Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Finishing Prague, then Dresden, now Berlin!
Yesterday we woke up pretty early, had some quick breakfast, and then took the coach into Prague. I had been looking forward to this stop ever since my cousin Irina visited and showed me her pictures. The wait was well worth it!
We were dropped off on the castle side of the river and crossed into central Prague. From there, we walked along the river to the remarkable Charles Bridge. This is a very ornate stone bridge with beautiful, detailed statues on both sides running up and down the bridge. Turning from the bridge we headed into the heart of Old Town and to the famed Astronomical Clock.
At this point Erika and I joined Rich and Anna-Michelle, two of our fellow campers, for a free walking tour with Tijo, our guide with New Europe. I can't recommend this tour highly enough! We went all around the Old Town, walked into the New Town, saw the Jewish District, and then finished at the Charles Bridge. After the 3 hour walking tour, we climbed up to the Prague Castle on the other side of the river.
On the way up we ran into a bunch of other Contiki folks and we all huffed and puffed our way up the mountain together. At the top we got some great views of Prague and also saw Europe's largest castle.
Afterwards, we went back down to ground level and people-watched at a park before going back to the river and jumping on a paddle boat with Rich and Anna-Michelle. It's one of those things that looks really fun but 5 minutes in you're exhausted and wondering what compelled you to rent it for an hour! Still, we had a great time and also physically ran into Anthony and Tania's boat (two other great fellow campers) on the river.
After the paddling Erika and I had a quick dinner at a local cafe and then headed back to the coach to change for the Prague Pub Crawl. We hit 4 different bars and then ended up at Central Europe's largest nightclub... but by the last stop our numbers were dwindling and our energy was in even lower supply. We took a taxi back at the end of the night and quickly fell asleep in our tents.
We woke this morning far too early (subjective) to pack up our belongings and tents and then eat breakfast. We then took down the rest of our campsite and the cook tent, loaded our supplies into the coach (much easier typed than done) and then made our way to Berlin, via a stop in Dresden for lunch.
My grandmother told me that Dresden was her favorite city in Europe and I can see why. Thought it was nearly completely destroyed by firebombing in World War II (why was it bombed so late in the war?!) the city has recovered remarkably and is a very interesting blend of new and old architecture. We only had a few hours in Dresden but the sights were excellent and our meal was also delicious!
At about 2:30 we got back on the coach and drove up to Berlin, getting in late in the afternoon. We headed right to East Side Wall gallery - a section of the Berlin Wall which was been given over to public artists. We walked up and down the wall section and then finally got back in the bus to head to our hostel. We'll definitely miss our tents... and the hostel is very hot... and it has very limited laundry facilities... and I am completely out of clothing. (Seriously, half of our group members were wearing the free shirts that we got at the pub crawl last night!) Maybe I miss the tent?
Tomorrow we have a full day in Berlin and then Sunday we're off to Amsterdam, our last spot.
Unfortunately the wifi is too spotty for photos but we'll certainly be putting them up on Facebook when we get a chance.
Cheers!
-Simon & Erika
We were dropped off on the castle side of the river and crossed into central Prague. From there, we walked along the river to the remarkable Charles Bridge. This is a very ornate stone bridge with beautiful, detailed statues on both sides running up and down the bridge. Turning from the bridge we headed into the heart of Old Town and to the famed Astronomical Clock.
At this point Erika and I joined Rich and Anna-Michelle, two of our fellow campers, for a free walking tour with Tijo, our guide with New Europe. I can't recommend this tour highly enough! We went all around the Old Town, walked into the New Town, saw the Jewish District, and then finished at the Charles Bridge. After the 3 hour walking tour, we climbed up to the Prague Castle on the other side of the river.
On the way up we ran into a bunch of other Contiki folks and we all huffed and puffed our way up the mountain together. At the top we got some great views of Prague and also saw Europe's largest castle.
Afterwards, we went back down to ground level and people-watched at a park before going back to the river and jumping on a paddle boat with Rich and Anna-Michelle. It's one of those things that looks really fun but 5 minutes in you're exhausted and wondering what compelled you to rent it for an hour! Still, we had a great time and also physically ran into Anthony and Tania's boat (two other great fellow campers) on the river.
After the paddling Erika and I had a quick dinner at a local cafe and then headed back to the coach to change for the Prague Pub Crawl. We hit 4 different bars and then ended up at Central Europe's largest nightclub... but by the last stop our numbers were dwindling and our energy was in even lower supply. We took a taxi back at the end of the night and quickly fell asleep in our tents.
We woke this morning far too early (subjective) to pack up our belongings and tents and then eat breakfast. We then took down the rest of our campsite and the cook tent, loaded our supplies into the coach (much easier typed than done) and then made our way to Berlin, via a stop in Dresden for lunch.
My grandmother told me that Dresden was her favorite city in Europe and I can see why. Thought it was nearly completely destroyed by firebombing in World War II (why was it bombed so late in the war?!) the city has recovered remarkably and is a very interesting blend of new and old architecture. We only had a few hours in Dresden but the sights were excellent and our meal was also delicious!
At about 2:30 we got back on the coach and drove up to Berlin, getting in late in the afternoon. We headed right to East Side Wall gallery - a section of the Berlin Wall which was been given over to public artists. We walked up and down the wall section and then finally got back in the bus to head to our hostel. We'll definitely miss our tents... and the hostel is very hot... and it has very limited laundry facilities... and I am completely out of clothing. (Seriously, half of our group members were wearing the free shirts that we got at the pub crawl last night!) Maybe I miss the tent?
Tomorrow we have a full day in Berlin and then Sunday we're off to Amsterdam, our last spot.
Unfortunately the wifi is too spotty for photos but we'll certainly be putting them up on Facebook when we get a chance.
Cheers!
