I've spent the last month and a half adjusting to life in Potsdam, and now I'm must endure another challenge. Within the next three weeks I will be packing up my things and starting again in Germany with a new host family. As I have just found out today that I'm going to be leaving, I'm not sure where I will be moving to. There is a possibility that I might go to Hamburg, because there is a family there in need of an au pair. I haven't talked to the agency yet to know what all my options are. I understand that my family must do what's best for them, but I am not thrilled with the thought of trying to find new friends again. I am just getting to know Berlin, and I love it. Everyone keeps telling me how awesome summer is in Berlin, and how in June or July there's some kind of massive party for the Love Parade. All the things I was looking forward to are being taken away. With that brings the possibility of new things to look forward to. Maybe I will find a new host family that I enjoy more or a new city with just as much to offer. I guess I will find out. I'll keep everyone posted on where I end up.
bis denn
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Monday, April 17, 2006
Prague Part II
For my last full day in Prague, I figured I should see the rest of the stuff that most people come to Prague to see. I had yet to cross the Charles Bridge, so that’s where I decided to start my day. The bridge was built in 1402, and is lined with many beautiful religious statues.
Since it was near by, I went in search of one of the more quirky attractions in Prague, the John Lennon Wall. Even though it’s been white washed once already, apparently people in Prague insist on putting graffiti tributes to John Lennon here.
Then it was time to return to the more historic attractions in Prague, so I wove through to streets of Old Town, to the Old Town Square. The most notable attractions in Old Town Square are the Astronomical Clock
and the Church of Our Lady Before Týn.
I got to see the Astronomical Clock do its little hourly show where the statues move around a bit and things. Unfortunately Týn Church was closed, but from peaking in the window it seemed very cool. Since food hadn’t really been a priority the first two days, I decided to go in search of a decent meal. I decided on the angsty Franz Kafka café, where I enjoyed an original Czech Budweiser (Budvar). The décor included quotes from Kafka painted on the walls in German, but I’m not quite advanced enough to translate any of it.
Then I continued with my touristy-ness by touring the Jewish sites in Prague. There is the Jewish cemetery and maybe 4 or 5 synagogues to visit, but the most popular are the Old-New Synagogue and the Spanish Synagogue. Sadly, the Old-New Synagogue was closed, but the Spanish Synagogue was pretty sweet.
Also the Franz Kafka memorial was outside of the Spanish Synagogue.
At that point I was tired of reading little captions underneath items on display, so I decided to take in some greenery at Petřín Hill. I just wandered around the hill and took more pictures of the city and things. Here is Prague Castle from Petřín Hill:
Since food was a priority for the day, I walked down to the Sushi Bar that Erica had recommended. I think this meal cost almost as much as my entire hostel stay, but look how pretty!
Then it was time for some modern dance. The Komedie theatre seemed to have much fewer tourists than the State Opera House, and it didn’t occur to anyone to try to speak to me in English until I had to say “Uh… English?” It was a good show; one of those super modern ones, where people are dancing to the sound of dripping water and things like that. After the show I decided to say goodbye to Prague by going back up to Prague Castle and getting some night shots of the city and of the Cathedral.
Thus concludes my story of Prague
Since it was near by, I went in search of one of the more quirky attractions in Prague, the John Lennon Wall. Even though it’s been white washed once already, apparently people in Prague insist on putting graffiti tributes to John Lennon here.
Then it was time to return to the more historic attractions in Prague, so I wove through to streets of Old Town, to the Old Town Square. The most notable attractions in Old Town Square are the Astronomical Clock
and the Church of Our Lady Before Týn.
I got to see the Astronomical Clock do its little hourly show where the statues move around a bit and things. Unfortunately Týn Church was closed, but from peaking in the window it seemed very cool. Since food hadn’t really been a priority the first two days, I decided to go in search of a decent meal. I decided on the angsty Franz Kafka café, where I enjoyed an original Czech Budweiser (Budvar). The décor included quotes from Kafka painted on the walls in German, but I’m not quite advanced enough to translate any of it.
