You are currently browsing the monthly archive for April, 2008.
Alright, one story from our first day in Amsterdam that I thought deserved a post of its own.
As we were searching for dinner, we were also searching for a movie theater that I had read about in a United Airlines In-Flight magazine. It was supposed to be the absolute ending highlight of 3 Perfect Days in Amsterdam. When we got there, it looked great, but everything was, of course, in Dutch. So, we weren’t sure that we could actually see a movie in English. So, we shrugged the opportunity off, and began our search anew for a restaurant. We found a little Italian restaurant that was packed, so we figured that was a good sign. We ate a delicious dinner, and started our stroll back to our hostel.
This time we passed another movie theater. I decided to find out once and for all what the verdict was on the English vs. Dutch movies. As I waited in line to ask the movie attendant the question, I pondered what his response would be. Would he look at me bizarrely and think, “What tourist sees a MOVIE on vacation?” or would he just not understand me? What followed was not something either of us (Brother Bee and I) expected.
I walked up the the counter a posed my question, “Hi. I was wondering if all of your movies are in Dutch or if the English movies are dubbed in Dutch or have Dutch subtitles?”
He shook his slightly cocked head at me and replied, “Um, Dutch-made movies are in Dutch, but all the English movies are in English. We don’t dub our movies. We aren’t in Germany.”
OH.
“Well thank you kindly. I guess we’ll see a movie tomorrow night.”
Um…Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.
Brother Bee and I spent a fantastic night (dripping with sarcasm) in our hostel. I’m pretty sure if it wasn’t the fantastically loud slamming of our hostel door that woke me up every ten minutes, it was the wonderment that I’d have to spend another 3 nights with these people. I mean really. I forgot to add that right before we crawled into our beds for the night, I went to brush my teeth (good, good) and returned to find our lower bunk-mate’s clothing spread out across my suitcase! Not to mention their stuff strewn about the room covering not only their 1 square foot of space, but ours as well. So, I oh-so-tactfully tossed her sweaty shirt back onto her own suitcase, moved her tooth brush away from mine, and made sure that my Sherpani bag was tucked next to me the whole night. But I’m being facetious.
We woke up, dressed, and headed out. Having no desire to kill more brain cells by way of marijuana smoke, we headed to a local pastry shop to grab breakfast. Delicious. We then charted our way to the museums and through Day 1 of my Frommer’s Amsterdam Day-by-Day book. This lead us to the Rijksmuseum, which is currently 90% under construction, but they have moved all of the “important” works to the last 10% so you don’t really miss too much. Here we saw all kinds of works from important artists like Monet, Manet, Rembrandt, and my favorite, Vermeer, who was a Dutch painter, so most of his known works have stayed in the Netherlands. There was also a casket with a dead guy inside, his armor, and parts of his own art collection…never know what you’ll find.
From there we made way to the Van Gogh Museum. This is the largest collection of Van Gogh originals in one place in the world. It was fantastic. Set on three floors, it includes numerous paintings, over 900 letters to his brother, and collections of his contemporaries and students. Most famous is on of his 5 sunflower paintings which was amazing…so bright and brilliant in brush stroke. Another highlight of this museum is the multiple self portraits. These two museums took up the better part of our day. However, we still had one more stop. But it was lunch time, and conveniently, the Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam, was right across the street, so we had to stop. I purchased my third Hard Rock Cafe shirt while we were waiting to pay $20 for a burger. Actually, it was a quite good burger, there were hardly any people there, so it made for a great, quite lunch. Frommer’s recommended we visit our last stop after 4pm to avoid the crowds, so our late lunch was perfect. I know, sounds kinda cheesy, but planning is everything!