-Simon & Erika
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Prague night 1
We got up early to visit the Dachau Concentration Camp and then drove all day to Prague. When we got here we set up camp, had some dinner, and are now watching the Spain-Portugal game.
Tomorrow we're heading into the city - the Old Town, Castle District, Jewish Quarter and more. Then, after dinner, we're having a pub crawl in the center city, which should be a blast.
We'll catch up with you all soon!
-Simon & Erika.
Tomorrow we're heading into the city - the Old Town, Castle District, Jewish Quarter and more. Then, after dinner, we're having a pub crawl in the center city, which should be a blast.
We'll catch up with you all soon!
-Simon & Erika.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Venice day 2!
After a really fun (and very late) night yesterday we woke up very early this morning but, somehow, the Venetian Sun refreshed us all and we were mostly up and energetic by 7:30AM breakfast. After eating and washing dishes we walked to the Fusina - the ferry service to Venice. We took the ferry over and were in Venice by 8:45.
Soon we did a walking tour with Sabina, our local guide from France (though she's lived in Venice for 30 years with her husband, a Venetian.) We saw all of the great sights - San Marco Square and Cathedral, the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, and many of the famed canals and side alleys of Venice!
After the tour, Erika and I split off from the group to enjoy a day of getting lost and finding our own way around Venice. We walked in the direction of the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal while searching for some gifts for friends and family (successful!) After that we crossed the big bridge and found a small Italian restaurant right on the canal. We took the closest seats to the water and enjoyed an absolutely delicious lunch - pesto pasta for me (amazing) and a ridiculously good ravioli plate for Erika.
We saw some of our friends after lunch and then continued walking in the markets around the Rialto Bridge. Around 2pm we headed back to San Marco Square to go inside the San Marco Cathedral. After wandering around some more and getting some great photos and atmosphere, we ascended the large tower in San Marco Square and got some great views of the island city from above - a really cool perspective!
After getting back down, we walked slowly to the ferry terminal on the far peninsula while taking in the last bits of Venice scenery before we headed back to our campsite. Now we're relaxing before dinner and then we have a big beach-themed party tonight with some of the other Contiki groups.
Catch you soon! Photos below:
The tower in San Marco Square.
The Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal.
View of the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge.
San Marco Square.
A gorgeous canal in the middle of Venice.
-Simon & Erika
Soon we did a walking tour with Sabina, our local guide from France (though she's lived in Venice for 30 years with her husband, a Venetian.) We saw all of the great sights - San Marco Square and Cathedral, the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, and many of the famed canals and side alleys of Venice!
After the tour, Erika and I split off from the group to enjoy a day of getting lost and finding our own way around Venice. We walked in the direction of the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal while searching for some gifts for friends and family (successful!) After that we crossed the big bridge and found a small Italian restaurant right on the canal. We took the closest seats to the water and enjoyed an absolutely delicious lunch - pesto pasta for me (amazing) and a ridiculously good ravioli plate for Erika.
We saw some of our friends after lunch and then continued walking in the markets around the Rialto Bridge. Around 2pm we headed back to San Marco Square to go inside the San Marco Cathedral. After wandering around some more and getting some great photos and atmosphere, we ascended the large tower in San Marco Square and got some great views of the island city from above - a really cool perspective!
After getting back down, we walked slowly to the ferry terminal on the far peninsula while taking in the last bits of Venice scenery before we headed back to our campsite. Now we're relaxing before dinner and then we have a big beach-themed party tonight with some of the other Contiki groups.
Catch you soon! Photos below:
The tower in San Marco Square.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Venice!
Left Rome fairly early this morning and took the bus to our campsite just outside of Venice.
We've set up camp and are now getting ready for dinner - then we're watching the Spain-France game.
Tomorrow we're heading in for a full day in Venice!
We've set up camp and are now getting ready for dinner - then we're watching the Spain-France game.
Tomorrow we're heading in for a full day in Venice!
Friday, June 22, 2012
Roma day 2
Surprisingly fun day in Rome today! We woke up at a decent time and then headed in to the Vatican for a big tour. The site is absolutely beautiful but this was my first time traveling with a good guided tour so both Erika and I learned quite a lot, while also appreciating the remarkable sights of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.
After the Vatican we aimed to head in and visit the Colosseum. When we arrived, however, we felt the brunt of a vicious comprehensive National Strike. First, the intra-city metro was closed as the workers were striking so we had to take taxis everywhere. Then, we when got to the Colosseum we found that it was closed... for the first time in thousands of days. We walked around the outside but were upset that we weren't able to get in.
Still, we tried to make the best out of a tough situation and we took cabs back to the Valle Aurelia train station and then took the regional train (luckily still running) into our campsite. There, we headed right to the pool. I've never enjoyed a swim more as it has been bordering on 100 F in Rome over the past few days.
We then had some great dinner, prepared by Cam, and then headed up to the bar to get some wifi and watch some Euro Cup football.
Tomorrow morning we're off to Venezia!!!! I cannot wait.
We'll be back soon!
After the Vatican we aimed to head in and visit the Colosseum. When we arrived, however, we felt the brunt of a vicious comprehensive National Strike. First, the intra-city metro was closed as the workers were striking so we had to take taxis everywhere. Then, we when got to the Colosseum we found that it was closed... for the first time in thousands of days. We walked around the outside but were upset that we weren't able to get in.
Still, we tried to make the best out of a tough situation and we took cabs back to the Valle Aurelia train station and then took the regional train (luckily still running) into our campsite. There, we headed right to the pool. I've never enjoyed a swim more as it has been bordering on 100 F in Rome over the past few days.
We then had some great dinner, prepared by Cam, and then headed up to the bar to get some wifi and watch some Euro Cup football.
Tomorrow morning we're off to Venezia!!!! I cannot wait.
We'll be back soon!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Updates from Florence... Now Rome!
