Greetings, Readers, from my cozy bed at home. On Thursday we returned home from our journey around Europe. Our last days in Munich were mellow.
We arrived in Munich and dropped our things of at our hotel.
Then we went to the Lenbachhaus Museum. My favorite painting was of a waterfall by Wassily Kandinsky.
After we looked at the art and were retrieving our coats, we met my mother’s old friend, Andrea. We sat in a small café in the museum for a bit and then made our way to the Ethiopian restaurant where my parents had their wedding party. The food was delicious, but I got tired soon.
We returned to our hotel room where we snuggled into our beds.
Breakfast consisted of Broetchen, muesli, donut holes, and hot chocolate. Afterwards, we took the tram to the apartments where my parents used to live. They told me a story about how the cat, Socrates, had once fallen from the balcony into a bush and had hidden all day.
Later we walked around a quiet, snowy park called Hofgarten . I suppose you could say I ran away to walk in the snow. My father went to retrieve me eventually.
We went to get our things from the hotel and hopped on to the subway which we took to the airport.
And so our journey concluded. It was only ten days, but it felt much longer. I have to say, this is one of the most exciting trips I have ever had and the most exciting trip I will have in a while.
Greetings from our train back to Munich, where our journey will conclude. The landscape outside is finally littered with the first flurries of snow that I have been hoping for.
Our time in Prague, I’d say, was packed. Literally. Some of the places we went to were clogged with tourists. They were mostly snapping selfies and doing incredibly idiotic things so they might look good in a picture. Take a look at what we did.
Sunday
Once we dropped our things off in our hotel room, we walked to the Charles Bridge. Remember when I said there were some places where tourists constantly were encroaching? Charles Bridge was one of those places. The bridge was choking. I bet if it could, it would cough most of us into the sea.
We squeezed our way through, and since it was late, sought out a restaurant at which we would dine. After some time of searching, we found a small restaurant and decided it was good enough. Wrong. The small space was stuffy and had painted fake brick. The waiters were extremely odd and were checking in on us every five minutes. It was very annoying. The food was alright, but I never want to eat there again.
Monday
Breakfast at the hotel was one of my favorites. Cucumbers, salami, croissant with powdered sugar, chocolate granola, and milk.
On the way to the synagogues we were planning to see, we spotted the Astronomical Clock. It was beautiful.
We arrived at the Pinkas Synagogue. The interior walls were covered with names of many people who had lost there lives in camps during World War II. It included the family names and the year the person was born and the last year they were known to be alive. There were many children’s names. On the second floor, there was artwork of children who were in a camp in the city of Terezin. Some of them survived, some of them didn’t. It scared me and I didn’t want to be there.
Afterwards, we walked throughout the Old Jewish Cemetery. The graves were piled onto each other. Some were almost sticking out of others. I thought about how someone is buried, and people respect them. Then, another person dies, and their grave is almost dug up and another tombstone and body is placed on top of it. It feels disrespectful.
For lunch we went to Kafka Snob. Weird name. I had a hamburger. It was okay. My dad had an avocado burger. Two avocado slices acting as the buns filled with all the things you find in a regular hamburger. Cheese, patty, even bacon. It looked yucky.
We visited another synagogue. The Spanish Synagogue. The stained glass was beautiful and had a unique pattern.
Later, we strolled around Letensky Park, climbed a tall hill, and crossed the Čechuv Bridge. We then walked into the golden street, which I called a tourist gutter. There were people everywhere. We were shoved, pushed, separated, and smooshed. We finally escaped.
Tuesday
Tuesday was a short day. We took an old tram to a park, far from the center of the city. Crazy tourists would not flock here. We strolled around, immersed in the wetness of the ground, the sky, and everything.
We took another tram further into the city. When we got out, we saw the Namesti Miru church with many clocks. It had a clock on each side of two towers, which was creepy. The Italian restaurant that we went to was really nice and the pizza was super good. Not like that other place.
