August 30, 2012 4:49 PM
On the train returning to Berlin.
Because I'm still annoyed by it, I'll say this about the Prague Central Station--their signage sucks. It needs to be clearer and more visible.
Our train was delayed by 10 minutes, and refused to give us information on which platform will be used. It was funny when they did post the platform--it was a sea of people rushing onto a train.
We actually didn't do much in Prague. We did laundry in the hostel and checked out. Wandered the area near the hostel to kill time.
Now we're heading back to Berlin for a few hours until our flight tomorrow morning.
It's been a great trip.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Prague 3
2nd full day of Prague wandering. We found our way to Old Town.
We found the Mucha Museum. It was pretty awesome--I do love me some art nouveau. Those prints and posters were really cool.
We made it to the Old Town Square. Finally got to see the Astrological clock. I've always wanted to see it after my cousin sent me a postcard from Prague years ago. It's a lot smaller that what I thought it would be.
Our Lady on the Tyn really cool. Really nice gothic church (I did say I love gothic, right?). It's pretty cool because the entrance is hidden away by the buildings in front.
Right when we got seated outside for lunch, it suddenly rained...and by rain, i mean it poured. It felt nice though, because it's been so hot. We were, however, surrounded by obnoxious, drunk men, of all ages! On one side were younger guys, and on the other were older guys (like in their 40-50s). I'm guessing there was a soccer game.
After lunch (and when the rain ended), we walked around the Square and got ice cream. We saw a "street performer" dressed as an Indian/clown banging a tin can. It was HILARIOUS! I gave him money, just because.
According to my guide book,St Giles is a really cool church. We weren't even looking for it because the streets are confusing, but we found it just by walking around. It's pretty non-descript on the outside, but it's amazing on the inside. I think there were people about to get married...there was a couple talking to a priest near the altar.
And we just wandered our way back to the hostel.
We found the Mucha Museum. It was pretty awesome--I do love me some art nouveau. Those prints and posters were really cool.
We made it to the Old Town Square. Finally got to see the Astrological clock. I've always wanted to see it after my cousin sent me a postcard from Prague years ago. It's a lot smaller that what I thought it would be.
Our Lady on the Tyn really cool. Really nice gothic church (I did say I love gothic, right?). It's pretty cool because the entrance is hidden away by the buildings in front.
Right when we got seated outside for lunch, it suddenly rained...and by rain, i mean it poured. It felt nice though, because it's been so hot. We were, however, surrounded by obnoxious, drunk men, of all ages! On one side were younger guys, and on the other were older guys (like in their 40-50s). I'm guessing there was a soccer game.
After lunch (and when the rain ended), we walked around the Square and got ice cream. We saw a "street performer" dressed as an Indian/clown banging a tin can. It was HILARIOUS! I gave him money, just because.
According to my guide book,St Giles is a really cool church. We weren't even looking for it because the streets are confusing, but we found it just by walking around. It's pretty non-descript on the outside, but it's amazing on the inside. I think there were people about to get married...there was a couple talking to a priest near the altar.
And we just wandered our way back to the hostel.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Prague 2
August 28, 2012 11:24 PM
Now that we do have Internet, I'm actually just too lazy to click publish on the blog app LOL
More wandering today. Ended up wandering to Charles Bridge,St Nicholas Church and found the oldest pub in Prague. Checked out the Prague Castle and St Vitus cathedral. On the way back from the castle, we found an absinthe bar. Happy day!!! I've always wanted to try absinthe the proper way (fun fact, absinthe is apparently a Czech drink). And I did. OMG it buuuuurns!!!! There is a breathing technique so it doesn't burn. Had to practice that.
Also went on a boat tour (duh). But it's not the big boats this time...it's this little boat that looks like a glorified gondola. It was cool because it's low to the water and it doesn't allow for a lot of people. Another fun fact, after the 2002 flood in Prague, a shark was found in one of its canals.
Now that we do have Internet, I'm actually just too lazy to click publish on the blog app LOL
More wandering today. Ended up wandering to Charles Bridge,St Nicholas Church and found the oldest pub in Prague. Checked out the Prague Castle and St Vitus cathedral. On the way back from the castle, we found an absinthe bar. Happy day!!! I've always wanted to try absinthe the proper way (fun fact, absinthe is apparently a Czech drink). And I did. OMG it buuuuurns!!!! There is a breathing technique so it doesn't burn. Had to practice that.
Also went on a boat tour (duh). But it's not the big boats this time...it's this little boat that looks like a glorified gondola. It was cool because it's low to the water and it doesn't allow for a lot of people. Another fun fact, after the 2002 flood in Prague, a shark was found in one of its canals.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Vienna 3.5-Prague 1.5
August 28, 2012 12:20 AM
Made a quick trip to the architecture museum to the bookstore to buy a Vienna architecture book.
Apple strudel for breakfast...I had a different one--it's a custardy-type of strudel, with Vanilla sauce. YUM.
I noticed something about the trains in Vienna: when they stop or start at the station, the trains play a musical scale
5 hour train ride to Prague. The train was moving a lot slower through Austria to the Czech Republic...and even slower once we got to Czech. The ride was very pretty though forests and mountains and fields and little towns.
I love our hostel. Hostel has internet EVERYWHERE. So awesome! It's a new hostel with air conditioning in the rooms and our own bathroom. Ventilation is great.
Found an Ice bar in Prague. I've been to one in London 4 years ago and it was really fun. So, we went. It was located inside the biggest club in Europe, except the club was pretty empty on a Monday night LOL. Anyway, there were only 6 of us in the ice bar--us and 3 people from Singapore. It was pretty small, but still really cold!
We ended up going back to the bar at the hostel after walking around. Pretty convenient.
Made a quick trip to the architecture museum to the bookstore to buy a Vienna architecture book.
Apple strudel for breakfast...I had a different one--it's a custardy-type of strudel, with Vanilla sauce. YUM.
I noticed something about the trains in Vienna: when they stop or start at the station, the trains play a musical scale
5 hour train ride to Prague. The train was moving a lot slower through Austria to the Czech Republic...and even slower once we got to Czech. The ride was very pretty though forests and mountains and fields and little towns.
I love our hostel. Hostel has internet EVERYWHERE. So awesome! It's a new hostel with air conditioning in the rooms and our own bathroom. Ventilation is great.
Found an Ice bar in Prague. I've been to one in London 4 years ago and it was really fun. So, we went. It was located inside the biggest club in Europe, except the club was pretty empty on a Monday night LOL. Anyway, there were only 6 of us in the ice bar--us and 3 people from Singapore. It was pretty small, but still really cold!
We ended up going back to the bar at the hostel after walking around. Pretty convenient.
Vienna 2
August 26, 2012 11:00 PM
Had a full day today.
We started trying to get tickets for a boat tour for the sunset cruise , but that was sold out, so we got tickets for later in the day (we have discount with our rail pass--rail pass is awesome!).