Greetings from Rome!
On Tuesday our coach rolled out of Nice and headed off to beautiful Italy. We passed Genoa and then stopped quickly in Pisa to see the leaning tower before arriving at our campsite in Firenze (Florence). After a quick dinner we headed into town to go to the Red Garter bar, the oldest American bar in the city which is also conveniently famous for its karaoke scene. Naturally, I was far too excited. I did my best John Anderson impression and broke out "Sweet Caroline" before making way for our coach driver, Cathal, and his remarkable rendition of "Sexy and I Know It."
Yesterday we had a full day in Florence. After breakfast we drove into the city and went to Leonardo Leather Factory for a really interesting demonstration. Erika got me a very stylish and snazzy leather wallet for my upcoming birthday. We then had some gelatto and went on a walking tour of the city, stopping at the central square, the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, and finishing at the Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi's architectural marvel. After the formal tour, Erika and I continued exploring in the 98 degree weather.
We then headed back to the campsite to change for our evening activities. First, we went to a great restaurant for an authentic Tuscan dinner - bruschetta, pastas galore, pizza and tiramisu... and lots and lots of wine.
Next we walked (some stumbled) to Space Electronic Disco and went HAM - we had a fantastic time dancing and singing into the night with all of our friends from our coach, and also enjoyed poking fun at the 16 year olds on EF tours who are in a bar for the first time in their lives.
We woke up early this morning after far too little sleep and took down our campsites, had breakfast, and then loaded our things into the coach. After a relatively short 4 and a half hour drive we were at our campsite in even-warmer Rome. We set up camp in 100 degree heat and then drove into Rome around 4:30pm. After fighting through traffic and a protest march we arrived at the Coliseum. We headed from there across Piazza Venezia to the Trevi Fountain, then the Spanish Steps, and finished at the Pantheon. Then we stopped for dinner at a local restaurant before continuing to Piazza Navona and then back to our coach for the drive home. Our drive, Cathal, and some of the stronger and taller guys on the coach pulled a small miracle as we navigated the far-too narrow streets near our campsite. They actually lifted a poorly parked small car and moved it closer to the curb so that we could get through, as the rest of us on the coach and many local onlookers applauded.
We're now back at the campsite enjoying the first good wifi we've had all trip. Continue on for some picture updates of what we haven't been able to put up yet!
- Erika & Simon
The White Cliffs of Dover from our Ferry to Calais.
Statue of TJ in Paris.
View of the Arc de Triomphe.
View of Paris and the Eiffel Tower from the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Thanks Becky for the suggestion!
On the drive from Paris to Lauterbrunnen we drove by these lakes in between the Alps.
View of a cliff-waterfall from our campsite in Lauterbrunnen.
View of the Alps from our campsite in Lauterbrunnen.
View of the Alps as we ascended the cog railway.
At Jungfrauroch - the Alps.
Contiki tradition is to get down to a bathing suit in the Alps. It actually didn't feel cold at all up there.
Jungfrau Mountain.
Nice, France. View from The Chateau.
View of Monaco.
Erika rocking the Karaoke in Florence at the Red Garter.
The Ponte Vecchio, Florence.
Florence at dusk - view from the lookout above the city.
The Duomo in Florence.
Space Electronic Disco with Seamus
Our campsite here in Rome.
The Colosseum.
Trevi Fountain.
On Tuesday our coach rolled out of Nice and headed off to beautiful Italy. We passed Genoa and then stopped quickly in Pisa to see the leaning tower before arriving at our campsite in Firenze (Florence). After a quick dinner we headed into town to go to the Red Garter bar, the oldest American bar in the city which is also conveniently famous for its karaoke scene. Naturally, I was far too excited. I did my best John Anderson impression and broke out "Sweet Caroline" before making way for our coach driver, Cathal, and his remarkable rendition of "Sexy and I Know It."
Yesterday we had a full day in Florence. After breakfast we drove into the city and went to Leonardo Leather Factory for a really interesting demonstration. Erika got me a very stylish and snazzy leather wallet for my upcoming birthday. We then had some gelatto and went on a walking tour of the city, stopping at the central square, the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, and finishing at the Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi's architectural marvel. After the formal tour, Erika and I continued exploring in the 98 degree weather.
We then headed back to the campsite to change for our evening activities. First, we went to a great restaurant for an authentic Tuscan dinner - bruschetta, pastas galore, pizza and tiramisu... and lots and lots of wine.
Next we walked (some stumbled) to Space Electronic Disco and went HAM - we had a fantastic time dancing and singing into the night with all of our friends from our coach, and also enjoyed poking fun at the 16 year olds on EF tours who are in a bar for the first time in their lives.
We woke up early this morning after far too little sleep and took down our campsites, had breakfast, and then loaded our things into the coach. After a relatively short 4 and a half hour drive we were at our campsite in even-warmer Rome. We set up camp in 100 degree heat and then drove into Rome around 4:30pm. After fighting through traffic and a protest march we arrived at the Coliseum. We headed from there across Piazza Venezia to the Trevi Fountain, then the Spanish Steps, and finished at the Pantheon. Then we stopped for dinner at a local restaurant before continuing to Piazza Navona and then back to our coach for the drive home. Our drive, Cathal, and some of the stronger and taller guys on the coach pulled a small miracle as we navigated the far-too narrow streets near our campsite. They actually lifted a poorly parked small car and moved it closer to the curb so that we could get through, as the rest of us on the coach and many local onlookers applauded.
We're now back at the campsite enjoying the first good wifi we've had all trip. Continue on for some picture updates of what we haven't been able to put up yet!
- Erika & Simon
The White Cliffs of Dover from our Ferry to Calais.
The Casino in Monaco - of Casino Royale fame.
Erika rocking the Karaoke in Florence at the Red Garter.
