Germany!!!

I realized that I had not explained the last title.  And as I sit in the train station in Bremen I figured I had plenty of time.  We realized that we wanted to go to different museums and a castle in Turku, but soon learned that hardly anything is open on Mondays, not even some of the bowling alleys!

Otherwise Germany is interesting so far.  I am extremely happy to have someone that can speak German with me and that most Germans seem to have a good handle on English.  This picture of the blog this week is Dresden.  This is a city that has a lot of history and is the city we will be staying for a little while, after visiting Henrike!!

Finland! Nothing is ever open on Mondays :(

This was the second country on my whirl wind adventure.  Finland is the home of Laura, my exchange sister.  Thus we stayed in Helsinki and were able to see lots of the city.  We viewed Disney art, Finnish art, Helsinki Doom castle, Finland's Fortress,  a few markets, and a few saunas.  A word to the wise, always ask if the sauna benches are actual benches or just steps it saves on the bruises.  

Laura's mom made us some amazing food.  And while I am a vegetarian I had to try some Finnish food that included meat, therefore I named myself a cultural vegetarian.  So if anyone ever gets a chance to have reindeer I highly recommend it.  Also Tina makes the best cinnamon rolls, we even got to take some with us, and while Laura made us these before, it was good to try Tina's.    Also it was fun to have squeaky cheese any time I wanted, thou this was not homemade it was great.  

During our stay in Helsinki, I got to meet a few of Laura's friends.  We went to a world festival that had some interesting people playing music and a lot of booths about different organizations.  Though the best part was just talking to other Finlanders about their culture and government.   For instance, I had not realized how integrated the government and religion were with each other.  If one claims to be part of a church they have to pay a certain amount out of their yearly income to that religion.  The only percentages I learned were Lutheran which is 1% and Mormon which is 10%.  This taxation allows for the family to baptize children there, have first communion, get married, and a funeral service, at least in the Lutheran faith.  Laura's friends also discussed the Finnish school and university systems with me and it was interesting to learn more about a government paid education.  

Then it was on to Turku.  Laura goes to the school here and it was the original capital when the Russians and Swedes ruled.  Therefore we saw Turku's castle, another Doom church, the university, a few market places, and went bowling.  Turku was a very relaxing city compared to Helsinki.  And while Helsinki was much more relaxed than Ireland, it was still nice to just visit have more good food, check out shops, and watch movies.  I really enjoyed Finland and know that I would love to go back there someday.  

~DH

*coming soon*  GERMANY!!!!

No Brellie

When traveling around Ireland you will learn certain things.  One important fact is, it rains.  It may be sunny in the morning, but no matter what, it will rain.  Thus it is easy to tell who is a local due to the umbrella.  Yet when traveling the umbrella is more of a hindrance and can cause you to hit other people instead (I witnessed this a few times).  Some people staying in our hostel were unlucky enough to not have a rain jacket or umbrella, unlucky or just plain dumb.  However this fact that we do not have an umbrella has amused the locals greatly.  Some of our hostel desk workers have asked where ours was and at other times people on the street have asked us where ours was.  One such instance was in Rush.

 

Rush is a tiny little town along the coast of Ireland.  It is a fishing community and has two beautiful beaches.  However when we thought of going to the beach we did not think of one thing, this is Ireland when in rains, it pours.  Thus once at the beach and a light sprinkle of rain had begun, we hoped that it would soon be done.  Of course we were wrong, and in order to get out of the rain we either had to go back the way we came (2 miles to the train station) or find a café.  We chose option number 2 and were in desperate need of another local to point us in the right direction.  So as we walk around in yet another torrential down pour we see a lady walking her dog, with an umbrella.  Therefore we flag her down and immediately ask how to get to the nearest café.  She gives us the information and smiles asking, “No brellie?”  What the heck is a brellie? Then we remember umbrella?  Oh the Irish. 

 

However I am both sad and happy to state that I am no longer in Ireland.  We went to Dublin two days ago from Cork and spent our last day in the town, out on the coast in Rush.  Ireland has been wonderful.  You quickly realize that even though they speak English, it really is not the same English is you and that they are very helpful people.  But now it is off to Finland, and while I sit awake, guarding our luggage, I write to say goodbye to Ireland and hello to our next leg of this lovely adventure!!

~DH

Ireland ~Cork!!