We went to Stephensondom--it's Vienna's cathedral. It was awesome--very gothic. We got there right in the middle of mass, so that was a little weird, but they kept it open for tourists. Fun fact: Mozart got married there.
Vienna has awesome museums. They have a section called Museum Quarter, which has many of their museums (duh). We went to Leopold Museum and Mumok (Vienna's MOMA). At the Leopold, we checked out the Gustav Klimt exhibit, and at Mumok, they were showcasing how fashion can make political statements.
We had lunch at this really cute Beisl (like a trattoria) hidden behind the museum quarter. I had a black pudding, with potatoes as sauerkraut. It was sooo good! It tasted like dinuguan. Mmmmm.
We almost missed our boat. We got to the dock right when they closed the gate. They opened the gate, and let us on. Vienna surprisingly has a lot of really cool street art all along the river bank.
We also went to the Prater. The famous Vienna Ferris Wheel is there--it was featured in the 3rd Man movie (and Anthony Bourdain went there too haha). It was scary! The damned thing creaked and swayed and rattled (ok, the rattling was of the windows and doors due to the wind).
Tried to go back to architecture museum but it was closed (damn guide book lied)
We had dinner at Cafe Museum. The interiors were done by Adolf Loos, and it totally shows his manifesto of ornament is crime. Anyway, the food was really good. I had this noodle dish...I forgot what it's called, but it's really good.
I need more time in Vienna.
Had a full day today.
We started trying to get tickets for a boat tour for the sunset cruise , but that was sold out, so we got tickets for later in the day (we have discount with our rail pass--rail pass is awesome!).
We went to Stephensondom--it's Vienna's cathedral. It was awesome--very gothic. We got there right in the middle of mass, so that was a little weird, but they kept it open for tourists. Fun fact: Mozart got married there.
Vienna has awesome museums. They have a section called Museum Quarter, which has many of their museums (duh). We went to Leopold Museum and Mumok (Vienna's MOMA). At the Leopold, we checked out the Gustav Klimt exhibit, and at Mumok, they were showcasing how fashion can make political statements.
We had lunch at this really cute Beisl (like a trattoria) hidden behind the museum quarter. I had a black pudding, with potatoes as sauerkraut. It was sooo good! It tasted like dinuguan. Mmmmm.
We almost missed our boat. We got to the dock right when they closed the gate. They opened the gate, and let us on. Vienna surprisingly has a lot of really cool street art all along the river bank.
We also went to the Prater. The famous Vienna Ferris Wheel is there--it was featured in the 3rd Man movie (and Anthony Bourdain went there too haha). It was scary! The damned thing creaked and swayed and rattled (ok, the rattling was of the windows and doors due to the wind).
Tried to go back to architecture museum but it was closed (damn guide book lied)
We had dinner at Cafe Museum. The interiors were done by Adolf Loos, and it totally shows his manifesto of ornament is crime. Anyway, the food was really good. I had this noodle dish...I forgot what it's called, but it's really good.
I need more time in Vienna.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Vienna Day 1
August 25, 2012 11:43 PM
I love Austria. It's so pretty! The train ride to Vienna involved passing through forests, mountains/hills, and little towns. It was very pretty. And! We passed by Salzburg <3 br="" i="" love="" salzburg.="">
Vienna is amazing. Very clean and very pretty. We just wandered from our hostel around the area and we covered a lot of ground already.
Sachertorte. OMG. It was amazing. Best thing ever. We had it at the Sacher Cafe at Sacher Hotel. It's so pretty!
Speaking of hostel, our hostel is great. It's very clean (I believe it might be new), the room is huge AND we have our ow bathroom. So cool! It's next to Naschmarkt, which is a market with food booths and on Saturdays it's a flea market.
Tonight, we got to watch a Mozart concert at the State Opera House. It's amazing! It was the first opera house in the world (an actual theater for opera). We scored box seats! It was neat. We were almost above the stage. None of that sitting with the crowd business LOL! I love being a student, you always get discounts hahaha. The concert was great, it was members of the Vienna Philharmonic.
I got schnitzel with noodle from a food stall outside the Opera. It's literally schnitzel with noodle--chow mein. It's was ok--the schnitzel was good, noodles were meh.
I love Austria. It's so pretty! The train ride to Vienna involved passing through forests, mountains/hills, and little towns. It was very pretty. And! We passed by Salzburg <3 br="" i="" love="" salzburg.="">
Vienna is amazing. Very clean and very pretty. We just wandered from our hostel around the area and we covered a lot of ground already.
Sachertorte. OMG. It was amazing. Best thing ever. We had it at the Sacher Cafe at Sacher Hotel. It's so pretty!
Speaking of hostel, our hostel is great. It's very clean (I believe it might be new), the room is huge AND we have our ow bathroom. So cool! It's next to Naschmarkt, which is a market with food booths and on Saturdays it's a flea market.
Tonight, we got to watch a Mozart concert at the State Opera House. It's amazing! It was the first opera house in the world (an actual theater for opera). We scored box seats! It was neat. We were almost above the stage. None of that sitting with the crowd business LOL! I love being a student, you always get discounts hahaha. The concert was great, it was members of the Vienna Philharmonic.
I got schnitzel with noodle from a food stall outside the Opera. It's literally schnitzel with noodle--chow mein. It's was ok--the schnitzel was good, noodles were meh.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Berlin Day 21
August 25, 2012 7:37 AM
On the train to Vienna.
Got on the night train to Munich. We got a 4-person couchette. It is the smallest room EVER. It was pretty tight and we had a minor dilemma with our stuff, but got that figured out. It was comfortable at first, but then the air stopped flowing and it got really hot. I had a hard time sleeping after that.
Anyway, it was a little sad leaving Berlin. We presented our project, which was ok. Back to why leaving Berlin is sad: the instructors are amazing. They actually WANT to teach. And they CARE about their students. And they're really nice. I don't want to go back to instructors that don't give a shit. Anyway, no school until October.
Off to Vienna!
On the train to Vienna.
Got on the night train to Munich. We got a 4-person couchette. It is the smallest room EVER. It was pretty tight and we had a minor dilemma with our stuff, but got that figured out. It was comfortable at first, but then the air stopped flowing and it got really hot. I had a hard time sleeping after that.
Anyway, it was a little sad leaving Berlin. We presented our project, which was ok. Back to why leaving Berlin is sad: the instructors are amazing. They actually WANT to teach. And they CARE about their students. And they're really nice. I don't want to go back to instructors that don't give a shit. Anyway, no school until October.
Off to Vienna!
Friday, August 24, 2012
Berlin Day 20
August 23, 2012 12:39 AM
It's my last night in Berlin.
Today we just spent the day finishing our project. It felt like it took longer than it should. It probably did. It doesn't matter...we've finished.
Did one more museum stop: Film Haus--The Film and Television Museum in Berlin. It's a nice exhibit...a little small, but that's ok. It's a exhibit featuring major German films and people who've worked in the film industry (mostly Hollywood). There's also a Marlene Dietrich exhibition. Hey had a special exhibition on "children's movies/tv shows," which are things I watch hahaha! It was cute...totally aimed for kids.