The Duomo in Florence.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Nice Day 2
We enjoyed a surprisingly easy wake up in Nice this morning as the sun started cooking our tents but somehow gently pulled us out of bed. We had breakfast and then took our coach to a local perfumery. After learning about the science and work behind perfume and made some purchases we drove into Nice. We started in Old Town Nice and found a small boulangerie and a kebab place for lunch. Then we continued on to the Chateau to get stunning views of both Nice and Monaco.
After descending from the Chateau we went right down to the beach. The water is a remarkable blue and it was also very warm... which ended up biting me pretty badly. As we swam out further from the shore, I felt an intense pain wrapping around my right arm, as if every inch was being stung with a needle. I saw a jelly fish and pushed it away but the damage was already done. One of my friends walked with me to the Pharmacy as the stung sections began to react and raise. Luckily we found a friendly and English speaking pharmacist nearby and I am fighting back with some medicines that, apparently, would trigger a doping test if I was a competitive athlete.
After the beach we walked back to the center of the city and caught our coach back for a quick dinner at our campsite. Now we are heading out to Monaco for some gambling and to see the sights. Catch you all soon!!
After descending from the Chateau we went right down to the beach. The water is a remarkable blue and it was also very warm... which ended up biting me pretty badly. As we swam out further from the shore, I felt an intense pain wrapping around my right arm, as if every inch was being stung with a needle. I saw a jelly fish and pushed it away but the damage was already done. One of my friends walked with me to the Pharmacy as the stung sections began to react and raise. Luckily we found a friendly and English speaking pharmacist nearby and I am fighting back with some medicines that, apparently, would trigger a doping test if I was a competitive athlete.
After the beach we walked back to the center of the city and caught our coach back for a quick dinner at our campsite. Now we are heading out to Monaco for some gambling and to see the sights. Catch you all soon!!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Nice!!!
Erika and I spent the last two days in the most scenic place on Earth - Lauterbrutten, Switzerland! We can't overstate just how amazing our camping location was. We were nestled in a valley between the snowy alps and then other very tall cliffs and hills.
We woke up pretty early yesterday morning, got some of Cam's delicious breakfast, and then walked to the train station. Lauterbrutten is everything you'd hope a Swiss skiing town is - we stayed in little Chalets, the buildings are perfect and adorable, and the people are very friendly!
At the station we boarded a cog railway and then took the nearly two hour long journey to Jungfrau Station just below Jungfrau mountain, all the while marveling at the sights above and below us. I'll post pictures when I get wifi access but for now, just google Jungfrau and Lauterbrutten and you'll be very jealous!
When we got to the top of Jungfrau we headed outside. We'd been bundled up in our warm clothes (sweaters and jackets and pants) but when we got to the snowy mountains we stripped down to our swimwear and took some fun pictures with the group. Honestly we didn't feel cold at all and, especially when we weren't hit with the random breeze, we could've stayed up there in t-shirts and shorts.
After the pictures we went on several toboggan and tube sled rides at the complex there. We'd send groups of 6 at a time and, mercifully, though we ran into each other many times, no one was hurt too badly.
We then went inside the Jungfrau complex inside the mountain and saw the ice palace, built completely out of ice. We finished our trip by going to the highest point at the complex and seeing the alps on one side, and then all the way to the Black Forest in Germany on the other!!! It was a perfect day and some incredible views.
We then took the two hour trip back to ground level where the temperature was a balmy 86 F... pretty significant transition from freezing at the top to summer at the bottom!
That night, we had dinner and then went out to the Contiki Bar onsite and enjoyed the Swiss Go Disco party where we all dressed up in red and white and had a phenomenal night. After stumbling back to our cabins we fell right asleep.
Some of us had a rough start this morning but eventually we loaded everything up in our bus, had breakfast, and then, unfortunately, had to leave Lauterbrutten. But we were bound for sunny Nice. We had a full day of driving and actually went through Italy on the way - passing Lugano in Switzerland and then Genoa and Monaco.
Now we've set up our campsite in Nice, made dinner, showered up, and are enjoying a restful night here. Tomorrow we have a full day in Nice (beach time!) and also are going to Monaco and the casino tomorrow night.
We'll catch up with you soon!\
Happy Father's Day to our dads, Yakov and Frank!!!
-Erika and Simon
We woke up pretty early yesterday morning, got some of Cam's delicious breakfast, and then walked to the train station. Lauterbrutten is everything you'd hope a Swiss skiing town is - we stayed in little Chalets, the buildings are perfect and adorable, and the people are very friendly!
At the station we boarded a cog railway and then took the nearly two hour long journey to Jungfrau Station just below Jungfrau mountain, all the while marveling at the sights above and below us. I'll post pictures when I get wifi access but for now, just google Jungfrau and Lauterbrutten and you'll be very jealous!
When we got to the top of Jungfrau we headed outside. We'd been bundled up in our warm clothes (sweaters and jackets and pants) but when we got to the snowy mountains we stripped down to our swimwear and took some fun pictures with the group. Honestly we didn't feel cold at all and, especially when we weren't hit with the random breeze, we could've stayed up there in t-shirts and shorts.
After the pictures we went on several toboggan and tube sled rides at the complex there. We'd send groups of 6 at a time and, mercifully, though we ran into each other many times, no one was hurt too badly.
We then went inside the Jungfrau complex inside the mountain and saw the ice palace, built completely out of ice. We finished our trip by going to the highest point at the complex and seeing the alps on one side, and then all the way to the Black Forest in Germany on the other!!! It was a perfect day and some incredible views.
We then took the two hour trip back to ground level where the temperature was a balmy 86 F... pretty significant transition from freezing at the top to summer at the bottom!
That night, we had dinner and then went out to the Contiki Bar onsite and enjoyed the Swiss Go Disco party where we all dressed up in red and white and had a phenomenal night. After stumbling back to our cabins we fell right asleep.
