Post by jessus on Dec 12, 2008 0:12:19 GMT -5
Well I guess I've been back for a little while now (travelled Aug 28-Oct 31), but haven't gotten around to posting how things went! A lot of my itinerary was fixed up by G4E members, so I owe you guys a big thanks ;D
Anyway. I think I might do a couple installations of my comments!
BATH, ENGLAND -
St Christopher's hostel neglected to mention when I booked that they were tearing out the basement pub/reception area when I was staying there... so there were some hostel issues for sure. The second evening I had a moment of panic when I realized: oh crap, here I am alone, and I have 2 more months looming before me. But it was quickly solved when I heard an awesome band playing on the streets of a genre I can't even describe (I quickly bought a CD. Check them out - they're called Gadjo, and they're from Barcelona).
And.. oh yeah. I loved Bath. It helped that I was reading Jane Austen's Persuasion which is set in Bath in the late 18thC/early 19th C... and Bath pretty much looks the same today. Georgian fabulous.
LONDON, ENGLAND -
I did another St Christopher's Hostel despite my first bad experience, and had a fabulous "people experience" with friends I would meet up with later in my trip and some I still talk to now (and karaoke night was a blast!).
One day I went gaga over the Tower of London, and did a 3 hour walking tour followed by my own tour around.. um, yeah. I was there all day. (But I have always been obsessed with the Tower! I read every historical fic I can get about it!).
I was sad that the "Memories and Dreams" wing in the Tate Modern was closed when I was there... and I really only went there hoping to see some surrealism! (Which is of course on the "Memories and Dreams" wing). But ah well, can't really complain about a free museum!
I also did the Imperial War Museum, which was pretty much awesome. So many different mediums of displays. I loved the propaganda section and the "things from wartime". Also, it's in the old "Bedlam Asylum" building... the upper walkway where the uppercrust would walk to watch the "crazy people" below is still there.. very neat (oh, and I'm a mental health worker).
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - I Chunnel'd it over and just dropped in for an afternoon. I ate a Belgian waffle (I made a terrible mess), drank Belgian beer out of a skull mug at La Cerceuil (pitch black in there!), enjoyed some awesome street art/graffiti, and... oh yeah.. checked out Grand Place which apparently doesn't ALWAYS have a giant beer tent. (It was "Beer Fest", the bartender at La Cerceuil told me)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - Wandered the Red Light District wondering how the ladies could do it (and wished I had the bravery to pose in the "create your own red light window" photo booth thing), visited Anne Frank's house (and since I was reading Anne Frank's Diary at the time, it was very moving), did the Van Gogh Museum... and did a "cannabis tour" (like a wine tour... but.. um.. yeah) with a couple I had met in London.
THE GREAT TRAIN DAY - Then I spent 12 hours in several trains because I was trying to get way into the deep north of Germany (to visit family), but my first train was late... and then by the time I got back into the groove, I couldn't make it there that night. Could have stayed in Hamburg, but decided to press on to my next planned destination...
BERLIN, GERMANY -
Had my first "big wow" city experience. I could entirely live in Berlin, I love it.
I did the New Berlin free tour, which was amazing and really got me seeing all of the sites. Since I had knocked off all the sites I "needed" to see that first morning/early afternoon, I just spent the rest of the time.. being in Berlin.
That also consisted of a New Berlin pub crawl, where I met a group of awesome Aussies (not traveling together, they just seemed to... stick together because they were all Australians. Oh, and me, the sole Canadian of the group.).
The public transportation in the city is so nice!
I wouldn't stay in Generator Hostel again though... too formal and hotel like. I prefer cozy and friendly!
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC -
Ah.. Hostel Elf was the cozy perfect hostel I had been missing. Comfy beds too!
The first night I went to the massive CouchSurfing meetup (over 150 CSers!), had traditional Czech food with people from all over the world, and danced like a maniac in a pub with stone walls, a hanging cage (some of the braver members climbed up to dance in it), and a "spider pit" (only metal spiders, of course).
I found Prague the most foreign of anywhere I had yet been (or, actually, anywhere I would go in Europe). Possibly because I didn't speak a word of Czech (until I learned a few necessities!), and the money took getting used to!
It was also ridiculously cold when I was there, and I found myself wearing every layer I had (and this was still only mid-September!).... but oddly, it seemed that Prague is appropriate in the cold. It almost glitters.
Letdowns: the "Ghosts and Beer" walking tour was kind of weak... and the statue of St John of Nepomunk of the Charles Bridge (which you are supposed to rub the toe of for one wish) -was blocked by renovations!
Surprise awesomeness: The Toy and Barbie Museum (which is in the palace grounds!) - I loved the vintage tin toys, huge collection of Barbies (including the first 3! And... well, I do collect specialty Barbies), and I had a special interest in seeing the racist/prejudice toys... (terrible, I know, but I can't believe that's how people thought!)
