Germany march 27-march 30
Saturday: Not too many prblems meeting mom in the airport- I expected the worst. Once we got settled in our hotel- she thought it was a mini room, but it really wasn't bad. We braved the metro and went downtown for lunch. I thought it would be a good idea to pick a place down one of the sid
e streets- so we sat down at a place with absolutely no English and without English-speaking waitresses. I picked something that didn't have the words "liversurst" or "bratwurst" and ended up with a ham and egg sandwhich--- so an egg sandwhich. Mom thought she was getting cheese and liverwurst- she got a travel toothpaste size liverwurst and a huge pretzel. From then on we dreaded the rest of our German meals. We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Marienplatz; we found the market which was my favorite :) Mom discovered white asparragus and I discovered real truffles are not poo. That night, we took the "Beer Challenge" which took us to 3 different beer houses and included 2 free beers, a wealth of beer facts, and a drinking song. At the end, the guide had to decide the winner of the beer challenge, so he took mom (the only non-college student), and 2 guys and played rock paper scissors for the championship. Mom won the Beer Challenge haha. Im so proud.
e streets- so we sat down at a place with absolutely no English and without English-speaking waitresses. I picked something that didn't have the words "liversurst" or "bratwurst" and ended up with a ham and egg sandwhich--- so an egg sandwhich. Mom thought she was getting cheese and liverwurst- she got a travel toothpaste size liverwurst and a huge pretzel. From then on we dreaded the rest of our German meals. We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Marienplatz; we found the market which was my favorite :) Mom discovered white asparragus and I discovered real truffles are not poo. That night, we took the "Beer Challenge" which took us to 3 different beer houses and included 2 free beers, a wealth of beer facts, and a drinking song. At the end, the guide had to decide the winner of the beer challenge, so he took mom (the only non-college student), and 2 guys and played rock paper scissors for the championship. Mom won the Beer Challenge haha. Im so proud.Sunday: We took a tour through Dachau, the Nazi concentration camp that bascially served as the model camp throughout Europe. It was a really informative tour, although a huge downer for a Spring Break trip. We cheered up with lunch: a traditional german-style Thai restaurant. kidding- it was just regular Thai. Then, to pass the afternoon we looked for a cafe to chill but like Madrid, nothing is open on Sundays so we stayed at the first place we saw was open. Meet "Muffins and More". We didn't notice how insane this place was until we ordered, and by then it was too late. Every inch of this place was covered with the "and More". Lots of naked women, men, transvetites, world currencies, famous Americans, bloody masks in blenders, and More. The music that was playing was in English, and it was little children singing about pigs. A few days later I searched for the cafe online and since I couldnt read the German
, I made Kyle read it and report back if he noticed anything "strange" about the cafe. Here's his reponse: "Not sure whats out of the ordinary other than they have a Canadian flag on their site, and serve nude chocolate figures with their food. So, yeah I guess its a bit strange" yeah... That night mom and I went back to Hofbrauhaus- we tackled the liter. We sat upstairs on the third floor so that we could watch the band, and since we were the only people left at the end of their performance, Joseph from the band invited us to have a drink with him downstairs. He took us to one of his friends' table- Crog was dressed in full lederhosen. I got to use my Beer Challenge drinking song with them. Then, they tried to marry me off to the drummer in the band.
, I made Kyle read it and report back if he noticed anything "strange" about the cafe. Here's his reponse: "Not sure whats out of the ordinary other than they have a Canadian flag on their site, and serve nude chocolate figures with their food. So, yeah I guess its a bit strange" yeah... That night mom and I went back to Hofbrauhaus- we tackled the liter. We sat upstairs on the third floor so that we could watch the band, and since we were the only people left at the end of their performance, Joseph from the band invited us to have a drink with him downstairs. He took us to one of his friends' table- Crog was dressed in full lederhosen. I got to use my Beer Challenge drinking song with them. Then, they tried to marry me off to the drummer in the band.Monday: The Neushwanstein Castle was very pretty. Im still not convinced though that Disney based Cindar
ella's castle off of this one. The castle in Segovia I saw was more convincing. (I wasn't about to tell the Germans that though- they're very proud of Neushwanstein). Finally, we got the gelato from the gelato stand I had been eyeing the past couple of days- each flavor was piled so high, it looked fake. That night, we went to the Olympic Tower because it was described as having "fantastic" views of the city. We tried to go up to the restaurant at the top of the tower, but since we didn't have a reservation, or want to pay the 100 euro meal price, we just went to the observation point at the top. Oh and apparently it has the fastest elevator on the continent.