Some of us had a rough start this morning but eventually we loaded everything up in our bus, had breakfast, and then, unfortunately, had to leave Lauterbrutten. But we were bound for sunny Nice. We had a full day of driving and actually went through Italy on the way - passing Lugano in Switzerland and then Genoa and Monaco.
Now we've set up our campsite in Nice, made dinner, showered up, and are enjoying a restful night here. Tomorrow we have a full day in Nice (beach time!) and also are going to Monaco and the casino tomorrow night.
We'll catch up with you soon!\
Happy Father's Day to our dads, Yakov and Frank!!!
-Erika and Simon
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
Limited internet time in Lauterbrunnen.
If this post is strange it is because I am writing it on a Swiss computer with a strange keyboard and only a few minutes left of internet.
We had a really great first few days with the group. We met everyone bright and early at 6am on Wednesday, boarded our coach and then headed out of London en route to Paris. Almost immediately our group began to bond. We enjoyed scenic views of France and then arrived at our campsite just outside of Paris... JUST as the rain started. Hastily we broke into teams to put up the camp site. Erika bravely assembled our tent as the rain poured and kept it remarkably dry while I joined the tallest guys in the group (for some strange reason I was put on this duty) and put up the tall cook tent out of which we are getting our meals.
After we had a quick and wet dinner we drove into Paris for a some escargot (it tastes only of texture... not of taste) and some French champagne, followed by a coach tour by night.
On Thursday we woke up pretty early and Erika and I went right to the Arc de Triomphe, going up to the very top for some amazing views of Paris. From there, we hiked down the Champs Elysees, got some lunch, and then went past the Louvre and to the Notre Dame Cathedral. After that we really enjoyed wandering around Paris and saw some great street performers outside the Pompidou Centre. At night we had a traditional Parisian dinner with the associated amounts of wine.
Today we had a fantastic scenic drive from Paris to Lauterbrutten, Switzerland. This is absolutely the most beautiful country in the world and the most scenic place I have ever been.
More updates tomorrow as my time is up.
We had a really great first few days with the group. We met everyone bright and early at 6am on Wednesday, boarded our coach and then headed out of London en route to Paris. Almost immediately our group began to bond. We enjoyed scenic views of France and then arrived at our campsite just outside of Paris... JUST as the rain started. Hastily we broke into teams to put up the camp site. Erika bravely assembled our tent as the rain poured and kept it remarkably dry while I joined the tallest guys in the group (for some strange reason I was put on this duty) and put up the tall cook tent out of which we are getting our meals.
After we had a quick and wet dinner we drove into Paris for a some escargot (it tastes only of texture... not of taste) and some French champagne, followed by a coach tour by night.
On Thursday we woke up pretty early and Erika and I went right to the Arc de Triomphe, going up to the very top for some amazing views of Paris. From there, we hiked down the Champs Elysees, got some lunch, and then went past the Louvre and to the Notre Dame Cathedral. After that we really enjoyed wandering around Paris and saw some great street performers outside the Pompidou Centre. At night we had a traditional Parisian dinner with the associated amounts of wine.
Today we had a fantastic scenic drive from Paris to Lauterbrutten, Switzerland. This is absolutely the most beautiful country in the world and the most scenic place I have ever been.
More updates tomorrow as my time is up.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
London day 5
Erika and I headed to the Museum of London this morning, near the Barbican District. There, we learned about the history of London since its Roman beginnings as Londinium. At the museum, we ran into students on the UVA Culture of London Program, Jon and Meg, and also Professors Levenson and Kinney!
Later we got together with Erika's friends, Anuja and Michelle, at the museum and finished the more modern sections with them. At 4:30 we took the tube to Baker Street and I got to enjoy a great memory-filled visit to Regent's College to watch the England-France game with Jon and Meg and other UVA students. I caught up with them and also Jonathan, the absolute nicest person in London!
It was really great to catch up with Jon and Meg, introduce them to Erika, and to talk Boston with them. They are two of the very best and most adorable people in the world and I'm excited to see them more often in the coming years!
After the match ended, Erika, Anuja, Michelle and I headed to the Globe Pub for some dinner - the girls' goal was an authentic fish & chips meal and they were not disappointed. We enjoyed some great pub grub as we watched Ukraine, via Andrey Shevchenko, rally to beat Sweden.
Now Erika and I are doing some last-minute laundry and packing our bags because tomorrow we head to the Royal National Hotel to drop off our bags with Contiki. We'll visit the British Museum before meeting up with our group tomorrow night.
Catch you all soon!
-Simon & Erika
Later we got together with Erika's friends, Anuja and Michelle, at the museum and finished the more modern sections with them. At 4:30 we took the tube to Baker Street and I got to enjoy a great memory-filled visit to Regent's College to watch the England-France game with Jon and Meg and other UVA students. I caught up with them and also Jonathan, the absolute nicest person in London!
It was really great to catch up with Jon and Meg, introduce them to Erika, and to talk Boston with them. They are two of the very best and most adorable people in the world and I'm excited to see them more often in the coming years!
After the match ended, Erika, Anuja, Michelle and I headed to the Globe Pub for some dinner - the girls' goal was an authentic fish & chips meal and they were not disappointed. We enjoyed some great pub grub as we watched Ukraine, via Andrey Shevchenko, rally to beat Sweden.
Now Erika and I are doing some last-minute laundry and packing our bags because tomorrow we head to the Royal National Hotel to drop off our bags with Contiki. We'll visit the British Museum before meeting up with our group tomorrow night.
Catch you all soon!
-Simon & Erika
Sunday, June 10, 2012
London day 4 - Winston Churchill, Tom Cruise, and the Irish!
