Fall Break 2012- European Style!

The past few weeks have been nothing but adventure and excitement, and not just around Italy- but around all of Europe! I'm a bit behind on my posts (okay really behind...), but I will try to catch up and dedicate this one to my fall break from a few weeks ago when I went to Prague, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Paris. There was so much to do and see in each of the cities that the week went by almost in a blur, but I will try to remember and share as much of it as I can! 

Prague

I think that Prague is a city that is way understated compared to other popular destinations in Europe, which is too bad because it is so beautiful, has so much history, and is a really cool place to explore! Not many people think to include the Czech Republic into their travel plans, but it should be! I loved it here; walking through the city felt like I was walking through a fairy tale- the buildings are all pastel with a castle up on a hill in the distance, there are street performers around every corner, and the people are so nice! And, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Prague has really good food, too! And really good beer. Everything here is also pretty cheap compared to other places in Europe, which was a welcome change. It was a great first stop on the tour.

Inside of the Prague Castle

Some highlights of the city that we got to see include; the Prague castle, Charles Bridge, the Franz Kafka house and statue (anybody reading this from Mrs. Benson's class would appreciate that!), the Old Town Square and the astronomical clock, the Old Jewish Cemetery, Wenceslas Square, the John Lennon wall, and I know there was so much more that I am unable to think of at the moment. I don't have any pictures of it, but Prague also had my favorite night club I've ever been to in Europe! Actually, that I've ever been to ever! It's called Lucerna and it's an 80's/90's video night club- they play music videos on a big screen all night of Michael Jackson, Abba, Madonna, even Spice Girls and Britney Spears- basically everything awesome. If you know me and my music taste at all you would be able to sense the excitement! Anyways...

Sitting on the Old Charles Bridge

The astronomical clock was really cool, especially to think that they made it in the 1400's and it is still working today. It basically tells you everything you need to know, from the time, to where the sun and moon are, what zodiac sign it is, where the planets are, even ancient times. Here's a link if you want to see everything you can read off of the clock; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Schema_Orloj_en.png

Another cool think about the Czech Republic is that they celebrate name days- every day of the year has a specific name for that day. Generally, everybody names their children from one of the 365 days so people have a birthday but they also have a "name day" to celebrate. Two days of the year for everybody to party! There is also another type of clock underneath the astronomical one with all of the names so one can always see what name day it is. Pretty cool!

The John Lennon wall was really cool to see- since the 80's it has been filled with graffiti based on the Beatle's songs and ideals of peace and love. John Lennon's face is painted all over it along with song lyrics and much more. It started with student's opposing the communist regime of the time, who instead followed a movement described as "Lennonism". Ironically John Lennon had never been there. I could have sat there for hours looking at all the cool graffiti! 

One of my favorite parts of the city was Wenceslas Square- especially at night! It was beautiful all lit up with the National Museum in the background and the square itself was hustling and bustling with shopping, street performers, and food tents everywhere! Despite it being freezing cold outside, it was an awesome place to hang out and have some good Czech food for cheap and enjoy the cool atmosphere. Yay Prague! 

In front of the National Museum in Wenceslas Square

Berlin

Berlin was a fascinating city to visit because there is so much history there, and most of it is still relatively recent. Actually, really recent compared to the rest of Europe. There is still evidence of the city rebuilding itself, and much of it is new and modern due to it's reemerging itself after World War II. Unfortunately we didn't get much time in the city- we were there for literally 24 hours. But it was still really cool to see and if I get the chance to go back to Germany I would like to visit Berlin again- there is sooooooo many interesting things there and so much that we didn't even get to look at, one day just isn't enough to soak it all in!

The Brandenburg Gate

Berlin Wall- Not what I expected to see, but it gives
some interesting stories!

With the little time we did have in the city, however, we were able to pack in a lot by going on another walking tour, which took us to all the key points- the Fernsehturm (Berlin TV tower), museum island, the Brandenburg gate, Berlin Wall, the Jewish Memorial site and so much more... Honestly, our guide took us to see so many significant places in the city and told of so many fascinating stories that I can't remember all of them or even begin to explain them as well. Which is a shame because it was all so interesting to learn about! So, if anybody reading this plans on going to Berlin soon you should definitely go on a walking tour to really even get a taste of what the city is like and what it was like during World War II.

One of my favorite parts of that tour was seeing the Jewish Memorial site and its surrounding area. The site itself is very simple; there are blocks of concrete all the same rectangular shape but all different heights, and when looking at it, it seems that the blocks go on forever... It's kind of cool because there's no real definition of what it's supposed to mean, but everybody can come up with their own interpretation of it. It was actually pretty powerful and a unique way for the city to recognize it's past and the Jewish community devastated during that time. Ironically, just across the street from the memorial site is the place of Hitler's death- which is now nothing more than a dirt parking lot in the middle of some apartment buildings. Underneath it there used to be the bunker Hitler was staying in at the end of the war and is where he eventually shot himself. The bunker is filled in now with dirt and there is nothing there to commemorate it or even say what it is, the only way to really know is if somebody points it out, otherwise you would just be standing in the middle of a parking lot for no reason... which I'd say is a suitable destiny for such a crap person as Hitler.

Fernsehturm (Berlin TV tower)

Berliner Dom- lit up during the last night of the light festival

On our own at night, we took some time to walk around the city. It happened to be the last night of the yearly light festival, so as we were walking around we got to see many of the city's main buildings covered with projected patterned lights- it was really cool! At night we also wandered around Alexanderplatz (which is one of the main squares) for a while, saw the TV tower and the rest of museum island all lit up, and found a Dunkin' Donuts- which was equally exciting as the rest.

