München

Münich has really panned out to be a great city when initially both Mark and I thought that it would be one of the more boring ones on our trip. We are actually well past our time in Münich, but I wasn't able to write while we were there because we would spend all of our time out and about and when we get back to the room we were ready for bed. We are actually on our third day in Switzerland so this is a very late post. While we only had two full days in Münich (plus an extra half of a day which I'll get to later) we did so many things.

Prague: Part II

We've already arrived in Munich and eaten in a Biergarten for dinner so my second post on Prague couldn't come soon enough. I have put up my first post on Prague a couple hours ago before dinner, so be sure not to miss it below and read that one first! Since our trip to Prague is over I will start by giving my overall impression of Prague.

Prague: Part I

To get in to Prague we took an overnight train from Amsterdam and while I didn't get the best nights sleep in my life, I would still definitely do it again. The train ride in total took 14 hours, but you get on at 7pm and you arrive in Prague the next morning at 9am so you spend a good amount of that time sleeping like you normally would. We got a sleeper with two beds in it and a sink. Like I said, I slept but not very well because the train was a bit loud at times (Mark says they were going too fast for the condition of the tracks so that's why it was so loud) and I awoke every time we would stop.

A Quick Note On Comments

If you would like to leave comments (please do!) then you scroll to the end of the post and click on the link that says "0 comments" (or if someone has already left a comment it will say "1 comment" etc.). Then you will be redirected to a page where you should be able to leave a comment. You don't have to have an account or anything. If you click the drop-down menu after it says "Comment as:" you can click "Name/URL" and just type in your name.

Hope that helps!

And just a quick update, I'm writing my Prague post now but we only get wifi in the lobby bar at breakfast so I have limited access to the internet. :)

Last Days of Amsterdam

I'm writing this blog post on the overnight train from Amsterdam to Prague. By the time I find some wifi and post this we will already have arrived and spent some time in Prague. It was very sad to leave Amsterdam, but we both agreed we did everything we could have wanted to and in a relaxed fashion. We never felt rushed or pressured to do anything, and we still got to do mainly everything we wanted to. There are a few things like taking the train to the beach or exploring more parts of Amsterdam but it's always good to have something to do when you go back.

A slow, relaxing weekend.

This weekend definitely encompassed the gezzelig attitude of the Dutch. We spent the weekend doing as everyone else was - taking it slow, spending time with others outdoors, and people watching. I don't know if it was just because it was particularly nice weather, but on the weekend the people really take over the streets. During the weekdays it can sometimes be a struggle to claim space on the streets as bikes, delivery vehicles, garbage trucks, cars, and pedestrians fill it up. But starting Friday night the people busted out their folded table and chairs on their stoop or across to the canal and enjoyed wine, reading a book, or spending time with others. Meanwhile people at bars and restaurants spilled out on to the streets and the canals were alive with people on their boats listening to music and partying with friends. On Saturday we had the idea, as did everyone else, to journey out to Vondelpark and take in the sun. It was packed and everybody had a blanket and stopped at the store for some picnic items. We were jealous seeing as we didn't have any of this, but we still kicked off our shoes and laid down for a little.

A Trip To Haarlem

On Friday we took a trip to Haarlem which is about an hour bike ride West of Amsterdam. It was such a beautiful ride! The meadows, smaller canals, and forests were so lush and alive. We also went through some farmlands with horses, cows, sheep, chickens and ponies. Yes, really. Many ponies. Does anyone know if this is something particularly Dutch? (You should be able to leave a comment as a guest on this blog, but I'm not entirely sure.)

First Check-In

It is our fourth day in Amsterdam and we have done so much, but the time is going by very fast. Ten days seems like a long time, but it moves swiftly. Amsterdam is as wonderful and beautiful as I remember it being on my last short trip. Since it took me so long to get this blog together I'll just do a short synopsis of the days that have already passed.