I know its been a
while, but I have been extremely busy living up my last few weeks in
Germany. (as well as the fact that my
keyboard is all but broken. For example,
if I try to type normally, here’s what comes out- tetis stupd eedntettiixeno. (I hate this stupid keyboard, I need to get
it fixed now!) Any typos… you know why!
When I left off I was actually heading out of Germany to the
Czech Republic! We arrived in Prague at
about 6, checked into our hostel and then went to eat dinner. We ate at a traditional Czech Restaurant
where I tried the goulash! It was
delicious, and I would eat it a few more times during the two days I was in
Prague.
After eating, it was beginning to get dark, so we walked
around the beautiful old city at night to see some of the sights. We went to Charles Bridge, saw the castle at
night (from a distance) and then tuned around and headed to a British bar where
we watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. We decided to it until the US came in, so we
were there for a while. We cheered for
the Czech Republic (seeing as e were in that country), Germany and of course
the USA. We got back to our hostel
around 1:30 am, and called it a night.
The next morning e got up bright and early to see as much of Prague as we could. E wed a good hour (we weren’t going to pay
for a tram pass) and saw a war memorial
The dancing house
As well as some beautiful architecture and sights.
And then went to the city’s old fortress.
We stopped at a restaurant and order lemonade (so hot out)
which was basically different berries crushed up in a glass. After that, we
walked around the area, saw some statues, a church and a great view of the
city.
After walking around,
we waked back to the main city, ate lunch (I got pasta) and then went to the
Kafka museum. After that, we found an
English bookstore, and I purchased a few of Kafka’s books.
Then we took a walk…
To a park. A few of the people decided to climb a big hill,
but seeing as I had a headache beginning, I opted out and relaxed in the shade
with Becca and Tyler. Eventually, I fell asleep… don’t know how long I was out.
Then we walked back to the hostel for a little beak before
supper.
We went to a little place for supper that was showing the
Olympics. The food was good, but the
service was terrible. Maybe Dr. Spencer had a point when he said zech people
are rude… but then again, we were only there 2 days. I can’t really judge.
After waiting an hour for our check (after asking) we went
back to the hostel. That night, me and Elaina
met up with Ron and one of his friends and went to an absinth bar. This is the pace that does absinth correctly!
The waiter was really nice, and even made our drinks in
front of us!
We spent the night
talking and hanging out in Hemingway bar.
WE got back to the hostel around 2, showered, and went to
bed!
The next morning we slept in
a bit, then climbed up a hill to see the Prague castle. It was really expensive (300ish crown or 12
Euro) to go into the castle or cathedral, so we just looked from the outside.
The cathedral is St.
Vitines and is, I think, the largest gothic cathedral.
At noon, we watched the changing of the guard,
And then got some lunch.
I miss the goulash!
After lunch, Tyler and I went souvenir shopping, and then
went to a Czech pub to try out some Czech beer.
Very good. American beer is shit!
We then loaded the bus and traveled back home to Dresden. Prague was nice, but it as overly crowded
with tourists, very hot, and their currency is just weird! I’ll just stick with Germany for the rest of
this trip!
When we got back to Dresden, we got Döner and did our
homework and relaxed.
Monday was, as usual, class.
Afterwards we went shopping for groceries. I honestly don’t recall if I did anything
else on Monday…
Tuesday was 6 hours of classes and packing for our overnight
trip to Weimar.
We left for Weimar early Wednesday morning. We had an hour train ride to Leipzig, then
switched trains for another hour ride to Weimar.
We took a walk around the town, attempted to go into a few
churches that, for some reason or another was not open. We walked around a graveyard, where the famous
German writer Schiller is buried in a mass grave (an honor in that time).
We also saw a small archive that showed the town’s history
during the Nazi times. The Nazi party
would often rally in Weimar, and Hitler visited the city quite often.
We then walked and saw the town square… where the infamous
Elephant Hotel is- which is where Hitler would stay.
As well as the German national theater and Goethe’s and
Schiller’s birth house. Schiller and
Goethe is an example of bromance at its finest.
We then went to the Bauhaus museum and went back to the town
square to eat. Most of us got the
original bratwurst… a little bread with a whole lot of meat!
Then we went to the hostel, dropped our things off, and
continued our tour of the city.
We visited another graveyard, with a mausoleum that had
Goethe’s body. They also moved
Schiller’s body next to his buddy Goethe, but late found out that it’s not
actually Schiller (mass grave confusion).
We then went and walked around a park. We saw romanticism architecture (looking at
the past) with a roman type building and built ruins.
As well as a statue of Shakespeare.
There were plenty of nude sunbathers in this park (no pics
of that).
After that, we were turned loose, and a group of us went to
a crepe pace to eat dinner. My crepe
type thing as sour crème, cheese and bacon!
After dinner we went to an amazing ice cream place for dessert.
After that we attempted to let Elaina lead us to the
hostel. When we finally got back, the
other group was heading out to a bar and invited us to join. Few of us went. We went to a local bar (apparently only
locals go there) and hung out while dinking a few beers for a few hours. At about midnight, me and a few other girls
decided to call it a night and head back to the hostel. We talked for a while, then went to bed.
The next morning we ate breakfast, then went to the site of
a concentration camp right outside of Weimar, Buchenwald.
Most of the buildings were torn down, with just rubble and
stones commemorating what happened there.
I can’t even begin to describe what I felt walking through
this. It was overwhelming, and I’m just
going to leave it at that!
After the camp, we visited the memorial site. From here you
could see just how beautiful the countryside is where the camp was situated.
In the memorial you walked down with depictions of the camps
history.
At the bottom are three mass graves, with stones with the
names of the countries that had victims
killed in Buchenwald.
At the end, you climbed up a lot of stairs and saw a statue
of the inmate’s rebelling for their freedom…
As well as a giant bell tower.
After a gloomy morning, we went back into town to that
amazing ice cream place for lunch. I had
spaghetti… eis…
After lunch Sammi, Elaina, and I walked around a bit, then
relaxed in the park (fully clothed)!
After about an hour, we walked back to the train station to
go back to Dresden. Unfortunately, there
was a train accident earlier that day so our train was delayed. We were suppose
to get back around 8, instead it was around 11.
The next morning we had class, then in the afternoon a few
of us went to the Neumesiter art gallery. Afterwards we went to few shops for souvenirs and then back to the
dorm.
Later that night some of us went to a bar or two to watch
the olympics. We got to see Michael
Phelps win a gold metal, as well as drink a meter beer!
The next morning a group of us went to HEidefriedhof, a
graveyard. There were some memorials to
the Dresden bombing, as well as World War II in general.
On the ay back, we got Mr. Bien, then got ready for the
American football game!
It was the Dresden Monarchs vs. Berlin Adlers. Berlin kicked Dresden’s butt, but both teams
were bad. I understand why Germans stick
to soccer!
The game was fun, and it was interesting to hear American
cheers and old music!
That night, some of us went out to eat at a Schnitzel
Restauant (bad idea). As e walked to a
bar in Neustastadt, I started to feel sick.
I went back early (not alone, don’t worry) and spent all of Sunday in
bed with what I assume was food poisoning.
Monday was classes like usual. Then, in the afternoon, we had a tour of the
old Stazi prison. The tour was done in
German by a former mayor of Dresden.
This prison was just where poitical prisoners stayed until there trial.
Today was class, as usual.
Tomorrow we go on our final trip to Bautzen. I can’t believe I am don to my final 10 days
in Germany. The time is sure flying by!
