Things We Have Learned

Brian and I have learned so much from going on this trip. Here is a list we compiled. 

1. Men carry purses- yes they look silly if you as Us 

2. Foul language happens on the radio

3. Europeans are liberal- 

      There is not really a drinking age meaning kids (like 16) can drink

       There is not really a speed limit, they are posted but not really enforced, except in the tunnels in Switzerland. 

4. Google rocks- we used google maps to help us everyday.

5. Bicycling is great, maybe even a must

6. Public transit is your friend

7. People in Paris and Prague are not rude, they just don't make eye contact and smile

8. Places to eat everywhere with outdoor seating and no wait

9. Water is more expensive than beer

10. Wine is super cheap in France and very yummy but hard to find sweet wines outside of France 

11. Groceries are cheaper than in US but restaurants are more expensive (except the Czech)

12. Switzerland is super expensive but super beautiful

13. Traffic is crazy in the city and people drive like they are crazy

14. 70% of the people speak a little English

15. Europe cities seem less crowded than US cities 

16. Figuring out money exchange in the Czech is confusing

17. Seems to be less poor people in Europe 

18. People eat and walk a lot, because there are lots of "take away" shops (bakeries and cafes)

19. There is subways all over Europe! Crazy because the bakeries are so yummy and they have awesome sandwiches. 

20. They put butter on lunch meat instead of mayo 

21. Cheese platter is desert

22. Alps are gorgeous everyone needs to see

23. May is the best time to go to Europe

24. You have to pay to pee in public places. 

25. Guys pee on the side of the road

26. I pay 8 Koruna and Brian pays 5 to pee because girls use toilet paper

27. Cell phone data is more expensive 

28. Portion sizes are smaller but you always get bread

29. Tips included everywhere except the Czech where you tip 10% 

30. Tunnels everywhere in Switzerland and you can only drive 80.

31. Gas is $6 a gallon on the cheap side and all cars are super tiny and hatchbacks

32.Doing laundry in a trash can is not too bad 

33.German ICE trains in first class are super nice and only $10 more per ticket. 

34.Belgium's think beer is good for you. They believe it has medicinal benefits

 

35. Cheese is served at every meal: even breakfast 

36. Coffee taste way better

37. Starbucks are in Europe 

38. Have to ask for the check when you eat out in Europe. You have to say "the check" 

39. Public smoking is allowed anywhere. Airports have glass rooms to smoke in and the smoking age 16

40. No ac on public trans or trains or some hotels 

41. Difference between trip and vacation. Trip- busy with activities and less relaxing, vacation- more relaxing than activities. This was a trip

42. Thankfully we didn't get sick of one another, and our love grew even more if that's possible. 

Coffee Shops, and Art Museums

On our last full day in Amsterdam, we decided to start the morning with a hot chocolate from a coffee shop.  Let's face it you can't go to Amsterdam and not at least experience the "coffee shop." We enjoyed a normal hot chocolate because not everything in the coffee shop has pot in it. 

It was an interesting experience. I would have been bummed if we left Amsterdam and didn't experience a "coffee shop people watch." 

In the afternoon we went to a really neat museum called the Stedlijk museum. It is the modern art museum. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. 

One of the most memorable exhibits for me was one called The Kiss. You enter a very dark room, where you can literally not see in front of your face because it's so dark. As my eyes began to adjust I realized there were hologram type things in the middle of the room acting out (very slowly) the words that were being projected from the speakers. As I inched my way closer into the room, my eyes continued to adjust. It was hard to tell how many holograms there were in the room. Since they were moving so slow it was hard to make out who was watching and who was a hologram in the exhibit. At one point someone, or a hologram, started walking quickly towards me and I wasn't sure if it was a bystander or a hologram so I turned around and ran out of the room into the light, just to find out it was someone who was also checking out the exhibit. Although I was embarrassed I was intrigued to figure out how they were doing the holograms, so I went back in. This time I got about 1 1/2 feet away from the holograms and began to watch them move. They seemed to be naked and rolling (very slowly) on the ground on top of one another. I began to look around the room to try and locate the projector but couldn't find one. Just then the holograms began to very slowly stand up, and CCRRRAAAK! the female holograms leg popped as she stood up. "HOLY CRAP THEY ARE REAL! THEY ARE REAL FREAKING PEOPLE," as it hit me I realized just how close I was standing to the naked PEOPLE! I quickly, very quickly exited the room while my face was blushing red. It was like nothing I have ever seen before. 