After our filling lunch, we made the 30 minute trek back to the north side of Amsterdam to visit our last stop, not a famed coffee house, but the Anne Frank Huis. This is the actual house in which the Franks and 4 other companions hid from the Nazis in the Secret Annex. The Museum starts in the lower level, which acted as the warehouse for Otto Frank’s spices company. The beginning of the tour also starts with an instant hush over the crowd. Because there is a crowd, but blindfolded, you’d think you were all alone. Here you can watch a preview of what is to come, and a summary of the museum, along with words from Otto Frank and excerpts from Anne’s diary. The self-guided tour then winds its way up the stairs onto the second floor where all the main offices for the company where. Here you come to a bookcase with suspect hinges (put on during museum renovation). Pull back the giant bookcase and you are faced with a hole in the wall and a staircase. Climb through the whole and you enter the Secret Annex. These next two floors were the living spaces of the Frank family, and the 4 other companions. Inside, there is writing, encased in glass, where the Frank family measured their growth during the years they were there. There is also a reproduction of the wall in Anne’s room where she hung picture of her favorite actors and actresses of the day. The actual wall has been removed and placed in storage for safe keeping. As you wind your way back down the narrow staircase and into the new part, where you can find a tourist trap cafe, you pass by what I thought was one of the most touching things. You pass by an actual Academy Award Oscar. Next to it is a plaque the explains that the Oscar is from Shelley Winters, who won Best Supporting Actress for the movie. The story goes that Otto Frank visited the set during the filming of The Diary of Anne Frank and Ms. Winters told him, “Mr. Frank, if I win an Oscar for my role in this movie, I’m going to bring it to you and to the Anne Frank Huis.” He replied with, “Well that would be a very hard thing to do, wouldn’t it?” And she then said, “Yes, it would. That’s why I’ll keep it for a while, and then bring it to you.” She did win the Oscar, and there it was. That’s probably the closest I’ll ever be to an Oscar, but it was really touching. After a quick stop in the museum store to buy my own copy of her diary (I had finished my book club book), we headed out. Back to the hostel we went for a shower and then to hunt down some dinner.
After dinner, and a brisk walk back to the hostel, we settled down for night two in our pig pen. (No pun intended as we stayed at the Flying Pig Hostel Downtown).
Alright, I know I’m beating a dead horse, but this story still cracks me up. So, before I get to Amsterdam, which I desperately need to do, I have to show you this. You all remember my post about The Canadians. Well, recently my friend who has the wittiest blog you will ever read, MommyPie, posted this that you all should take a look at. Apparently British and North American English are in fact, NOT the same! Don’t see what I mean…take a gander at this site from MommyPie’s blog.
Oh Canadians, your intelligence trumps us Americans again.
APRIL FOOLS!
I’ll admit that the convenience of public transportation is something not to be ignored in this world. Especially coming from a country, state, city that has little or no transportation. I mean, there’s a free city bus in my town, but as luck would have it, I would arrive 30 minutes late for work if I actually use this. So, instead of negotiating my working time with my boss, I simply drive the 6 miles to and from work everyday.
That being said, our April Fools was a joke indeed. I thought it would be great that our train left in the afternoon, plenty of time to get ready and pack, and grab a final lunch with German Bee and head out. The first part of this story happened perfectly. We did get packed, headed to the train station, left our luggage there and continued on to German Bee’s work.
This was an experience all in itself. German Bee works at Hapag Lloyd, which is a huge shipping company for freight pretty much all over the world. Therefore, everyone dresses impeccably. I mean, suit, tie, fancy-pants shoes, the whole get up. And in we stroll, two Americans that are blindly unaware of their surroundings (typical, eh?) in to the all-so-important in-house cafeteria. Not only were we not in suits and dress clothes, but we were in travel clothes, i.e. jeans and sweatshirts. I felt like such a gomer. Talk about being in the wrong situation! April 1st is turning out to be a big joke at this point.
As we approached the train station, we pondered about what Amsterdam will bring us, and sleeping in the very comfy 1st Class ticket seats I had purchased. We’re on the road home! Silly traveller, schedules are for idiots! As we boarded the train to Osnabruck, we were living the life of luxury. Reclining chairs, complementary drink service, chocolates, NO ONE around, beautiful. Then we got off at Osnabruck. Sitting and waiting for our train, I kept hearing German voices (no, not the ones in my head) over the intercom. Of course, I couldn’t understand them. We board the train and then get hit with the most rotten April Fools of all. Not only would we have to get off the train in Bad Bentheim (sp?) as an unscheduled stop, but we’d have to take a BUS to Amsterdam. A BUS. 154 miles on a bus.
Well, Bad Bentheim came, and all 150 passengers pilled out into the poring rain. Yep. Gets better. As we’re standing there with rain pouring down our backs, two charter buses pull up. As if that’s going to fit all 150 of us grumpy travelers. Begin the mad dash to the bus. “Brother Bee, you put the bags on the bus, I’ll get us seats!” I yelled as we’re sprinting to the bus. I climb on, secure us seats just in time, and sit there patiently waiting for Brother Bee as I fight of seat-hungry train passengers.
