Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Picture Post!

Prague
Prague

Prague

Prague

Prague

Regensburg

Walhalla

Vatican

Colosseum

Cannoli (Rome)

Pantheon (Rome)

Trevi Fountain (Rome)

Spanish Steps (Rome)

Pope
Venice



Vienna

Vienna (before the concert)

Vienna



Vienna

Dresden

Innsbruck

Munich

Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein

Berlin

Rome


Pope

Eurotour, Easter, and Everything Else

I got back a little less than a week ago from Eurotour. It was an absolutely unforgettable experience. One of the best of my life, without a doubt. There's not much more I can say about it because there are simply no words. It was too amazing. :))
But in case you're wondering what exactly we did, here you go, the generic version. :)

Day 1 Berlin-->Dresden

Individual travel to Berlin, welcome and briefing by the Rotary traveling companion. By bus we drive to Dresden, where we are in the afternoon take a city tour.


Dresden is an art metropolis in Europe. Although the city in the 2nd World War II was heavily damaged by the floods and 2004 floods, we can see the major monuments and the valuable art collections today. Almost everything was destroyed is rebuilt.


On our walk through Dresden, we see the famous Semper Opera, the baroque palace, the Zwinger and the Brühl Terrace. Visited, the Green Vault. This stretches the treasury of the former king admired Augustus the Strong, for example, there are the famous cherry stone, were carved in the 180 (!) Small faces.


We got there, made a bus tour through the city, and then had free time. I spent my time playing Taboo with a few others. Everyone else went to a shisha bar. That's not really my thing.



Day 2 Dresden-->Prague


After breakfast we visit the Panometer in Dresden.


On monumental 105 meters length and 27 meters high - on a scale of 1:1 allows us the panorama painting in one of the most important eras of Dresden. We do not just Dresden during the day. Slowly obscured the view, turns into evening mood, eventually the Baroque Dresden to show on a summer night.


Then we head to Prague.


Once we got to Prague, we were given a little freetime until dinner. After dinner we took the train to the city and had freetime until midnight.



Day 3 Prague


Today a visit to Prague is on the agenda. The "Golden City" is certainly one of the most beautiful capitals of Europe and is one of the most glamorous cities with great history. It lies on the Vltava river over which spans the famous Charles Bridge. The Hradcany Castle and the Strahov Monastery rise above the city and give it a very special flair. A very unique experience is the bubbling with life Charles Bridge with its view of the "Golden" Prague and the Prague Castle.


In the evening we go to a black light theater.


We took a walking tour through the city, went to a black light theater at night (which was kinda really strange), and then had free time.



Day 4 Prague-->Vienna


The bus brings us through the Czech Republic and Austria to Vienna, the capital of Austria. Splendid churches, palaces, theaters, rich houses, the typical Viennese coffee houses and many parks - that's Vienna. Landmark of the city are the horse-drawn carriages, carriages', and go everywhere in the streets. It is a cheerful, vibrant world city that you will be amazed by fast!


We stopped along the way at this strange kiddy place. It was interesting... Once in Vienna we had some freetime until dinner (when we ate Wiener Schnitzel), then more freetime afterwards.



Day 5 Vienna


Today we get to know thoroughly the imperial city of Vienna. The city tour takes in the morning to the Museum Quarter, the colorful Hundertwasser House. We will show the State Opera and St. Stephen's Square with the famous St. Stephen's Cathedral, which stands in the middle of the city and is called by the Viennese "Steffl".


In the afternoon we visit the Schonbrunn Palace. Here lived the famous Empress "Sissi" and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed at the age of 6 years before the Empress.


In the evening we will attend a concert.


Yeah, that's basically all we did.



Day 6 Vienna-->Venice


Drive from Vienna over the Alps to Venice in Italy.


Venice is the "Queen of the Mediterranean" and is located on 118 closely spaced small islands connected by more than 400 bridges. It is the center of Venice just water channels, which go on boats and gondolas, no roads and no cars.


Really, really long drive. Once we got to Venice we all walked from the hotel to the beach and had ourselves a nice night. :)



Day 7 Venice


Today we look at the beautiful city of detail and take a boat trip on the main channel of Venice, the Grand Canal.


The impressions are unforgettable: both sides are many old palaces and churches, the narrowest point of the channel spans the famous white Rialto Bridge, the main square, the Piazza San Marco with its high bell tower, the Campanile, the magnificent Doge's Palace and the Basilica of San Marco. One attraction is the variety of birds that populate the place.


Took a boat to Venice, were given like 6 hours or something crazy long of freetime. Then took a water taxi through the city and made a walking tour back to the boat that had brought us. We went to the beach again at nighttime.



Day 8 Venice-->Rome


Still impressed by Venice, the trip continues to the south - to Rome, the capital of Italy and one of the most fascinating cities in the world with the Hollywood films like "Three Coins in a Fountain (Three Coins in the Fountain) famous Trevi Fountain, in we too want to throw a coin in order to assure us of the return to Rome.


Got to Rome after another long drive. Had freetime until 8:30, which is when we had dinner, and then were given more freetime afterwards.



Day 9 Rome


Today we are going together to visit the Vatican and St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's, the largest basilica in the world Christendom with their precious pieces of equipment, such as the Pietà by Michelangelo and the venerable Peter statue. Then we have the opportunity to visit the catacombs under St. Peter's (with the tomb of Pope John Paul II).


