Liebe Familie, Freitag 31st Oktober 2008
Happy Halloween! Mommy and I got up this morning to go to Parlament on a field trip with my Politics class. It was so cool! We took loads of pictures, got to sit in the chairs, fiddle with the desks, etc. The building is really very beautiful, and it was interesting to hear the history of the Parlament. Afterwards we wandered around the middle of the city, saw the Votivkirche, the Rathaus, the Burgtheater, the Hofburg, etc. We took lots of pictures for Daddy of buildings, and then headed back to my apartment.
After lunch we rented bikes (for free!) and rode to the Belvedere (not the most direct way, but we got there in plenty of time). We saw the gardens there, and then hopped back on bikes to get back to my street. We ate dinner at this restaurant called Centimeter, completely stuffing ourselves with schnitzel, soup, and french fries. We then walked up and down my street, the largest shopping street in Vienna. We made it all the way up to the Westbahnhof, where we made our reservations for our night train on Sunday. While paying for it we discovered the loss of a credit card—as all of you already know, and hurried home to cancel it, which took quite some time.
Luckily, Daddy got the message 15 times over, and all is well with the world.
Love,
Anna
Friday, 31 October 2008
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Happy Birthday Peter
Dear Family, Thursday 30th October 2008
In class today we were told that our teacher is ill, and will be leaving us. Today was her last day, and she will be replaced by someone else by the next class. I'm so sad! She was so nice, and it takes a week or two to get used to each professor and their styles, and tests, and I don't want to have to go through that again! It's terrible. I hope she gets well soon.
After classes I bummed around and helped my friend Annalise pick out flattering clothing for the next few hours. Turns out my Macy's skills come in handy. I'm beginning to be in high-demand as a shopping partner. Although I didn't buy anything, we did spend half an hour trying on hats! I think if I ever had a bunch of money to spare, I'd buy hats. They're so funny, and not needed at all, and yet people wear them all the time.
I went grocery shopping, then rushed off to the airport to pick up my dearest mother. After waiting for about an hour we were reunited! We went home, ate dinner while talking to my host parents, and hit the hay, as Mommy was exhausted, and I hadn't been sleeping well.
Love,
Anna
In class today we were told that our teacher is ill, and will be leaving us. Today was her last day, and she will be replaced by someone else by the next class. I'm so sad! She was so nice, and it takes a week or two to get used to each professor and their styles, and tests, and I don't want to have to go through that again! It's terrible. I hope she gets well soon.
After classes I bummed around and helped my friend Annalise pick out flattering clothing for the next few hours. Turns out my Macy's skills come in handy. I'm beginning to be in high-demand as a shopping partner. Although I didn't buy anything, we did spend half an hour trying on hats! I think if I ever had a bunch of money to spare, I'd buy hats. They're so funny, and not needed at all, and yet people wear them all the time.
I went grocery shopping, then rushed off to the airport to pick up my dearest mother. After waiting for about an hour we were reunited! We went home, ate dinner while talking to my host parents, and hit the hay, as Mommy was exhausted, and I hadn't been sleeping well.
Love,
Anna
Friday, 24 October 2008
Shady Markets in Prague
Liebe Familie, Freitag 24 Oktober 2008
After getting up and repeating my coleslaw, hot dog and macaroni breakfast, we all went out to meet Vladimir for the last time. He took us to the castle, and all around that area, although we didn't really have time to learn that much about them, or take very many pictures, so it wasn't really the most productive of times. It was neat though, and I did get a picture with a soldier, with a group though, as I couldn't bring myself to embarrassingly go up alone. We saw the St. Vitus Cathedral, the “Golden Lane,” a dungeon, and so on. It was really pretty, but absolutely freezing so I cannot remember that much of it. It was below zero degrees Celsius when we began, which we hadn't expected, as during the day with the sun shining it was not too cold. However this morning there was a terrible fog, so the sunshine couldn't do its job properly.
After the tour was finally over, we meandered back to the hotel, stopping at a few places along the way, and then eating lunch at the hostel. We ended up taking a short nap there, as we were all so tired, and it felt great, although I definitely would have preferred a longer time to sleep in.
