Alright, more adventures!! This time to Madrid, Spain. On Friday the 26th I worked from about 6-1130 and then did a couple quick errands before heading back to my room to finish packing and changing clothes, then it was the 3pm train to Munchen and then the bahn to the airport. It turns out because of the air traffic controllers strike in France that our plan had been delayed getting to Munich because they couldn't fly through French air space. So the 5 of us girls(Lisa, Marissa, Melissa, Elizabeth, and myself) enjoyed some dinner and window shopping, well and we actually purchased some chocolate while waiting for our plane. We boarded around 9:15 for our 7 something pm flight. Now, I'd never flown on Iberia Airlines, let alone heard of them before this trip. They have the least amount of leg room I've ever seen even on a little 4 seater plane! So not only was I tired from having been up at 5 am and at work for the morning, but I had to sit straight up with my knees literally molded into the woman's seat back in front of me. Then to add to it the flight was completely full and the air wasn't on so I was sweating and crammed into my seat. I managed to sleep for about 20 minutes I think. We landed around midnight I think and then had to wait about an hour for our bags to come up on the carousel. So at about 1:15am(now Saturday morning) I got to see my dad and Terry and Marissa got to see her high school friend Nick who lives in Madrid. So since the subway stops running at 1:30am we had to take a cab to our hostal and I was in bed by about 2 am.
Ok, so the rest of Saturday... I got up and unpacked, showered and felt like a real person again, had a little breakfast and was ready to go by about noon. Dad brought me a hot chocolate(thanks so much!) to my room and I reviewed my Spanish phrase book while he and Terry finished getting ready. We walked through Plaza Mayor to Mercado San Miguel and met several former Pueblo Ingles and Vaughntown Spaniard participants that my dad knew. We had tapas and wine and spoke English for several hours before heading to a mojito bar for more drinks. I then got a call from the girls and Nick and met them and brought them to the bar and I then went to meet Justin at the hotel as he had just arrived from the airport. We had a siesta and then had dinner reservations for 10pm and then a flamenco show at midnight at Casa Patas which was literally just around the corner from our hostal. The food was yummy(and wine as well) and the show was great. We had a table that was touching the stage so we were right in the action.
Sunday we got a walking tour from Tour Guide Tom Ware of several plazas and sights and then went to the Prado Museum during their free admission time that evening. Terry and Dad were thoroughly engrossed in the paintings and both purchased books about the paintings housed at the museum.
Monday Terry, Justin and I got tickets for the hop on hop off tour bus around the city and saw lots of sights, walked in Ritero Park, then met dad and Inma, a Spaniard that was in the Pueblo Ingles week that Terry and Dad had just finished on Friday. She took us to a little place and we shared about 6 dishes and several bottles of wine. Justin and I then made our way to the Real Madrid Football(Soccer) stadium for a self guided tour, then the metro back to our hostal. Then the four of us went to a cafeteria a block away from our hostal for an early dinner. We then happened to see the girls outside on the sidewalk and Justin joined them for a movie in english at a theater just next to our hostal and the cafe. Terry, Dad and I enjoyed some ice cream and talked about life and met an American couple visiting their daughter who was studying nursing in Madrid. We then went back and I packed up my stuff and headed to bed.
Tuesday we checked out and went to the Real(Royal) Palace for a self guided tour and then some lunch, a stop to purchase a paella pan, before picking up our bags and taking the metro to the airport for our flights home. I got a manicure at the airport spa before some dinner and then met the girls at our gate for our flight back to Germany. I got an exit row seat this time and none of us checked our bags so the flight was a little better and we were able to catch the bahn to the main train station, grabbed a snack, and then caught the train to Garmisch, arriving at 1 am to snow falling. Then it was up at 5 am to work 6-2:30. Ahh the life of a jet setter! :-)
I thoroughly enjoyed being able to see my dad and Terry as well as exploring Madrid. It was a great break from the grind. Thanks again Terry and Dad for everything.
Pictures on Facebook...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2090174&id=44801562&l=604cb5e02e
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Ben and Martha's Visit Part 2- Germany
Once we were back in Germany the adventures didn't end. Tuesday morning I worked from 6-11 and then met Ben and Martha and went on the Bavarian Brotzeit and Ettal Tour. This included us going to a cheese making factory to learn about the process and sampled 5 of the 15 or so varieties of cheese that are made there. We shared 2 cheese plates between the 3 of us as well as a couple sausages, and some amazing cheese soup. Then for dessert, cheesecake! Yum! We then had the opportunity to buy some cheese which I did as well as some yogurt. We then walked next door to the Ettal Monastery and got a tour and some history, then more shopping, at the shop across from the Monastery and then to a local wood carver where I purchased a cutting board, bowl, and spoon. We then went back to my building and gave the 50 cent tour to Ben and Martha before we walked to the resort for our evening Griesbrau Brewery Tour. I had already done this tour once with Lisa just after we got here 4 months ago so I knew what to expect. We got the info and our samples and enjoyed some good food, and of course, dessert. One of my co-workers, Haley, was on the tour with her parents who were visiting, so we chatted with them. We got our certificates for passing the written test, and of course a visit to the store.