ella's castle off of this one. The castle in Segovia I saw was more convincing. (I wasn't about to tell the Germans that though- they're very proud of Neushwanstein). Finally, we got the gelato from the gelato stand I had been eyeing the past couple of days- each flavor was piled so high, it looked fake. That night, we went to the Olympic Tower because it was described as having "fantastic" views of the city. We tried to go up to the restaurant at the top of the tower, but since we didn't have a reservation, or want to pay the 100 euro meal price, we just went to the observation point at the top. Oh and apparently it has the fastest elevator on the continent.Final impressions of Germany: They know how to make some pretzels! Very Easter-obsessed (thought an add for "Osterfest" was funny). They have the best trainstation ever in terms of everything except for visual appeal- we were there at least once a day. And Im still amazed by the German language- it sounds so harsh, yet they have ridiculous words like elefantenbaby.
Prague march 30-april 3
Tuesday: We had a 6 hour train ride to Prague from Munich, but it was the best ride cause mom and I had the car to ourselves. Everytime someone passed by, we spread out and pretended we were alseep, so that they would pass to the next car. I know, it's awful, but it worked everytime! As our train pulled in, everyone was in short-sleeves!!! But of course, by the time we made it to an outdoor cafe terrace for lunch, the sun hid behind the buildings and it was freezing. We were entertained by an Eastern European couple on their first date... their common language was broken English. very entertaining. We explored the street market and discovered the turtlnik- spik-roasted pastry rolled in almonds and spread with nutella. yeah, i know. That gave us energy to explore some more and we thought we discovered the famous Charles Bridge but we couldnt figure out what was so special about it. It turns out that wasn't Charles Bridge- the real thing is very old and impressive looking. Our 8pm nap turned into a much needed 13 hour-nights sleep. Oh our hotel room is ginormous.
Wednesday: Prague Castle (in the rain!) where we basically paid to see nothing. There's a really big castle grounds with buildings and a church in the center, but a lot of it is still in use, 
so the parts open to the public are few and far between. Had our first meal of Czech food that was really good- and a really good beer with it, kozel! We found a great Starbucks-style coffeeshop called CoffeeHeaven with free wifi. (This is what Madrid is missing!!) From our research online, we found that there's a really good, inexpensive restauant with an incredible view at the top of this architechturally famous building, the Dancing House. We get there, and there are 2 men that meet us at the top of the elevator and take our coats, we notice no one else is wearing jeans and sneakers, and theres a whole wall devoted to wine. Yeah, it was a really fancy, and not inexpensive at all, French-restaurant. But the view was incredible- the $100 view.
so the parts open to the public are few and far between. Had our first meal of Czech food that was really good- and a really good beer with it, kozel! We found a great Starbucks-style coffeeshop called CoffeeHeaven with free wifi. (This is what Madrid is missing!!) From our research online, we found that there's a really good, inexpensive restauant with an incredible view at the top of this architechturally famous building, the Dancing House. We get there, and there are 2 men that meet us at the top of the elevator and take our coats, we notice no one else is wearing jeans and sneakers, and theres a whole wall devoted to wine. Yeah, it was a really fancy, and not inexpensive at all, French-restaurant. But the view was incredible- the $100 view.Thursday: Also from the CoffeeHeaven research, there was supposedly a great hike through the mountains from the Karlstejn caslte to a monastery in the caves/mountains that can't be accessed by train. We took a train to Karlstejn, saw the caslte and opted not to go inside and instead set out on our 8km hike to the monastery. The hike was not clearly marked, so we just followed a path from the castle that led into the woods. We got to a crossroads with co
lors, and decided the follow the red one listed as 8km with a word that kind of looked like it could be "saint"-something. 2 hours later we're still hiking through really steep mountains. mom is cursing me and about to have a heart attack when we run into some people and they speak English! They tolf us that the monastery wasn't far away and that we could take a train back to Karlstejn instead of re-hiking hell. We finally see civilization, and there are no cool caves like the blog post about the hike said, the monastery was closed, and the train station was another 5km away! Luckily we didn't have to hike the mountains back! I was about to die from hunger and we found the czech version of Panera, Panderia. Did some more market shopping. Mom caved and decided we should do the Thai massages that are advertised all over the city. OMG best decision ever. This was the kind of massage where they use their whole body to massge you- like walk on the back of your legs while simultaneously pulling back on your shoulders to fol you in half backwards.
