Well, it's was a long and excellent journey, but we've been home in the USA for about a month now. Our last few days in Germany were spent visiting our favorite places in Leipzig and also spending two days in Berlin. We stayed in a hostel not far from the airport and were able to see all of the standard sights--Brandenburg Gate, Under den Linden, the Reichstag, the TV tower, the Halocaust Memorial, the Opera House, the Berlin Wall/Checkpoint Charlie, and Charlottenburg. The contrast of new and old was especially interesting in Berlin. The city has been through a lot in recent decades. It was, as usual, a very busy two days, and we were successful in using nearly all of our Euros to avoid bringing home piles of change.
Our final journey of the trip started with an S-Bahn trip, a bus trip, and a very early morning at Tegel airport in Berlin. I was successful in locating the earplugs I need to fly and a Starbucks. The airport is not very well labeled and it took ages to successfully locate our gate. Security was a breeze, though, and we had plenty of time. Our first flight was to Warsaw, Poland. There was a delay, but we were promised that we would still be able to make it to our connection to Chicago. We made it to Warsaw and I was able to buy a few magazines in English to read on the flight to Chicago. All of my books were read and the Kindle couldn't download any more, so I decided it was worth it to pay the ridiculous price for some familiar reading material.
The airport in Warsaw was lovely, but Polish Airlines (LOT) was a little disorganized. There was some confusion during boarding and some odd moments when a passenger tried to convice me I should switch seats and sit alone for a 10 hour flight. In case you didn't know, flying is not one of my favorite activities, and sitting alone doesn't make it any better. We worked out the seating arrangement and were on our way. The plane left Warsaw at 12:30 pm and was set to land at 3:30 pm in Chicago. There were some kids near us that were entertaining at first, but quickly turned annoying when all of the other 10 year old boys on the plane came over with their Pokemon cards and played some intense Pokemon in the aisle of the plane. Then, they started to play hide and seek, which, in all honesty, is a pretty terrible plane game. Their antics made an already long flight seem longer. However, there were adorable and well-behaved children as well, so it evened out a little bit around Canada. :) It turns out that I don't particularly care for LOT's food either, so I was very happy to finally be approaching Chicago, where I knew Giordanno's was waiting for me.
When we finally landed, it was 3:30 pm, but it felt like 10:30 pm to us. Since we'd been on the train en route to Tegel at 6:00 am, it had been a long, long day. Customs went smoothly enough, but there was definitely a line and a long wait for our baggage. We were greeted with a thunderstorm, two completely dead cell phones, and humidity. Bryan used his first pay phone since 1998 and Rob and Judi were on their way with Diet Cokes and cookies for all! We had plans to meet Bryan's brother and his fiancee for dinner, but had enough time for real showers (the hostel showers didn't count) and for a bit of mail sorting (I may or may not have done a significant amount of online shopping and had it sent to Bryan's house) before we headed out to Giodanno's. Real deep dish pizza was the best choice for our first American meal in two months! It also felt a little like Christmas since we had so many presents to give out.
The next day, it was back to reality. We stopped in Rochelle for lunch with my parents and then I was back to the QCA to get ready to head back to work and move. It was certainly a whirwind few days. I was very tired and a little out of it, but I didn't really have any time to think about it.
Since then, I have caught on up mail, started teaching, attended a bachelorette party, moved, unpacked, booked a wedding date/location, and taken a trip back to the burbs for Labor Day. I start graduate school classes this week and then will be maid of honor in a wedding this weekend. I'm also running a 5k, attending another wedding, and adjusting to living completely alone. It's been ridiculous to say the least. Bryan is back to classes full time, looking for/applying to jobs, and watching the real estate ads for Quad Cities mansions.
It's strange to be back, but I am adjusting. I have decided to cancel my cable and am also enjoying a lot more "unplugged" time as a result of our trip. We've also started brainstorming where our next big adventure might take us. For now, it will be the QCA and the Chicago suburbs, but hopefully somewhere more exotic is in our future too. This will be the last post, but stay tuned for future adventures! Thank you for reading; we were glad to be able to share our trip with you!
Showing posts with label Transportation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Transportation. Show all posts
Monday, September 5, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Prague
Hey all! Our time in Leipzig is almost over, but we still have a few adventures planned. On Friday we headed out of Germany for the Czech Republic. Bryan has been to Prague before, but hadn't spent much time there, so we both knew there would be plenty for us to see and do.