We tried to find my uncle’s apartment building, but ended up going to the wrong one. I’m really glad we didn’t press the buzzer.
We took the subway back to the hotel. My mother wanted to ride up and down the very deep and very steep escalators for fun. The train stations were so deep because in the Cold War Era, they were used as bomb shelters.
Now we make our way to Munich. I think this trip will be the best for a while. I know I will definitely be coming back to some of these places.
Have you heard of that place in Europe? The city mistaken for Venice and the country for Australia. Where many great artists have emerged. It used to be the center of a great and strong empire. The land of art, the land of cakes. Have you heard of the one, the only, Vienna?! If you have, good for you. If you haven’t, you’re missing out.
Greetings from Vienna (we’re actually on our way to Prague), where canals are out and cakes are in. My family and I made this majestic city our home for two nights. Let’s see what you think.
Friday
The train ride to Vienna had the windows filling up with beautiful landscapes of cut back farm land. The soil looked rich and dark and perfect for crops.
After arriving in the afternoon, we made it to our hotel. It was an old apartment building built in the 40’s. We settled ourselves, and headed out for lunch. We ate at a quiet restaurant. I had ANOTHER SCHNITZEL!!! I may be obsessed.
We had to be touristy, so we took a walk to look at Hundertwasserhaus. It’s an extremely quirky building, built in 1986 by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The building is used as social housing, and has many oddities. For example, the cobblestone in front looks as if it has almost been uprooted. It’s a large hump that takes some skill to walk around.
Afterwards, we made our way to the Vienna Riesenrad, an over 100 year old giant Ferris wheel. The carts were bright red and spacious. I myself am not a huge fan of Ferris wheels. I really don’t enjoy how the carts rock and jolt around at such heights. It makes me feel a little queasy.
Saturday
A Viennese breakfast is very similar to a German breakfast. Mine consisted of Broetchen, a croissant, and very foamy hot chocolate.
Later, we walked to the Belvedere Art Museum. The works there were of Klimt and many others. They were stunning, but not always in a good way. I expressed my feelings about men painting nude women in unnatural ways. I complained again. They painted them in ways, in poses, that made me and others, I’m sure, uncomfortable. There was one painting I liked very much. It was called Portrait of a Woman by Klimt. We noticed how realistically he had painted the diamonds on her wrist. We were amazed.
My mother and I went to the Seccession. We saw one painting that took up four walls. Again by Gustav Klimt. I couldn’t really tell, but I think it was telling some sort of story. I couldn’t pin down what it was about, even when I read the program.
We walked to a small café where I had a Sachertorte, a rich chocolate cake coated with either apricot or raspberry jam. I also had an odd juice that tasted a little bit like blackberry.
For a brief two minutes we found ourselves inside the Stephansdom Cathedral. The stained glass was plain and not ornate, but still beautiful.
We walked back to our hotel, as the frigid air swept through the streets, the people, the shops, even the cobblestone seemed cold. And we nestled into our covers, knowing that tomorrow, we would be off, to new places.
Greetings from our train to Vienna, where the cars are spacious and classy. As we sit in our seats, we prepare to continue our journey to Austria.
Yesterday was an early start. We began the day by walking across the Elizabeth Bridge to Buda. On the way, we could see the Liberation Monument, towering proudly on the cliff side. Once we crossed the bridge, we climbed up to St. Gellért Monument. He was sent from Italy to convert the pagan Magyars to Christianity. He was pushed off the hill that now bears his name, trapped in a sealed barrel, for attempting to convert Budapest citizens and the young prince. A century later a statue was erected of him.
After being refreshed by the cool wind of history, we made our way to the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world. In the museum, there is a mass grave holding 2,000 of the 70,000 people who lived in the Budapest ghetto during World War II.
There is also the Raoul Wallenberg Memorial. Inside is the Tree of Life, a silver willow, each leaf bearing the name of hundreds of thousands of victims. The memorial also includes an arch and a plaque, dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg, who lost his life trying to save the Jewish people in Hungary.