Erika and I had a really exciting and surprise-filled day in London. We started off with a quick breakfast at Mikhail's flat and then took the train in to Westminster. Once there, we headed for Winston Churchill's Underground War Rooms Museum. These were the actual offices, meeting rooms, and bedrooms from which Churchill led the war effort in secret while London was being bombed by the German blitz during World War II. When we got to the ground-level entrance we found a not-very-imposing small black doorway.
Once inside we immediately headed down the steps, underground and into the museum and war rooms. The complex was really amazing and huge! We first saw the cabinet room, where Churchill convened his wartime cabinet and made his all-important executive decisions.
From there, we saw a few other rooms including the phone closet that contained England's direct hotline to the President of the US. Then, the complex featured a large museum all about Churchill. This alone took up an hour and a half but was very worth it. We both learned quite a lot about a remarkable man. We were most impressed by Churchill's stunning and pragmatic foresight - both regarding Hitler (he spread warnings about Hitler ever since the early 1930s, having represented Jewish boroughs in Manchester as an MP) and also arguing against the spread of Communism after the end of the war. He certainly had his share of failures (the Dardenelles, and his stance against Indian self-governance) but Churchill was the defining statesman of his time and left a remarkable and unforgettable legacy on the free world.
After leaving the Churchill section, we continued on to the rest of the war rooms - we passed the bedrooms of the major members of the war cabinet, Churchill's own underground chamber, and then viewed the massive map room, which tracked every action taken in the war.
After over three hours we emerged from the museum to a light London rain (what else is new) and decided to walk down to Buckingham Palace.
Unfortunately, the up-close views of the palace were off limits as the grounds crews were still taking down the bleachers and stages from the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. At this point, we headed to Picadilly Street and to Picadilly Circus, the Times Square area of London and the entrance to the West End Theatre District.
When we got to Picadilly Circus, we heard a lot of music coming from Leicester Square so we wandered over there, completely by a whim, and walked right into the European premiere of the film Rock of Ages. Once we got into the crowd, we saw Tom Cruise, Paul Giamatti, Julianne Hough, and Russell Brand. Not too bad for a spur of the moment idea!
(Copyright Simon Svirnovskiy Papparazzi Extraordinaire 2012.) Read all about it: Russel Brand steals a baby!
After an hour at Leicester Square we took the train back to Raynes Park and went back to our new favourite haunt, Raynes Park Tavern. We watched the second half of the Italy-Spain game and then joined a bunch of Irishmen in cheering for Ireland as they took on (and, due to some truly miserable officiating, lost to) Croatia. While there we also saw Frank, our favourite Irish grandfather from yesterday! He was the most popular guy in the pub but still came over to chat with us several times, and also treated us to pints of Strongbow and Carlsberg. (VGs... guess which one I had.) We had a blast even as the Irish were robbed over and over again by the linesman and the referee.
Tomorrow we're off to the Museum of London and then we'll meet up with Jon Ready and Meg Rennix and the UVA Culture of London program at Regent's College!
We'll be back soon!
-Erika and Simon
Once inside we immediately headed down the steps, underground and into the museum and war rooms. The complex was really amazing and huge! We first saw the cabinet room, where Churchill convened his wartime cabinet and made his all-important executive decisions.
From there, we saw a few other rooms including the phone closet that contained England's direct hotline to the President of the US. Then, the complex featured a large museum all about Churchill. This alone took up an hour and a half but was very worth it. We both learned quite a lot about a remarkable man. We were most impressed by Churchill's stunning and pragmatic foresight - both regarding Hitler (he spread warnings about Hitler ever since the early 1930s, having represented Jewish boroughs in Manchester as an MP) and also arguing against the spread of Communism after the end of the war. He certainly had his share of failures (the Dardenelles, and his stance against Indian self-governance) but Churchill was the defining statesman of his time and left a remarkable and unforgettable legacy on the free world.
After leaving the Churchill section, we continued on to the rest of the war rooms - we passed the bedrooms of the major members of the war cabinet, Churchill's own underground chamber, and then viewed the massive map room, which tracked every action taken in the war.
After over three hours we emerged from the museum to a light London rain (what else is new) and decided to walk down to Buckingham Palace.
Unfortunately, the up-close views of the palace were off limits as the grounds crews were still taking down the bleachers and stages from the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. At this point, we headed to Picadilly Street and to Picadilly Circus, the Times Square area of London and the entrance to the West End Theatre District.
When we got to Picadilly Circus, we heard a lot of music coming from Leicester Square so we wandered over there, completely by a whim, and walked right into the European premiere of the film Rock of Ages. Once we got into the crowd, we saw Tom Cruise, Paul Giamatti, Julianne Hough, and Russell Brand. Not too bad for a spur of the moment idea!
After an hour at Leicester Square we took the train back to Raynes Park and went back to our new favourite haunt, Raynes Park Tavern. We watched the second half of the Italy-Spain game and then joined a bunch of Irishmen in cheering for Ireland as they took on (and, due to some truly miserable officiating, lost to) Croatia. While there we also saw Frank, our favourite Irish grandfather from yesterday! He was the most popular guy in the pub but still came over to chat with us several times, and also treated us to pints of Strongbow and Carlsberg. (VGs... guess which one I had.) We had a blast even as the Irish were robbed over and over again by the linesman and the referee.
Tomorrow we're off to the Museum of London and then we'll meet up with Jon Ready and Meg Rennix and the UVA Culture of London program at Regent's College!
We'll be back soon!
-Erika and Simon
Saturday, June 9, 2012
London day 3 - Erika's Celtic Eyes
Still fighting the effects of jet lag, Erika and I woke up a little later than we'd hoped this morning. After a quick breakfast of English muffins and porridge (read: oatmeal) we took the train to Waterloo. From there we hopped on the Bakerloo and then the District lines until we arrived at Tower Hill to find our attraction of the day - The Tower of London. We purchased tickets and immediately hopped on a guided tour led by one of the resident Beefeater Yeoman guards. His name was Simon (as is the name of most very extraordinary individuals) and he gave us one of the funniest tours we'd ever seen, always emphasizing the heinous acts of torture and violence that took place within the Tower grounds and pausing to frighten as many of the young children on the tour as possible.
