Today is the first sleep in days we have had. We didn't have to leave until 9AM! We loaded up and went to Brussels and participated in the parlementariun exhibition were those who paid attention learned in great detail about the European Union. I however, had a hard time staying focused because it was to crowded and you had to so most of the reading yourself and that was just touch at nine am.
After that we went to the city center of Brussels. We had a waffle for lunch (and yes they are better here) and we looked around.
We wanderd for a bit and stumbled into a Smurf Museum which we did not go into.
After our break we landed back on the bus to Amsterdam. We arrived late after being stuck in traffic so I called it night. Until tomorrow.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Luxembourg to Leuven
Today was once again a bus day. We left Strasbourg and headed toward Belgium, but made a pit stop in Luxembourg.
Before we left Strasbourg we went on a tour of the Council of Europe. Where weekend about what it was and got to see the place where decisions are made. It was very interesting!
We didn't get to see much of Luxembourg, but we were there long enough to get post cards and have some lunch.
After Luxembourg we went a town in Belgium called Leuven. It was such a cute little core town with great energy.
We went to a Chinese restaurant called Ming that was tasty. Then we explored a bit before we went home for bed. It was a pretty relaxing day lots of bus time, bit it was fun none the less.
Before we left Strasbourg we went on a tour of the Council of Europe. Where weekend about what it was and got to see the place where decisions are made. It was very interesting!
We didn't get to see much of Luxembourg, but we were there long enough to get post cards and have some lunch.
After Luxembourg we went a town in Belgium called Leuven. It was such a cute little core town with great energy.
We went to a Chinese restaurant called Ming that was tasty. Then we explored a bit before we went home for bed. It was a pretty relaxing day lots of bus time, bit it was fun none the less.
Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg is such a cute little city. We arrived here after the visit to the concentration camp.
We dropped our stuff off at the hotel and went off to find some tapas for dinner. I only ordered a small tomato salad as I ate to many m&m's on the bus ride .
After tapas we explored the area to see what it had to offer. It was very cute here. After are mini exploration we decided it was time to head back to catch some zzzz's.
The next day we woke up and decided it was a beautiful day so we should go on the 4€ boat tour. The boat tour was so much fun!
Before we made it to the boat we stopped in the little shops and I got a heart decoration which I love! I had wanted one from Salzburg, but the shops had been closed so I couldn't get it there.
Following the boat tour we had lunch then went to explore gardens, but they were a flop, so back to the hotel we went for a siesta.
We then left once more to explore and find dinner, which took hours! But finally we decided no matter where we go it will be expensive so we should just eat. I had salmon and spatzel almond with dessert.
Following that we went back to the hotel for the night. That was my first French experience.
We dropped our stuff off at the hotel and went off to find some tapas for dinner. I only ordered a small tomato salad as I ate to many m&m's on the bus ride .
After tapas we explored the area to see what it had to offer. It was very cute here. After are mini exploration we decided it was time to head back to catch some zzzz's.
The next day we woke up and decided it was a beautiful day so we should go on the 4€ boat tour. The boat tour was so much fun!
Before we made it to the boat we stopped in the little shops and I got a heart decoration which I love! I had wanted one from Salzburg, but the shops had been closed so I couldn't get it there.
Following the boat tour we had lunch then went to explore gardens, but they were a flop, so back to the hotel we went for a siesta.
We then left once more to explore and find dinner, which took hours! But finally we decided no matter where we go it will be expensive so we should just eat. I had salmon and spatzel almond with dessert.
Following that we went back to the hotel for the night. That was my first French experience.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Dachau Concentration Camp Tour
Today we went to tour the Dachau concentration camp. I have been waiting for this experience ever sense I left for Europe. I find myself being fascinated in human nature and I trying to grasp the events per WWII and during WWII. Getting to visit the camp was a great way for me to be able to respect those who were murdered, tortured, those who lost family members at the camps, and those who lost their lives in the war fighting for the safety of the captured.
I think this is something someone should experience at least once in their life. It teaches about the importance of excepting others and trying to understand and respect instead of tear down and create prejudices against groups.
The most important lesson I learned was the importance of holding true the hope and dedication of many, "Never Again" should this happen.
I think this is something someone should experience at least once in their life. It teaches about the importance of excepting others and trying to understand and respect instead of tear down and create prejudices against groups.
The most important lesson I learned was the importance of holding true the hope and dedication of many, "Never Again" should this happen.
Do Re Me Fa So La Te Do
Today was a wonderful day! We started off with an early morning breakfast. Following breakfast we met out bus that was to take us to our tour bus for the...SOUND OF MUSIC TOUR!!!!
We had so much fun on the tour! I bunch of us went and we learned a lot of interesting facts about the musical as well as got to take a lot of cool shots at locations the movie was filmed at.