After a calming experience in the Synagogue, we walked to Köleves, a buzzing restaurant, who’s menu is inspired by Jewish decor. I had Jewish baked beans and a goose leg. The baked beans seemed a little jazzed with paprika.
The day had gone by quickly, and soon it was time for dinner. We ate at that Italian restaurant again. The pizza was terribly bland and stringy, and the waiters were forgetting all kinds of things. Cups, spoons, even plates!
My parents decided it was high time we take an evening walk. We strolled up the Chain Bridge and were awe stricken when we saw Parliament, the church, the bridge, and the castle lit up.
Now we are off, on our way to Vienna, where the adventure should get even more exciting.
The frigid air swept through the open station as we lugged our suitcases onto the bumpy cobblestone.
Greetings from Budapest, where strudel sits on every breakfast plate. First time in Hungary, there’s a lot to see. Follow me and my family, as we bounced around the city, familiarizing ourselves.
Tuesday
You may be curious about our overnight train trip, so I’ll start with that. The beds were tight and cozy, but they served their purpose. Sleeping on the train was a tumultuous experience. It bounced around and jostled the riders, but that was one of the only reasons I fell asleep. The cars were rocked from side to side, and there was a heater, which provided plenty of noise.
After arriving at our destination, we decided it was high time we got some decent food inside of us. We dropped off our luggage and headed to a nearby Strudel Haus. Strudel is a popular pastry in Hungary. It is stuffed with things such as poppy seeds, nuts, apple, and even spinach. Bleh! I had pork with potatoes, and for dessert, apple strudel with vanilla ice cream.
Afterwards, we walked to the St. Stephens Basilica. It was refreshing to be in a place of worship that was so quiet and calm and serene. I noticed the candles that had been lit and remembered a Thanksgiving trip to Rome. We had gone inside a small church. There were candles everywhere. They were the only things illuminating the dark space.
Upon returning to the hotel, we made the mistake of taking a nap. We didn’t wake up until the next morning. Whoops!
Wednesday
This day was a little more exciting. We had a breakfast at the hotel, of Broetchen, croissants, plum and apple strudel, bacon, and sausages. We then headed out to the Chain Bridge. The Chain Bridge was the first bridge built that joined Buda and Pest. The air was icy and strong and the view was gorgeous.
Once we reached the other side of the bridge, Buda, we took the funicular up to the National Art Museum. There, I had deep conversations with my mother about how at the time that these paintings were made, male artists were painting nude women with clothed men. I found it disgusting and somewhat disturbing. I was told it was about power and that at the time, men were very interested about women’s bodies. Thinking about it made me sick. There were two paintings that I did like very much. They were Woman with Birdcage and Cellist.
Later, we dined at a restaurant known as Pierrot. While Hungary was a communist country, all businesses, schools, and hospitals were owned by the government. Pierrot was the first independent business. I had yet another schnitzel! This one was breaded a little differently and came with potato purée, which I didn’t like.
Afterwards, we got in line to get tickets, so we could enter the Mátyás Church. While my mother waited in line, my father and I noticed a man dressed in funny clothes with a falcon on his arm. The falcon had a rope tied to it’s foot and the man would put a leather mask on it’s face, so it couldn’t see anything! He would then put it on other people’s arm and head. The mask was there so that the falcon wouldn’t get excited. The man would remove it for a few seconds and then shove it back on. All of my family thought this was cruel. We learned that a long time ago, this was a profession. To have a trained falcon lead you to where pray might be if you were hunting. Falconers trained their birds to respond to recalls. They let them fly and be free. This man was abusing his bird, and I could tell that it wasn’t happy.
After getting the tickets, we entered the church. The stained glass was beautiful and it was spacious and grand. We noticed organ pipes nestled in the back and wondered where the actual organ was located.
We returned to the hotel where I was given medicine for my cold that made me very cranky. I was forced to go to an Italian restaurant, who’s pepperoni pizza was questionable.