Wednesday I had to work, but Ben and Martha went up the Zugspitze in the morning and then did the Partnach Gorge Tour in the afternoon. That evening Justin and I met up with Ben and Martha in the Marienplatz and went out to dinner. Of course, more dessert!
Thursday we went on the Neuschwanstein Castle Tour which included a few stops along the way at a more touristy wood carver and souvenir shop, then a church, cafe, and then to the Castle. The walk up was picturesque and the tour was shorter than I had hoped, but seeing that it was never finished because King Ludwig II died first I can understand. We ate at a restaurant at the base of the hill and made our way back to the resort and I then worked from 5-10 that night.
Friday morning I worked 6-1130 and then went to base so Ben and Martha could mail some things home and we then walked to the Marienplatz and ate at a great little place with a confectionery shop attached so our desserts were amazing. Ben then went off in search of a Garmisch bike jersey and Martha and I window shopped before heading to the bahnhof for our train to Munich. We dropped our bags at their hotel and then headed to the Hofbrau Haus for dinner and BEER! I was exhausted and took the train home to rest for the day on Saturday while B&M went to Nurnberg for the day. Sunday I took the train to Munich and we toured the Munich Residence and Treasury before lunch at the Ratskeller Restaurant. I then took the train back Garmisch to get ready for work Monday morning. Ben and Martha toured the Deutsches Museum and went to the Weisses Brauhaus, both of which they enjoyed and would recommend. And finally on Tuesday they made their way to the airport for their journey back to the States.
It was great to get to see them both and spend time together touring some amazing sights and enjoying some delicious food and drink. It was a pleasure to show you my life here and be able to share in the adventures of traveling Europe.
Much love to you both.
As usual the pictures can be found on Facebook. See the link in my Part 1 post.
Wednesday I had to work, but Ben and Martha went up the Zugspitze in the morning and then did the Partnach Gorge Tour in the afternoon. That evening Justin and I met up with Ben and Martha in the Marienplatz and went out to dinner. Of course, more dessert!
Thursday we went on the Neuschwanstein Castle Tour which included a few stops along the way at a more touristy wood carver and souvenir shop, then a church, cafe, and then to the Castle. The walk up was picturesque and the tour was shorter than I had hoped, but seeing that it was never finished because King Ludwig II died first I can understand. We ate at a restaurant at the base of the hill and made our way back to the resort and I then worked from 5-10 that night.
Friday morning I worked 6-1130 and then went to base so Ben and Martha could mail some things home and we then walked to the Marienplatz and ate at a great little place with a confectionery shop attached so our desserts were amazing. Ben then went off in search of a Garmisch bike jersey and Martha and I window shopped before heading to the bahnhof for our train to Munich. We dropped our bags at their hotel and then headed to the Hofbrau Haus for dinner and BEER! I was exhausted and took the train home to rest for the day on Saturday while B&M went to Nurnberg for the day. Sunday I took the train to Munich and we toured the Munich Residence and Treasury before lunch at the Ratskeller Restaurant. I then took the train back Garmisch to get ready for work Monday morning. Ben and Martha toured the Deutsches Museum and went to the Weisses Brauhaus, both of which they enjoyed and would recommend. And finally on Tuesday they made their way to the airport for their journey back to the States.
It was great to get to see them both and spend time together touring some amazing sights and enjoying some delicious food and drink. It was a pleasure to show you my life here and be able to share in the adventures of traveling Europe.
Much love to you both.
As usual the pictures can be found on Facebook. See the link in my Part 1 post.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Ben and Martha's Visit Part 1- Vienna and Innsbruck
So this is much overdue but here it is as best as I can remember!
The snow storms in the Eastern US, their flight schedule was pushed back a day so the story starts on Friday February 12th. I got up and took the 8:04 train from Garmisch to Munich anticipating meeting Ben and Martha by the florist at around 9:30am. Well, there was some delays and phone issues, but they arrived and we went for some lunch at the Augustiner Haus and planned our route for the next few days. We had a hard time with the phone and language barrier, but with some remote assistance from "Travel Agent" Tom Ware we got a place to stay booked in Vienna and caught the train(which was quite a nice clean, smooth ride) to the Vienna Westbahnhof and made our way to the Schweizer Pension to drop off our bags. We then went down the street for some dinner and then back to the room for some rest.