The next really neat exhibit was to one by Ed Adkins. This was one of those exhibits that you could sit and watch all day yet you don't really know why because it's a little messed up. 

This was a series of videos of an avatar who talked about things like love, sex, and death. Most of the time you didn't really understand whats going on until the very last few seconds. We really enjoyed this exhibit, because again it was like nothing we had ever seen. 

We had a nice lunch at a cute cafe that was right outside of the flower market. As we were eating we did a lot of people watching. There were so many plants, bulbs, and flowers at the market. They were so pretty. What was really interesting was the fact that they sold cannabis plants there as well. In Amsterdam each household can have 5 plants of their own as long as they are grown in sunlight. Crazy! 

We took an afternoon train to the airport to check in to our final hotel. We enjoyed  an evening and morning of relaxing before heading home. 

Amsterdam Adventures

Amsterdam is one of my favorite places from this trip. It is also the youngest European city. I think I enjoyed it so much because it was the most "out of my comfort zone" I have been on the trip. 

From stepping off the train and smelling the "Pot-pouree" (Brian and I's nickname for the pot smoke smell throughout the town), to walking through the Red Light District, my eyes were opened to a whole new world. Let's just say I learned a lot. 

We arrived in Amsterdam by train in the late evening and promptly went to our hotel. We were exhausted. As we began our walk to the hotel, which was .3 miles away, we passed 3 "coffee shops". (In case you didn't know in Amsterdam a coffee shop is not a place to buy coffee, that would be a cafe, but a coffee shop is a place to buy and consume cannibus items from drinks, edibles, and forms to smoke.) The coffee shops are everywhere. When you think about it its just be like having Starbucks here. They sell coffee, treats, and tea at the coffee shops too but some are "special".

When we made it to the hotel, we realized it was our least favorite hotel. We were on the basement "garden" level and had no wifi, and no ac and a very tiny window to open that didn't help much. The room was very tiny compared to what we were used to so far. We were thankful to only be staying two nights. 

Our first full day in Amsterdam we rented bikes to get around because people here treat bikes like cars. 

We then took them on a really great Bike tour with Mikes Bike Tours and again it was awesome! 

This was our third bike tour of the trip and honestly they were all great in their own ways. 

The views of the buildings and the water in Amsterdam is so pretty. Each road is its own set of houses that are connected, some tilting forward, and their own little canal. 

We had a really great tour guide who we really enjoyed. Everyone, including him, from Amsterdam is so laid back and nice. 

During our safety talk for the bikes, which we all needed because driving a bike there is crazy, he had so many funny jokes. 

Tour guide: "if you happen to look up and realize you are no longer with the group do not try to come and find us, stay where you are."

Group: (all listening intently)

Tour guide: "I'm a firm believer in the Stop, Drop, and Roll method"

Group: (puzzled states)

Tour guide: "Stop where you are, drop your bike, and roll a joint"

Group: laughs

Tour guide: "I'm serious, that way you have a gift for your tour guide when I find you"

Very funny guy. It took us all a few seconds to realize that he wasn't necessarily encouraging us to smoke but to be prepared because he would need a smoke. Lol

On the tour we got to see a lot of cool places and learn the ends and outs to Amsterdam. 

One of the most interesting stops we made was in Vondel Park. This park has a ton of history. In the 1960s when Amsterdam first legalized pot all the hippies flocked to Amsterdam, and because they didn't have any money they would just camp out all over the town. This made the locals made so the city said all the hippies had to go to Vondel park. This park had tent after tent pitched during the 60s. There were so many people they formed their own mail carrier system. After the hippies started stealing the local people's milk from their porches in the early AM, they kicked them all out of the park. When this happened they went to abandoned buildings and claimed squatters rights, which went to court and was passed and they were all able to stay rent free. To this day there is still squatters laws in Amsterdam. 

The park has two very interesting laws. The first is that there is not allowed to be any drum playing in the park EVER, the hippies ruined that one. The second is although there are no drums allowed, public sex and nudity is allowed, only in the park. (Weird) 

We went to Anne Franks House (it's the one on the middle). The line was at least 2 1/2 hour long. We had no interest in going in so it worked out, we just wanted to see it. 

There was a cool church next to Anne Franks house. 

We did make a quick stop in at the Red Light District during the bike tour. It was really hard for me because my heart ached for those girls. Whether they were there by choice or not it's still so sad. I learned a lot about prostitution in Amsterdam. 