lors, and decided the follow the red one listed as 8km with a word that kind of looked like it could be "saint"-something. 2 hours later we're still hiking through really steep mountains. mom is cursing me and about to have a heart attack when we run into some people and they speak English! They tolf us that the monastery wasn't far away and that we could take a train back to Karlstejn instead of re-hiking hell. We finally see civilization, and there are no cool caves like the blog post about the hike said, the monastery was closed, and the train station was another 5km away! Luckily we didn't have to hike the mountains back! I was about to die from hunger and we found the czech version of Panera, Panderia. Did some more market shopping. Mom caved and decided we should do the Thai massages that are advertised all over the city. OMG best decision ever. This was the kind of massage where they use their whole body to massge you- like walk on the back of your legs while simultaneously pulling back on your shoulders to fol you in half backwards.Friday: This morning was the first morning we didn't ache all over from walking all day (or hiking through the czech mountains). We took the free walking tour given by the same company that did all of our tours in Munich (expect we never did the free tour there). I really wanted to find the tea shop I found on the first day, but we couldn't remember where we had seen it, so we just walked around for hours. I made the neclace from cool wooden beads I bought at a shop the day before. Mom and I had one last dinner at this really elegant place with really big comfortable chairs. They were playing instrumental versions of Celine Dion songs, and there were candles everywhere- so it was a funny contrast with the plates that were comics with sexual humor. oh Europe. Afterwards, we went to a cafe that was more of a fancy bar for locals, but mom and I ordered ice cream sundaes instead of alcohol. I chose mine because I liked the name and wanted to say "Ill have the 'hot love'" to our waiter.
Final impressions of Prague: a lot more touristy than I expected. It bothered me how there were not any shops in the entire city that weren't aimed at tourists, and not only that, literally, there are about 4 different things for sale in all of Prague- decorated eggs, crystal glasses, pashminas, and clothing with "prague" written on it or some cheesy saying like "prague: czech me out". Culturally, it was an interesting combination of Germany and Russia.
Madrid april 3-april 4
Saturday: Mom and I took different flights from Prague to Madrid, which shouldn't have been a problem since it was successful upon arriving in Munich. That was beginners luck or something. Both our flights were late and then my directions of where to meet me were a little less than clear. All the freaking out was remedied with the amazing lunch Elvira had waiting for us. She made like 5 courses--- with PAELLA as the main course. After, I took mom on a walking tour past the Palacio Real into Sol where were had tapas (I introduced mom to manchego cheese) at a very old-school Jerez wine bar. And no trip to Spain would be complete without a little visit to Zara for some shopping :)
Sunday: We met Esmeralda at La Mallorquina for pastelitos and cafe. We got one with a whole chocolate egg in the center and then torrica, a specialty for Easter which is basically cold and sugarier french toast. Then we did a walking tour of the ENTIRE city: Mercado de San Miguel in Plaza de Mayor, saw the flowers in Paseo de Prado, people-watched in Parque del Retiro, had a traditional menu del dia lunch, took a siesta in the sun in Parque del Oeste, saw the view of Madrid from above in el teleferico, amd finished up walking through Plaza de Espana, and Palacio Real's Sabatini Gardens. Elvira went to her daughter's for the night, so we had the apartment to ourselves- we got milkshakes from my fav icecream place and watched The Office and 30 Rock.
The End.
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