Castle. We got to see the infamous changeover of the guards and toured around the castle grounds.

The church was very beautiful and was the house of the ‘Crowned Jewels’, apparently the only way you can enter the building is to have seven different keys that belong to seven different and extremely important people, that then have to meet up at the same time to unlock the door (Well that’s what our extravagant tour guide told us, guess you can believe her if you want to, good story).

After a long day this is where our tour came to an end, we got an amazing view of the entire city from the castle location and all in all it was definitely an ultimate tour.

That night Joel discovered a unique Beer Factory where you can sit down at a table and pour your own beers. It really was an interesting idea, and just to check which table was getting the most drunk, a tally came up on a projector screen to show how many beers had been poured at each table. You could also order meals and other types of drinks, so we were settled in for the evening.

The following day we went for a general look around Prague and did a bit of window shopping. There is a numerous selection of amazing glass and crystal shops that have some lovely pieces, if they were not so breakable I would have loved to bring some glasses and plates back home. The only purchase of the day were a pair of joggers as Sarah and I have decided that exercising is a great was of site seeing. That morning we had purchased tickets to see a Black Light Show, which in the pamphlet looked amazing. We were initially very excited, that was until we realized we had been conned into purchasing tickets to the completely wrong show. It appears that there are two imitation Black Light Theatres in Prague that are a complete waste of money and time, and we had tickets to one of them that was presenting a show called ‘Cats’. Oh my God…it was the worst thing I have ever seen, a primary school play would have been better. The stage was literally 2metres wide, the actors were terrible and the only thing they said was ‘Meow’ like a cat, and then they proceeded to use their hands to create cats and dance to a CD that was playing loudly in the background. Never ever will we get caught like that again, lesson learned that you always check the street address on the pamphlet before purchasing tickets to anything.

On our last day we split up and just went site seeing by ourselves. Sarah and I ended up shopping for souvenirs and clothes and enjoyed a lovely lunch in Old Town Square, and Joel went looking for new shoes and a suitcase to put extra things in (and I was worried I didn’t have a backpack, turns out my heavy suitcase isn’t so bad after all as it fits lots in it). We met up that night and found a tiny local restaurant near our hostel, where we got a cheap meal, not life changing but hit the spot.

Overall I thought Prague was a fantastic city and one that I would return to as there is just so much to see. I’m sure that some day trips to the country would be worthwhile as there are some great castles around. There was just a great feeling when you were in Prague, especially in the Old Town section of the city where cobble stone streets and little alley ways were great for exploring. This city definitely gets a big tick of approval. Next stop Vienna :)

Berlin: 11th to 14th

Berlin is a city containing some amazing history. Nevertheless it appears that the war resulted in most of the buildings being destroyed, and then recreated in the 60s, hence the very modern and somewhat boring architecture.

(Modern v's old)

(Berlin welcome bear)

(future husbands house ;)

(Berlin Wall)

We decided on our first day to go to the Oranienburg concentration camp which was one of the first detention facilities established by the Nazis when they gained power in 1933.

It held the Nazis' political opponents from the Berlin region. It was established in the center of the town of Oranienburg when the SA took over a disused factory (possibly a brewery). Passers-by were able to see inside the prison. Prisoners were marched through the town to perform forced labor on behalf of the local council. The prison was taken over by the SS in July 1934, when the SA was suppressed by the regime. It was closed and subsequently replaced in the area by Sachsenhausen concentration camp. It really was a moving yet saddening experience and to think that so many people lost their lives in such horrendous circumstances. It makes you realize how valuable human life is and how devastating discrimination can be.

The camp was secure and there were few successful escapes. The perimeter consisted of a three metre high stone wall on the outside. Within that there was a space which was patrolled by guards and dogs; it was bordered on the inside by a lethal electric fence; inside that was a gravel "death strip" forbidden to the prisoners. Any prisoner venturing onto the "death strip" would be shot by the guards without warning. Rewards such as extra leave were offered to guards who successfully shot and killed any prisoner who entered onto the death zone

(cremation chamber)

On the front entrance gates to Sachsenhausen is the infamous slogan Arbeit Macht Frei (German: "Work will set you free"). About 200,000 people passed through Sachsenhausen between 1936 and 1945. Some 30,000 inmates died there from exhaustion, disease, malnutrition or pneumonia from the freezing winter cold. Many were executed or died as the result of brutal medical experimentation.

(Entrance Gates)

 

Only one word can describe this…CRAZY. How could it have happened? To this day I will never know. By looking at the pictures just imagine how it would have been in winter! soooooooo cold.

With a few hours spare in the afternoon we went to make ourselves happier by traveling to a far away designer outlet. It had some really cool deals in which Joel was the only one to take advantage of. Funny that…Sarah and I decided to save our money for the boutique shops in Florence!

