Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A disclaimer
I hope I don't come across as complaining in my posts about Europe; I just like to emphasize the unfortunate things that happen because they make good stories. :)
Part of Prague
It was cool driving through Germany and the Czech Republic on the way to Prague. It was funny, there would be all these signs/ads in German or Czech and then randomly one in English. Germany had lots of pine forests, France had lots of fields, and when we reached Prague I found that it had lots of cool buildings. The bus station wasn't in the best shape, though. Because it had been hard to sleep on the bus, when we arrived at the station, a little before 6am, I was exhausted and couldn't wait to get to Nora's friend's house, where we were staying. But that wouldn't happen for over an hour. For one thing, the bus had gotten in a little early. Worse than that, though, I had told Nora's friend the wrong time to meet us at the bus station. I had assumed there was a time difference between Paris and Prague, and I didn't find out otherwise until right before the trip. Consequently, I'd had Nora tell her friend the bus would get in at 7:15, when it was actually supposed to arrive at 6:15. We had no way to contact her, so we just had to wait.
We sat inside the bus station, but it was still cold. Around 7 the bus station food shops began to open. I kept watching the people who came in, wondering if each woman was Lucie, Nora's friend. At 7:30 the real Lucie came, and we took the Prague metro to her apartment (which was on the other side of the city from the bus station). Once there we ate breakfast; I was so tired I ate with my eyes closed, practically sleep-eating. Afterward I took a much-needed nap. A few hours later Nora woke me up so we could go into the city center. I was still pretty tired, but the sleep had definitely helped.
Lucie had the day off from work, so she took us around, which was good because I at least wasn't up to navigating a new city by myself (Nora was much more awake that day than I was). Now that the sun was up it was really hot out. First we went to the castle area, which was a complex of buildings (like a palace and a huge cathedral) and not an actual castle. It was on a hill, so we had a good view of the city. Later on we walked across Charles Bridge, which has lots of statues of saints on it.
I don't really remember a lot about that day except walking a lot and being tired, hot, hungry, and thirsty. Besides Czech Lucie spoke Swedish and English, and since her Swedish was the better of the two, she mostly talked to Nora in that language. Because I know absolutely no Swedish, I couldn't really follow the conversation, so I didn't always know what we were seeing or where we were headed. Eventually we went to a pizzeria for lunch. I was so looking forward to drinking a glass of water--but when the water came, it was fizzy water, which was pretty disappointing. Apparently that's the norm there, and regular water is pretty expensive. I swished it around to take some of the fizz out, and that helped, but it still wasn't the same.
After lunch we rode around on trams some and got gelato at one point (I had peach, which was awesome) and later got citronada, which was like lemonade. At 5-something we headed back to Lucie's apartment. We got back to her neighborhood after the long metro ride and went to the grocery store. Although Lucie only got a few things, we were there for a while because the checkout line was so long. When we finally made it out we went to the post office to buy stamps for the postcards Nora and I had bought in Paris. Again, we had to wait a really long time, although there we at least got to sit down. At last we got the stamps and went back to the apartment, around 6:30, and Nora and I both lay down and went right to sleep.
We sat inside the bus station, but it was still cold. Around 7 the bus station food shops began to open. I kept watching the people who came in, wondering if each woman was Lucie, Nora's friend. At 7:30 the real Lucie came, and we took the Prague metro to her apartment (which was on the other side of the city from the bus station). Once there we ate breakfast; I was so tired I ate with my eyes closed, practically sleep-eating. Afterward I took a much-needed nap. A few hours later Nora woke me up so we could go into the city center. I was still pretty tired, but the sleep had definitely helped.
Lucie had the day off from work, so she took us around, which was good because I at least wasn't up to navigating a new city by myself (Nora was much more awake that day than I was). Now that the sun was up it was really hot out. First we went to the castle area, which was a complex of buildings (like a palace and a huge cathedral) and not an actual castle. It was on a hill, so we had a good view of the city. Later on we walked across Charles Bridge, which has lots of statues of saints on it.
I don't really remember a lot about that day except walking a lot and being tired, hot, hungry, and thirsty. Besides Czech Lucie spoke Swedish and English, and since her Swedish was the better of the two, she mostly talked to Nora in that language. Because I know absolutely no Swedish, I couldn't really follow the conversation, so I didn't always know what we were seeing or where we were headed. Eventually we went to a pizzeria for lunch. I was so looking forward to drinking a glass of water--but when the water came, it was fizzy water, which was pretty disappointing. Apparently that's the norm there, and regular water is pretty expensive. I swished it around to take some of the fizz out, and that helped, but it still wasn't the same.
