I decided to wait a little bit- not as long as before- to write my third post, because there were two very fun filled trips that I had been on since I last wrote!
THE JOURNEY BEGINS:
I definitely broke a few firsts over the last 12 days.. I flew alone within Europe, stayed at my first hostel, figured out how to maneuver through a different country with a different language, took the ferry from mainland Europe to London, and many more experiences. I left for London that thursday- the 13th? I was able to stay with my aunt and she took me to the coach that would take me to London Luton Airport. My flight was very early on Friday, so I ended up staying up all night at my aunt's and leaving her place at like 3:30 in the morning. I was very surprised that getting through security literally took 5 minutes and that at 4:30/5 in the morning, everyone in the airport had a beer in hand.
I AMSTERDAM:
By the time I got to Amsterdam, took a train to city centre and walked to the hostel where I met up with my friends Gabby and Robin, it was already 10:30/ 11 in the morning. We walked around the city and grabbed breakfast/ lunch, a pastry then headed to the Anne Frank's Museum. That was so surreal. Being able to walk around where 8 people hid from the Nazi's back in the 1940's was insane. The actual bookcase that was used to hide the annexe was still there as you were about to walk up the stairs.. The windows in each room were blacked out so you couldn't see the light- just like it would have been for the Frank's and their friends. The rooms were empty- minus the posters on the wall in Anne's shared room with Fritz Pfeffer. Seeing the house is definitely something one must do when going to Amsterdam. Afterwards, we continued walking and ended up going back to our hostel to nap. The rest of the exchange students came with our university's school trip at night and we met up with them after we had gotten dinner. 3 of my friends and one of the guys staying in mine, Gabby and Robin's hostel room decided to go to the Red Light District at night and that was INSANE. I did not expect that the prostitutes were actually IN windows seen by pedestrians on the street. Being there at night was an experience... See I thought they were mannequins, so when I noticed one of the women moving, I freaked out. We walked around the district and my friend Indi and I went into the museum of prostitution, where we learned more about the district, as well as the horrors of sex trafficking. We just kept walking around the city centre afterwards with our friends and headed back to the hostel before checking out Dam Square.
The next morning, two exchange students and myself went to the Heineken Factory, which was so awesome! We got to tour the factory, take awesome pictures, a personalized Heineken bottle, and got two free pints on beer! That actually took a lot longer than I thought it would take. Then we hung out with friends and just walked around some more.. I've gained an irrational fear of bikes while there... I literally got hit by one at one point. -__-
Gabby, Robin and I left late that night on an overnight bus to return to London.. The coach bus was nice and we drove through Belgium and France before hopping on the ferry to get to the UK. We arrived by like 7 am Sunday morning, and thus begun another journey. I had to tube to Waterloo station, before taking a train to Guildford. THEEENNNN, I had to walk my happy butt to my flat before showering and passing out to be able to get prepared for Dublin.
ST. PATTY'S DAY IN DUBLIN
And thus begun another 4 am journey (Monday morning) to Dublin. I went with Courtney, Adam, and 3 other friends. We got to Dublin pretty early, but by time we got food, made our way to our hotel (IN BFE- Christoph and Caitlyn got to stay city centre), and then found a way to the city, it was about noon. Adam, Courtney and I only stayed until about 5pm. We all saw the parade, had lunch and got to see an authentic Irish pub. Drinks are EXPENSIVE. Not kidding... But I successfully had Irish Guinness and Irish Whiskey. The next day, the three of us had to wake up really early to make our way to Cobh, Cork and Blarney Castle. It was a day long tour, which was great because we saw the countryside! Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic, so obviously, I had to see their Titanic exhibit. I attempted to kiss the Blarney Stone, but a) I was really dumb and didn't realize what it was and b) I felt like I'd fall out of the castle if I moved my body any further down to reach it. After a long day, we met up with our 3 friends in Dublin, before heading back to the hotel, and went to the famous "Temple Bar" in Dublin. That was just so cool. AND WE SAW A BUILDING THAT HAD GREEN LIGHTS PROJECTED ON IT FOR ST. PATTY'S DAY! The last day- Weds- we went on a hop on/ hop off bus around the city before heading back to the airport. When we finally got home, I think we were all so burnt out..
ANNNNND WE'RE BACK
Class Thursday went pretty well, and I hung out with a lot of different people afterwards and we all went to Channies. This past weekend was also really, really chill. We ended up not going to London for Emma's birthday, but we had cake and watched Vampire Diaries. I'm taking her to a birthday lunch today because she's the best. This was the second official weekend that I've stayed in Guildford, and it was lovely. I loved relaxing (and procrastinating). I caught up on all of my hulu shows and sleep. I went for a few runs this past couple of weeks as well.
Oh, we also figured out the transportation for or Eurotrip this April. Adam and I are leaving a tad bit earlier and going to Disneyland Paris, but here's the plan:
Paris -->Brussels --> Amsterdam --> Berlin-->Prague-->Vienna-->Salzburg-->Munic--> Venice/Milan (Courtney is going to Milan, while Adam and I go to Venice) -->Florence (alltogether again)-->Rome-->London/ Guildford--> Roadtrip with our flatmates to SCOTLAND!
WHAT'S NEXT?
- Gabby's birthday @ Casino
- Norway this weekend with Adam, Courtney and Emma
- The pleasure of writing two more essays
- SPRANG BREAK/ EASTER VACATION (one.month.long)
PICTURES:
THE JOURNEY BEGINS:
I definitely broke a few firsts over the last 12 days.. I flew alone within Europe, stayed at my first hostel, figured out how to maneuver through a different country with a different language, took the ferry from mainland Europe to London, and many more experiences. I left for London that thursday- the 13th? I was able to stay with my aunt and she took me to the coach that would take me to London Luton Airport. My flight was very early on Friday, so I ended up staying up all night at my aunt's and leaving her place at like 3:30 in the morning. I was very surprised that getting through security literally took 5 minutes and that at 4:30/5 in the morning, everyone in the airport had a beer in hand.