Although I was still groggy we went to this shady market with not a single soul in it aside from the vendors and I bought two really cheap scarves. We went to the tower on the Charles bridge at 5, in time to see sunlight, the sunset, and then the night. Needless to say, many photos were taken. After sitting up there for several hours we wandered around the city again, trying to find somewhere to eat. As everything was closing, we finally found a cute little shop where I split a salad with a friend. There were some much needed vitamins in those lettuce pieces, as they tasted so good. I hadn't eaten vegetables since Tuesday, and I was definitely feeling it.
We wandered back to the hostel and just hung out until bed time. We still have one more day in Prague, and I'm wondering what to do, as I'm down to my last few Karuna, and am not quite sure what else there is to do.
Deine Anna
After getting up and repeating my coleslaw, hot dog and macaroni breakfast, we all went out to meet Vladimir for the last time. He took us to the castle, and all around that area, although we didn't really have time to learn that much about them, or take very many pictures, so it wasn't really the most productive of times. It was neat though, and I did get a picture with a soldier, with a group though, as I couldn't bring myself to embarrassingly go up alone. We saw the St. Vitus Cathedral, the “Golden Lane,” a dungeon, and so on. It was really pretty, but absolutely freezing so I cannot remember that much of it. It was below zero degrees Celsius when we began, which we hadn't expected, as during the day with the sun shining it was not too cold. However this morning there was a terrible fog, so the sunshine couldn't do its job properly.
After the tour was finally over, we meandered back to the hotel, stopping at a few places along the way, and then eating lunch at the hostel. We ended up taking a short nap there, as we were all so tired, and it felt great, although I definitely would have preferred a longer time to sleep in.
Although I was still groggy we went to this shady market with not a single soul in it aside from the vendors and I bought two really cheap scarves. We went to the tower on the Charles bridge at 5, in time to see sunlight, the sunset, and then the night. Needless to say, many photos were taken. After sitting up there for several hours we wandered around the city again, trying to find somewhere to eat. As everything was closing, we finally found a cute little shop where I split a salad with a friend. There were some much needed vitamins in those lettuce pieces, as they tasted so good. I hadn't eaten vegetables since Tuesday, and I was definitely feeling it.
We wandered back to the hostel and just hung out until bed time. We still have one more day in Prague, and I'm wondering what to do, as I'm down to my last few Karuna, and am not quite sure what else there is to do.
Deine Anna
Thursday, 23 October 2008
20 Czech Karuna=1 U.S. Dollar
Liebe Familie, Donnerstag 23 Oktober 2008
What a day!?!? We got up early for a Czech breakfast. They eat hot dogs. For breakfast. I kinda liked it. I also had sauerkraut and some weird pasta stuff, but the entire breakfast I discussed life with Bruce's step-dad, who happens to be one of the milk judges in “Napoleon Dynamite.” He invited me and my friend Willow to come ride horses with him sometime next summer, and is completely serious about it, which I'm thoroughly excited about. He actually supplied the horse for the ending scene when Napoleon comes riding in on the horse to Kip's wedding.
After breakfast we met our guide, Vladimir, and he took us to the old Jewish Ghetto. We went into Synagogue after Synagogue, it was really cool at first, but after a while it got a little old. One of the synagogues has 77,000 names of Prague citizens who were killed between 1942 and 1943. They just covered the walls on both the first and second floors. We went to an old cemetery, which was really cool, Hebrew is so pretty looking! The Spanish Synagogue is also gorgeous inside, and it was really cool to see all of the artwork and pictures they had in there.
When the tour ended we just wandered around the city, quickly spending more Kronen than we had previously thought possible. Everywhere they sell marionettes, Babushka dolls, glass/crystal, and paintings. The nativity sets are regrettably expensive, so I didn't get to buy any of those.
We walked along the Charles bridge a few times, and then went back to the hotel to pick up our coats as it darkened. After looking through a market we walked through many stores, testing out exercise equipment and furniture. We ate dinner at an authentic Czech restaurant, and I had the chicken goulash. It was really quite good, so I think I'll try to go there again tomorrow night...
Finishing dinner, I started to fall asleep because I had finally sat down after being on my feet all day, so I opted to go back to the hotel for an early night. Well, back at the hostel we ended up staying up pretty late and now that it's after midnight, I think I'm going to try to go to bed, but I do not regret the fun we had at all.