The last couple of days in Berlin were really a flop. The two main activities we planned on doing, didn’t end up happening due to unforeseen circumstances. We toured around the city on foot and by bus to see the various monuments. I would have to say I was not overly excited by this city. I’m not sure if it was because it was very cold and constantly snowing, but it just lacked the thrilling vibe that some of the other city’s have had. The main highlight was going to the Ranones museum hehe (pic for kiren lol :) very cool cafe and lots to see.

One of the main highlights we encountered was eating dinner at Brokers Bier Börse. Overlooking the Spree, this drinking hall can´t help making money. Its concept is loosely based on a stock exchange where demand determines the price of the drinks. In reality, the owners' demand for better returns appears to have more of an influence. Prices are displayed on electronic scoreboards mounted high on the walls and every once in a while a bell is rung to signify that all drinks are cut price (actually the recommended retail price in the first place). At this point, the "punters", comprising of tourists and locals, will break their necks in order to get to the bar. Since everyone else is so preoccupied, this would, presumably, be the best time to produce the drinks you have smuggled in your bag. Nevertheless we had a fun evening trying to get the best value for our money, and got to meet some local Berlin Students who joined our table. They were good value and we had a great evening chatting about many random things!

Brussels: 7th to 11th

As we arrived into Brussels all we knew about the city is that it was good for chocolate, Beer and waffles. Joel and Luke raved about the place as they had previously had a stop over there and thoroughly enjoyed the pubs and selection of Belgium beers! We found our hostel with ease and sure enough we were off to a good start as it was located 20m from the Godiva chocolate factory. Because it was Sunday most things were closed, but we went for a walk to a massive cathedral that really was the ugliest thing I’d ever seen, inside and out. It was finished construction in the 1960s and looked more like a recreation centre with a few stained glass windows.

We then found a kebab shop that was metres from our hostel, and it seriously made the most amazing ‘durum’ for only €3.50. This was to be our main source of food over the next few days! After our feast we caught the train and tram to Brussels centre square where Joel had previously had his life changing experience. Well it was simply amazing. There were the most unbelievable buildings, with the most intricate designs. It was obvious why this was such a major tourist attraction.

We then went to see the famous ‘Manikin Piss’…well he was a lot smaller than expected, possibly one of the smallest statues I’ve ever seen. Apparently he frequently dresses up and has over 2000 costumes, something to entertain the local Brussels’ crowds I guess.

After this it was definitely Beer O’clock, so we found ourselves heading towards the nearest pub which happened to be Irish, and the waitress Australian. Just can’t escape the Aussies. So we pretty much parked there for the night, enjoying good alcohol, service and soccer on the plasma TV.

The following day we followed our tourist guide book and went on a multicultural walk around Africa town, (little bit odd seeing as there were mostly white people on the streets), nevertheless we found a couple of cool shops that stocked clothes mostly suited to the Bennett dress up box. If only we had a spare suitcase we could have added to the collection. After exploring this area of town we were not impressed by its ugliness and decided a late lunch in Central Square may be a good option. Due to the fact we were in Belgium we had to try the local specialty of…..(Sausage with mash combined with puree vegetables), yummy!! We then went to an array of chocolate shops to find that you can pay up to €50 for only 500g of chocolate; we opted for the cheaper variety and were not disappointed.

The third day in Brussels we followed our tourist guide suggestion and ventured to the flea market. Well it was more a conglomeration of junk. If you knew what you were looking for I’m sure you could have snagged a rare antique/painting OR if you were a budget minded individual you could purchase a random mix of cutlery and crockery. We found a few pieces of jewelry that were very unique, but over priced (probably because they knew we were tourists). It was definitely an experience and followed the old saying ‘one persons junk is another person’s treasure’.

In the afternoon we went to the Ark de’ Triumph, another major monument that was joined onto the automobile, war and aviation museums. We essentially took a journey back into the past, learning more about history and discovering how far technology has come.

We then went to see Brussels most famous monument the atomium, see the pic below, apparently its an iron molecule that is magnified 1.5billion times.

Our last day in Brussels was dedicated to Beer. We started the morning off with a tour around the Gueuze Museum. This museum is situated in the sill operational Cantillon brewery and is famous for its authentic Lambic beers. Locals suggest that before entering this brewery and museum, you must forget all you know about the taste of beer, and then try a Cantillon Gueuze or Kriek (cherry beer). You're in for a surprise !! It really was very interesting and when sampling the beer you can see how unique and delicious it was (if only they had an outlet in Australia). To learn more about the unique brewery visit the Cantillon Website http://www.cantillon.be/

After that we caught the tram back into town and went to a famous bar called ‘Delerium Cafe' that stocked over 2000 different types of Beer, with 22 different Beers on tap. Inside the pub it was really cozy with a great atmosphere as the youth flocked in to see what this place was all about. The roof and walls were lined with different Beer labels, whilst wine barrels were the predominant tables; it really was a place where you could settle in for the evening.