Cork! After a very nice 5-hour bus ride through different parts of the country of Dublin, we have made it to Cork!  Now before we left we had figured out how to get from the bus station to our hostel, well we did not account for something, wrong information.  When viewing our hostel and the bus station it had said they were on the same side of the river, wrong. The hostel was on the other side of the river.  So after wandering for a minute or two and taking out a book, we learned from a wonderful Irish man that we were going the wrong direction.  This is not the first time we have done this and it is definitely not the last.

 

While in Cork we have visited the Blarney Castle.  Located in a city named Blarney, huh who knew?  The town was quite the tourist city and we did not want to stay there long.  But the castle was beautiful.  This was the third castle to be built on the site and built in 1446.  The castle had been attacked several times and had many rivers and hills for its protection.  Also the castle looks formidable, built on a cliff of exposed bedrock, that adds another 30 feet on to the castle.  There were tunnels dug into this, and though we looked at some, we decided we did not want to crawl around and get lost.  The castle itself is rather large and for the most part intact.  Even though the wooden floor/ceilings are gone you can tell where they were and are able to climb up many tiny staircases to the roof.  It is here that you find Blarney stone.  The stone is on the very top and built into the side of the castle.  You are to kiss the stone by laying down grabbing onto hand rails, as to lean over backwards, a man helps you.  We each got our picture kissing the stone and then fled.  For as were we just reaching the top floor it started raining, not the usual rain of Ireland, more like a torrential down pour.  This made things slippery, such as stone, which the castle is built out of, and caused us to not take many pictures of the aw inspiring view from the top.  But once out of the castle it slowed down, a wonderful thing about Ireland is the weather really does change every 15 minutes.  Now I know most of us say the same thing for Minnesota, but this is worse.  We have gone from extreme wind for a bit, to misting, to sunny, to rain all in the course of an hour.  The sun seems to rarely come out, but when it does it is wonderful.  In fact we did not see the sun until our 2^nd full day in Dublin and that was only for 20 minutes!  Anyways, the grounds of Blarney are beautiful, unless it is another torrential downpour and then you decide to cut your walk short, even though everything is gorgeous.  After Blarney it was a bus ride back to Cork City Centre for lunch.  And then a walk around the city to get in the sites.  We visited St. Finn Bier’s Cathedral, Elizabeth Fort, Cork public museum, and the tried to find Cork City Gaol (jail).  The jail was hidden way up some hills and after walking for 40 minutes we found it, about 5 minutes before it closed.  Then it was back to the hostel for a meal, and some down time.  And then back to Dublin by a 5-hour bus ride, to hopefully get to see part of the coast.

 

Now, here are a few things I have learned while traveling in Ireland.  Always have a raincoat, an umbrella is nice but doesn’t cover enough.  Keep snacks with you, if you are not sure where you are at least you have lunch.  Watch out for poo, and spot it for fellow travelers as well.  The French people will get made when asked about their soup, be prepared to ask your question several times and still not get a real answer.  Ask the Irish if you need help finding a place, if they don’t know they will at least point you in the right direction.  Do not get confused by the Gaelic that is everywhere, it is an amazing part of their history.  Go to pubs that have Irish music, even if they end up playing a few AC/DC songs really poorly.  Always check your hostel for its kitchen equipment, before shopping.  Ask the people working the desk, they know where almost everything is and have great suggestions for food, shopping, and entertainment.  Though one needs to not take all their advice, otherwise their suggestion for getting to Dublin jail would be to go and hit the guard that can be found a few blocks down the lane.  Hopefully this has helped you understand our trip a little bit more.  And I know one thing, I really want to come back to Ireland.  Poo or no poo.   

~DH

IRELAND!!! ~dublin!!

 Dublin, an amazing city, full of interesting people.  The hostel that we are staying at is really nice and clean, except for it being a 14 bed room.  But we have seen tons of sights around Dublin and learned so much about the Irish people.  Our first day (after arriving) included Kilmainham Gaol (a jail) that had tons of history especially around the Easter Riots, then the Museum of Modern Art (housed on the old royal hospital estate), the Guinness Storehouse to learn how stout is made. Day two was: the zoo, a pop over to the Decorative Art Museum, Jameson Whiskey Distillery, Dublin Castle, and the Bram Stroker’s Dracula Museum (bad).  Day three: Trinity College, National Museum of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the General Post office.