I AMSTERDAM:
By the time I got to Amsterdam, took a train to city centre and walked to the hostel where I met up with my friends Gabby and Robin, it was already 10:30/ 11 in the morning. We walked around the city and grabbed breakfast/ lunch, a pastry then headed to the Anne Frank's Museum. That was so surreal. Being able to walk around where 8 people hid from the Nazi's back in the 1940's was insane. The actual bookcase that was used to hide the annexe was still there as you were about to walk up the stairs.. The windows in each room were blacked out so you couldn't see the light- just like it would have been for the Frank's and their friends. The rooms were empty- minus the posters on the wall in Anne's shared room with Fritz Pfeffer. Seeing the house is definitely something one must do when going to Amsterdam. Afterwards, we continued walking and ended up going back to our hostel to nap. The rest of the exchange students came with our university's school trip at night and we met up with them after we had gotten dinner. 3 of my friends and one of the guys staying in mine, Gabby and Robin's hostel room decided to go to the Red Light District at night and that was INSANE. I did not expect that the prostitutes were actually IN windows seen by pedestrians on the street. Being there at night was an experience... See I thought they were mannequins, so when I noticed one of the women moving, I freaked out. We walked around the district and my friend Indi and I went into the museum of prostitution, where we learned more about the district, as well as the horrors of sex trafficking. We just kept walking around the city centre afterwards with our friends and headed back to the hostel before checking out Dam Square.
The next morning, two exchange students and myself went to the Heineken Factory, which was so awesome! We got to tour the factory, take awesome pictures, a personalized Heineken bottle, and got two free pints on beer! That actually took a lot longer than I thought it would take. Then we hung out with friends and just walked around some more.. I've gained an irrational fear of bikes while there... I literally got hit by one at one point. -__-
Gabby, Robin and I left late that night on an overnight bus to return to London.. The coach bus was nice and we drove through Belgium and France before hopping on the ferry to get to the UK. We arrived by like 7 am Sunday morning, and thus begun another journey. I had to tube to Waterloo station, before taking a train to Guildford. THEEENNNN, I had to walk my happy butt to my flat before showering and passing out to be able to get prepared for Dublin.
ST. PATTY'S DAY IN DUBLIN
And thus begun another 4 am journey (Monday morning) to Dublin. I went with Courtney, Adam, and 3 other friends. We got to Dublin pretty early, but by time we got food, made our way to our hotel (IN BFE- Christoph and Caitlyn got to stay city centre), and then found a way to the city, it was about noon. Adam, Courtney and I only stayed until about 5pm. We all saw the parade, had lunch and got to see an authentic Irish pub. Drinks are EXPENSIVE. Not kidding... But I successfully had Irish Guinness and Irish Whiskey. The next day, the three of us had to wake up really early to make our way to Cobh, Cork and Blarney Castle. It was a day long tour, which was great because we saw the countryside! Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic, so obviously, I had to see their Titanic exhibit. I attempted to kiss the Blarney Stone, but a) I was really dumb and didn't realize what it was and b) I felt like I'd fall out of the castle if I moved my body any further down to reach it. After a long day, we met up with our 3 friends in Dublin, before heading back to the hotel, and went to the famous "Temple Bar" in Dublin. That was just so cool. AND WE SAW A BUILDING THAT HAD GREEN LIGHTS PROJECTED ON IT FOR ST. PATTY'S DAY! The last day- Weds- we went on a hop on/ hop off bus around the city before heading back to the airport. When we finally got home, I think we were all so burnt out..
ANNNNND WE'RE BACK
Class Thursday went pretty well, and I hung out with a lot of different people afterwards and we all went to Channies. This past weekend was also really, really chill. We ended up not going to London for Emma's birthday, but we had cake and watched Vampire Diaries. I'm taking her to a birthday lunch today because she's the best. This was the second official weekend that I've stayed in Guildford, and it was lovely. I loved relaxing (and procrastinating). I caught up on all of my hulu shows and sleep. I went for a few runs this past couple of weeks as well.
Oh, we also figured out the transportation for or Eurotrip this April. Adam and I are leaving a tad bit earlier and going to Disneyland Paris, but here's the plan:
Paris -->Brussels --> Amsterdam --> Berlin-->Prague-->Vienna-->Salzburg-->Munic--> Venice/Milan (Courtney is going to Milan, while Adam and I go to Venice) -->Florence (alltogether again)-->Rome-->London/ Guildford--> Roadtrip with our flatmates to SCOTLAND!
WHAT'S NEXT?
- Gabby's birthday @ Casino
- Norway this weekend with Adam, Courtney and Emma
- The pleasure of writing two more essays
- SPRANG BREAK/ EASTER VACATION (one.month.long)
PICTURES:
Panorama of Amsterdam
Anne Frank's House (only pic I could even take)
Pretty self explanatory
Scott, Derek and myself at the factory
Robert, Courtney, Adam and myself at the parade
Courtney and myself at the parade in Dublin
Courtney, Adam and I at the "authentic" Irish Pub for St. Patty's Day
Cobh, Ireland. That is where the passengers of the Titanic would get on the tenders to board the Titanic at it's last port of call.
Courtney and I outside Blarney Castle
Attempting/ Pretending to kiss the Blarney Stone