After lunch we rode around on trams some and got gelato at one point (I had peach, which was awesome) and later got citronada, which was like lemonade. At 5-something we headed back to Lucie's apartment. We got back to her neighborhood after the long metro ride and went to the grocery store. Although Lucie only got a few things, we were there for a while because the checkout line was so long. When we finally made it out we went to the post office to buy stamps for the postcards Nora and I had bought in Paris. Again, we had to wait a really long time, although there we at least got to sit down. At last we got the stamps and went back to the apartment, around 6:30, and Nora and I both lay down and went right to sleep.
I woke up several times while it was still evening, once because there was a thunderstorm, but I always fell back asleep quickly. I also woke up a few times overnight and early in the morning, but I ended up sleeping past 10am, and the only reason I woke up then was because there were lots of noisy kids outside (there was a school next door). I must've gotten over 12 hours of sleep, maybe as many as 13 or 14. I felt really weird when I woke up, but that wore off, and I felt so much more awake and alive than the day before.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Paris
My flight arrived in Paris only a little late, somehow. We didn't have to go through customs or anything as far as I remember. I came out to where all the people were waiting for their friends who'd been on the plane and looked for Nora, but she wasn't there. I was hungry and tired and in a foreign country, so I freaked out a little. I just stood off to the side and waited, but all the time I was wondering if something had happened to Nora and trying to think of what I would do if she didn't come.
Then I saw her in the crowd of people, and everything was okay. She was just late because she'd missed the first train to the airport. I felt much better, and we went off to our hostel. Nora and the two friends she'd been in Paris with for the past week were staying in a three-person room, and I was in a four-person women-only room upstairs. I rested a little, and then Nora and I went out to Victor Hugo's house. It took us a long time to find it, even though we had a map and there were signs supposedly pointing the way. I didn't mind, though, because I enjoyed just wandering around Paris. We happened upon a big market and looked at stuff there for a while. Pretty soon after that we did make it to the house; it was interesting to see, but not that exciting.
We got pizza for lunch and then went to the Louvre, which is free the first Sunday of the month, exactly the day we happened to be there. We just wanted to see the most famous things, but we kept making mistakes and going the wrong way (the map confused me), so we ended up walking a lot more than we needed to. Every time we sat down to rest I started to fall asleep. But it was cool to see so much famous art, and we really barely saw any of what's there, because the Louvre is such a huge place. I would love to go back for a whole day sometime when I'm not exhausted.
We went back to the hostel when the museum closed, and I finally got to relax. My sense of time was really skewed, and it felt like it had been a really long day even though it was only early evening. I went to bed around 9 and slept pretty well.
The next morning I got up and had breakfast with Nora at the hostel. After the other two girls came down and ate we checked out of our rooms. I accidentally left my pajamas in my room, but before we left one of the ladies who'd been in the room with me came and found me and told me, which was nice. We left our luggage at the hostel and headed off to Sacre Coeur, a big white church, which was pretty close by. It's on a hill, and the view of Paris got better and better as we went up. When we reached the top we were so high; it was like we were on top of Paris. Nora and I looked inside and then walked along the edge of the hill until we could see the Eiffel Tower, which was blocked by trees before.
We walked around Sacre Coeur, and as soon as we left the front area there were practically no other people around, which was nice. We then met back up with the other two girls and walked around the area, Montmarte, which had nice cobblestones streets and pretty houses. We got crepes at La Maison Rose, a tiny pink cafe. The weather was beautiful, so it was really nice just walking around.
Nora and I had to be at the bus station to check in for our bus ride to Prague at 3, so we left Montmarte before long and picked up our luggage at the hostel before heading to the bus station. On the way we stopped at a grocery store to buy dinner, spending only 4.23 total on drinkable yogurt (which Nora introduced me to and I love), a baguette, an apple, and brie. We made it to the bus station right on time and checked in, and then we just had to wait till our bus left at 4.
Nora had realized that she'd left her iPod charger in the room at the hostel, so she went to look for a place to get internet (on her iPod touch) to email one of her friends, who was staying at the hostel another night, and ask if she could get it. I stayed with the luggage and ate some brie on rolls we'd taken from the hostel (it was quite good) and then just waited.
After a while our bus pulled up and people started getting on. Nora had said she would try to be back within half an hour, so after half an hour had passed I started getting worried, both about whether something had happened to Nora and about missing the bus. I had a plan to ask the bus driver to wait and then tell one of the bus station workers that Nora was missing if she wasn't back by five of 4. But then, around 3:50, Nora came in. She'd had a hard time finding somewhere where she got internet, but she finally had, and then she'd hurried back. We got on the bus, and pretty soon we were off to Prague.
Then I saw her in the crowd of people, and everything was okay. She was just late because she'd missed the first train to the airport. I felt much better, and we went off to our hostel. Nora and the two friends she'd been in Paris with for the past week were staying in a three-person room, and I was in a four-person women-only room upstairs. I rested a little, and then Nora and I went out to Victor Hugo's house. It took us a long time to find it, even though we had a map and there were signs supposedly pointing the way. I didn't mind, though, because I enjoyed just wandering around Paris. We happened upon a big market and looked at stuff there for a while. Pretty soon after that we did make it to the house; it was interesting to see, but not that exciting.