 

So I know that by just stating all of these things does not tell you exactly what we have been doing over here in Ireland, but please understand.  We have done a lot.  Dublin was a confusing city at first, getting slightly lost on the way to the hostel for the first time.  And trying to find Kilmainham, then to the Guinness storehouse, and other places.  But we mastered the tram and all of the different stops, so we could avoid the bus, plus it is cheaper!  Otherwise we have been soaking up as much Irish history as possible.  The trip to Kilmainham was probably the most educational, it really brought home just how much this country has been through.  During the potato famine, Kilmainham could fit 194 people, but it housed over 3000, and this was tiny cells, but people needed to eat.  They were practically asking to be put in jail.  And the estate that had the royal hospital (now modern art museum), was beautiful.  There was a cemetery that they could date till the 1700, but there was different parts, that was important all the way back to the 600s.  Plus a sign for a porcupine is always a cute thing.  Otherwise my favorite part about Dublin was Dublin Castle.  Though the castle could be dated to the 1200 and a little prior (a Viking Wall was found), it showed so much of the changes that had taken place.  It had been burned, in the 1600s and exploded in certain parts, due to ill planning and them exploding the powder tower!!  So most of the present castle was rebuilt in the late 1700s by the English.  I should say for the British, they really seemed to use it as a way of showing off their power.  The castle has a huge upper yard and huge rooms.  There is even a throne room where the English King or Queen would have people presented to them.  Queen Victoria had them cut off the lions that used to hold up the throne, because she did not want to have to hop up on the throne!  Anyways, I guess I really liked the castle and seeing some of the ruins they had found, so we could see a tiny little staircase that had at one time let merchants in and out of the castle.  Okay I will stop with all the Irish history.

 

Dublin is an interesting city.  We have seen more dog poo than one wants to in their whole life.  Then there are all the weird cafes.  Some places are neat and cute, and we feel perfectly happy there.  Other times we get French people mad at us, for asking what is in the soup they are serving us.  Or trying to figure out why they don’t announce things on the dart.  The Dracula museum was supposed to be scary, ha! Also Dubliners are very nice, they constantly walk up to us whenever we have a map and ask us where we want to be.  This is not them trying to be weird, just nice. 

 

Oh and we are experimenting with cooking, hostel style.  At the beginning, we actually had no idea if the hostel had any cooking equipment.  So we knew they had a microwave and plates, thus we chose: frozen fish sticks, canned spaghetti, and microwavable rice.   All I will say about this is, never again.  That combination was not needed and not good.  Microwaving frozen fish is gross.  Definitely the bottom of our cooking experience.  But I will be adding more about Ireland in a day or two, as we are in Cork at the moment and soon heading back to Dublin.  Thus look for an update soon, as my European Adventure continues!!

~DH

Chicago and beyond

Monday night we left Minneapolis MN by megabus and are now in O'Hare International Airport in Chicago!! While this is exciting, we are actually not able to check in until 3 hours before our flight and we arrived in Chicago at 8:25.  The bus ride was interesting, as some people still need to learn how to be parents, but otherwise fairly easy to sleep on.  We then found Union Station and from there found the metro stop that would take us to O'Hare.  The airport was huge and hard to get around, but most importantly boring!!  We figured out the Wi-Fi, played cards, and bought a little over priced food.  Otherwise the ride to the airport was better than the actual airport.  The 'L is fun and an interesting way of seeing Chicago, but it was a little over an hour ride so that was plenty long enough.

On a side note, a fellow traveler now has her blog linked on this site and I will be getting into London on Wednesday morning only to fly out again in the afternoon for Dublin.  Yea for another long lay over!!  Otherwise I will be adding more soon, but am in desperate need of a nap or hopefully can check our luggage soon! 

The Adventure about to begin

Hi!
As this is my first blog I asked my oldest sister for advice and received...none. I will be traveling to Europe on Tuesday and wanted to have this blog to allow my friends and family to see where I have been. Also as many of my friends and family have gone to some of these places before I would love any suggestions for places to go. Perchance you have not been to Europe then we are in the same boat (or plane or ferry or train).

Here is some background information on my trip. I will be backpacking through Europe with two college friends (they have their own blogs) and visiting many family and friends. The trip will be 10 weeks long and cover many countries, these countries include Ireland, Scotland, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, Spain, France, England, and ending in Zim (thus begins Chase's journey). These are not completely set in stone and may change later.

Therefore, let the vicarious living begin on Tuesday!!
~DH

ps~I am not an English major that is my other sister, so please ignore any and all errors. Thanks :) And thank you smartest oldest sister!