It's my last night in Berlin.
Today we just spent the day finishing our project. It felt like it took longer than it should. It probably did. It doesn't matter...we've finished.
Did one more museum stop: Film Haus--The Film and Television Museum in Berlin. It's a nice exhibit...a little small, but that's ok. It's a exhibit featuring major German films and people who've worked in the film industry (mostly Hollywood). There's also a Marlene Dietrich exhibition. Hey had a special exhibition on "children's movies/tv shows," which are things I watch hahaha! It was cute...totally aimed for kids.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Berlin Day 19
August 23, 2012 12:44 AM
I can't believe that tomorrow night is my last night in Berlin. Time travels so fast.
Today, spent all day working on project at school. Nothing too exciting.
Tonight, Chelsea and I went to a Berlin Cabaret. It was such a good time! It was a little weird and raunchy and funny all at the same time...it made me wish I understood German, though, so I could get all the jokes. But besides that, we had a good time.
I can't believe that tomorrow night is my last night in Berlin. Time travels so fast.
Today, spent all day working on project at school. Nothing too exciting.
Tonight, Chelsea and I went to a Berlin Cabaret. It was such a good time! It was a little weird and raunchy and funny all at the same time...it made me wish I understood German, though, so I could get all the jokes. But besides that, we had a good time.
Berlin Day 18
August 21, 2012 11:23 PM
It's finally cooled down...it's actually raining, with thunder and lighting and everything. It's great. I love sleeping to the sound of rain.
I am done with this nose bleeding business. This morning, my nose started bleeding again, so now I have a pack of Kleenex next to my pillow just it case it happens again.
Today, we finally started work on our project. I didn't think I'd be happy sitting in front of a computer all day...it helps that there's Internet.
Did a quick trip to Potsdam to see the Einstein Tower designed by Erich Mendelson. It's an observatory for the Astronomy Institute from the 1920s. It's really cool...it's kinda shaped like a boot. It was short-ish walk from the train station, but it was uphill and humid. Bleh! I took home a few mosquito bites. Not fun.
It's finally cooled down...it's actually raining, with thunder and lighting and everything. It's great. I love sleeping to the sound of rain.
I am done with this nose bleeding business. This morning, my nose started bleeding again, so now I have a pack of Kleenex next to my pillow just it case it happens again.
Today, we finally started work on our project. I didn't think I'd be happy sitting in front of a computer all day...it helps that there's Internet.
Did a quick trip to Potsdam to see the Einstein Tower designed by Erich Mendelson. It's an observatory for the Astronomy Institute from the 1920s. It's really cool...it's kinda shaped like a boot. It was short-ish walk from the train station, but it was uphill and humid. Bleh! I took home a few mosquito bites. Not fun.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Berlin Day 17
August 21, 2012 12:44 AM
I almost forgot to blog but I was woken up by a nose bleed, so now I'm blogging.
Yes it's hot enough to make mu nose bleed. There is no air. It's like we're baking.
Longest bike ride today. We biked to the site of our project. It's so far. It took almost an hour. We should have taken public transport. It would have been faster. Anyway, our site is next to the river further south east of school. The only good thing about biking was the breeze.
On the way back, it just poured out of nowhere...like big, fat rain. It felt nice...you totally could feel the heat emanating from the ground (that was a little gross). That was one bike ride I didn't mind taking.
Chelsea wanted to get rid of things on the museum list, so we decided to go to the Jewish Museum by Daniel Liebeskine. On the way, we found a park that had a zip line, so duh, we had to play. It was so much fun!
Jewish museum is awesome! It gets bonus points for being cold and air conditioned, but that's not the point. The architecture is awesome. It's so different from reading and seeing it pictures to experiencing the space itself. It takes you through a journey. Along the way, the slashes gives you a sliver of view of the outside or of the voids, but never the whole picture. It's so great.
Chelsea and I had Pizza Hut for dinner. Why is pizza hut better abroad?? If i see Shakey's I'm going to lose it. Anyway, I finally got to see Potsdamer platz at night. It's really cool. The lights are really pretty.
I almost forgot to blog but I was woken up by a nose bleed, so now I'm blogging.
Yes it's hot enough to make mu nose bleed. There is no air. It's like we're baking.
Longest bike ride today. We biked to the site of our project. It's so far. It took almost an hour. We should have taken public transport. It would have been faster. Anyway, our site is next to the river further south east of school. The only good thing about biking was the breeze.
On the way back, it just poured out of nowhere...like big, fat rain. It felt nice...you totally could feel the heat emanating from the ground (that was a little gross). That was one bike ride I didn't mind taking.
Chelsea wanted to get rid of things on the museum list, so we decided to go to the Jewish Museum by Daniel Liebeskine. On the way, we found a park that had a zip line, so duh, we had to play. It was so much fun!
Jewish museum is awesome! It gets bonus points for being cold and air conditioned, but that's not the point. The architecture is awesome. It's so different from reading and seeing it pictures to experiencing the space itself. It takes you through a journey. Along the way, the slashes gives you a sliver of view of the outside or of the voids, but never the whole picture. It's so great.
Chelsea and I had Pizza Hut for dinner. Why is pizza hut better abroad?? If i see Shakey's I'm going to lose it. Anyway, I finally got to see Potsdamer platz at night. It's really cool. The lights are really pretty.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Dresden
August 19, 2012 11:36 PM
HOLY. SHIT. It is fucking hot today and not a lick of breeze. All the windows are open and no fan. It's gross. Also, I did laundry tonight. The dryer doesn't dry clothes so I'm air drying my clothes in the room. No clothesline, so every space that I can hang my clothes I'm using (my leggings and my dressed are hanging on the windows--the room smells like laundry detergent). Since it's hot, I'm hoping my clothes will dry by the morning.
Today, we went to Dresden on a recommendation by Tessie's friend. It's not that far from Berlin; it's only 2 hours away by train. It was a good thing we went today because there's a festival going on in the city, so there were a lot of stall up and lots of people--it was pretty neat. The city is pretty--very baroque and blackened from the bombings from WWII (the city decided to reuse the old materials for the important buildings). We went on a river cruise (duh, if it's a city on a river with a tour I'm doing it). It was really nice to be on the water for the breeze. There were lots of locals sunbathing and swimming by the river bank. I don't blame them,it was hot there, too.
I saw my fair share of topless women...meh. I hope they put sunblock on their boobs. Also, there were also a few naked MEN...didn't know that nude is ok by the river banks. That was not ok. It wasn't pretty. Those guys were WHITE, not pale but white like paper. We had a tour of the Semper Oper (the Dresden Opera House). It's nice. Our tour guide was like a German Kristen Chenowith. We just wandered around the city center exploring. It was nice.