Fact One: The sound of music is based on a true story. The Vontrap family was a real family who lived in Austria. Maria moved from the abbey to bake care of the youngest who was ill and grew a bond with all seven children. She was then asked to be their mother. They started performing as a family for money as the Captian was no longer as well off and used touring as an escape from Nazi Germany and their taking over of Austria. When they made it to the United States they stayed and opened a music school in Stow Vermont. They were asked at one point to perform at Hitler's birthday party and declined.
Fact Two: the filming of the movie in Salzburg was only supposed to take six weeks, but it took eleven due to rainy weather.
Fact Three: When the family falls out of the boat in the movie it is real. Thy did one take that looked fake, so they had to re shoot, but Julie Andrew's lost her footing in the second taken. She was supposed to grab the youngest who couldn't swim and people had to jump in after her. She almost drowned.
Fact Four: There were three gazebos used in the filming, one authentic one in Austria and two duplicates located in Hollywood.
Fact Five: the house is actually two different houses located in salzburg. The front is one house, the back with the lake is located at another, and the interior was all shot in Hollywood.
Fact Six: The last seen filmed was the first scene of the movie.
After the tour we took a siesta then went to the hotel for dinner. After that we did one last walk around of Salzburg, Austria and said our fair wells. Tomorrow we are off to Dachau Concentration Camp then Strasbourg, France.
We had so much fun on the tour! I bunch of us went and we learned a lot of interesting facts about the musical as well as got to take a lot of cool shots at locations the movie was filmed at.
Fact One: The sound of music is based on a true story. The Vontrap family was a real family who lived in Austria. Maria moved from the abbey to bake care of the youngest who was ill and grew a bond with all seven children. She was then asked to be their mother. They started performing as a family for money as the Captian was no longer as well off and used touring as an escape from Nazi Germany and their taking over of Austria. When they made it to the United States they stayed and opened a music school in Stow Vermont. They were asked at one point to perform at Hitler's birthday party and declined.
Fact Two: the filming of the movie in Salzburg was only supposed to take six weeks, but it took eleven due to rainy weather.
Fact Three: When the family falls out of the boat in the movie it is real. Thy did one take that looked fake, so they had to re shoot, but Julie Andrew's lost her footing in the second taken. She was supposed to grab the youngest who couldn't swim and people had to jump in after her. She almost drowned.
Fact Four: There were three gazebos used in the filming, one authentic one in Austria and two duplicates located in Hollywood.
Fact Five: the house is actually two different houses located in salzburg. The front is one house, the back with the lake is located at another, and the interior was all shot in Hollywood.
Fact Six: The last seen filmed was the first scene of the movie.
After the tour we took a siesta then went to the hotel for dinner. After that we did one last walk around of Salzburg, Austria and said our fair wells. Tomorrow we are off to Dachau Concentration Camp then Strasbourg, France.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Salzburg, Austria
Another travel day today! We started from Vienna got on the bus and started to watch a video on Melk Abbey. Almost in perfect time we arrived at the abbey to check it out.
After the abbey we loaded back on the bus for a three hour ride to Salzburg, Austria. We arrived at about one in the afternoon. We unloaded our luggage and as a group we walked to see the downtown area.
In the shopping area we saw where Mozart lived. We were then on our own to explore. We looked around for a bit then decided we should head back to the hotel.
On our walk back we stopped in a garden and look at the flowers and admire the locations filmed in The Sound of Music. I even snagged a photo on the Do Re Me stairs.
We went out to dinner at a tasty Chinese restaurant where I ordered my usual, sweet and sour chicken with white rice.
We left the restaurant to walk back and for stuck in a rain storm so walking turned to running and we worked off our dinner running seven blocks.
We finally made it home to the hotel and called it a night. It was a successful day.
After the abbey we loaded back on the bus for a three hour ride to Salzburg, Austria. We arrived at about one in the afternoon. We unloaded our luggage and as a group we walked to see the downtown area.
In the shopping area we saw where Mozart lived. We were then on our own to explore. We looked around for a bit then decided we should head back to the hotel.
On our walk back we stopped in a garden and look at the flowers and admire the locations filmed in The Sound of Music. I even snagged a photo on the Do Re Me stairs.
We went out to dinner at a tasty Chinese restaurant where I ordered my usual, sweet and sour chicken with white rice.
We left the restaurant to walk back and for stuck in a rain storm so walking turned to running and we worked off our dinner running seven blocks.
We finally made it home to the hotel and called it a night. It was a successful day.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Vienna
Aw what a day! Today we took another tour, but this time of Vienna, Austria. We saw so many cool building today!
After the tour we explored the gardens that the guide left us at and then went to find some lunch. We relaxed a bit after lunch at the hotel chatting and taking it easy. By eight we were hungry again so we went out once more for some food.
I really really have enjoyed my stay here in Vienna. Until next time.
After the tour we explored the gardens that the guide left us at and then went to find some lunch. We relaxed a bit after lunch at the hotel chatting and taking it easy. By eight we were hungry again so we went out once more for some food.
I really really have enjoyed my stay here in Vienna. Until next time.
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