We took the train to Dresden, Germany and then had bus tickets to Prague. During our layover, we ate at a "Californian" restaurant. Their specialty was burgers. As most of you know, neither Bryan or I eat burgers (though for different reasons,) so we passed on the specialties but still had a good dinner. It was nice to recognize all of the items on a menu for once. :) The bus part of our trip was not exactly desirable. Our bus was late on Friday night and this was an outdoor bus stop, which meant that there was no information about where the bus was or why it was late. Thankfully, the bus showed up about an hour late and we were on our way.
Our bus traveled on the Autobahn for awhile, which was pretty cool, but then we ventured on to side roads in the Czech Republic to avoid tolls (Probably. Not for sure for the reason). The trip was terrifying; there were a lot of hairpin turns, traffic circles, and the strange feeling that we were in the middle of nowhere. We finally made it to Prague and were able to catch the last tram to our hostel. Bryan and I have gotten really good at figuring out public transportation in strange cities late at night. We'd like to think it's a handy skill to have mastered. Our hostel was a nice enough place for a base for our weekend adventures; it provided coffee and breakfast in the morning and was clean enough. Here's the view from our window:
Saturday morning started early as we headed towards the city center to meet with one of Bryan's friends from his previous study abroad experiences. If it seems like there is always a foreign friend from a previous study abroad, it's because there is. These people have made our trips so much better!
The next 12 hours were spent seeing the sights, getting sunburnt, and walking 11,830,334 miles (Feels that way anyway! My shoes are worn out!) We spent time in churches, traditional pubs, and hole in the wall restaurants (including one with the best fajitas I have ever had.) We saw a castle, a beautiful river, crafts from vendors on a bridge, lovely architecture, and 498,345,345 tourists. I have never seen so many tourists in one place (well, Paris probably had more, but Prague is much smaller so everyone is crammed together.) By the end of the day, we were worn out!
On Sunday, we had about 6 hours of sightseeing time before we had to head back to the bus station. We ventured up (via a furnicular!) to a park that contains a replica of the Eiffel Tower (1/5 of the size, though) and also bought more presents to bring back home. We also wandered around the Jewish Quarter of the city, had lunch in an adorable underground pub, stumbled upon the Czech Senate and its gardens, and did some major people watching on one of the main squares. Sunday was a much more relaxed day than Saturday!
Here are some photos:
The Astronomical Clock:
The city's skyline and architecture and the Charles Bridge:
The St. Vitus Cathedral (next to the Prague castle):
Petrin Hill (the park where the "Eiffel Tower" is):
The Jewish Quarter:
We were determined to not bring any Czech money back with us, so we spent every last cent! Our money went much further in Prague than in Paris and there were some really neat jewelry pieces, photos, and Christmas decorations. I'm not sure how we will be getting all of the great things we've picked up back to the US, but I know that I definitely have some shoes to throw away. :) Also, the drinks were much, much cheaper in Prague than in the US, Germany, or anywhere else we've been.
It was worth the terrible bus trips (Coming back we stopped in some random Czech Republic town because of mechanical problems, which resulted in our bus driving away while our driver was on the sidewalk. No, we didn't go back to get him. No, I don't understand either.) to spend the weekend in Prague. Prague is a beautiful city and it was interesting to spend some time in Eastern Europe. There are definitely differences there than from Germany. It is apparent how much money the eastern part of Germany received after reunification and it was strange to return to Leipzig and think that it was a modern city. I've gotten kind of attached to Leipzig, I suppose. :)
Some final photos for you all:
We took the train to Dresden, Germany and then had bus tickets to Prague. During our layover, we ate at a "Californian" restaurant. Their specialty was burgers. As most of you know, neither Bryan or I eat burgers (though for different reasons,) so we passed on the specialties but still had a good dinner. It was nice to recognize all of the items on a menu for once. :) The bus part of our trip was not exactly desirable. Our bus was late on Friday night and this was an outdoor bus stop, which meant that there was no information about where the bus was or why it was late. Thankfully, the bus showed up about an hour late and we were on our way.
Our bus traveled on the Autobahn for awhile, which was pretty cool, but then we ventured on to side roads in the Czech Republic to avoid tolls (Probably. Not for sure for the reason). The trip was terrifying; there were a lot of hairpin turns, traffic circles, and the strange feeling that we were in the middle of nowhere. We finally made it to Prague and were able to catch the last tram to our hostel. Bryan and I have gotten really good at figuring out public transportation in strange cities late at night. We'd like to think it's a handy skill to have mastered. Our hostel was a nice enough place for a base for our weekend adventures; it provided coffee and breakfast in the morning and was clean enough. Here's the view from our window:
Saturday morning started early as we headed towards the city center to meet with one of Bryan's friends from his previous study abroad experiences. If it seems like there is always a foreign friend from a previous study abroad, it's because there is. These people have made our trips so much better!