HOLY. SHIT. It is fucking hot today and not a lick of breeze. All the windows are open and no fan. It's gross. Also, I did laundry tonight. The dryer doesn't dry clothes so I'm air drying my clothes in the room. No clothesline, so every space that I can hang my clothes I'm using (my leggings and my dressed are hanging on the windows--the room smells like laundry detergent). Since it's hot, I'm hoping my clothes will dry by the morning.
Today, we went to Dresden on a recommendation by Tessie's friend. It's not that far from Berlin; it's only 2 hours away by train. It was a good thing we went today because there's a festival going on in the city, so there were a lot of stall up and lots of people--it was pretty neat. The city is pretty--very baroque and blackened from the bombings from WWII (the city decided to reuse the old materials for the important buildings). We went on a river cruise (duh, if it's a city on a river with a tour I'm doing it). It was really nice to be on the water for the breeze. There were lots of locals sunbathing and swimming by the river bank. I don't blame them,it was hot there, too.
I saw my fair share of topless women...meh. I hope they put sunblock on their boobs. Also, there were also a few naked MEN...didn't know that nude is ok by the river banks. That was not ok. It wasn't pretty. Those guys were WHITE, not pale but white like paper. We had a tour of the Semper Oper (the Dresden Opera House). It's nice. Our tour guide was like a German Kristen Chenowith. We just wandered around the city center exploring. It was nice.
Berlin Day 15
August 18, 2012 11:22 PM
Decided to stay in Berlin today because I needed to get things off my museum list. Got 3 off my list today. That's pretty productive I'd say.
First was the Hamburger Bahnhof. It was a former train station but was converted into a museum of contemporary and modern art. So many Andy Warhols!!!! I was sooooo excited! And a some Roy Lichtenstein, yay! Some exhibits were weird...like this one with life-like dolls. Creepy. Buuuuut, there were also awesome exhibitions by architectonika and archigram!
Next was the Berlinische Galerie, which is pretty much their version of MOMA. Lots of weird art hahaha! But the architecture is cool. And they also had models and architecture drawings from some of the buildings/proposed buildings in Berlin. I was upset that they didn't have the model for the Jewish Museum...oh well, I'm going there.
The last one of the day was the Egyptian Museum of the Neues Museum. It's pretty cool...it's the museum that has Nefertiti's bust. It's a cool building. It was heavily destroyed in the war and was neglected by the GDR. It was restored/reconstructed by David Chipperfield. It's a cool reconstruction because you can tell which is old and which is new...you can even see the scars of the building; bullet holes and shrapnel holes are left exposed and they didn't repaint the interior---they just left it faded, which kept with that old and new.
I have acquired several books, which tends to happen when I travel. And I still have a few weeks to go. This is going to be a problem.
Decided to stay in Berlin today because I needed to get things off my museum list. Got 3 off my list today. That's pretty productive I'd say.
First was the Hamburger Bahnhof. It was a former train station but was converted into a museum of contemporary and modern art. So many Andy Warhols!!!! I was sooooo excited! And a some Roy Lichtenstein, yay! Some exhibits were weird...like this one with life-like dolls. Creepy. Buuuuut, there were also awesome exhibitions by architectonika and archigram!
Next was the Berlinische Galerie, which is pretty much their version of MOMA. Lots of weird art hahaha! But the architecture is cool. And they also had models and architecture drawings from some of the buildings/proposed buildings in Berlin. I was upset that they didn't have the model for the Jewish Museum...oh well, I'm going there.
The last one of the day was the Egyptian Museum of the Neues Museum. It's pretty cool...it's the museum that has Nefertiti's bust. It's a cool building. It was heavily destroyed in the war and was neglected by the GDR. It was restored/reconstructed by David Chipperfield. It's a cool reconstruction because you can tell which is old and which is new...you can even see the scars of the building; bullet holes and shrapnel holes are left exposed and they didn't repaint the interior---they just left it faded, which kept with that old and new.
I have acquired several books, which tends to happen when I travel. And I still have a few weeks to go. This is going to be a problem.
Dessau
1:09 AM
Sorry I haven't been able to post more often. I don't have Internet in my room...it's only in the common room. And sometimes I can't connect. Time and date obviously don't reflect time of post.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Bauhaus!!!!! Architecture pilgrimage!!! The Bauhaus is not the start of modernism, but its ideas spread modernism throughout. We took a tour of the school and the buildings. It was was pretty much AWESOME!
It was a really a hot day and we were jonesing for beer so we went to Prater beirgarten, the oldest beer garden in Berlin. It was cool--you go to one booth to order your beer and you go to another booth for food. It was cool.
Sorry I haven't been able to post more often. I don't have Internet in my room...it's only in the common room. And sometimes I can't connect. Time and date obviously don't reflect time of post.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Bauhaus!!!!! Architecture pilgrimage!!! The Bauhaus is not the start of modernism, but its ideas spread modernism throughout. We took a tour of the school and the buildings. It was was pretty much AWESOME!
It was a really a hot day and we were jonesing for beer so we went to Prater beirgarten, the oldest beer garden in Berlin. It was cool--you go to one booth to order your beer and you go to another booth for food. It was cool.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Berlin Day 13
August 16, 2012 11:36 PM
Today was...interesting.
We went on a tour of some of the bomb shelters and bunkers used during WW II. It was interesting to see, especially since these places were used completely over capacity--it was filled up to 4x the capacity.
We also had a tour of the Stasi prison used by the soviets. I don't even know what to think. It was a place where they brought people suspected of being spies, etc. and later people who tried to escape the east.
On Thursdays, most museums are open until 10 so, I started checking things off my list. First was Pergamon Museum. It was awesome! They had the Pergamon Altar and the Ishtar processional gate from Babylon. My complaint is that that museum needs some sort of ventilation because it was waaaaaaaaaay too hot.
The second Neue Museum. Better ventilation because they needed to protect the paintings. It has a good selection of art from classical to realism and impressionist. I'm just ping to say this: I don't care much for German realism. It's weird. Or I just don't care for its composition. But they did have other good art, too, so that wasn't a waste LOL
Today was...interesting.
We went on a tour of some of the bomb shelters and bunkers used during WW II. It was interesting to see, especially since these places were used completely over capacity--it was filled up to 4x the capacity.
We also had a tour of the Stasi prison used by the soviets. I don't even know what to think. It was a place where they brought people suspected of being spies, etc. and later people who tried to escape the east.
On Thursdays, most museums are open until 10 so, I started checking things off my list. First was Pergamon Museum. It was awesome! They had the Pergamon Altar and the Ishtar processional gate from Babylon. My complaint is that that museum needs some sort of ventilation because it was waaaaaaaaaay too hot.
The second Neue Museum. Better ventilation because they needed to protect the paintings. It has a good selection of art from classical to realism and impressionist. I'm just ping to say this: I don't care much for German realism. It's weird. Or I just don't care for its composition. But they did have other good art, too, so that wasn't a waste LOL
Berlin Day 12
August 16, 2012 1:30 AM
It was another long day. We again walked through the former East Berlin. It's really interesting to see that there are pockets of areas that are quiet throughout the city. Most of these places are just off the busy streets. Not only quiet places, but there are pockets of green spaces around Berlin.