Then I continued with my touristy-ness by touring the Jewish sites in Prague. There is the Jewish cemetery and maybe 4 or 5 synagogues to visit, but the most popular are the Old-New Synagogue and the Spanish Synagogue. Sadly, the Old-New Synagogue was closed, but the Spanish Synagogue was pretty sweet.
Also the Franz Kafka memorial was outside of the Spanish Synagogue.
At that point I was tired of reading little captions underneath items on display, so I decided to take in some greenery at Petřín Hill. I just wandered around the hill and took more pictures of the city and things. Here is Prague Castle from Petřín Hill:
Since food was a priority for the day, I walked down to the Sushi Bar that Erica had recommended. I think this meal cost almost as much as my entire hostel stay, but look how pretty!
Then it was time for some modern dance. The Komedie theatre seemed to have much fewer tourists than the State Opera House, and it didn’t occur to anyone to try to speak to me in English until I had to say “Uh… English?” It was a good show; one of those super modern ones, where people are dancing to the sound of dripping water and things like that. After the show I decided to say goodbye to Prague by going back up to Prague Castle and getting some night shots of the city and of the Cathedral.
Thus concludes my story of Prague
Friday, April 14, 2006
Prague Part I
My journey to Prague began jammed in a window compartment of a Regional Express train to Berlin Ostbahnhof. When I say window compartment, I don’t mean a seat with a window, I mean I was sitting on the little ledge were there was a window. Once at Berlin Ostbahnhof, I was able to catch the train to Prague were I had a proper seat and everything. The train ride to Prague was pretty much without incident. Then when I arrived in Prague, I was greeted by absolutely shit weather and the anxiety of being in a completely new place all alone. It was cold, and raining. Plus, what the hell was I doing in Prague by myself. One of the first things I did in Prague was pay way too much for an umbrella. After that, I wandered around the shops at Wenceslas Square. Then I remembered I don’t really like shopping, and going in the H & M in Prague, isn’t much different from going in the H & M in Potsdam. I attempted to buy a ticket to the Opera for the next night at the Estates Theatre, but it was all sold out. Though next to the box office, was this random outdoor exhibit with all these weird people statues.
Since the Opera at the Estates Theatre was all sold out, I had to figure out some entertainment for my next two nights in Prague. I saw a sign that had an arrow pointing the way for tourist information. Perhaps the information people would know about other shows to see. My intuition was correct! There was a ticket counter right in the information center, and all I had to say was “I would like to see some dance and opera in the next two days.” Bam! I had a ticket to a Verdi opera at the state opera house for Tuesday, and Wednesday night I would be seeing modern dance. This stroke of luck finally lifted the anxiety I had been feeling for the past few hours and made me realize I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and it was 6pm. For some reason, it’s much harder to choose a restaurant when you’re on your own, but I eventually ended up eating at a somewhat traditional Czech place where it seemed like everything on the menu was served with potatoes. I had an omelet with potatoes.
Then, since pretty much all the other tourist stuff closes by 6, I headed to the Prague TV Tower. It is the tallest thing in Prague, and it has these crazy baby statues crawling up the side. Check it out:
I took some time to relax and have some dessert in the TV Tower café and enjoy the view over the city. After I finished my second-rate Tiramisu, I headed back to my hostel to see what strangers I would be sharing my room with. I think nearly everyone in the hostel was American, which was a little disappointing to me. The first night there were 3 girls traveling together, another girl traveling alone, and some random guy. And we were all American. Everyone was at least nice enough, although the guy snored a bit.
After a horrible nights sleep, I was ready for my first full day in Prague. I can never resist a modern art museum, so I started my day with a trip to the Centre for Modern & Contemporary Art.
This museum was huge! I managed to go through everything in about four hours, but it could easily be a several day trip. Most of the exhibit was modern Czech art, which was pretty sweet since it’s something you don’t get to see often. There was also a temporary exhibit with Klimt, Warhol, Munch, and a Roy Lichtenstein among others. They also had a section of 20th century French art.