After the tour we explored the Tower complex on our own. First we visited the crown jewels and saw the biggest diamonds we'd ever laid eyes on... and the queen has several of them! After that we continued on to the White Tower, the most important and largest tower on the grounds. There, we learned about the armor used by the royal families and other British soldiers over the years. We continued on to the various prison cells around the grounds and finally finished our day there with a visit to the very happy torture chamber, seeing the famous rack and the hanging shackles.
After leaving the Tower and seeing the famous Tower Bridge, we took the tube to Regent's Park and I enjoyed a nice visit down memory lane. I showed Erika the park and where Regent's College was but we quickly decided to head back to Raynes Park to find a local pub to watch the Germany-Portugal Euro Cup game.
We headed to Waterloo station and then took the train back to Raynes Park. There, we had a delicious dinner at the Raynes Park tavern and enjoyed some much needed Strongbow Ciders. It's just the best drink in the world. We also watched a very enjoyable game and Erika made a new friend. She was chatting up a very friendly Irishman. Well, chatting up maybe wasn't the right word. For the first thirty minutes, we just all watched the game together and it was hard to understand him so any time he said something she just nodded and said "yea." As the game wore on, we learned that he was cheering for Germany, that he was Irish (not English... no Englishmen ever cheer for Germany,) and that he cheered for Germany because his ex-wife was Brazilian (so... kind of Portugese?) But then he advised us not to hold grudges! He was a very kind man who asked us where we were from and then was impressed that we weren't locals. (We're blending in. Yay!!!) He was even more impressed when we told him we were from the US and he told us about his daughter who'd worked in San Francisco. After Erika told him that she was part Irish, he noted that she had "lovely Celtic eyes." He invited us to stick around and offered to buy us drinks but we needed to head back and get to bed early to try to wake up earlier than we did this morning. We may be going to the same pub tomorrow so hopefully we can run into him again.
Tomorrow we're off to Westminster to visit Winston Churchill's war rooms and then we'll try to head to Buckingham Palace. We'll chat with y'all then!
-Erika & Simon
After the tour we explored the Tower complex on our own. First we visited the crown jewels and saw the biggest diamonds we'd ever laid eyes on... and the queen has several of them! After that we continued on to the White Tower, the most important and largest tower on the grounds. There, we learned about the armor used by the royal families and other British soldiers over the years. We continued on to the various prison cells around the grounds and finally finished our day there with a visit to the very happy torture chamber, seeing the famous rack and the hanging shackles.
After leaving the Tower and seeing the famous Tower Bridge, we took the tube to Regent's Park and I enjoyed a nice visit down memory lane. I showed Erika the park and where Regent's College was but we quickly decided to head back to Raynes Park to find a local pub to watch the Germany-Portugal Euro Cup game.
We headed to Waterloo station and then took the train back to Raynes Park. There, we had a delicious dinner at the Raynes Park tavern and enjoyed some much needed Strongbow Ciders. It's just the best drink in the world. We also watched a very enjoyable game and Erika made a new friend. She was chatting up a very friendly Irishman. Well, chatting up maybe wasn't the right word. For the first thirty minutes, we just all watched the game together and it was hard to understand him so any time he said something she just nodded and said "yea." As the game wore on, we learned that he was cheering for Germany, that he was Irish (not English... no Englishmen ever cheer for Germany,) and that he cheered for Germany because his ex-wife was Brazilian (so... kind of Portugese?) But then he advised us not to hold grudges! He was a very kind man who asked us where we were from and then was impressed that we weren't locals. (We're blending in. Yay!!!) He was even more impressed when we told him we were from the US and he told us about his daughter who'd worked in San Francisco. After Erika told him that she was part Irish, he noted that she had "lovely Celtic eyes." He invited us to stick around and offered to buy us drinks but we needed to head back and get to bed early to try to wake up earlier than we did this morning. We may be going to the same pub tomorrow so hopefully we can run into him again.
Tomorrow we're off to Westminster to visit Winston Churchill's war rooms and then we'll try to head to Buckingham Palace. We'll chat with y'all then!
Friday, June 8, 2012
London days 1 and 2! (AKA: I still don't understand Modern Art.)
Erika and I met up at the JFK airport on Wednesday and flew out of JFK at 6:40pm. Neither of us were able to get much sleep on the plane but we got some much needed energy as we landed at London Heathrow, went through customs, and then met Anastasia Khrypach just outside. She took us to her brother Mikhail's flat where we will be staying until we meet up with the Contiki group. They are so gracious to host us for the whole time and we're really grateful to stay here with them!
We knew that jet lag would hit us as soon as we stopped moving so we first hit the grocery store and bank with Anastasia and then we took the train in from Raynes Park (where the flat is) to Waterloo Station on the Southbank. From there, we walked to Westminster Abbey. I geeked out (appropriately) about the many poets and scientists buried there and we enjoyed a really nice guided audio tour (narrated by the British BAMF known as Jeremy Irons.)
After finishing the tour we trudged, in the London rain, to the National Gallery. The rain is bitter cold. It's June. What gives, London? Art was not the best idea to fight jet lag. We faded fast (after seeing the Canaletto room... which houses the greatest works of art in the city. No apologies to Van Gogh or Picasso.) Erika was surprised to find her friend Anuja from Cincinnati in the Canaletto gallery, too. Further proof that it's the best place to be. We'll definitely be meeting up with her again soon... and maybe Michelle (Phanny... but don't say that in England. You can Google it if you want to know why.)