We also went to the Turkish neighborhood, which is further away from the city center. Lots of good food! It's kinda...rougher(?), I guess that's the word I'm looking for. It's the image I had of Berlin before I came to Germany--block housing with lots of graffiti, people into the underground scene. It's not just the neighborhood, but that part of Berlin...further east.
We went to this long stretch of park that goes all the way to one of the canals in Berlin. It used to be a train station, but was destroyed during the War. It's a pretty cool, edgy park. Apparently, this is the park where you get your junk. I totally saw a transaction happen. Near the canal, there's a restaurant/cafe right on the water. It reminds me of the Blue Bayou from Disneyland haha
We walked past the Berlin Museum and they have a bear enclosure in the park (note: bear is the symbol of Berlin). It's pretty awesome! They have a mother-daughter set. It's free to see. The bears have a caretaker and they just hang out in the enclosure in the park.
We ended the day going up the TV Tower. It's the tallest freestanding structure in Berlin (possibly Germany...I'm not too sue). It's very 1960s decor and interiors. We got up to the observation deck and there's a bar. It was a long day, so Chelsea, Tessie and I just parked in the bar LOL. The observation deck is pretty small. You can walk around in less that 5 minutes (if you're not stopping to look at the view and take pictures). It's a great view of Berlin. You can see how vast and flat Berlin is.
Alvaro and James are in town for a few days, so we went over to their place and hung out for a bit and then had dinner at this Thai-vietnamese place.
It was another long day. We again walked through the former East Berlin. It's really interesting to see that there are pockets of areas that are quiet throughout the city. Most of these places are just off the busy streets. Not only quiet places, but there are pockets of green spaces around Berlin.
We also went to the Turkish neighborhood, which is further away from the city center. Lots of good food! It's kinda...rougher(?), I guess that's the word I'm looking for. It's the image I had of Berlin before I came to Germany--block housing with lots of graffiti, people into the underground scene. It's not just the neighborhood, but that part of Berlin...further east.
We went to this long stretch of park that goes all the way to one of the canals in Berlin. It used to be a train station, but was destroyed during the War. It's a pretty cool, edgy park. Apparently, this is the park where you get your junk. I totally saw a transaction happen. Near the canal, there's a restaurant/cafe right on the water. It reminds me of the Blue Bayou from Disneyland haha
We walked past the Berlin Museum and they have a bear enclosure in the park (note: bear is the symbol of Berlin). It's pretty awesome! They have a mother-daughter set. It's free to see. The bears have a caretaker and they just hang out in the enclosure in the park.
We ended the day going up the TV Tower. It's the tallest freestanding structure in Berlin (possibly Germany...I'm not too sue). It's very 1960s decor and interiors. We got up to the observation deck and there's a bar. It was a long day, so Chelsea, Tessie and I just parked in the bar LOL. The observation deck is pretty small. You can walk around in less that 5 minutes (if you're not stopping to look at the view and take pictures). It's a great view of Berlin. You can see how vast and flat Berlin is.
Alvaro and James are in town for a few days, so we went over to their place and hung out for a bit and then had dinner at this Thai-vietnamese place.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Berlin Day 11
August 14, 2012 11:12 PM
Lots of walking today (again...obviously).
Today we were looking at interventions in the urban fabric, in which it was more of a filling in of spaces.
Saw many of today's big architects' buildings: Zaha, Eisenman, Liebeskine, OMA, IM Pei, Jean Nouvel, David Chipperfield
Chelsea and I went to the Dali Exhibit. It's was a good exhibit. It a lot of Dali drawings and showing a few of his short movies.
I need to go to more museums! I'm running out of time! Berlin has so many museums! I know I won't see them all, but I'd like to see most of the things on my list (it's a long list). I probably should edit that list, buuuuuuut so much art!! And artifacts!! Ok, artifacts-wise, I just want to see Nefertiti's bust, the Pergamum altar and the Ishtar gate. In terms of art, I want to see modern/contemporary works. Mainly, my list of museums is long because I want to see the architecture of the buildings.
Lots of walking today (again...obviously).
Today we were looking at interventions in the urban fabric, in which it was more of a filling in of spaces.
Saw many of today's big architects' buildings: Zaha, Eisenman, Liebeskine, OMA, IM Pei, Jean Nouvel, David Chipperfield
Chelsea and I went to the Dali Exhibit. It's was a good exhibit. It a lot of Dali drawings and showing a few of his short movies.
I need to go to more museums! I'm running out of time! Berlin has so many museums! I know I won't see them all, but I'd like to see most of the things on my list (it's a long list). I probably should edit that list, buuuuuuut so much art!! And artifacts!! Ok, artifacts-wise, I just want to see Nefertiti's bust, the Pergamum altar and the Ishtar gate. In terms of art, I want to see modern/contemporary works. Mainly, my list of museums is long because I want to see the architecture of the buildings.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Berlin Day 10
August 14, 2012 11:52 PM
Today was looong day. Lots of walking (well, duh...but it feels like we did more today). I feel like we covered about 30 years of architecture in the span of a day.
We started extra early today because we had an appointment at the Berlin State Library for a tour before it opened to the public. It's a cool building...lots of daylighting, especially from a building built in the 60s. I like the movement around the space and the use of colored glass blocks as art. It's politically interesting because it was built at the edge of the West, almost next to the Berlin Wall.
Next we went to the Neue Nationalgalerie by Mies Van Der Rohe. I die. I die. I love Mies. I love the glass box (ok yes, it doesn't really work as a house, but damn it, it looks good and conveys the ideas of planes and volumes and transparency). And this gallery is pretty much Barcelona Pavillion but BIGGER and much more open. Yes, it's a giant glass box, but the opportunities for the space inside is limitless. You can do anything.
Next we went to the Reichstag. It's cool that the old building was restored and redesigned after the reunification. It's an awesome building...I like what Norman Foster did. He preserved the history (including the graffiti in the building after the it was taken over in WWII). I was most excited to go up the dome. It was a nice procession up On one ramp and down the other. It gave you a 360 view of Berlin. The dome also serves as a passive cooling device.
Saw a Frank Gehry building. He was hired by Hines, a Texas developer. I just laughed when we went inside. It was a little ridiculous. It's structure is compared to that of a whale. I just laughed even more.
Holocaust Memorial by Peter Eisenman was awesome. From the street, you don't get a sense of scale, everything looks the same. But as you walk into the space, the blocks change and you don't realize how big and tall the structures are. As you go deeper into the space, the blocks get bigger and get smaller as you go further out.
Today was looong day. Lots of walking (well, duh...but it feels like we did more today). I feel like we covered about 30 years of architecture in the span of a day.
We started extra early today because we had an appointment at the Berlin State Library for a tour before it opened to the public. It's a cool building...lots of daylighting, especially from a building built in the 60s. I like the movement around the space and the use of colored glass blocks as art. It's politically interesting because it was built at the edge of the West, almost next to the Berlin Wall.