Entrance to the Sachsenhousen Concentration Camp

Part of the reason we had so little time in Berlin was also because some of us took part of the day to visit the concentration camp Sachsenhousen, which was such an unbelievable and moving experience.  When we went, the museums weren't open and there was hardly anybody around, so the campsite looked so bare and desolate. Most of the barracks had been taken down, so the camp looked mostly like a large, empty field, except that it was fenced in with guard stations and outlines of where all of the barracks used to be. There were so many... and to think that this camp was one of the smaller ones. The day we went it was cold, foggy, and windy, which made the experience even more erie and real. The back wall was lined with information about the camp, pictures, and stories about some of the people there. I read every paragraph and all of the information I could find there, but I still couldn't wrap my mind around the whole concept. I wish the museum had been open to learn more about the people and the camp, yet at the same time it was moving enough to just be there and walk through the fields. Seeing a real camp also made everything we had seen in Berlin even more poignant and  really tied the trip together. Even though it shortened the time we had to see the city, visiting the campsite was absolutely worth it.

Execution Trench

Outline of one of the barracks

Amsterdam

Next stop on our trip was somewhere unlike anyplace I have been before- the "Venice of the North" and most lively part of the Netherlands- Amsterdam! This city is so cool because it is so diverse, and all different people are welcome and accepted there. At first glance, the city looks really quaint and wholesome- the buildings are cute and cozy looking with colored doors and shutters, and there are canals that wind through the streets and connect them. Just like Venice! But less sinking. And there are bikes everywhere. Evvverywhere... It is their main way of transportation, and I almost got run over by a biker several times each day. It's worse than ASU! And then, right when your thinking how cute and wholesome the city is, you remember that all of the "coffee shops" there sell weed in every shape and form and that prostitution is legal. And all of those ideals combined are what make this city so unique and interesting!

Riding around like a true Dutch

Red Light District

Much of my time in the city was spent on many tours- a walking tour to see the central parts of the city, a bike tour, of course, to see the larger part of the city in true Dutch fashion, and a Red Light District tour, which was by far the most interesting walking tour I've ever been on. Since prostitution is legal there, as mentioned before, the Red Light District is where one can go to do some... "window shopping", if you will. The section of streets that make up the district is lined with windows that have red lights on them (hence the name), and girls in the windows selling their stuff (closed curtains means they are working). On the tour, we learned the ins and outs of the lifestyle, and also found out more about the other vices the city has to offer- peep shows, sex shows, gay bars, porn shops... even S&M stores and a novelty condom shop. This city really puts Vegas to shame and takes the cake for being the city of sin! I also thought it was interesting to learn that the Red Light District is actually one of the safest parts of the city- there is security everywhere, and everything is regulated. The girls are self employed and rent out their own window, which all even have an emergency button they can press for immediate assistance if they feel in danger. On one hand I really don't understand how prostitution can possibly be legal, yet on the other hand, I suppose if girls are going to be doing it regardless they might as well be safe and protected. Needless to say, it was really cool to see and learn about and the most interesting place I think I've been so far in Europe.

Anne Frank House

Besides going on tours around the city, another one of my favorite parts of the trip was getting the opportunity to see the Anne Frank house. It was preserved and turned into a museum, and you get to walk through the back annex where the Frank family lived. It is so insane to imagine that the whole family had to stay there, completely hidden, without being able to go outside or even open any windows for as long as they did, especially to have the unfortunate and unfair outcome of being sent to concentration camps in the end anyways :( Also, the museum had the original diary on display, which was really cool to see in person, seeing as it is from that diary that millions around the world now know and better understand the story of the Frank family, and really countless other families that also had to live in hiding during that time. 

My Mexican pancake!
Interesting...
yet delicious!

Carnival!

Some other highlights of the trip included shopping around an outdoor flea market, riding the most insane carnival ride I've been on, and going to a pancake house for dinner one night to have the most interesting (and delicious!) pancake combinations cuisine. Although I wasn't originally planning on going to Amsterdam while in Europe, I'm SO glad I did- there is so much to do and see there and I love the feel of the city! The Dutch have such a tolerant mindset that people can be whoever they want to be there and do whatever it is that makes them happy (as long as it doesn't hurt others)- without being judged or ridiculed. Which, I think, is a really awesome way to look at life.

Paris

Paris was the last stop on our trip, and though I had been there once before, it was sooooo wonderful going back. I feel that Paris is such a classic city with so many beautiful things to see- the Eiffel Tower lit up at night is my favorite! And even going just to see the Louvre would be a trip in itself- it is unbelievably massive. And, to make this trip even better, it turns out one of my very best friends happened to be there the exact same weekend! It was great getting to hang out together with Cait in PARIS and exploring the city together! Basically, on this trip we just walked around all over the city and saw everything and spent time hanging out and catching up. It was a wonderful way to end my fall break :) So, if you have read everything up until this point, you really deserve a reward, and the best I can give you from across the ocean is by ending this post with some simple pictures from the wonderful time I had in Paris! ENJOY!

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

Pont de l'Archevêché-
yet another love bridge in Europe

Notre Dame 

Aggiungi didascalia

In the Tuileries Gardens outside of the Louvre

Outside of the Louvre!

Crepe break with Cait! Yummmm...

Nike of Samothrace-
My favorite piece in the Louvre!

Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre- Blurry,
but taken from super far away while getting
elbowed in the face and through super thick
bullet proof glass. Huzzah

Arch de Triomphe  

Moulin Rouge!

Visiting the Eiffel Tower!

French onion soup in France! woah...