The bus ride begins. Then we get to Hengelo. I remember this place. We had to change here for some odd reason on the way to Hamburg. No matter, but the bus is stopping at the train station. We all look around, catch each other’s eyes and give the big shoulder shrung that means, “I have no idea, do you??” The driver starts to unload our baggage off the bus as people file out. Luckily, Brother Bee and I stuck to our places. An English speaking passenger (American or Canadian, actually) got off and figured out that we’re not supposed to get off here, but in Almelo. So, back on the bus goes our luggage, and we sit down. However, the bus was quite a few passengers short, and I can only attribute this to people who had no idea what they were doing, and were given no information.
In Almelo, we were instructed that we can for sure take the train to Amsterdam. Thank goodness. I was not going to ride, wet, on that bus for another 4 hours. BUT, now the rail system is crammed with all the other passengers who got stranded in Almelo, so began another mad dash to the trains. 4 confusing hours later, we arrived in Amsterdam. Wet, angry, hungry and ready for sleep.
Oh cruel April Fools Day, you don’t let go. We were only met with homesickness, loud music and an increasingly loud slamming door to our 16 bed hostel room. Sweet dreams!
Alright, you’ve read about the last our adventures in Germany. Now on to THE DUTCH. I must warn you though. The details of our trip to Amsterdam will neither shock you, nor alarm you. We’ve all heard stories of “Amsterdam After Hours.” However, this is not the Amsterdam we experienced, and though you might find some of it amusing and truly fantastic, our Amsterdam tour was definitely not what you’d expect from two people of such age.
Sorry.
Ok, I mentioned that there was a couple that insisted on making out in the children-friendly Botanical Gardens. Well, this seems to be a common theme in Europe…the making out part. Maybe it’s my prudish ways, but QUIT WITH THE MAKING OUT. This isn’t some quick, “HI! I’m SO glad to see you” peck on the cheek or on the lips. It’s the, “HI! I have no awareness of my surroundings, so I’ll kiss you like they kiss on Soap Operas,” full blown make out session. When does this happen? When one of said couples gets off the airplane, meets in the train station, meets for lunch, is in the romantic botanical gardens with Foreign people walking all over, waiting in line for the train, waiting in line to be seated for dinner, waiting in line to check out at the grocery store, picking a bottle of wine, picking out a book at the bookstore. Ok, maybe a BIT over dramatic, but so is the making out. Ok, I’m done.
After returning home from a wonderful weekend getaway to Munich, we were facing our last day in Hamburg. Somewhat disappointing, yes. The only thing Brother Bee and I had planned was picking up some awesome Hamburg souvenirs. Oh yes, and breakfast at Ikea, the furniture store. And I dead serious. Maybe it’s just me that didn’t know that Ikea not only sells you somewhat quality furniture at low prices, but they also sell you somewhat quality food at low prices. After seeing an article in a German newspaper that raked Ikea third, out of ten, in a list of the top 10 fast food joints with the best customer service, I HAD to try it out! Turns out German Boyfriend Bee also had a hankering for Ikea breakfast. So, Brother Bee decided to sleep in while German Boyfriend Bee and I headed to the furniture store for some breakfast. I had a traditional German breakfast:
While German BF Bee had Swedish Meatballs. With Ketchup.
What else would you have at Swedish Ikea?
Well, it was good, actually the service was fantastic, and the food was decent. If you can ignore the screaming children who have been pulled by their non-working mothers (not that there’s a problem with non-working mothers) to a furniture store at 11am in the morning. Isn’t that nap time or something?
After a filling breakfast at Ikea. Wow, I still can’t say that with a straight face. We headed back to get Evan up and begin the end. German BF Bee was leaving again, and we accompanied him to the local train stop and then to the Hauptbahnhof, where he was on his way to Berlin, and us to treasure hunt (my new name for buying souvenirs)!
Treasure Hunting lead us to another copy of Harry Potter 7 for the Mother Bee, and some picture books-a good start to our collection. After that, we decided to check out the Planten un Blomen, or Hamburg’s huge city park. It was gorgeous. The flowers are blooming this time of year…mainly daffodils and tulips and cherry blossoms. We took a stroll through the park, visited a completely free Botanical Gardens. Oh yes, this is where the little old German lady tried to talk to me about the flowers, and I just didn’t know what she was saying, so I talked to her in English. It worked quite well, actually. I mean, imagine a little (shorter than me) lady who as soon as she saw us was asking me questions in German. I gave her the common, contorted face that immediately told her, “I really want to help you, but you’re speaking a foreign language.” This face had become common place on this trip. But, instead of being discouraged, I listened to her…covering up the snickering of Brother Bee behind me, and we went on our merry way. Passing the couple, for the 5 time, who were intent on eating each other’s faces in the gardens like some twisted Romeo and Juliet…but I digress.