Next we went to the Neue Nationalgalerie by Mies Van Der Rohe. I die. I die. I love Mies. I love the glass box (ok yes, it doesn't really work as a house, but damn it, it looks good and conveys the ideas of planes and volumes and transparency). And this gallery is pretty much Barcelona Pavillion but BIGGER and much more open. Yes, it's a giant glass box, but the opportunities for the space inside is limitless. You can do anything.
Next we went to the Reichstag. It's cool that the old building was restored and redesigned after the reunification. It's an awesome building...I like what Norman Foster did. He preserved the history (including the graffiti in the building after the it was taken over in WWII). I was most excited to go up the dome. It was a nice procession up On one ramp and down the other. It gave you a 360 view of Berlin. The dome also serves as a passive cooling device.
Saw a Frank Gehry building. He was hired by Hines, a Texas developer. I just laughed when we went inside. It was a little ridiculous. It's structure is compared to that of a whale. I just laughed even more.
Holocaust Memorial by Peter Eisenman was awesome. From the street, you don't get a sense of scale, everything looks the same. But as you walk into the space, the blocks change and you don't realize how big and tall the structures are. As you go deeper into the space, the blocks get bigger and get smaller as you go further out.
Rhine Valley/Köln
August 12, 2012 7PM
Train on the way back to Berlin.
So today we went on a River Cruise of the Rhine Valley on the Rhine River (duh) between Bacharach and Boppard because that stretch of the river has the highest concentration of castles. It was like being in a fairly tale--very green and hilly dotted with little towns and castles in the distance.
In the afternoon, we got to Köln (Cologne). I wish we had more time in Cologne--I wanted to see the museums, other churches, explore in general. We did get to see the Köln Dom (Cologne Cathedral). It's supposed to be the 2nd biggest cathedral after the Milan Duomo, but I don't see it--I feel like the Dom is bigger. It's absolutely amazing. It's under a constant state of restoration because it was badly damaged during WWII. The south transept was destroyed and now restored. I am absolutely in love with the new stained glass windows of the south transept--it's done by Richter and it looks like bunch of pixels of colors. It's amazing.
We walked around the area around the Dom. Found the store that sells the original eau de cologne. Eau de cologne was started by Napoleon when he passed through the area (or so legend says). I bought myself a small bottle. It smells pretty. Of course had to try the local beer, kölsch. Kölsch is only made in Cologne and the area around it (legally). It's good. I like it. What do I know? I'm not a beer drinker, but this is good lol.
When I get back to Berlin, I need to get through my list of museums. There are so many in Berlin.
Train on the way back to Berlin.
So today we went on a River Cruise of the Rhine Valley on the Rhine River (duh) between Bacharach and Boppard because that stretch of the river has the highest concentration of castles. It was like being in a fairly tale--very green and hilly dotted with little towns and castles in the distance.
In the afternoon, we got to Köln (Cologne). I wish we had more time in Cologne--I wanted to see the museums, other churches, explore in general. We did get to see the Köln Dom (Cologne Cathedral). It's supposed to be the 2nd biggest cathedral after the Milan Duomo, but I don't see it--I feel like the Dom is bigger. It's absolutely amazing. It's under a constant state of restoration because it was badly damaged during WWII. The south transept was destroyed and now restored. I am absolutely in love with the new stained glass windows of the south transept--it's done by Richter and it looks like bunch of pixels of colors. It's amazing.
We walked around the area around the Dom. Found the store that sells the original eau de cologne. Eau de cologne was started by Napoleon when he passed through the area (or so legend says). I bought myself a small bottle. It smells pretty. Of course had to try the local beer, kölsch. Kölsch is only made in Cologne and the area around it (legally). It's good. I like it. What do I know? I'm not a beer drinker, but this is good lol.
When I get back to Berlin, I need to get through my list of museums. There are so many in Berlin.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Bacharach
August 11, 2012 11:00 PM
Bacharach is a darling little town in the Rhine Valley. It took forever to get here. It was a 4 hour train ride to Köln and then it was another 2 hours to get to Bacharach. Just the views from the train was worth the long travel distance. As we went west, Germany is more rural--lots of wheat fields and cows...obviously until you hit the big cities like Köln, Dusseldorf, etc. ad as you travel south of Köln, towns got smaller and the Rhine valley opens up to green, and vineyards.
Speaking of wine, Rhine valley is the home of riesling. I. Am. So. Happy. The riesling is soooooooooo much better here! I had riesling that was pretty much grown in the town...right next to the castle. I had the sweeter variety and it tasted like juice. It as great. I bought a bottle to take home...let's hope it makes it home.
We're staying at an old B&B ... There's tv here! I do appreciate tv in my hotel rooms. I don't care that it's in German. It's tv. Anyway, it's a nice place. It's called Hotel Zur Post. I'm guessing this was were the coaches used to stop and stay in town (there's a carriage over the sign on the building).
Chelsea and I skipped stones by the river. My record is 5. I'm pretty sure I just got lucky and I will never be able o repeat that.
Why Bacharach? Tessie's Rick Steve's travel guide suggested this town for the concentration on castles on this stretch of the Rhine.
Bacharach is a darling little town in the Rhine Valley. It took forever to get here. It was a 4 hour train ride to Köln and then it was another 2 hours to get to Bacharach. Just the views from the train was worth the long travel distance. As we went west, Germany is more rural--lots of wheat fields and cows...obviously until you hit the big cities like Köln, Dusseldorf, etc. ad as you travel south of Köln, towns got smaller and the Rhine valley opens up to green, and vineyards.
Speaking of wine, Rhine valley is the home of riesling. I. Am. So. Happy. The riesling is soooooooooo much better here! I had riesling that was pretty much grown in the town...right next to the castle. I had the sweeter variety and it tasted like juice. It as great. I bought a bottle to take home...let's hope it makes it home.
We're staying at an old B&B ... There's tv here! I do appreciate tv in my hotel rooms. I don't care that it's in German. It's tv. Anyway, it's a nice place. It's called Hotel Zur Post. I'm guessing this was were the coaches used to stop and stay in town (there's a carriage over the sign on the building).
Chelsea and I skipped stones by the river. My record is 5. I'm pretty sure I just got lucky and I will never be able o repeat that.
Why Bacharach? Tessie's Rick Steve's travel guide suggested this town for the concentration on castles on this stretch of the Rhine.
Berlin Day 7
8:20 AM August 11, 2012
Fell asleep last night and forgot to blog. Oops ;)
Currently sitting on a train to Bacharach via Köln. I love how we got a rail pass and now we've got 1st class seats. It's nice. More on that later.
Yesterday we went on an epic bike tour of East Berlin and the Berlin Wall.
And by epic, I mean getting 15 people following each other on the busy streets of Berlin. Turning left at stop lights and crossing tram tracks is not the business.