We got pizza for lunch and then went to the Louvre, which is free the first Sunday of the month, exactly the day we happened to be there. We just wanted to see the most famous things, but we kept making mistakes and going the wrong way (the map confused me), so we ended up walking a lot more than we needed to. Every time we sat down to rest I started to fall asleep. But it was cool to see so much famous art, and we really barely saw any of what's there, because the Louvre is such a huge place. I would love to go back for a whole day sometime when I'm not exhausted.
We went back to the hostel when the museum closed, and I finally got to relax. My sense of time was really skewed, and it felt like it had been a really long day even though it was only early evening. I went to bed around 9 and slept pretty well.
The next morning I got up and had breakfast with Nora at the hostel. After the other two girls came down and ate we checked out of our rooms. I accidentally left my pajamas in my room, but before we left one of the ladies who'd been in the room with me came and found me and told me, which was nice. We left our luggage at the hostel and headed off to Sacre Coeur, a big white church, which was pretty close by. It's on a hill, and the view of Paris got better and better as we went up. When we reached the top we were so high; it was like we were on top of Paris. Nora and I looked inside and then walked along the edge of the hill until we could see the Eiffel Tower, which was blocked by trees before.
We walked around Sacre Coeur, and as soon as we left the front area there were practically no other people around, which was nice. We then met back up with the other two girls and walked around the area, Montmarte, which had nice cobblestones streets and pretty houses. We got crepes at La Maison Rose, a tiny pink cafe. The weather was beautiful, so it was really nice just walking around.
Nora and I had to be at the bus station to check in for our bus ride to Prague at 3, so we left Montmarte before long and picked up our luggage at the hostel before heading to the bus station. On the way we stopped at a grocery store to buy dinner, spending only 4.23 total on drinkable yogurt (which Nora introduced me to and I love), a baguette, an apple, and brie. We made it to the bus station right on time and checked in, and then we just had to wait till our bus left at 4.
Nora had realized that she'd left her iPod charger in the room at the hostel, so she went to look for a place to get internet (on her iPod touch) to email one of her friends, who was staying at the hostel another night, and ask if she could get it. I stayed with the luggage and ate some brie on rolls we'd taken from the hostel (it was quite good) and then just waited.
After a while our bus pulled up and people started getting on. Nora had said she would try to be back within half an hour, so after half an hour had passed I started getting worried, both about whether something had happened to Nora and about missing the bus. I had a plan to ask the bus driver to wait and then tell one of the bus station workers that Nora was missing if she wasn't back by five of 4. But then, around 3:50, Nora came in. She'd had a hard time finding somewhere where she got internet, but she finally had, and then she'd hurried back. We got on the bus, and pretty soon we were off to Prague.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Airport adventure
So, I went to Europe. It was my first time flying alone, and after I went through security and left my family behind I felt very independent and a little nervous. I quickly got way more nervous when my backpack didn't come out of the security scanner and the lady watching the scans called someone else over. I waited while they talked, wondering what in the world could be in my backpack that could cause a problem. I'd packed everything I needed for 10 days in Europe in there--clothes, a few small guidebooks, shampoo and toothpaste in 3-ounce containers sealed in a plastic bag. There was nothing wrong with any of that, was there?
They let my backpack out, and a man felt around inside. "Do you have maple syrup in here?" he asked, and I suddenly remembered that Nora's mom had sent a quart of maple syrup with me as a gift for the friend of Nora's we would be staying with in Prague. None of us, not Nora's mom, not my mom, not me, had realized that I wouldn't be able to bring that in a carry-on. I wondered if they would confiscate it, leaving Nora's friend gift-less, but the man just told me, "Next time, put that in your checked luggage" and let me take my backpack back.
Very relieved that I wasn't unwittingly carrying explosives or illegal drugs, I headed to my gate, where I found that my flight had been delayed. Even after everyone boarded, it still didn't take off for a while; I actually fell asleep while waiting. So began my trip to Europe.
They let my backpack out, and a man felt around inside. "Do you have maple syrup in here?" he asked, and I suddenly remembered that Nora's mom had sent a quart of maple syrup with me as a gift for the friend of Nora's we would be staying with in Prague. None of us, not Nora's mom, not my mom, not me, had realized that I wouldn't be able to bring that in a carry-on. I wondered if they would confiscate it, leaving Nora's friend gift-less, but the man just told me, "Next time, put that in your checked luggage" and let me take my backpack back.
Very relieved that I wasn't unwittingly carrying explosives or illegal drugs, I headed to my gate, where I found that my flight had been delayed. Even after everyone boarded, it still didn't take off for a while; I actually fell asleep while waiting. So began my trip to Europe.
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