Deine Anna
What a day!?!? We got up early for a Czech breakfast. They eat hot dogs. For breakfast. I kinda liked it. I also had sauerkraut and some weird pasta stuff, but the entire breakfast I discussed life with Bruce's step-dad, who happens to be one of the milk judges in “Napoleon Dynamite.” He invited me and my friend Willow to come ride horses with him sometime next summer, and is completely serious about it, which I'm thoroughly excited about. He actually supplied the horse for the ending scene when Napoleon comes riding in on the horse to Kip's wedding.
After breakfast we met our guide, Vladimir, and he took us to the old Jewish Ghetto. We went into Synagogue after Synagogue, it was really cool at first, but after a while it got a little old. One of the synagogues has 77,000 names of Prague citizens who were killed between 1942 and 1943. They just covered the walls on both the first and second floors. We went to an old cemetery, which was really cool, Hebrew is so pretty looking! The Spanish Synagogue is also gorgeous inside, and it was really cool to see all of the artwork and pictures they had in there.
When the tour ended we just wandered around the city, quickly spending more Kronen than we had previously thought possible. Everywhere they sell marionettes, Babushka dolls, glass/crystal, and paintings. The nativity sets are regrettably expensive, so I didn't get to buy any of those.
We walked along the Charles bridge a few times, and then went back to the hotel to pick up our coats as it darkened. After looking through a market we walked through many stores, testing out exercise equipment and furniture. We ate dinner at an authentic Czech restaurant, and I had the chicken goulash. It was really quite good, so I think I'll try to go there again tomorrow night...
Finishing dinner, I started to fall asleep because I had finally sat down after being on my feet all day, so I opted to go back to the hotel for an early night. Well, back at the hostel we ended up staying up pretty late and now that it's after midnight, I think I'm going to try to go to bed, but I do not regret the fun we had at all.
Deine Anna
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Welcome to the Eastern Block!
Liebe Familie, Mittwoch 22 Oktober 2008
After getting up early this morning I went off to the train station and got on the train. We were all so exhausted from earlier this week, so we just talked and did sudoku on the train. At one point we folded out our seats really cool and all laid down, but by the time we finished documenting the event, we were nearly there and the train was too loud to get any real sleep.
After arriving in Prague we took a subway to hostel, and dropped our stuff off in time for our tour with “Vladimir.” He's this funny old man who waves his umbrella for us to see where he is. We walked around the old town, and saw many beautiful buildings. It was difficult to understand him with us being such a large group, so I didn't really get to learn that much. I did get to run across Charles' Bridge, I don't know the real name of it, sorry. But yeah, within the first hour of our tour it became so dark and cold, I was so glad I had brought my jacket with me, even though it had been so sunny and warm. By the end of the tour we were all freezing and hungry, and very anxious to go pull money out and buy food.
We ran to a grocery store, where a very angry, old, mean man would refuse each and every one of us. As we had just taken out money from the ATM, we had larger bills, but they were the equivalent of $50. He would refuse to take our money, and we would have to keep handing it to him for about 30 seconds before he would grudgingly take it, and give us our change. What a grump! He would then proceed to crumple our receipts and throw them on the ground behind the counter, so we couldn't really see how much money we'd just spent and compare it with the change he'd given us. He has been voted my least favorite person in all of Europe.
At the hostel our floor shares a very gross, small kitchen where we made our pasta. We also have communal showers with no curtain or door, so none of us will be showering all that much. This is the first time we've stayed in a hostel, not a hotel. Which is completely fine, accept for the shower thing. I at least expect there to be some kind of article blocking me from other people.
I am ready to keel over, so I'm going to bed, even though it is only 9. But I need it terribly.
Love,
Anna
After getting up early this morning I went off to the train station and got on the train. We were all so exhausted from earlier this week, so we just talked and did sudoku on the train. At one point we folded out our seats really cool and all laid down, but by the time we finished documenting the event, we were nearly there and the train was too loud to get any real sleep.
