(Tue, Nov 18 - Mon, Nov 24)
continued from: Out of my element in Deutchland, part 1

Berlin

My first impressions

On Friday morning we boarded a very fancy train to Berlin.  At 4 hours, it was a fairly quick trip, but quite an expensive one — the effect of a lack of planning and traveling day-by-day.  The good news though, was that the train was nice enough to drop us off at the main station (Hauptbahnhof) which was in the center of the city.  Unfortunately Koln’s train did not take on the same role.

After only one day I had already fallen in love with the city.  The people, the beer, the culture, the history.  Berlin has it all. Read the rest of this entry »

(Tue, Nov 18 - Mon, Nov 24)

Köln

Me to lady leading the group: Where are we?
Her: ::shrug::
Me: Uh, where’s the metro?
Her: ::shrug::
Me: WTF! (unfortunately only in my head)

Getting our bearings

WEDNESDAY — We stepped off the bus into what literally felt like another world. I finally felt out of my element. Partly because we were dropped off on the side of the road, probably for convenience to get back on the highway, and partly because the first few people we approached for directions spoke not an ounce of English. Not to worry though, this is what traveling is about.

We took a few minutes to get our bearings. I remember making a mental note of a huge cathedral only a few miles from our bus route. I assumed this to be Kölner Dom, or Cologne Cathedral for us Americans. OK, great.. a starting point!  After spitting out several “sprenken sie deutch?” lines I got one to bite!  She was an extremely friendly (and tall) woman on a bike.  She pointed us in the direction of the metro and we continued walking around this unexplored territory.  METRO! Turns out it was only 10 minutes from the bus stop.  It’s funny though, until you can see the forest from the trees the forest seems unmanageable and neverending.  We grabbed the next train and headed for the city center, Köln Hauptbahnhof (Hpf).  (Hpf denotes the city centers in Germany.)

Dunkel weißen (e.g. dark wheat beer).  One of my favs!

Read the rest of this entry »

First meal in Budapest… pasteries!

I set off for my second European excursion in 3 years.  The last trip was a 3 week backpacking trip through 5 countries.  Need I say — rushed?  Well I’m entering this trip with the mindset of a slower pace.  In addition to the extra sleep I hope to gain, the real benefit is to soak up more of the cultures in the countries I am visiting.

I took off from San Diego with the destination of Praha (Prague, Czech Republic).  Of course there are no direct flights to Praha.  I wouldn’t expect that.  I can’t even get a direct flight to DC!  So I bounced around from San Diego to DC (huh.. actually I guess I can.. but only when I’m still en route I guess).  Then DC to Vienna, then Vienna to Praha.  I have no problem with lay overs, but I do have a problem with the airports.  I mean can I actually count Austria as a city I traveled to?  Sure I was in the airport, but I didn’t get a feel for the city.  I wish airports were fitted more to the culture of that city.  I mean I know everyone is in a rush, but for those with layovers over 4 hours there should be more than just shitty airport food.  I digress… Read the rest of this entry »