1. It's a legit profession

2. They pay taxes

3. They are part of a union, which requires them to go to the Dr once a month.

4. They have a pension plan

5. They get benefits

6. The union owns a hotel, clothing store, and restaurant for the prostitutes to work in so they have an opportunity to get out of prostitution someday. 

The bike tour was very informative and well worth the money and time. We really enjoyed it and our tour guide. 

We finished our night off with a fun pizza cruise along the canvas. We met some really nice people that we say with from LA. Their names were Amy and Chaz. They seemed to be very similar to us and after Brian and I both had the thought that we wished they lived in Indy instead of across the county. 

Brussels Sights

We only had one day in Brussels so we had to make the best of it. Our first stop was the Brussels Palace.

It was very pretty and the garden was spectacular. There were gardeners out working as we were there and it appeared they groomed the garden at least weekly, if not sooner. 

Even the gate to the palace was nice. It was rod iron with gold accents. This place was heavily armed. They had guards just like at the cathedral in Prague. 

Across the street from the palace was a really nice garden. Brian and I took a nice little stroll through the gardens to see all the landscaping. At the end of the garden there was a pretty fountain, that we stopped at and found a nice bench to relax for a few. 

Just a quick walk from the gardins and we arrived at the beautiful St Michael and Gadula Cathedral. 

This church looked similar to the Notre Dame again. It was built in the early 9th century. It had awesome stained glass windows inside. They all seemed to tell a story, and had such great detail. 

In the afternoon we went to the Grand Place Market. The buildings there were really neat. 

We also got to see the Belgium "mascot" the manneken pis statue. I kept seeing replicas of the statue all over like in front of the waffle shop:

And all over, so when we arrived at the statue you can imagine my shock when I saw a teny tiny statue. 

After using the zoom as far as I could I got a close up. 

After seeing the statue we decided to go on a brewery museum tour. 

We got to see some old brew tools and learn how the beer is made. 

We even got a free (included in price) beer! We went to the bar and the bartender asked light or dark beer, Brian said dark and I said "no thanks," and when I did I got the stare of death as he said "what?, what beer do you want." Since I'm pretty sure I offended him I quickly said light. Brian said he is sure no one has ever turned down a beer before with that guy. 

I took a drink because the guy watched me the whole time, and it was..... BEER! I hated it and could barely choke down one drink. So I learned to do the fake drink then when the guy looked away Brian drank from my cup. 

Brian thought it was really funny so he took a photo. 

After our brewery tour we went to Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. While we were there we saw Elvis cap from the Army. 

The Beers of Brian

Brian has really been enjoying all the very cheap beer in Europe. While we were in France the drink of choice for us both was wine, and as soon as we got close to Germany Brian switched to beer. 

It's hard to not want beer because it's cheaper than water, no joke! I mean in Belgium they believe beer is actually a necessity. They believe it has medicinal benefits. Beer is everything here! Out of all the beers his favorite was the Falcon beer that he has in Schaffhausen, Germany. 

Advice from a “local” American

When you are traveling abroad it’s really hard to ask anyone except the hotel personnel and the information counter at the train station for information about travel or food recommendation. The reason I find this to be true, at least for us, is that we didn’t speak any of the languages of the countries we were in. So you don’t want to just go up to some random person and start speaking in English. First off you look like a total tourist and I am sure they are so over dealing with tourist, and second if they don’t speak English well you may get an answer but it will not make sense at all.

While we were on the train heading to our hotel in Brussels there was a guy that was sitting near us. When he heard us talk he asked if we were from the US, and we said yes. He told us he was from Washington and seemed to be living in Brussels now. He told us of a few places to be sure to see as well as a place to eat. As soon as we dropped of our stuff at the hotel we headed to Fin de Siecle which was his recommendation. 

We had a great meal. This place is very traditional and Brian had the Beef Stew which was one of their most popular menu items. I had the Tandoori Chicken and it was great. I found a new awesome drink I like, which is Sparkling Tea.  This was one of the first times we sat at a table with people we did not know. In Europe you could sit at a four top table with two other people you don’t know. It is kind of weird but sometimes you can meet some cool people. 

Getting to Brussels

When we found out we could save ourself a 9 hour train ride from Prague to Brussels by flying we jumped on it. The best part was is we flew with RyanAir and our tickets were only $36 each! I still am not sure how we could only pay $36 each, we didn’t have to pay to check ANY luggage, and the flight was not bad at all, especially since in the US the cheapest flight is way closer to $100. 

