Munich and Maastricht

Well what a few weekends it has been. Last weekend was our trip to Munich (which was significantly different than Berlin). After taking a bright an early bus (6am) we got into Munich and almost went one city to far... yea hard to do but I blame my friend. There were two bus stops in Munich, one the airport, and one the "city" which was as far from the city as possible. So after n0ot getting off at the airport, we went to the next one, expecting it to be the city and it was still the suburb so, we stayed on. Right before they left for the next stop, they said, where are you going again? We answered Munich, and they were like ohhh this is the last stop (after the bus driver said it wasn't but basically it was an english-german issue. We took the metro all the way in (it was the last stop on the line), we got to our hostel and we found out why it was ranked number 1 in Munich. We all walked around, explored some markets, had some food, and then got ready to go out. After going down to the hostel bar to have a drink before going out, we walked in an there were 200 people in the Hostel Bar? yea that doesn't happen, but it did. Apparently our hostel (named Wombats) is a major place where young people who speak english go and have a drink or two and mingel. So we were going to go clubbing but we never left the hostel bar because it was an amazing time.... We met people from everywhere including a German high school class who was at the hostel. They were all about 19, and they had one person who looked just slightly older and I asked her what she was doing with them and she said she was their teacher. They then preceeded to take a tequilla shot as a class with their teacher.......... yea that happens in the states all the time... not.

We went on a walking tour the next morning which ended up being almost 3 hours... Then it was BMW time... we went to the BMW factory and saw the whole production tour which was awesome.... but the best part was at the end, we asked if we could test drive a car and they said yea it was 30 euros... and oh how tragic, the Autobahn happens to be 100 feet from the factory.... sooooooooooo a friend an I took a sports coop for a ride on the Autobahn... which was to say the least, fun.

We then all went back to the hostel, went out to a beer hall for dinner (the famous beer halls and gardens) and then had the same experience back at the hostel bar... yea still confuses me but we enjoyed it

Then there was class... and well yea class is class.

Then this weekend, I flew from Prague to Brussels and took a train to Maastricht to visit Lauren and experience CARNAVAL.... which was an experience.. it didn't officially start until sunday but people were in full out costumes by thursday.... they have an entire week off of school for Carnaval (and yes the grocery store is closed for 5 days.... yea its a big deal) so basically it was Halloween on steroids. people of all ages were decked out head to toe day after day. there was one big square where everyone was and that was an experience..... i can still hear the distinctive carnival music... oh good times... pictures will be up on FB and flickr eventually

Now its back to work, I have 20 pages to write by Weds.... yea sounds fun... not (especially since some is for Richmond which I currently do not attend)

Trips Trips Trips $

Ok so this week has been mostly devoted to planning, booking, and paying for trips over Europe... and what a week it has been.

The trips are as follows (and weeks without trips are indicated)
Munich
Maastricht
Amsterdam
Switzerland (Interlocken to ski)
Prague (Mom and Sis coming)
Greece for 9 days
Vienna?
Italy for Easter Weekend
Prague/Barcelona

And that takes me all the way until April 19th.... So yea.......... LOVE that

Anyway, that is what I have been doing (well and going to classes)

The Past Week and Berlin

So what a week/weekend it has been. So to finish up Berlin, we had an amazing time, got to see some great sights (photos are going up on FB and Flickr now) and had a much more relaxing train ride back then we had there. It was actaully quite nice taking the train back through the German countryside during the daylight. We got to see a lot including 3 windfarms, countryside, mountains, lakes, and small towns. There were an enormous amount of open fields when we went through and we were all thinking how terrible that must have been to fight in. Another intestering aspect was how there are almost no historical artifacts or museums about the Nazi. Everything is based on the victims. For instance, Hitlers bunker was destroyed, and now there is a parking space directly above where Hitler committed suicide. The second in commands formal office is now a Chinese Restraunt?

Since being here, we are all amazed how WWII and communism really changed this whole continent. Everything is somehow related to it and we have never seen a society as alter and influenced by its past history. The US has history but nothing that really altered society as much as WWII (maybe other than 9/11). On our way to school today, we finally figured out why there is what looks like a large closet and metal grate right before the platform to the subway. Its a nuclear bomb door that was built in during the cold war. I guess I know where we are going if Russia bombs Czech over the Starwars Radar....

So after having only 13 hours of sleep over the entire weekend, I got back into Prague around 6 and passed out from 7 until 9 the next morning.... Felt amazing. Monday, had a few classes in Marketing and American Lit.... Lit actaully isn't as terrible as I thought it would be because its basically impossible to be wrong in the class... My MOA (Richmond OB) professor is the MAN. He took us out to a bar last night before we went out and bought us a few rounds of drinks at the Beer Factory. We are going to his Flat tonight for free food, drink, and a movie so thats awesome.

NYU threw us a welcome dinner at the second nicest hotel/restraunt in Prague on tuesday night (behind the hotel where Ambassadors stay). Everything was paid for, had an amazing spread, all the kids and professors were there, and they paid for 3 drinks. Have to love that....

Last night after having drinks with my professor, we went to the Club and came back at a reasonable hour thank god. Af the club, we met two other entire American programs that were studying in Prague. One was CIE (or maybe CAE) and the program that Richmond goes to.... Sooooooo it was a lot of fun because everyone spoke english and then it is a very nice club (but the drinks are sooooo expensive... I mean a beer is 2.50 US....... relative I guess :) ) Life here is extremely tiring....

The richmond kids arrived in Prague two days ago and I went out to dinner with them the first night they were here... They just found an apartment and it just happens to be about 5 blocks from me (or 1 metro stop). Sooooooooo thats great.

This weekend, we are going to the Pilsner Urquell Factory (Pragues version of Budweiser) and then a church that was made entirely out of bones..... so that will be good. I also just booked tickets to go to Brussels/Masarich for their version of Marti Gra (Corey's GF is studying there).

So all is well and I will update again when I can.

I don't have time to write but I thought u might like this pic... it is from the first bar of the Pub Crawl... great pic of the entire group that went to Berlin