After the Gardens, we headed to the Japanese Tea Garden, which happens to be the biggest in Europe (a whole 1.5 acres) and just for a moment you can put blinders on, focus on the quaint tea house with it’s straw roof, pool of Koi and running water, and imagine yourself back in Japan. It was lovely. With the cherry blossoms encircling the pond of 2 foot long, orange Koi. Aww.
It was time to get back to the flat to meet Anja so we could pack and visit the local mall. Odd thing to do in a foreign country, but then again, the mall was odd. It had the same upscale shops you’d find at Cherry Creek Mall in Denver, minus the GARDEN of real grass and flowers in the middle of the hall. Yes, complete with garden gnomes. Twice. Even Anja was amazed. Then there was the food court. No, this is not where you’d find an over priced peace of grease that maybe resembles pizza, or a soggy box of MSG Chinese Orange Chicken. No, this is where you get fresh fruits and vegetables, hummus that is freshly mixed with figs or almonds, your own personal assortment of olives and fresh cut meats. Oh yes, and pastries right out of the bakery. This is dinner!
Back to the humble abode for one last night’s sleep in Germany. It all started with a German breakfast at a furniture store.
Ok, where was I?
Oh right…Munich. I don’t have a clever title for this one, so you’ll just have to get over it. Sunday in Munich was another fabulous day. The weather even cooperated and it turned out to be somewhere in the mid-50s all day. Wonderful. Saturday night we sat down and planned out our now-limited time in Munich. Though our plane wasn’t leaving until 8:30pm, 7:30pm at the airport, 7:00 at the Hauptbahnhof…we still needed to make a list of what we wanted to do before we left. Yes, I know, that’s just good planning.
Our day started off with us heading back to the Schloss Nymphumberg to tour the inside of the palace. I mentioned that this was probably my favorite thing (put to this point) that we had done on the trip, and this trip just enforced that feeling. The palace, well, looks like this:
Like I said, amazing! So, on with the day…I have a lot of catching up to do! We toured the palace, which was beautiful, and made our way to the OTHER palace…yes, Max Joseph and son really used up the living space. So back to Alstadt Munich.
The Residenz is the in-town palace of the royal family of Bavaria. This palace has over 140 rooms…it’s so large, you can not visit the whole thing in a day, so they make 70 rooms available in the morning, and 70 in the afternoon. We got there in the afternoon, so I guess we got to see the afternoon chunk. Let me tell you, that was plenty. The rooms were as gorgeous and spacious as the palace above, but there were so many! It was interesting, because most of this palace was destroyed during WWII, so the Munichers have taken it upon themselves to rebuilt it all exactly how it was…which is amazing. After touring the 70 rooms and the treasury, it was time for some grub.
Now, if being in a palace wasn’t enough, let me explain the area that has grown up around the palace. This being Maxamillian Place. The likes of Louis Vitton, Prada, Gucci, etc. live here. So, touring this area can be quite interesting. Picture that scene in Mighty Ducks 2 (you know you saw it) where the players are touring Rodeo Drive and they try to enter the store and are blocked out?? Yeah, that’s totally how this was.
We grabbed some lunch at a local eatery…that was very authentic. It was wonderful food, especially for a Sunday. And dessert was Bavaria cream. Oh gym, how I need you at times like this:
Looks like Ice cream, tastes like heaven. Now, I mentioned that we were on “high society” ground. Well, while we were enjoying our peaceful Bavarian lunch, German Bee leans over and nods to the four people behind us. I hear her say, “That guy is trying to pay with a 500 Euro note.” A 500 Euro note! Who even carries that kind of money?? People on the Rodeo Drive of Munich do. Funny thing is, the restaurant never would accept it, and so he and his friends had to scrape together their cash to pay for the meal. How embarrassing!
Alright, onward and upward (literally). To burn off the million calories we just ate, we set our sites on St. Peter’s Church and the 306 stairs to the tower to get an amazing view of Munich. Unfortunately, we reached the top just in time to meet all the crazy tourists that want to see the aforementioned Glockenspiel. Wonderful.
Last but not least, to the Peace Angel. This is a gigantic gold angel on top of a pillar overlooking this particular part of Munich. She is beautiful! We hung out there and enjoyed the last of our beautiful warm day. After that, we headed back to the hostel to pick up our things, and then to the airport. Goodbye to Munich.
Bee Chatter