We did not get a complimentary drink, but honestly it was an hour and a half flight and I didn’t really care that we didn’t get a drink or a snack. To me a drink and a snack are not worth the additional $65+. We had heard mixed reviews about RyanAir, but our thoughts were, you get what you pay for and honestly the value for the money was great. 

When we arrived at the Airport and made it to our terminal we had to wait a little bit. When they finally called that we were boarding I was totally confused because there was not a plane in sight, only buses. We all loaded into two buses like a bunch of sardines, and they drove us about 100 yards away to our plane that was parked away from the building. We boarded the plane from the ground, which was a first for me but not Brian. 

Once on the plane we realized that the $10 extra dollars we had paid per ticket to be in priority seating was the best decision EVER! We were in a row of three seats and it was just us. There was no one behind us, which was nice, and no one in front of us. The plane was packed but in Priority Seating they give you more space between people. 

One of the funniest and most different thing that happened on the RyanAir flight was the food they served (for a fee). They have lasagna and chicken fingers and things like that, which they warmed up for you. We did not have any but they looked like MREs. They also sold lottery and scratch off tickets on the plane. 

We had a smooth flight and made it safely to Brussels. As we walked out of the airport and were looking for the bus to take us into town, we were offered a lower price to take a shuttle with 6 other people. We decided this seemed to be a good idea, since the bus wasn’t leaving right away and we were just ready to be to the hotel. Unfortunately we had to sit in the very back of the van, which was not good for me because I get car sick. As we began our “adventure” home I realized there must not be much of a speed limit in Brussels either based upon how this driver was driving. About 10 mins into our 45 min drive we hit traffic. After the driver did the whole “stop and go a little then slam on the brakes’ act he decided to make his “own road” off to the left of all the other cars, AKA the shoulder. He proceeded to drive about 60mph. He left the highway and took some crazy windy back roads at about 80 mph. The thought crossed my mind that “he was taking us out into the middle of nowhere to kill us,” but I quickly had a change of thoughts when I realized I was about to get sick from his driving. The fact there was no AC and I was crammed in the middle of a bucket seat in the back of a van didn’t help that matter.

After finding the highway again we headed into town going about 120 mph. My seat belt was tight, my knuckles white, and sweat was pouring down my back as I prayed that we please get back safely. I could tell Brian was freaking out a bit but was trying to be my protector and act like everything was cool. When we arrived at the train station, I almost kissed the ground. 

 

Last day in Prague

Brian and I decided to spend our last day in Prague checking out all the fun places we drove past on our bike tour before our afternoon flight to Brussels. We decided to revisit the Jewish Quarter because we wanted to do a little more exploring. 

While in the Jewish Quarter, we found a great Bohemian Crystal Shop. Originally, we thought these shops, said “Bohemian” meant Hippies made them. We were wrong. They say Bohemian because they are made by people from Bohemia. Bohemia is a region in the Czech Republic. All of the crystal we saw here was so beautiful and very reasonably priced. They had some crystal that had hand paintings that appeared to have gold flaking on it. 

We got some additional views of the Synagogue, as well as some other views of the old Jewish cemetery our tour guide told us about. Apparently it used to be at street level but overtime they buried so many people there and just kept stacking them on top of one another and building the ground up. People were buried here from 1439-1787. The numbers of grave stones and numbers of people buried there is uncertain. It is estimated that there are approximately 12,000 tombstones presently visible, and there may be as many as 100,000 burials in all. 

After checking out the Jewish Quarter again we went to see the St Charles Bridge. This was very neat, but a little crowded. Compared to almost everywhere in Paris it wasn’t crowded but so far in Prague we had not have too many crowds up until the bridge. There were many interesting statues along the bridge on both sides, which were very cool to look at. A lot of them had religious influences. There were artist along the bridge as well as great street music being played. 

 

One thing that was hard to see, and this is how it has been in every city in Europe, where the homeless people. For some reason it was harder for me to see them in Prague because 25+ years ago there were no poor people due to communism, yet that was the only positive thing communism does (Not allowing there to be any homeless people). 

What makes it so hard is that unlike here in the US where the homeless people just sit there (which is also hard to see), here they are on their knees and they sit like that begging all day, with their heads down, almost like "in shame". Most of them, once you give them money or food, they pray. There were others who the entire time they were reciting the Lord ’s Prayer or doing their rosary. 

After doing the rest of our sightseeing we decided to have a quick lunch at the Beer Restaurant close to our hotel and then head to the airport for our flight to Brussels.