I'm Lame

Ok, so I realize that I've done a terrible job of writing on this thing. I can't say I'm going to make up for it just yet. I'll be heading home tomorrow and once I get a good computer to work on, I will put up some pictures and other thoughts, so stay tuned!

Amsterdam

Emily and I spent a pretty uneventful night in Cologne. Most of the city was destroyed in the war except for the big Cathedral which, after almost 2 months in Europe wasn't much to write home about. The rest of the city is big and generic and in general, I can't see going back any time soon. So on to Amsterdam....

I've had a lot of thoughts about being in Amsterdam. Most people, when you mention that you are going to Amsterdam smile and give a knowing look, as in 'I know why you're really going to Amsterdam!' and sure, while there is the whole coffee shop culture, I feel that it is an unfair assessment of the city as a whole. Amsterdam is an incredibly beautiful city with a rich history of tolerance. After walking around much of it, it makes me think twice about the way pot is viewed. While I do agree that it is probably a better use of the government's time and money to focus on harder drugs to crack down on, I find that much of the marijuana culture sullies the rest of the city. I think this happens in part because the city has become a haven for people coming to smoke, rather than just a city in which pot is tolerated. I think about a place like San Francisco and the people there who would like to see pot legalized, but after being in Amsterdam, I think I would be opposed to it. To federally address the subject is something different, but I would hate to see San Francisco's beautiful streets and cafes fill up with people who were just interested in doing drugs.

Cologne

Emily and I are in Cologne now! woo!

Strasbourg was a lovely city. Our first day there, we got a good lay of the land and walked to the Cathedral (there's always a Cathedral, isn't there?). It is known for its original stained glass which is old school and VERY beautiful.

After, Emily and I decide we wanted to tour the Kronenbourg factory which is located in Strasbourg. For those of you who are not as well informed on the beer situation in France, Kronenbourg is sort of like the national beer of France. We had a great time learning all about the history and process of the beer making and then got to have a petit degustation at the end! Very enjoyable, indeed.

The next day, we decided to head to Colmar, a small city just outside of Strasbourg that is known for being in the Alsatian wine region. Again, we had a look around and enjoyed a tasting of the local wine from a local Alsatian producer. It was very informative and Emily and I both patted ourselves on the back for our fine upbringing in destinguishing the flavors of the wine (lol).

In the evening in Strasbourg, we happened upon the Cathedral and to our surprise, saw a great light show on the facade of the building. It was an entire light spectacular set to classical music. What a great thing to see!

We have just arrived in Cologne and it is very hot and muggy here. We will be heading for the Cathedral, which apparently was one fo the few things to survive the bombings in the 2nd world war. Only one night here and then off to Amsterdam tomorrow!

Oh, and the food is pretty good! Lets just say the budget is low for that sort of thing, but it is easy to have something good to eat when you are in France. Always good cheese and good bread!!

Strasbourg

Emily and I ahve arrived in Strasbourg and boy is it beautiful! No more time to update, although there's not a lot to say yet.

à Cannes

So after a long journey in which Emily and I went from outside Interlaken all the way to Cannes in the South of France, we arrived, hot, sweaty and tired au collège. It's great to be back here. Since Emily was a boursier last summer, she definitely knows more people who are here now than I do. But in typical collège fashion, everyone has been laidback and nice and I feel just as at home as ever. As a result of getting back into the groove, we have decided to extend our time here and cancel our plans to go to Lyon. This will allow us more time in Cannes and an opportunity to save some money, as our accomodations for the second part of Cannes will be in the home of a family friend of Emily's. We will still be going to Strasbourg and neither of us was committed to Lyon. I think we are at a point in the trip where resting and being at a place that we recognize is just what we need.

There likely won't be a ton to update on as I'll probably just be hanging around and beaching it up.

Hope you are all well. Me

If Heaven Isn't What It's Cracked Up to Be, Take Me Back to Gimmelwald

...At least that's how the saying goes. It's pretty easy to believe, since Gimmelwald is an incredibly beautiful place nestled amongst the clouds in the Berner Oberland region of Switzerland. One stop up on the Gondola station and without any major roads for cars to drive up, the town of Gimmelwald is obscure enough to bring an entirely different clientele to the hostel in this one street town. This isn't a place to party in a club, but rather to get up early and go hiking in some of the most beautiful country in the world. Gimmelwald sits at the base of the Schilthorn Mountain, which while being incredibly high, is also well known for being featured in the James Bond film 'Her Majesty's Secret Service.' When Emily and I arrived, we spent most of our time checking out Gimmelwald and hanging at the hostel since we were limited by the rainy weather. By the next morning the sun came out and the clouds had parted and we could see the spectacular Swiss Alps before us. We decided right then to take the Gondola up to see the views and then hike down. This was probably the best decision we've made while here, since we were actually able to see the view from the top of the Schilthorn (most people haven't been able to ).