Overall Brussels was a weird and wonderful city. The architecture ranged from beautiful and historic to contemporary and hideous. The local Brussels people say ‘it’s ugly and we love it’ and you can see why as somehow it all works. Joel found the beer was up to a high standard and I (who was not an avid beer drinker previously) found myself really enjoying some different flavors. Sarah struggled to drink any form of beer, but we forced her saying it will develop her pallet for the future, instead she discovered the difference between square waffles and round ones. Round waffles are sugar infused and therefore totally disgusting (like eating fairy floss), square waffles are made with the original Belgium recipe and should only be eaten with a small dusting of icing sugar (delicious!). Local Brussel citizens get annoyed when tourists top their waffles with fruit, cream and chocolate…and for good reason as it ruins the simplicity and tastiness of the waffle. Guess you just have to try it and see for yourself!

(Palace)

(random dog statue)

(sarah trying to follow a map...blind leading the blind!!)

(our new car...just need the keys)

(we were wondering why so many tourists were running their hands over the lady, we found out later she gives you luck. As you can see she is golden unlike the surrounding areas due to been touched so often)

Amsterdam: 4th-7th Feb

The 10mins on the train just before we reached Amsterdam Central train station I was a little concerned. The graffiti and dodgy apartment blocks left a lot to be desired. On the up side when we stepped off the train it was warmer than Freiburg and we found our Hotel with ease.

That afternoon we decided to see the famous Anna Franks house (after reading her inspirational novel some years ago) which was within walking distance of the hotel. It really was an educational experience and you really could feel a presence in the rooms in which they lived for those two years. Trying to climb up the renowned creaky stairs without making any noise was virtually impossible and to think they had to do that daily and whisper for fear of their neighbors’ hearing which would ultimately lead to their death. That night we went out for dinner at a really good Thai restaurant, a hard decision as the surrounding streets were beaming with numerous selections of cuisine.

The following day we decided to go on a walking tour which was free and allowed you to tip at the end if you enjoyed the experience. We met at the international monument at 11am to be welcomed by a large group of tourists and a hilarious Australian tour guide (who moved to Amsterdam 6yrs ago).

(our group standing by the international monument or phalic monument as our tour guide stated)

In three hours we passed through the renowned Red Light District (the oldest prostitute was 76 and posed in a window with a big cigar), we were told by our tour guide that the lady’s rent a window for €100 for 8hrs and charge around €50> per customer. He also said that if you want to trick your male friends to send them down the blue/red light street…..they may be shocked when they find themselves with a transsexual ;).

We then saw the Hemp & Marijuana Museum, came across many churches which were no longer used for religious purposes, passed Jew central, Royal Palace, the famous coffee shop called the ‘Bulldog’ where a fat stoner cat sat in the window ALL day.

(the famous Bull dog caffee)

(the stoner cat that sat in the bull dog window 24/7)

The Squatters suburb was interesting, buildings were brightly covered with graffiti. Apparently if no one has lived in a house for a year you can automatically just move in and claim it as your own!!! Crazy.

We witnessed the widest bridge and smallest house (below). Apparently you pay less tax if your house is narrow!

We learnt that the city was built 1m under sea level, hence the numerous canals and windmills that pumped all the water out to sea. We noted that many of the houses were leaning severely (or sinking) and the gaps were just filled with concrete to stop them from leaning back the other way.

On our last day in Amsterdam we headed to the local markets. It was bustling with people all there to snag a bargain or to collect their weekly groceries. We were there to just have a ‘look’ but it ended up with the three of us making purchases, Joel collected an extremely warm and funky jumper whilst Sarah and I lashed out and bought ourselves a beautiful genuine leather jacket each. Sarah chose a classic Black one and I decided to live on the edge and get a Blue one. Just one word to describe them…Love…haha how girls are so easily pleased by shopping. On our last night we decided to go to the famous Boom Comedy Show which was great fun, we were just glad that we were sitting upstairs so we didn’t get targeted to come up on stage and be totally embarrassed by the crew!

All in all the last couple of days were better than expected. We learnt to be very cautious crossing the road as there are literally a million people that ride bikes and scooters in this city. Apparently 20 000 bikes get fished out of the canals each year, and if your bike is stolen there is a 1/3 change of buying your bike back at a later date. There are also 2.5tourists killed by trams per year, not surprising seeing as the pavements merge with the rail tracks, which then merge with the bike paths. We also learnt the difference between a Café and a Coffee Shop. The law states you can sell/grow marijuana as long as you don’t advertise it (i.e. you can’t call your shop “best pot in town”…..instead you call it “Joe’s Coffee shop”) this way its legal, the police are not concerned and everyone is happy.

(The Nuns court yard)

All in all it was actually a really cool city, when you moved away from the Red Light District, the canals were really pretty and the cobble stone streets combined with the lovely apartments made it enjoyable to walk around. There was plenty of activities and shops to keep you busy, but I think 3 nights was sufficient to get a taste of Amsterdam life. If I was to come back, I would make it a summer expedition and venture out to the country to see the fields of flowers with the windmills, unfortunately because its winter it’s not so pretty because everything is deciduous and dead. Nevertheless good fun! Good bye Amsterdam, Hello Brussels!

(couple of different modes of transport...above & below...not sure which would be faster?)