The next 12 hours were spent seeing the sights, getting sunburnt, and walking 11,830,334 miles (Feels that way anyway! My shoes are worn out!) We spent time in churches, traditional pubs, and hole in the wall restaurants (including one with the best fajitas I have ever had.) We saw a castle, a beautiful river, crafts from vendors on a bridge, lovely architecture, and 498,345,345 tourists. I have never seen so many tourists in one place (well, Paris probably had more, but Prague is much smaller so everyone is crammed together.) By the end of the day, we were worn out!
On Sunday, we had about 6 hours of sightseeing time before we had to head back to the bus station. We ventured up (via a furnicular!) to a park that contains a replica of the Eiffel Tower (1/5 of the size, though) and also bought more presents to bring back home. We also wandered around the Jewish Quarter of the city, had lunch in an adorable underground pub, stumbled upon the Czech Senate and its gardens, and did some major people watching on one of the main squares. Sunday was a much more relaxed day than Saturday!
Here are some photos:
The Astronomical Clock:
The city's skyline and architecture and the Charles Bridge:
The St. Vitus Cathedral (next to the Prague castle):
Petrin Hill (the park where the "Eiffel Tower" is):
The Jewish Quarter:
We were determined to not bring any Czech money back with us, so we spent every last cent! Our money went much further in Prague than in Paris and there were some really neat jewelry pieces, photos, and Christmas decorations. I'm not sure how we will be getting all of the great things we've picked up back to the US, but I know that I definitely have some shoes to throw away. :) Also, the drinks were much, much cheaper in Prague than in the US, Germany, or anywhere else we've been.
It was worth the terrible bus trips (Coming back we stopped in some random Czech Republic town because of mechanical problems, which resulted in our bus driving away while our driver was on the sidewalk. No, we didn't go back to get him. No, I don't understand either.) to spend the weekend in Prague. Prague is a beautiful city and it was interesting to spend some time in Eastern Europe. There are definitely differences there than from Germany. It is apparent how much money the eastern part of Germany received after reunification and it was strange to return to Leipzig and think that it was a modern city. I've gotten kind of attached to Leipzig, I suppose. :)
Some final photos for you all:
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Getting Around Town (Daily Living Part III)
Getting around town is a bit different here than at home (though it's fairly similar to any major city in the US). Where I currently live in the US, cars are definitely the main way of getting around, though there are buses. Some people walk or bike as well, but to conduct daily business, most people drive. I understand that this might not be the case in bigger cities, but I think you'll understand.
Here in Leipzig, the main way that Bryan and I get around is by foot. I have never walked so much on a day to day basis (it's the secret to being able to eat so very many pastries). The walkers here, though, do not generally wear tennis shoes like we'd wear to the gym or flip flops. Sandals, dress shoes, flats, or tennis shoes in the style of Keds or Pumas are what walkers wear (myself included). It's generally pretty easy to get around by walking here.
For longer trips, biking is a popular choice. Many people commute by bike and there are bike racks, bike lanes, and special traffic signals for bikes everywhere. It is common to see people getting groceries or running other errands by bike as well. Pedestrians have to keep a watchful eye out, though, because bikers are sometimes allowed on the sidewalks and bikers here tend to weave in and out of pedestrian traffic. Sometimes a little dinging bell noise behind you can mean danger is about to strike! You can also rent bikes from several agencies here.
Here in Leipzig, the main way that Bryan and I get around is by foot. I have never walked so much on a day to day basis (it's the secret to being able to eat so very many pastries). The walkers here, though, do not generally wear tennis shoes like we'd wear to the gym or flip flops. Sandals, dress shoes, flats, or tennis shoes in the style of Keds or Pumas are what walkers wear (myself included). It's generally pretty easy to get around by walking here.
For longer trips, biking is a popular choice. Many people commute by bike and there are bike racks, bike lanes, and special traffic signals for bikes everywhere. It is common to see people getting groceries or running other errands by bike as well. Pedestrians have to keep a watchful eye out, though, because bikers are sometimes allowed on the sidewalks and bikers here tend to weave in and out of pedestrian traffic. Sometimes a little dinging bell noise behind you can mean danger is about to strike! You can also rent bikes from several agencies here.