Anyway, we biked through and stopped at several places in East Berlin. It's crazy how more than 20 years after the wall came down that there are still parts of East Berlin that are still run down. East Berlin is cheaper than the west. And some parts of the wall are still up and there are markers where the wall used to be. Seeing where the wall was gives you some understanding of the separation between east and west,but not really. You see it, but obviously I won't understand because I didn't live through it.
Biking around Berlin was easier than biking through Potsdam. Berlin is pretty flat and we just biked on hard surfaces; at Potsdam we were biking on dirt and it was soggy from the rain.
Fell asleep last night and forgot to blog. Oops ;)
Currently sitting on a train to Bacharach via Köln. I love how we got a rail pass and now we've got 1st class seats. It's nice. More on that later.
Yesterday we went on an epic bike tour of East Berlin and the Berlin Wall.
And by epic, I mean getting 15 people following each other on the busy streets of Berlin. Turning left at stop lights and crossing tram tracks is not the business.
Anyway, we biked through and stopped at several places in East Berlin. It's crazy how more than 20 years after the wall came down that there are still parts of East Berlin that are still run down. East Berlin is cheaper than the west. And some parts of the wall are still up and there are markers where the wall used to be. Seeing where the wall was gives you some understanding of the separation between east and west,but not really. You see it, but obviously I won't understand because I didn't live through it.
Biking around Berlin was easier than biking through Potsdam. Berlin is pretty flat and we just biked on hard surfaces; at Potsdam we were biking on dirt and it was soggy from the rain.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Berlin Day 6
August 9, 2012 11:26 PM
I've got to say, I am loving the styling European men...the dapper kind. And I've seen a lot of them here. I am loving the colored denim with the nice shoes (they look like wing tips)on guys.
Today we finished our look at social housing in Berlin. We saw houses designed by Bruno Taut in that they were designed with nature in mind. The apartments were designed around little park with a pond and the people in each unit would have a little plot of garden. The town houses have a little yard in the front and a nice yard in the back. The neighborhood is really nice. It's so different from other social housing projects (especially in the US) in which they just build housing blocks that have no regard for the needs of the people and become neglected and awful places to live in.
ALL THE LOLs!!! School picked Asian food for lunch. It's at a Chinese-Thai-Japanese place. It smells soooo goood! It is cheap though...Chinese food is typically cheap in Europe anyways. Except I'm not jonesing for Asian yet. I still want to try all the German things.
After class, we ventured over to Alexanderplatz to finally get a rain jacket. I'm ready for rain on a bike! Or rain in general lol. After that, Chelsea and I just explores the area and we ended up at the oldest part of Berlin...where the original city started. And we found a microbrewery by the river Spree that makes only 1 beer. And also had the house special: pork knuckle (same part as crispy Pata), sauerkraut, and pea purée (with bacon!). It's really good!!! It kinda tastes like corned beef, except pork. Mmmmm pork. Also had apple strudel with the vanilla sauce. It's good, but I still love the one from Salzburg...maybe I'll find one that I like here.
I've got to say, I am loving the styling European men...the dapper kind. And I've seen a lot of them here. I am loving the colored denim with the nice shoes (they look like wing tips)on guys.
Today we finished our look at social housing in Berlin. We saw houses designed by Bruno Taut in that they were designed with nature in mind. The apartments were designed around little park with a pond and the people in each unit would have a little plot of garden. The town houses have a little yard in the front and a nice yard in the back. The neighborhood is really nice. It's so different from other social housing projects (especially in the US) in which they just build housing blocks that have no regard for the needs of the people and become neglected and awful places to live in.
ALL THE LOLs!!! School picked Asian food for lunch. It's at a Chinese-Thai-Japanese place. It smells soooo goood! It is cheap though...Chinese food is typically cheap in Europe anyways. Except I'm not jonesing for Asian yet. I still want to try all the German things.
After class, we ventured over to Alexanderplatz to finally get a rain jacket. I'm ready for rain on a bike! Or rain in general lol. After that, Chelsea and I just explores the area and we ended up at the oldest part of Berlin...where the original city started. And we found a microbrewery by the river Spree that makes only 1 beer. And also had the house special: pork knuckle (same part as crispy Pata), sauerkraut, and pea purée (with bacon!). It's really good!!! It kinda tastes like corned beef, except pork. Mmmmm pork. Also had apple strudel with the vanilla sauce. It's good, but I still love the one from Salzburg...maybe I'll find one that I like here.
Berlin Day 5
August 9, 2012 12:09 AM
I feel like today was architecture-pilgrimage day. We went to the Bauhaus-archive where they have works (of students and teachers) from the Bauhaus. They even built a model of Mies van der Rohe's glass tower and a model of the Bauhaus building in Dessau.
Then for today (and tomorrow) we're looking at social housing from the 1920s/30s and 1950s. We saw buildings by Walter Gropius from the 1930s. Also we saw Le Corbusier's Unité d'habitacion in Berlin. It's the same idea as the other Unité projects, but it's a little smaller. I pretty much died.
We also booked a dinner/classical concert at the Schloss Charlottenburg.
It was a 3-course meal...and it was AMAZING.
I feel like today was architecture-pilgrimage day. We went to the Bauhaus-archive where they have works (of students and teachers) from the Bauhaus. They even built a model of Mies van der Rohe's glass tower and a model of the Bauhaus building in Dessau.
Then for today (and tomorrow) we're looking at social housing from the 1920s/30s and 1950s. We saw buildings by Walter Gropius from the 1930s. Also we saw Le Corbusier's Unité d'habitacion in Berlin. It's the same idea as the other Unité projects, but it's a little smaller. I pretty much died.
We also booked a dinner/classical concert at the Schloss Charlottenburg.
It was a 3-course meal...and it was AMAZING.
Berlin 4
August 7, 2012 11:28 PM
SO TIRED. We did all the walking.
So today, we went to an abandoned airport, Templehof Airfield/air port . It was originally designed and used by the Nazis...but by the time the war it was used for military purposes...they used it to build smaller airplanes, etc. after the war, it was used as a commercial air field and as a small air base for the Americans until the 1990s.
It's HUGE, not just the airport but the airfield also. We also got to go underground and see bomb shelters.
It definitely reminds me of an example of a mega-structure.
It's now used as a park (the airfield) and a place for conventions,etc and 1/3 is used by the Berlin police department.
It's very impressive in size and the architecture is very monumental.
Also, we ate lunch at this really old German restaurant (?). It's very mom and pop from the 1880s. It's really coo. We had potato soup with a bouckworst. It was really good, but that was a lot of soup.
SO TIRED. We did all the walking.
So today, we went to an abandoned airport, Templehof Airfield/air port . It was originally designed and used by the Nazis...but by the time the war it was used for military purposes...they used it to build smaller airplanes, etc. after the war, it was used as a commercial air field and as a small air base for the Americans until the 1990s.
It's HUGE, not just the airport but the airfield also. We also got to go underground and see bomb shelters.
It definitely reminds me of an example of a mega-structure.