And.. I think I'll leave it there for now. To be continued!
Anyway. I think I might do a couple installations of my comments!
BATH, ENGLAND -
St Christopher's hostel neglected to mention when I booked that they were tearing out the basement pub/reception area when I was staying there... so there were some hostel issues for sure. The second evening I had a moment of panic when I realized: oh crap, here I am alone, and I have 2 more months looming before me. But it was quickly solved when I heard an awesome band playing on the streets of a genre I can't even describe (I quickly bought a CD. Check them out - they're called Gadjo, and they're from Barcelona).
And.. oh yeah. I loved Bath. It helped that I was reading Jane Austen's Persuasion which is set in Bath in the late 18thC/early 19th C... and Bath pretty much looks the same today. Georgian fabulous.
LONDON, ENGLAND -
I did another St Christopher's Hostel despite my first bad experience, and had a fabulous "people experience" with friends I would meet up with later in my trip and some I still talk to now (and karaoke night was a blast!).
One day I went gaga over the Tower of London, and did a 3 hour walking tour followed by my own tour around.. um, yeah. I was there all day. (But I have always been obsessed with the Tower! I read every historical fic I can get about it!).
I was sad that the "Memories and Dreams" wing in the Tate Modern was closed when I was there... and I really only went there hoping to see some surrealism! (Which is of course on the "Memories and Dreams" wing). But ah well, can't really complain about a free museum!
I also did the Imperial War Museum, which was pretty much awesome. So many different mediums of displays. I loved the propaganda section and the "things from wartime". Also, it's in the old "Bedlam Asylum" building... the upper walkway where the uppercrust would walk to watch the "crazy people" below is still there.. very neat (oh, and I'm a mental health worker).
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - I Chunnel'd it over and just dropped in for an afternoon. I ate a Belgian waffle (I made a terrible mess), drank Belgian beer out of a skull mug at La Cerceuil (pitch black in there!), enjoyed some awesome street art/graffiti, and... oh yeah.. checked out Grand Place which apparently doesn't ALWAYS have a giant beer tent. (It was "Beer Fest", the bartender at La Cerceuil told me)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - Wandered the Red Light District wondering how the ladies could do it (and wished I had the bravery to pose in the "create your own red light window" photo booth thing), visited Anne Frank's house (and since I was reading Anne Frank's Diary at the time, it was very moving), did the Van Gogh Museum... and did a "cannabis tour" (like a wine tour... but.. um.. yeah) with a couple I had met in London.
THE GREAT TRAIN DAY - Then I spent 12 hours in several trains because I was trying to get way into the deep north of Germany (to visit family), but my first train was late... and then by the time I got back into the groove, I couldn't make it there that night. Could have stayed in Hamburg, but decided to press on to my next planned destination...
BERLIN, GERMANY -
Had my first "big wow" city experience. I could entirely live in Berlin, I love it.
I did the New Berlin free tour, which was amazing and really got me seeing all of the sites. Since I had knocked off all the sites I "needed" to see that first morning/early afternoon, I just spent the rest of the time.. being in Berlin.
That also consisted of a New Berlin pub crawl, where I met a group of awesome Aussies (not traveling together, they just seemed to... stick together because they were all Australians. Oh, and me, the sole Canadian of the group.).
The public transportation in the city is so nice!
I wouldn't stay in Generator Hostel again though... too formal and hotel like. I prefer cozy and friendly!
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC -
Ah.. Hostel Elf was the cozy perfect hostel I had been missing. Comfy beds too!
The first night I went to the massive CouchSurfing meetup (over 150 CSers!), had traditional Czech food with people from all over the world, and danced like a maniac in a pub with stone walls, a hanging cage (some of the braver members climbed up to dance in it), and a "spider pit" (only metal spiders, of course).
I found Prague the most foreign of anywhere I had yet been (or, actually, anywhere I would go in Europe). Possibly because I didn't speak a word of Czech (until I learned a few necessities!), and the money took getting used to!
It was also ridiculously cold when I was there, and I found myself wearing every layer I had (and this was still only mid-September!).... but oddly, it seemed that Prague is appropriate in the cold. It almost glitters.
Letdowns: the "Ghosts and Beer" walking tour was kind of weak... and the statue of St John of Nepomunk of the Charles Bridge (which you are supposed to rub the toe of for one wish) -was blocked by renovations!
Surprise awesomeness: The Toy and Barbie Museum (which is in the palace grounds!) - I loved the vintage tin toys, huge collection of Barbies (including the first 3! And... well, I do collect specialty Barbies), and I had a special interest in seeing the racist/prejudice toys... (terrible, I know, but I can't believe that's how people thought!)
And.. I think I'll leave it there for now. To be continued!
) 