We will take a guided walk with a guide to do the famous sites of Rome.


Took a walking tour through Rome. Afterwards we were given freetime, which I used by finding and eating a cannoli :)), finding a cute little island, heading to the Colosseum, and wandering into the Vatican. We also found THEE COOLEST ICE CREAM MAN EVER.



Day 10 Rome


On our second day in Rome we will try to attend the morning on the Wednesday audience with the pope, with invitation. Then you go to the Capitol, from which we can enjoy from a nice view over ancient Rome. We visit the Roman Forum, which was the center of ancient Rome. The mansion, which met in the Roman Senate more than 1000 years has remained intact. The Colosseum, the most famous building of ancient Rome, was built by Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus inaugurated in 80 AD. It was the largest in the ancient world.


We got up early and went to the Vatican to see the Pope, then we went inside the Vatican and were given freetime until dinner. After dinner we boarded the bus for an overnight journey to Innsbruck.



Day 11 Innsbruck


We arrive in the morning here and Innsbruck have the opportunity to get to know the city better. In the afternoon we visit the Swarovski exhibition.


We went to Swarovski and then had freetime, which we spent shopping. :))



Day 12 Innsbruck-->Nesselwang


Today we visit the Linderhof Palace with the Venus Grotto.


Then we drive to our hotel after Nesselwang.


On our way to Nesselwang we stopped and visited Schloss Linderhof, then continued driving to Nesselwang. In Nesselwang, we all went to the pool across the street. :)



Day 13 Nesselwang


In the morning we visit the fairytale castle Neuschwanstein. Then we get to know the environment here and you can have your fun. In the late afternoon you have the opportunity to try out on the water park from our hotel.


We went to Neuschwanstein and afterwards next door to the giant mountain place. We took a lift to the top of the mountain and hung out there for a while. Then we went tobogganing. Then back to the hotel and had freetime.



Day 14 Nesselwang-->Munich


Very early on it's on to Munich. In the late morning we are seeing in Munich on a city tour by bus and on foot. We see the women's and St. Michael's Church, Charles Square, the Marienplatz with the Old and New Town Hall. For dinner, we go to the Hard Rock Cafe in the attractive city of Munich.


Made a bus tour through Munich. Went to the Olympic Park and the BMW place. Had some freetime before eating at Hard Rock Cafe.



Day 15 Munich-->Regensburg


Our journey continues today from Munich to Regensburg.


Here we visit the Valhalla.


Then we get to Regensburg for a guided tour to know you better.


Between the Danube and rain beautifully situated on an island is a few minutes to the center of the UNESCO-World Heritage Regensburg.


Visited Walhalla on the way to Regensburg. It's basically a newer version (~1500 or so, I think) of a Greek temple. Then drove the rest of the way to Regensburg. Made a 3 hour walking tour through the city. Then freetime before and after dinner.



Day 16 Regensburg-->Berlin


Today we drive to Berlin. We will arrive late afternoon. We say goodbye to our bus driver and are looking forward to our joint last day in Berlin.


Freetime all day. Went to the Reichstag, laid on the grass, and hung out.



Day 17 Berlin


Really long boat ride on the Spree. Afterwards walked to Brandenburg Gate and took a few pictures. Then freetime for the rest of the day.



Day 18 Berlin


Today our tour comes to an end. Individual departure from 10 clock.


Said our goodbyes and left.




Easter. It's a 3 day holiday here, like Christmas. I actually think every holiday here is a 3 day holiday. It seems like it at least. :) Friday we dyed eggs. Saturday all 4 of my host grandparents came and we grilled out. Sunday we got up early (9! :)) and went outside to hunt eggs, then we had breakfast, then in the late afternoon we had our big meal: lamb, potatoes, and green beans. At night, we played a few games, watched a little TV, and went to bed.



I'm on Spring Break right now, which is perfect because I think I'm STILL catching up on all the sleep I lost during Eurotour. :))



And that's all I've got to say right now. I'll post pictures in a separate post because it's easier.



Kaite


Saturday, April 2, 2011

March

It's been a while since my last post, as it always is. In the past 4 weeks a few exciting things have happened. Here are the updates.

3 weeks ago, Agos visited. We had an exciting week full of doener, shopping, and laughing (especially when she fell into a puddle on our way to the mall. :)) We went to Dresden and hung out with some of her friends and saw the Frauenkirche, and we, of course, went shopping. :) We also went to the coolest looking city I've ever seen, it's called Meissen and it's somewhere near Dresden. It was so medival looking and just...cool. I'd love to go back sometime. :)


Atop the Frauenkirche


Meissen

I changed host families two weeks ago. I've got to say, I really, really like this family. :) I have a host mom, a host dad, a host sister, and a host dog. I love how active and family-like this family is. We sit after dinner and lunch and breakfast and just talk, and I like that. And we're always up to something. They seem excited to show me places I havent seen before, which is good, because I want to see as much as I can. And something I think is really cool: My first two families were East German, my new family is West German. So while they're very similar to my first two families, they're also a little different. I'm getting to see how the other half lives. :) On Monday, I'm leaving for EUROTOUR! Very exciting. Berlin, Dresden, Vienna, Prague, Innsbruck, Rome, Venice, Neuschwanstein, Munich, and a few other places along the way. 18 days of traveling, then Easter. :) Which means I'm not going to school again until May. And by then I'll have only 2 months left here in Germany. This year has gone by too fast. So until after Eurotour. :)) Kaite