The hike down was STEEP and both Emily and I have felt it for the rest of our time here.

The one of the best parts about our time here has been the really cool people we've met, most of whom have extended their stays at the hostel. While here I met, a pro baseball player, a guitarist who used to play for a Norweigan pop star, and an inordinate number of Canadians.

Once again there is a line forming for the computer, so I guess I better go.

Off for a long travel day tomorrow, but we'll finally be in Cannes, I'm SO EXCITED.

Off to Lucerne Today

Emily and I on our way to Lucerne in Switzerland today. I'm so excited! We are having good weather in Munich and hopefully that will follow us to Switzerland as well.

'Mad' King Ludwig's Castle

Yesterday Emily and I made the trek out to Neuschwanstein Castle, the home of ´Mad´ King Ludwig of Bavaria. It takes a full day to go out there so we got a pretty early start. The ticket lines are notorious for this famous castle, since it was the one that Walt Disney used as a model to design the iconic Disney castle. After stadnign in line for about and hour, we got our tour time for 4:40pm. With three hours until we got to go in, we decided to picnic lunch it and then walk around the town that sits just below the Castle. We ended up going to the Lake, Alpensee and taking a really beautiful hike around it. It always amazes me how beautiful and blue the lakes are in this area of the world, and this lake was no exception.

The tour of the Castle was good, if short, and the rooms were unique. I was hoping we would learn a little more about king ludwig since he has a reputation for being crazy, but it was cool to see the rooms we did. All in all, I was glad to have gone, but dont think I will have to go back again an time soon.

Once we were done with the tour, we realiyed that if we hurried down the hill, we might be able to make it onto the bus that could get us to the station in time. Since going to Füssen take two trains and a bus minimum, if we could catch this one, it would get us hoem at a much more reasonable time.

We hustled down the hill and checked the schedule for the bus. It was supposed to arrive any minute! Yes! So we waited. And waited. I started to worry that even if the bus came, we wouldn't be able to make it. Finally, the bus pulled up and everyone loaded up....great, maybe we actually can make it! we'll leave in a second, right? Oh, we're waiting for people who are running up?! Ahh, come on if we don't go now, who knows if any of us will make it? Finally, the bus takes off and as we arrive at the station, everyone sprints for the train...and we MADE IT! Yes! Despite having to sit on the floor of the train for most of the trip, it was worth it, and we got in around 8:45pm.

After that, Amaranth, a friend of mine since we went to Orangevale together, met up with us and took us to a traditional Bavarian restaurant. I tried the Knüdle, which are bread dumplings and SOO delicious. Very good choice!

Overall, it was a good, busy day in Bavaria.

Now in Munich

I feel bad because I´ve neglected to update in a few days. I dont have a lot of time on the computer, but I´ll try a quick Salzburg business.

Salzburg is the kind of European town that feels like your are walking in on a movie set. Theres something about the way the light hits the soft green buildings and the opaque green river that flows through the city that makes you inderstand why Freuline Maria sang about the hills being alive with the sound of music. It really is beautful there, will rolling hills in the background and a peaceful sort of feeling.

Emily and I spent quite a bit of time getting to know the city by walking it. There are a lot of churches, a cemetery and a funicular train leading up to a fortress. We checked it all out over two days. We also got a chance to meet some interesting people who were staying at our hostel. There was Ariana from California, Becki from England, and Ryan from Canada. All really interesting people who were traveling by themselves. I have to say that I dont know if I would have the wearwithall to do it, but they seemed to have met so many new people and have so many great experiences that I have no doubt that it was worth it.

Yesterday we arrived in Munich and met up with an old friend of mine, Amaranth, who has been living in munich. It was great to get to see her, and she took us to a couple of her favorite places to get a drink in the city.

Tomorrow we are going to try to do Neuschwanstein Castle. I hope it doesnt rain!