I just arrived in Amsterdam and all I have to say is "Holy Woah!"
I don't know if it's the kick off of the 2008 Euro Championships, the good weather, or just typical Amsterdam, but there are people EVERYWHERE!
Looks like it's going to be a good end to our mini trip within the trip.
Gotta go. Canal ride awaits.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
To Travel, or Not To Travel, That Is the Question
Today I will bring you the travel blog that got postponed due to the engagement....
Ah, travel days.
A good portion of this trip is about travelling.... Oh, really? you say. Who would of thought.... Yes, it's true. Throughout this trip I have spent complete days at a time going from train station to train station and sometimes even an airport in between. And there are times when this really tests my patience. Like in London for example, when I had to take the train into the city, wait in two different lines to have them tell me I was in the wrong place, then take the tube to the right train station, wait in another line, take another train to the airport, and then have my plane delayed for an hour and half.
And then there are days like today, where there were absolutely no complications but still it was 8 hours of being on a train, which is exhausting.
Those would be the parts that I hate.
But there are parts to the travel days that I have come to love - the people watching and the amazing sites and views.
The airports usually provide for the best people watching. They are usually filled with families where the parents seem so stressed out and the kids are beyond excitement because vacations, or holidays, are a time when you (as a child) get to eat things you wouldn't ordinarily. Vacations for me as a child meant chocolate pop-tarts and fudge dipped oreos. For the kids sitting next to me in the Luton airport it was potato chips and skittles. And it's always dad who gets the pleasure of presenting this surprise to the kids and mom who watches in dismay.
And all complications with travel delays disappear when you fly over the Swiss alps and try to decipher between what is the top of the snow capped mountains and what is a cloud. Or when you come into Greece as the sun is setting and you try to figure out what is land and what is water. Or, when like today, you ride through the countryside of Austria and Germany and sing (to yourself), "The Hills are Alive With the Sound of Music..." and picture the Van Tramp family marching through the very hills to escape the German army.
So, I guess I would say that I have more of a love relationship than a hate relationship with travel days. Or at least until the next time someone throws themselves in front of my train to committ suicide and delays if for an hour (yes, actually happened in Paris). Till then, travel is pretty fabulous.
Right now I am in Frieberg, Germany, after having spent 2 nights in Vienna, Austria. Both cities have offered fabulous accommodations, provided by people whom I had met in Wales. Tomorrow we explore Frieberg, the Black Forest, and maybe some shopping.
Saturday - Amsterdam!
Ah, travel days.
A good portion of this trip is about travelling.... Oh, really? you say. Who would of thought.... Yes, it's true. Throughout this trip I have spent complete days at a time going from train station to train station and sometimes even an airport in between. And there are times when this really tests my patience. Like in London for example, when I had to take the train into the city, wait in two different lines to have them tell me I was in the wrong place, then take the tube to the right train station, wait in another line, take another train to the airport, and then have my plane delayed for an hour and half.
And then there are days like today, where there were absolutely no complications but still it was 8 hours of being on a train, which is exhausting.
Those would be the parts that I hate.
But there are parts to the travel days that I have come to love - the people watching and the amazing sites and views.
The airports usually provide for the best people watching. They are usually filled with families where the parents seem so stressed out and the kids are beyond excitement because vacations, or holidays, are a time when you (as a child) get to eat things you wouldn't ordinarily. Vacations for me as a child meant chocolate pop-tarts and fudge dipped oreos. For the kids sitting next to me in the Luton airport it was potato chips and skittles. And it's always dad who gets the pleasure of presenting this surprise to the kids and mom who watches in dismay.
And all complications with travel delays disappear when you fly over the Swiss alps and try to decipher between what is the top of the snow capped mountains and what is a cloud. Or when you come into Greece as the sun is setting and you try to figure out what is land and what is water. Or, when like today, you ride through the countryside of Austria and Germany and sing (to yourself), "The Hills are Alive With the Sound of Music..." and picture the Van Tramp family marching through the very hills to escape the German army.
So, I guess I would say that I have more of a love relationship than a hate relationship with travel days. Or at least until the next time someone throws themselves in front of my train to committ suicide and delays if for an hour (yes, actually happened in Paris). Till then, travel is pretty fabulous.
Right now I am in Frieberg, Germany, after having spent 2 nights in Vienna, Austria. Both cities have offered fabulous accommodations, provided by people whom I had met in Wales. Tomorrow we explore Frieberg, the Black Forest, and maybe some shopping.
Saturday - Amsterdam!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
World Domination Anyone?
I am staying in a really cool hostel in Budapest called the Aborgional Hostel. The hostel is basically an old flat that has been converted, so it feels pretty much like we're all staying in an apartment. There are quite a few of us here, most from Australia, Canada, the US and the UK (English speaking countries), and we have taken up late nights playing the Game of the Risk. As a child, and throughout most of my life, I didn't really have any interest in the game. It always looked like a game for boys, with soliders, war ships, etc... blasting all over the game box. But I have been proven wrong.
If you aren't familiar with the game, if basically goes like this: Everyone is dealt a set of countries and one at a time you place you men (soliders) in your assigned countries. Once all men have been placed you start battling and trying to conquer each other's territories. First person to conquer the world wins. I find this the most appropriate game to play given the situation - 20 people staying in a hostel, each from different countries, battling it out for world domiation. You find that everyone always seems to be somewhat partial to their home country. At one point tonight I had completely conquered Europe. I found it very symbolic. But then I slowly started being taken over, and eventually lost the entire continent.... I choose not to see the symbolism in that.
But it's not all "risk" here in Budapest. I have spent some time strolling through the city centre and fashion district, walking along the Daunbe River, hanging out on Margrit Island, and taking the worse the bus tour ever possible. At one point the (audio recorded) guide said, "And today Budpaest has abolished the death penalty. Why do you think that is? Your guess is as good as mine, but I think its safe to say that its probably because you can't take it back once it's already been done... but, anyways..."
1) yes, the audio recorded guide actually said "so anyways" and 2) really? do you really think that's why they abolished the death penalty? I have a feeling there was probably a little more thought that was put into than that. But that's just my guess...
but anyways....
Eva gets here tomorrow and the real sight seeing begins at that point. Till then it's more Risk, and less tour buses.
night.
If you aren't familiar with the game, if basically goes like this: Everyone is dealt a set of countries and one at a time you place you men (soliders) in your assigned countries. Once all men have been placed you start battling and trying to conquer each other's territories. First person to conquer the world wins. I find this the most appropriate game to play given the situation - 20 people staying in a hostel, each from different countries, battling it out for world domiation. You find that everyone always seems to be somewhat partial to their home country. At one point tonight I had completely conquered Europe. I found it very symbolic. But then I slowly started being taken over, and eventually lost the entire continent.... I choose not to see the symbolism in that.
But it's not all "risk" here in Budapest. I have spent some time strolling through the city centre and fashion district, walking along the Daunbe River, hanging out on Margrit Island, and taking the worse the bus tour ever possible. At one point the (audio recorded) guide said, "And today Budpaest has abolished the death penalty. Why do you think that is? Your guess is as good as mine, but I think its safe to say that its probably because you can't take it back once it's already been done... but, anyways..."
1) yes, the audio recorded guide actually said "so anyways" and 2) really? do you really think that's why they abolished the death penalty? I have a feeling there was probably a little more thought that was put into than that. But that's just my guess...
but anyways....
Eva gets here tomorrow and the real sight seeing begins at that point. Till then it's more Risk, and less tour buses.
night.
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