If the weather is bad or you need to go a long distance, there are buses and trams (streetcars or Straβenbahn) as well. For 2 Euros, you can make a one-way trip. I do believe that the tickets are good for an hour, plus there are day, week, and month tickets too. The tram system is awesome! There are trams very frequently and the tram cars are very clean. It is a bit tricky because sometimes you need to validate (time stamp) your ticket and other times you don't need to, but it is definitely a convenient service. Leipzig is currently constructing it's first underground train line, but it is not finished yet. The street level trams are more convenient for passengers, I think, because there are no steps or long walkways to reach the tram (like there is for an underground system or for a system like the L). Also, there is no stigma to using public transportation here like there sometimes is in the US.
There are definitely cars here, but most people do not use them for day to day travels around the city. The cars that do exist here are smaller than at home. My Honda Civic is average to large in terms of size and Bryan's Honda Fit is about the normal size. There are a lot of tiny cars here and very few SUVs (gas is more expensive). Parking here seems to be a partial free for all. Sometimes people double park on the street or park on the sidewalks. We've only seen three cars get parking tickets before tonight, though, when we saw a parking officer giving some more tickets.
The train system here can also be a little overwhelming. There's a commuter line, regional lines, Intercity Express lines, and several others that all leave from the same station. The station in Leipzig has 26 tracks (it's also the largest train terminal in Europe) and also contains a shopping mall. We've been in this station every weekend since we've arrived here and it truly has made all of our day trips possible. The trains are clean and usually very punctual.
Hopefully this helped explain how we've been getting around town here!
There are definitely cars here, but most people do not use them for day to day travels around the city. The cars that do exist here are smaller than at home. My Honda Civic is average to large in terms of size and Bryan's Honda Fit is about the normal size. There are a lot of tiny cars here and very few SUVs (gas is more expensive). Parking here seems to be a partial free for all. Sometimes people double park on the street or park on the sidewalks. We've only seen three cars get parking tickets before tonight, though, when we saw a parking officer giving some more tickets.
The train system here can also be a little overwhelming. There's a commuter line, regional lines, Intercity Express lines, and several others that all leave from the same station. The station in Leipzig has 26 tracks (it's also the largest train terminal in Europe) and also contains a shopping mall. We've been in this station every weekend since we've arrived here and it truly has made all of our day trips possible. The trains are clean and usually very punctual.
Hopefully this helped explain how we've been getting around town here!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Touring the City
Hi All! This week we were fortunate enough to be able to tour some more of the city. Bryan's department was hosting a conference this week about the Straßenbahn (street car system) and how to plan a city around that type of transportation. Bryan's boss let us both come to one of the evening events: a tour of the city on a private Straßenbahn car. It was very generous of him and very cool! We got to ride around on an adorable tram (it was specially decorated) and go across the city while Bryan's boss explained what we saw.
We spent a lot of time in Grünau, which is a part of the city that contains a lot of old Soviet housing. It has a reputation for being a not so good part of town, but it's not as bad as it's reputation suggests. As Bryan says, "it's just that everyone is old." There are a lot of grocery stores and open areas, so it is actually convenient for older citizens to live there, but the city is concerned about getting more young people and families to move in.
However, when it is cloudy and gloomy, it can look pretty depressing:
We've noticed that the weather here can change in a matter of minutes. As we write this, it is both sunny and thundering outside. There have been two heavy rain showers today (and some hail), but the sun has been out inbetween. On Wednesday, one of our roommates invited us to a cookout, but we had to cancel because of a storm. This is what it looked like outside our window:
But within about an hour, it looked like this:
As for the rest of the week, we visited Leipzig's Weinfest in the main square. We sampled some wines and also listened to a jazz band. It was nice to recognize the words to some of the songs; several of their songs were in English. The band had some awesome hats with sunflowers on them and one of the members decided to perform a solo while standing on a table:
It was a pretty awesome festival. We were slightly younger than the target audience, I think, but we fit in pretty well.
One of our roommates is moving this week and had a going away party to celebrate. His party was on the first day of summer, and he cut down a tree so that he could dance around the Maibaum (May tree or May pole). It was highly amusing!
This week Bryan and I also found an "English" store. They sell a lot of tea and also some packaged food from England. The best part is that they have a lending library of books in English. I joined right away (it was 5 Euros) and have already read three books. When you are finished reading a book, you just exchange it. I am determined to make friends with the shopkeeper by the end of the summer!
Have a good weekend, everyone. We'll leave you with some random pretty photos from the week:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)