Blogs from Europe - page 13871

Well, I'm here at Heathrow Airport. Sitting. Waiting. Poised. ...well, almost poised, more sleepy really, after spending a rough night in the most lumpy bed in the world in Tooting, but hey, travellers can't be choosers and I'd better get used to lowering my standards. Had an emotional farewell at the departure gate, which was, to tell you the truth, rather drowned out by the feeling of impending doom which was slowly creeping up on me. It's not that this travelling malarky is a bad idea, just that it's not really a very well thought out and planned idea, more of a daydream really that seems to be turning to into reality. My bums going numb, hope we start boarding soon, I can't wait for my little airplane-sized portions of soggy vegatables and bland sauces, mmmm. ... read more

After what seemed like a whole day of flight, accross the Atlantic, over Great Britain and parts of Western Europe, with an overlay in Munich, our plane touched down in Madrid, Spain at 1000pm/22:00 on October 6th. This is my first trip to Europe. First trip out the U.S. really. I have found comfort in learning that there are people in my group who have had the same worries and felt anxiety as I have. While I was still at home, everyone´s question was always, "When are you leaving?"..."Aren´t you excited?" My answer was often, "I´ll be excited when I get there." Well, now I´m here. And, yes, I am excited! The feeling of being here hadn't really hit me til today. We visitied Toledo, España´s first capital city. Madrid, in comparison to Toledo, is like ... read more

So, ich habe soeben die Zeit ein wenig ausfuehrlicher zu berichten. Das wichtigste, es geht mir gut. Ich bin gut angekommen und habe auch schon viel von der Stadt gesehen (zumindest alle Sehenswuerdigkeiten). Davon gibt es allerdings nicht so viele, denn diese Stadt ist nicht sehr alt. Nach dem zweiten Weltkrieg wurde sie quasi aus dem Boden gestampft, und die komplette Ruestungsindustrie hierher transferiert. Man waehnte diese wohl sicher vor den Deutschen bzw den Amis hinter dem Ural. Es war auch Sperrgebiet. Somit ist Tourismus nicht unbedingt eine Staerke dieser Stadt. Ich habe mich auch nach einem Russischkurs umgehoert, doch es gibt hier keine Auslaender (O-Ton), und somit auch keine Russischkurse. Dafuer werde ich quasi taeglich angesprochen, jedoch nur um sich mit mir auf englisch zu unterhalten. Die Leute hier haben keine Gelegenheit zum Ueben. Somit ... read more

Amsterdam: it's not our fault it's legal...... read more

Woke to banging shutters, a bright but amazingly windy day. Explored the lower town, up and down alleys in this medieval metropolis. Odd bits and pieces in the town museum, worth a look. Watched the world go by. It would be easy to spend a few days or weeks here, a long way from anything - at least out of season. Later in the day we climbed the stairway to the deserted upper town. This one covered most of the top of the rock. Now in ruins except for the church. We of course continued to the top to the ruined citadel. Great views across to the mainland and to sea. In evening we went over to the mainland to a restaurant where is was a case of looking through what there was and then ... read more