We took in a seemingly endless swath of paintings and galleries before finally giving up and heading to Pret a Manger for some caloric energy - Apple Soda and Ice Tea (with no "nasties"... allegedly.) Then we took the Picadilly Line (I've missed you) to Hatton Cross and met Vladimir, Anastasia and Mikhail's father, and his wife. They took us to their home in Shepperton and gave us a DELICIOUS and WAY TOO FILLING home meal. We loved spending time with them (and I loved showing Erika off) but as the night wore on (to 9 and 10pm) our jet lag took over. Vladimir drove us home and then we both fell asleep almost instantly. I've never actually slept for 11 hours without interruption but it's really, really nice. I highly recommend it.
This morning, we got up and I fixed us some breakfast (ENGLISH muffins + Porridge = Britain's finest.) Then we took the train back to Waterloo and hiked down the South Bank (as I geeked out about the 1951 Festival of Britain, which was held right there!) We crossed an unnamed bridge and found the massive St. Paul's Cathedral. We took another quality audio tour and went all the way through the Cathedral Floor (unfortunately without the soothing and precise baritone of Jeremy Irons.) Then we ascended the 538 steps to the very top of St. Paul's and enjoyed remarkable 360 degree views of London, from Westminster to Greenwich and back.
We descended (much easier than ascending) and then went even further down to the crypt. After paying our respects we left St. Paul's, crossed the Voldemort-destroyed Millennium Bridge, and entered the Tate Modern Gallery. I wanted to show Erika some of the very rare good modern art that I'd remembered from visiting two years ago. Unfortunately it was gone, replaced by some really ridiculous and unnecessarily abstract stuff. Our favorite pieces were a mirror on a canvas (like an actual medicine-cabinet mirror... on a canvas... ART! YAY! http://q103albany.com/snl-shows-that-m-i-a-cant-top-madonna-when-it-comes-to-shock-video/,) a thin white octagon (not symmetrical and pasted to the wall... it was literally paper cutouts. Once we realized it was there, it was "ever present." And, last but not least, the big storage unit filled with stuff that was left behind after the garage sale. Seriously, Erika and I were amazed not by the creativity of the artists but of the museum curators who have to explain some of these pieces. Our actual favorite pieces were a collection of satirical illustrations and magazine covers drawn by John Heartfield to protest the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany.
After leaving the Tate Modern and breathing in some common-people air, we went to dinner at a small restaurant on the Southbank. After some delicious British food (I know, oxymoron) we headed to the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre to see the NT's production of "Antigone." The company set the production in a 1940s war bunker and Christopher Ecclestone (of Dr. Who fame... be jealous, Rennie) played Creon. While I'm not the biggest fan of the story, the company did a fantastic job and the set was magnificent. The show was also very meticulously directed. As a bonus, we got to see Alfie Enoch... or Dean Thomas from the Harry Potter films. (Stay jealous, Rennie.) Jamie Ballard, who played Tiresias, definitely stole the show even though his character was only on stage for a few minutes!
When the show ended we headed back to Waterloo Station and were lucky to immediately hop on a train heading to Raynes Park. After a short 20 minute ride we were at our station and then walked back to Mikhail's flat. Now we're fighting off a bit more jet lag and back online for the first time in a few days.
Check back soon! We wish everyone the best!
-Simon & Erika
We knew that jet lag would hit us as soon as we stopped moving so we first hit the grocery store and bank with Anastasia and then we took the train in from Raynes Park (where the flat is) to Waterloo Station on the Southbank. From there, we walked to Westminster Abbey. I geeked out (appropriately) about the many poets and scientists buried there and we enjoyed a really nice guided audio tour (narrated by the British BAMF known as Jeremy Irons.)
After finishing the tour we trudged, in the London rain, to the National Gallery. The rain is bitter cold. It's June. What gives, London? Art was not the best idea to fight jet lag. We faded fast (after seeing the Canaletto room... which houses the greatest works of art in the city. No apologies to Van Gogh or Picasso.) Erika was surprised to find her friend Anuja from Cincinnati in the Canaletto gallery, too. Further proof that it's the best place to be. We'll definitely be meeting up with her again soon... and maybe Michelle (Phanny... but don't say that in England. You can Google it if you want to know why.)
This morning, we got up and I fixed us some breakfast (ENGLISH muffins + Porridge = Britain's finest.) Then we took the train back to Waterloo and hiked down the South Bank (as I geeked out about the 1951 Festival of Britain, which was held right there!) We crossed an unnamed bridge and found the massive St. Paul's Cathedral. We took another quality audio tour and went all the way through the Cathedral Floor (unfortunately without the soothing and precise baritone of Jeremy Irons.) Then we ascended the 538 steps to the very top of St. Paul's and enjoyed remarkable 360 degree views of London, from Westminster to Greenwich and back.
After leaving the Tate Modern and breathing in some common-people air, we went to dinner at a small restaurant on the Southbank. After some delicious British food (I know, oxymoron) we headed to the Olivier Theatre at the National Theatre to see the NT's production of "Antigone." The company set the production in a 1940s war bunker and Christopher Ecclestone (of Dr. Who fame... be jealous, Rennie) played Creon. While I'm not the biggest fan of the story, the company did a fantastic job and the set was magnificent. The show was also very meticulously directed. As a bonus, we got to see Alfie Enoch... or Dean Thomas from the Harry Potter films. (Stay jealous, Rennie.) Jamie Ballard, who played Tiresias, definitely stole the show even though his character was only on stage for a few minutes!
When the show ended we headed back to Waterloo Station and were lucky to immediately hop on a train heading to Raynes Park. After a short 20 minute ride we were at our station and then walked back to Mikhail's flat. Now we're fighting off a bit more jet lag and back online for the first time in a few days.
Check back soon! We wish everyone the best!
-Simon & Erika
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