After arriving in Prague we took a subway to hostel, and dropped our stuff off in time for our tour with “Vladimir.” He's this funny old man who waves his umbrella for us to see where he is. We walked around the old town, and saw many beautiful buildings. It was difficult to understand him with us being such a large group, so I didn't really get to learn that much. I did get to run across Charles' Bridge, I don't know the real name of it, sorry. But yeah, within the first hour of our tour it became so dark and cold, I was so glad I had brought my jacket with me, even though it had been so sunny and warm. By the end of the tour we were all freezing and hungry, and very anxious to go pull money out and buy food.
We ran to a grocery store, where a very angry, old, mean man would refuse each and every one of us. As we had just taken out money from the ATM, we had larger bills, but they were the equivalent of $50. He would refuse to take our money, and we would have to keep handing it to him for about 30 seconds before he would grudgingly take it, and give us our change. What a grump! He would then proceed to crumple our receipts and throw them on the ground behind the counter, so we couldn't really see how much money we'd just spent and compare it with the change he'd given us. He has been voted my least favorite person in all of Europe.
At the hostel our floor shares a very gross, small kitchen where we made our pasta. We also have communal showers with no curtain or door, so none of us will be showering all that much. This is the first time we've stayed in a hostel, not a hotel. Which is completely fine, accept for the shower thing. I at least expect there to be some kind of article blocking me from other people.
I am ready to keel over, so I'm going to bed, even though it is only 9. But I need it terribly.
Love,
Anna
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
La Traviata
Liebe Familie, Dienstag 21 Oktober 2008
I went off to class, and everything was normal. On my way home I decided to bushwhack my way through a different part of town. I ended up walking by this sweet used book store, so I went in and found a Martin Luther Bible from 1912. I'm fairly excited about it, as it was only €3. I went grocery shopping for my trip tomorrow, and did homework.
At 4 I went to the opera to stand in line for a standing room ticket. Two of my Austrian friends came, so I talked with them while in line. We saw “La Traviata” tonight, after having learned the music in Humanities 101 my first semester at BYU. The set was absolutely amazing, as well as the costuming, but I did not appreciate the music as much as I had at “Faust.”
After the opera I sat outside and talked to one of my Austrian friends for a while, before finally trudging home pretty late and being ridiculously tired.
Good night, I still have to pack for Prague.
Deine Anna
I went off to class, and everything was normal. On my way home I decided to bushwhack my way through a different part of town. I ended up walking by this sweet used book store, so I went in and found a Martin Luther Bible from 1912. I'm fairly excited about it, as it was only €3. I went grocery shopping for my trip tomorrow, and did homework.
At 4 I went to the opera to stand in line for a standing room ticket. Two of my Austrian friends came, so I talked with them while in line. We saw “La Traviata” tonight, after having learned the music in Humanities 101 my first semester at BYU. The set was absolutely amazing, as well as the costuming, but I did not appreciate the music as much as I had at “Faust.”
After the opera I sat outside and talked to one of my Austrian friends for a while, before finally trudging home pretty late and being ridiculously tired.
Good night, I still have to pack for Prague.
Deine Anna
Monday, 20 October 2008
Karlskirche
Liebe Familie, Montag 20 Oktober 2008
I took another test in my German class, and I feel really good about it, so we'll see what my grade will be next week...I'm hoping amazing!
For my Fine Arts class we went to the Karlskirche, which was great because now I do not have to pay to go in there on my own. They did a very extensive renovation over the past six years, and the last place for them to restore is the very top of the dome.
After all of my classes were finished I ran off to FHE, had dinner, a good lesson, and then talked to Austrians for a little over an hour before rushing home, finishing homework, and collapsing in bed. I really just need to catch up on sleep sometime.
Deine Anna
I took another test in my German class, and I feel really good about it, so we'll see what my grade will be next week...I'm hoping amazing!
For my Fine Arts class we went to the Karlskirche, which was great because now I do not have to pay to go in there on my own. They did a very extensive renovation over the past six years, and the last place for them to restore is the very top of the dome.
After all of my classes were finished I ran off to FHE, had dinner, a good lesson, and then talked to Austrians for a little over an hour before rushing home, finishing homework, and collapsing in bed. I really just need to catch up on sleep sometime.
Deine Anna
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)