Next it was time to see Prague Castle. Prague Castle quickly became my favorite part of Prague. Walking up the hill to the Castle is this amazing view over the city.
Then once inside the Castle is the St Vitus Cathedral. I don’t even know how to describe how awesome this church is.
I climbed the church tower’s 280 some odd steps to get even more amazing views of the city.
After seeing everything there was to see at the Castle, it was time to get ready for the opera. I had a ticket to see Verdi’s I Vespri Siciliani, so I had to go put on my good clothes. Of course getting ready took longer than I expected, and I got a bit turned around trying to find the State Opera House, so by the time I figured out where it was I only had about 15 minutes to eat. So the lamest part of my trip to Prague was eating at McDonald’s before the Opera. In my defense, it was close by, and I was pressed for time. I just kept picturing myself getting tartar sauce from my fish sandwich on my nicest skirt. The opera itself was really cool. I had never seen an opera before, and even though it was sung in Italian and subtitled in Czech I could still follow the basic story line. Plus, everyone died at the end, so that was pretty unambiguous. Then, I was quite tired and it was time to rest up for my second full day in Prague.
Since the Opera at the Estates Theatre was all sold out, I had to figure out some entertainment for my next two nights in Prague. I saw a sign that had an arrow pointing the way for tourist information. Perhaps the information people would know about other shows to see. My intuition was correct! There was a ticket counter right in the information center, and all I had to say was “I would like to see some dance and opera in the next two days.” Bam! I had a ticket to a Verdi opera at the state opera house for Tuesday, and Wednesday night I would be seeing modern dance. This stroke of luck finally lifted the anxiety I had been feeling for the past few hours and made me realize I hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and it was 6pm. For some reason, it’s much harder to choose a restaurant when you’re on your own, but I eventually ended up eating at a somewhat traditional Czech place where it seemed like everything on the menu was served with potatoes. I had an omelet with potatoes.
Then, since pretty much all the other tourist stuff closes by 6, I headed to the Prague TV Tower. It is the tallest thing in Prague, and it has these crazy baby statues crawling up the side. Check it out:
I took some time to relax and have some dessert in the TV Tower café and enjoy the view over the city. After I finished my second-rate Tiramisu, I headed back to my hostel to see what strangers I would be sharing my room with. I think nearly everyone in the hostel was American, which was a little disappointing to me. The first night there were 3 girls traveling together, another girl traveling alone, and some random guy. And we were all American. Everyone was at least nice enough, although the guy snored a bit.
After a horrible nights sleep, I was ready for my first full day in Prague. I can never resist a modern art museum, so I started my day with a trip to the Centre for Modern & Contemporary Art.
This museum was huge! I managed to go through everything in about four hours, but it could easily be a several day trip. Most of the exhibit was modern Czech art, which was pretty sweet since it’s something you don’t get to see often. There was also a temporary exhibit with Klimt, Warhol, Munch, and a Roy Lichtenstein among others. They also had a section of 20th century French art.
Next it was time to see Prague Castle. Prague Castle quickly became my favorite part of Prague. Walking up the hill to the Castle is this amazing view over the city.
Then once inside the Castle is the St Vitus Cathedral. I don’t even know how to describe how awesome this church is.
I climbed the church tower’s 280 some odd steps to get even more amazing views of the city.
After seeing everything there was to see at the Castle, it was time to get ready for the opera. I had a ticket to see Verdi’s I Vespri Siciliani, so I had to go put on my good clothes. Of course getting ready took longer than I expected, and I got a bit turned around trying to find the State Opera House, so by the time I figured out where it was I only had about 15 minutes to eat. So the lamest part of my trip to Prague was eating at McDonald’s before the Opera. In my defense, it was close by, and I was pressed for time. I just kept picturing myself getting tartar sauce from my fish sandwich on my nicest skirt. The opera itself was really cool. I had never seen an opera before, and even though it was sung in Italian and subtitled in Czech I could still follow the basic story line. Plus, everyone died at the end, so that was pretty unambiguous. Then, I was quite tired and it was time to rest up for my second full day in Prague.
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