It's now used as a park (the airfield) and a place for conventions,etc and 1/3 is used by the Berlin police department.
It's very impressive in size and the architecture is very monumental.
Also, we ate lunch at this really old German restaurant (?). It's very mom and pop from the 1880s. It's really coo. We had potato soup with a bouckworst. It was really good, but that was a lot of soup.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Berlin 3
August 6, 2012 11:33 PM
First day of school at BTK.
That campus (and by campus, I mean building) is really nice. It's so much nicer than NewSchool.
The program is great: housing, breakfast and lunch, transportation in Berlin are all part of tuition.
The instructors and faculty seem really friendly and very eager to help and teach. I'm really excited about the program--it's looking at the theories of the Bauhaus and how that affected/influenced Berlin, during and after WWII, and especially when Berlin was divided. It's going to be great.
So, as part of the program, we went on a boat tour of Berlin on the River Spree, which was the same one I did last year, except now it's nice and sunny.
I am on a mission to find a light, waterproof jacket so that I don't repeat yesterday's fiasco.
Also, the Lush conditioner bar doesn't condition my hair very well.
First day of school at BTK.
That campus (and by campus, I mean building) is really nice. It's so much nicer than NewSchool.
The program is great: housing, breakfast and lunch, transportation in Berlin are all part of tuition.
The instructors and faculty seem really friendly and very eager to help and teach. I'm really excited about the program--it's looking at the theories of the Bauhaus and how that affected/influenced Berlin, during and after WWII, and especially when Berlin was divided. It's going to be great.
So, as part of the program, we went on a boat tour of Berlin on the River Spree, which was the same one I did last year, except now it's nice and sunny.
I am on a mission to find a light, waterproof jacket so that I don't repeat yesterday's fiasco.
Also, the Lush conditioner bar doesn't condition my hair very well.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Berlin 2
August 5, 2011 11:02 PM
I. Am. Tired. And quite possibly delirious hahahaha!
A suggestion by Chelsea's friend who lived in Berlin a few years ago was go on the fat tire bike tour of Potsdam. She said it's amazing.
So, we did the tour, not expecting major rain fall (weather forecast said thunderstorms in the afternoon). Oh there was rain. Lots of it. Biked around Potsdam in the fucking rain, wearing a plastic poncho that barely kept me dry. Soggy sand and wet cobblestones are definitely great surfaces to bike on. The only reason I kept going was to keep me warm (and I've paid for it already). My lower body is sore (and my arms for some strange reason) and walking up and down stars presents a challenge.
Aside from the rain, the tour was great. He took us around the parks and palaces around Potsdam and a micro brewery in the former part of the border between East Germany and West Berlin. Lentil soup never tasted better! Kept me warm (also the sun started to come up). Anyway, like I said, the tour was great. Potsdam looked very pretty and green...it's a cute little town. Also, the tour guide was hot. Always a plus.
I. Am. Tired. And quite possibly delirious hahahaha!
A suggestion by Chelsea's friend who lived in Berlin a few years ago was go on the fat tire bike tour of Potsdam. She said it's amazing.
So, we did the tour, not expecting major rain fall (weather forecast said thunderstorms in the afternoon). Oh there was rain. Lots of it. Biked around Potsdam in the fucking rain, wearing a plastic poncho that barely kept me dry. Soggy sand and wet cobblestones are definitely great surfaces to bike on. The only reason I kept going was to keep me warm (and I've paid for it already). My lower body is sore (and my arms for some strange reason) and walking up and down stars presents a challenge.
Aside from the rain, the tour was great. He took us around the parks and palaces around Potsdam and a micro brewery in the former part of the border between East Germany and West Berlin. Lentil soup never tasted better! Kept me warm (also the sun started to come up). Anyway, like I said, the tour was great. Potsdam looked very pretty and green...it's a cute little town. Also, the tour guide was hot. Always a plus.
Berlin Day 1
August 5, 2012
It's about 1 AM here at the hostel. After our day out yesterday, we kinda napped the afternoon away.
We arrived in Berlin around 8PM yesterday and didn't get to the hostel until around 9PM. We flew Lufthansa from LAX. It was a good service(everyone got their own tv and got to chose what movies/tv shows...do that was cool), except for the part where it was super hot on the plane...maybe it was just from where we were sitting (middle aisle), but it was really hot. Needs more cold air.
The hostel we're staying at is where we'll be for the entire study abroad
program. It's pretty cool. It used to be an old convent/hospital and it totally has that creepy-hostel vibe to it (especially the hallways...the lights are on a timer, so they can cut out on you whenever). No AC, but there's a fan and the place is clean, so we're good.
We got a late (and I do mean late) dinner at a nearby place...it was Italian. Those places are EVERYWHERE. It was a little local restaurant with German decor and italian food and served really good sangria. It was the only place that was still open at 11 PM.
Really good food. Passed out around 2 and we all woke up to sunshine beaming down through the windows at 7:30 and birds singing.
Today, we went to Schloss Charlottenburg. It was the summer palace of the Prussian monarchy. The tour was part of a package deal we got (tour, dinner, concert in the palace...dinner and concert next wednesday). It's pretty cool, it was destroyed during WWII, but they restored the castle to its original baroque design. The gardens were nice...designed in the French style, like Versailles only smaller.
Random note, I found Dunkin Donuts at the Haufbahnof (main train station) and I am so happy! ALL the MUNCHKINS! Don't judge me, there is no Dunkin Donuts in California.
It's about 1 AM here at the hostel. After our day out yesterday, we kinda napped the afternoon away.
We arrived in Berlin around 8PM yesterday and didn't get to the hostel until around 9PM. We flew Lufthansa from LAX. It was a good service(everyone got their own tv and got to chose what movies/tv shows...do that was cool), except for the part where it was super hot on the plane...maybe it was just from where we were sitting (middle aisle), but it was really hot. Needs more cold air.
The hostel we're staying at is where we'll be for the entire study abroad
program. It's pretty cool. It used to be an old convent/hospital and it totally has that creepy-hostel vibe to it (especially the hallways...the lights are on a timer, so they can cut out on you whenever). No AC, but there's a fan and the place is clean, so we're good.
We got a late (and I do mean late) dinner at a nearby place...it was Italian. Those places are EVERYWHERE. It was a little local restaurant with German decor and italian food and served really good sangria. It was the only place that was still open at 11 PM.
Really good food. Passed out around 2 and we all woke up to sunshine beaming down through the windows at 7:30 and birds singing.
Today, we went to Schloss Charlottenburg. It was the summer palace of the Prussian monarchy. The tour was part of a package deal we got (tour, dinner, concert in the palace...dinner and concert next wednesday). It's pretty cool, it was destroyed during WWII, but they restored the castle to its original baroque design. The gardens were nice...designed in the French style, like Versailles only smaller.
Random note, I found Dunkin Donuts at the Haufbahnof (main train station) and I am so happy! ALL the MUNCHKINS! Don't judge me, there is no Dunkin Donuts in California.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)