The Final Leg

Hello everyone!

Wanted to write a short note letting you know that we've arrived in Belgium! In Bruges, to be more specific. The train ride today was a bit lengthier than anticipated; we thought we'd be able to get from Amsterdam to Bruges with a single change of trains in Antwerp, but it ended up taking three changes (four trains) to get us here. We're pretty sure the ticket agent was a trainee, so...

In any event, we had a lovely couple of days exploring the streets and canals of Amsterdam. We're spending just a single night here in picturesque Bruges, and tomorrow afternoon we're going to make the 1/2 hour jump over to Ghent for a couple of days. We'll end our trip staying with a friend of mine (whom I met in Taize) in the south of Belgium, hopping up to visit Brussels for a day as well, before we fly back to France for our last two days in Europe.

Hopefully I'll have a chance to post pictures later!

-Brock

Photo Update!

I've got a good internet connection, and you know what that means - photos!

We're coming to the end of our second full day in Berlin; tomorrow we head for Erlangen to meet up with my friend Merten. We spent the first Berlin day walking the city and seeing the sights, and today we spent the entire day at the Berlin Zoo, which is a phenomenal place. Last night we had the fantastic opportunity to visit three very different bars. The first was a small brick place in a basement, packed to the rafters and featuring a swing/jazz band (trombone, trumpet, clarinet, rhythm section) comprised of guys mostly in their 60s or 70s, and they were rocking the house. It was amazing. The second place was an extremely edgy bar named using a rather vulgar play on words (in German) that I'll have to explain in person, if you're interested. And the final bar was the most "normal," but featured an excellent dance floor. All in all a wonderful Berlin evening.

Here are a few more pictures!

In the Krakow train station, waiting for our train to Warsaw

Warsaw!

Lauren presents... Warsaw fountain

Warsaw's "Old City" - not actually that old, since Warsaw was essentially flattened in the course of WWII. It has a very interesting mix of (very successful) attempts to rebuild a European city, mixed with Soviet-style architecture

Warszawa Centralna Station

Berlin Dom, also a spectacular rebuilding effort after it was devastated in WWII

Inside the Berlin Dom!

And on top of the Berlin Dom, with the famous Berlin TV Tower in the distance

Berlin in the sun!

Brandenburger Tor

Berlin wall fragment & display

Hippos at the zoo

Baby hippos, too.

RHINO!!!!!!!!

Baby warthogs. Lots of babies at the zoo in the spring.

Owls!(?)

Family portrait.

Gargantuan elephant

Lauren at the Berlin Zoo gate

Till next time!

-B

Running Commentary...

Hey everyone!

Just another brief update for now. Today we left Poland, catching a 5-hour train from Warsaw to Berlin. We arrived safe and sound in Berlin around 8 in the evening, and found our lovely hostel without any trouble. We're very excited to spend the next couple of days exploring the city! We've been hearing a lot from other backpackers about big trouble in the south of Europe; apparently many southern cities (Prague particularly) are experiencing very serious flooding. No worries for us, though; we've been having some very nice weather. We'll keep you all posted!

All the best,
-B&L

Preliminary Krakow Pictures!

Hi again!

I've suddenly discovered a pretty solid internet connection, so I thought I'd post a few pictures from our short time in Krakow!

Our hostel just inside the old city on Florianska Street, facing the St. Florian Gate

The "Cloth Hall," a large indoor craft market located in the center of Market Square, one of the biggest squares in Europe.

St. Mary's Cathedral, on Market Square. Lots of intricately dressed street performers hang out just in front, taking pictures with tourists.

Path leading up to Wawel Castle, complete with traditionally-dressed accordion player! 

The cathedral at Wawel Castle.

Another view of the cathedral. 

Smok Wawelski, the famous Krakow dragon who lives between Wawel Castle and the Vistula River. Or lived, rather: according to legend, the dragon died after drinking half the river in a fit of thirst.

Pierogis at Zapiecek restaurant, which is a truly magical place. Open 24/7, it serves many delicious varieties of pierogi (tried so far: cottage cheese, cabbage, meat, apple, mushroom). We ate here 3 times within 24 hours, and 4 times within 30 hours. And we'll probably go again.

Catch you all later with more updates and pictures!

-Brock