The strong heater blows hot air into the small compartment, creating a humid environment. The sound of peanuts crunching and suitcases rolling across the ground is everywhere.
Greetings from our train to Budapest, where the sleeping compartments are just a tad on the cozy side. We continue our journey across Europe to Hungary. Did I mention, it’s Christmas Eve? This is how me and my family kicked off the Festive Season.
What’s in a German breakfast, you ask. Our breakfast consisted of Broetchen (Semmel), the traditional German bread that all children have for breakfast, muesli with fruit, Christmas cookies, and gooseberries. Exotic, right?
After the hearty meal, we took the subway to Isartor, where we walked to the Deutsches Museum, the Viktuelenmarkt, and the Christmas Market in Marienplatz. In the plaza we strolled around the stalls. There were wooden ornaments on sale, cheese, and warm drinks. Both my parents had Gluehwein, hot wine with spices. Yuck! I had hot fruit punch in a shoe-shaped mug. The concoction was so hot, my tongue nearly fell off. The drink certainly heated me up.
We journeyed on to Café Puck in Schwabing, where I had more breaded Schnitzel. It seems to be a favorite of mine. I also tried Apfelsaftschoerle, a fizzy juice.
We continued to the trams, which took us to Schloß Nymphenburg, where the summer palace, built to honor the birth of Elector Max Emanuel, still stands. Many princes after him expanded the palace, making it what it is today. We enjoyed watching the man-made canal in front of the palace. There were plump ducks, waddling geese, arrogant swans, and an unusual type of gray and white bird. As we were walking back to the trams, I had noticed the many different shades of the sky. Near the horizon the clouds were a dark and menacing, yet pleasing, shade of blue. Those that hovered higher in the sky were fluffy and white. I wanted to pluck the tops off and eat them. The clouds above our heads were dusty and gray.
Before returning to our hotel to collect our things, we stopped at a small Wirtshaus. I had a rich chocolate cake with ice cream and custard. I was given bland peppermint tea to soothe the cold that I am suffering from. As we sat at our table, we noticed a little dog on the other side of the beer hall. It was sitting on the same seats as it’s owners and was quite eager on nibbling at the centerpiece of pine needles and a candle, once even attempting to pull it off the table and set the whole place on fire.
When we returned to the hotel, I was exhausted. While waiting for our taxi, we sat in a small lounge. I spent a while attempting to fall asleep in the uncomfortable chairs.
At the train station, we purchased pastries and warm beverages to preoccupy ourselves with until our train arrived.
Now I sit writing this blog at 11:49 pm, sitting on my compartment bed, as the train rocks from side to side. The train will reach Budapest tomorrow. Who knows what the next day will bring?
The glass hallways are crowded with the mild yet pungent odor of air conditioning and human sweat. 11 hours later, my family and I are greeted by the smell of strong cleaning detergent, as we step into Munich.
Greetings from Munich, where snow is sure to be abundant. My parents and I have made our way from California to Germany for Winter Break. Not only are we experiencing the wonders of this country, but are also traveling around Europe to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague.
Once we arrived, we made the sensible decision to fill our stomachs. We chose to dine at a neighbourhood Wirtshaus, known as Zum Brunnstein. We started off with a vegetable salad of lettuce, cucumbers in the process of being pickled, coleslaw (hold the mayonnaise), shredded carrots, and potatoes. I ordered the Schwweineschnitzel along with ripple French fries. Could that filling meal not be filling enough? Maybe that’s why we ordered Palatschinken. Crispy crepes concealing scoops of icy vanilla ice cream, drizzled with glistening chocolate sauce. To top it off, a dollop of fluffed whipped cream.
The walk back to our hotel was short and cold. It hadn’t been snowing, but it was raining. Just a slight drizzle, fortunately, but I myself hope that there will soon be piles of sparkling snow outside.
I sit writing this blog at 11:02 pm, agreeing that it may be time to retire to the blankets. Exciting adventures are sure to come forth, as this European vacation begins.
Tranquil & Tumultuous Travels 