Saturday we got up and following Rick Steve's book we got on the tram and did a little self guided tour around the ring loop. The weather wasn't the greatest and we were all a little cold so we made our way to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. We saw lots of coins, paintings, and an exhibit on Vermeer and the Art of Painting. We then visited the cafe at the museum and had a bite to eat before venturing out to walk around and figure out tour times and take some pictures around the city. We went to dinner at a place recommended by Rick Steves. We had yummy things that we shared, as usual, but for dessert Martha ordered some peach schnapps. It turns out that its made by a local man who is somewhat famous for his schnapps. Well, the guy recently died and fell into a vat of the schnapps, so what Martha had was probably some of the last.
Sunday morning we made our way to the State Opera House for the 10am tour in English. The Opera House had been closed for a few days because of a ball that was held there once a year and they explained how the main hall was set up for the ball as well as the intermission rooms, and the normal shows. After that we walked over to the Hofburg Palace and toured the Treasury and then walked up to the St Stephans Cathedral in the center of the old city. After a short rest in the room we went to another Rick Steves recommended cafe, the best in the city, just across from the Rathaus(city hall). We thoroughly enjoyed dinner, dessert, and warm drinks and then headed back to pack and get some sleep
Monday morning we got up early and made our way to the train station and took the train to Innsbruck. We arrived around lunch time and again Rick guided us to another wonderful meal at a place just next to the Golden Roof. After a few(ahem, dozen!) photos of the Golden Roof we made our way up the Stadtturm(Old City Watch Tower) for a beautiful view of the city and surroundings and then to the Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum and Court Church with the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I. We then walked to the Triumphpforte(Triumphal Arch) for some more photos then some train station food and the train ride to Garmisch. Ben and Martha got checked in to their hotel near the Marienplatz and off to bed!
Pictures of their whole visit can be found at...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2089586&id=44801562&l=9e492122bf
The snow storms in the Eastern US, their flight schedule was pushed back a day so the story starts on Friday February 12th. I got up and took the 8:04 train from Garmisch to Munich anticipating meeting Ben and Martha by the florist at around 9:30am. Well, there was some delays and phone issues, but they arrived and we went for some lunch at the Augustiner Haus and planned our route for the next few days. We had a hard time with the phone and language barrier, but with some remote assistance from "Travel Agent" Tom Ware we got a place to stay booked in Vienna and caught the train(which was quite a nice clean, smooth ride) to the Vienna Westbahnhof and made our way to the Schweizer Pension to drop off our bags. We then went down the street for some dinner and then back to the room for some rest.
Saturday we got up and following Rick Steve's book we got on the tram and did a little self guided tour around the ring loop. The weather wasn't the greatest and we were all a little cold so we made our way to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. We saw lots of coins, paintings, and an exhibit on Vermeer and the Art of Painting. We then visited the cafe at the museum and had a bite to eat before venturing out to walk around and figure out tour times and take some pictures around the city. We went to dinner at a place recommended by Rick Steves. We had yummy things that we shared, as usual, but for dessert Martha ordered some peach schnapps. It turns out that its made by a local man who is somewhat famous for his schnapps. Well, the guy recently died and fell into a vat of the schnapps, so what Martha had was probably some of the last.
Sunday morning we made our way to the State Opera House for the 10am tour in English. The Opera House had been closed for a few days because of a ball that was held there once a year and they explained how the main hall was set up for the ball as well as the intermission rooms, and the normal shows. After that we walked over to the Hofburg Palace and toured the Treasury and then walked up to the St Stephans Cathedral in the center of the old city. After a short rest in the room we went to another Rick Steves recommended cafe, the best in the city, just across from the Rathaus(city hall). We thoroughly enjoyed dinner, dessert, and warm drinks and then headed back to pack and get some sleep
Monday morning we got up early and made our way to the train station and took the train to Innsbruck. We arrived around lunch time and again Rick guided us to another wonderful meal at a place just next to the Golden Roof. After a few(ahem, dozen!) photos of the Golden Roof we made our way up the Stadtturm(Old City Watch Tower) for a beautiful view of the city and surroundings and then to the Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum and Court Church with the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I. We then walked to the Triumphpforte(Triumphal Arch) for some more photos then some train station food and the train ride to Garmisch. Ben and Martha got checked in to their hotel near the Marienplatz and off to bed!
Pictures of their whole visit can be found at...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2089586&id=44801562&l=9e492122bf
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